The recent assault by a Seattle PD Police officer on an unarmed latino male was completely uncalled for. I hope that a full investigation is completed and if what happened was what appears on the tape; then I hope that the officer is fired and is charged with the assault. I understand that the men were suspects because they fit the description but I thought that we were innocent until proven guilty! The guy did not deserve to be talked to the way he did or be physically assaulted.
Thankfully, a brave citizen recognized what was happening and got it on tape. I wonder if Detective Shandy Cobane’s apology was because he genuinely felt remorse for what he did or he felt remorse that he was caught on tape. Shandy... maybe he has a complex because of his name... Another thing that truly bothered me was the calmness of the officers at the scene. No one intervened or told Officer Cobane to calm down or to stop his actions. This shows that this was nothing new or shocking about it. Their body language never even changed during the assault. They need to be charged as well. The potential suspects were at a disadvantage and were lying on their stomachs in the prone position. Cobane’s actions were not needed, nor were his words. Why call him a homey? Because he was Mexican? The word HOMEY was just as racist as the rest of what he said. I would expect a lot more professionalism from a 15 year veteran of the force. If a mexican or black citizen would have done this to another citizen or a police officer... they would be in jail this minute!!!
Where is COBANE? He is still working in a "Reassigned" role and collecting a paycheck. He needs to be sitting in a jail cell with the rest of the officers who were present. Let his mother or wife come bail him out and have his kids in the car... maybe THEN he will see what he has done. With the anti-Latino sentiment spreading through this country, this could have not come at a worse time for him or the Seattle Police Department.
UPDATE: 13May2010...
As it turns out, the second officer involved Officer Mary Woollum (the female that stomped on the VICTIMS legs) has been investigated in the past for a severe beating of a homeless minority... I couldn't find the picture but they showed it on the news here in Seattle last night and they messed this guy up pretty bad... he almost died, the report said. If I had to guess from the picture... he was either Native American, Latino, Asian or Pacific Islander... thats how disfigured his face was... AND this Cop has gone on to become a field training officer!!! So this lady is teaching the newest members of the Seattle PD how to discriminate and assault minorities in the name of the city and the law!!!! Its a history with her... this is twice that she has been caught! How many other times has it happened???
If I were a member of the Seattle PD, I would be spilling some beans about what is really going on, only THEN may the citizens of Seattle start to feel safe. There are some good cops in the Seattle PD... I know personally... but this is not good for the good cops OR the people of Seattle.
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