Video: Florida police laugh about shooting rubber bullets

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Updated 11:56 pm CDT, Wednesday, July 1, 2020



Photo: Lynne Sladky, AP
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LaToya Ratlieff looks at a photograph of herself, Friday, June 12, 2020, in Lauderhill, Fla. Ratlieff was hit in the face by a police officer's rubber bullet during a Fort Lauderdale protest over the death of George Floyd on May 31. Protests continue in support of Floyd, a black man who died while in police custody in Minneapolis.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida police officers can be heard laughing and celebrating after shooting protesters with rubber bullets during a May protest against police brutality, according to newly released body camera footage.

In response to a story by the Miami Herald, Fort Lauderdale police posted a video on its official YouTube channel Wednesday taken from the body camera of Detective Zachary Baro, who was leading the department's SWAT team unit on May 31. It was less than a week after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, which sparked protests through the U.S.

At one point in the video, Baro can be heard saying, “Beat it” and using a profanity, after officers shot less lethal projectiles.

LaToya Ratlieff was shot in the face during what had been a largely peaceful protest, suffering a fractured skull and requiring 20 stitches. She couldn’t eat for a week and still has trouble seeing out of one eye that is filled with blood.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/Video-Florida-police-laugh-about-shooting-rubber-15381255.php

[captain queeg]

1. It just occurred to me; I wonder how many of the cops dishing out violence at protests

And enjoying mocking those who are injured are women? I think a woman cop could be just as susceptible to over reacting and overdoing the use of force, but I don’t picture them laughing about it in a group. It all just sounds like high school boys laughing and mocking someone they’ve hurt. I remember lots of instances of that kind of thing back in high school. It seems like a lot of cops have a juvenile level of maturity.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Unfortunately

as a means for giving disruptive individuals some sort of "structured environment", the bullies from schools often ended up being directed towards becoming LEOs (the wealthier among them alternately sent them to private military academies). That occupation satisfied their irrational need for using aggression as a control tool, while such use would purportedly be done "legally" and under the watchful eye of "elders" to achieve a "productive" outcome.

Sadly we see the result because the "bullying" behavior never really gets purged. Using that type of personality against the worst run-of-the-mill criminals might be prudent but can never work when unleashed on the general populace at large.

[PatSeg]

4. Yes

There does seem to be a locker room mentality among many male police officers. Obviously, many haven't matured emotionally past adolescence. You have to wonder what they would be qualified to do if they weren't cops. Clearly, many of them aren't all that bright as they are responding to protests against violence with more violence. Gee, that will help them win support from the public.

[RandiFan1290]

3. Not the first time

[Ted Jason]

5. Half the cops in America___

should be in rubber rooms.

[oasis]

6. Retrain the Police.