Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

Someone should tell Republicans that violence is the last refuge of the incompetent, or possibly the first.

“Can i answer the question? No you can not!”

American History and Black History can not be separated.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

The republican ‘Pastor’ of the House is an odious authoritarian little creep.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

The fight for our country is always worth it. ~Kamala Harris

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

There are no moderate republicans – only extremists and cowards.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Sadly, media malpractice has become standard practice.

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the gop

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open Thread: Denver Police Lose Lawsuit

Open Thread: Denver Police Lose Lawsuit

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DENVER — A jury on Friday awarded $14 million to 12 plaintiffs in a federal civil rights trial over the Denver Police Department’s actions during protests after the 2020 murder of George Floyd.

Twelve protesters brought the federal case against Denver, claiming their civil rights were violated during the protests. Over the three-week trial, the jury heard allegations of excessive force and police brutality.

The plaintiffs and their lawyers said they were protesting peacefully, exercising their First Amendment rights, and did nothing to deserve what they got from Denver police — specifically, sprayed with tear gas and shot with pepper balls.

For their part, lawyers for the city said the violence and destruction caused by the protesters required a response. They said dozens of officers were injured by rocks and other projectiles thrown by the protesters. They also estimate the protests caused millions of dollars in property damage.

This is good news as far as I’m concerned. I’m sure it will be appealed. The unfortunate part is, I believe the award will be paid out of taxpayer money…

The videos from that summer were horrific, including police shooting pepper balls into moving vehicles. One car was a couple, the woman pregnant, driving home, not involved in the protests at all. All well documented by news crews and personal video. Enough to convince a jury.

I know there were brutal videos from all over the country, but Denver PD seemed to have some terrible offenses for what were peaceful demonstrations.

This is an open thread

Reader Interactions

86Comments

  1. 1.

    scott (the other one)

    For their part, lawyers for the city said the violence and destruction caused by the protesters required a response.

    “Look, the guy came into the emergency room suffering from a heart attack! Medical personnel HAD to do SOMETHING!”
    “Yes, but why did you cut off his foot?”
    “Look, are you the doctor here or am I?!”

  4. 4.

    Ishiyama

    Fire 10% of the police force, at all ranks, selected randomly. Tell the remaining ones to spill their guts on their peers’ misconduct, or another 10% gets fired. Repeat until you have hired an entire, clean new force. It’s called decimation and it worked for the Romans.

  5. 5.

    Ken

    The unfortunate part is, I believe the award will be paid out of taxpayer money

    I wonder where the police pension fund is invested? Maybe Russia, like the Kentucky teacher’s fund?

  6. 6.

    Dan B

    Seattle police were similarly brutal. It was worse in Portland. The police unions are run by proto fascists. They don’t even dog whistle. Our black neighbors avoid the whiter parts of the city.

  7. 7.

    dr. bloor

    I’m sure it will be appealed.

    IANAL, but I can’t see how a city government would throw more money into the hole at this point, unless the city is effectively under FoP control.

  8. 8.

    debbie

    @Dan B:

    Also in Columbus OH. It was appalling. They’re still trying to get a civilian review board up and running. Surprisingly the FOP is dragging their collective feet.

  11. 11.

    UncleEbeneezer

    I wish I could say that settlements like these will upset even Libertarians and Conservatives and finally spur them towards more oversight and accountability of the police, but most of those people probably see this as the sort of use of taxpayer $ that they are okay with, in order to maintain their preferred social hierarchy.

  13. 13.

    piratedan

    @Dan B: it’s almost as if being a member of the police is more important than the ideals of protecting and serving and upholding the laws of the land….

    strangely reminiscent of yet another group.

  16. 16.

    A Ghost to Most

    As a very prim and proper Latina women once told me, “Don’t fuck with the Denver Police. They will fucking kill you.” I never heard her swear before or after.

  17. 17.

    Dan B

    @piratedan: My partner’s siblings were convinced that Seattle was in flames from Antifa and BLM rioters.  Guess what Radio and TV they consume.  There were some creeps that showed up to cause trouble but the protesters tried to stop them.  The police did almost nothing to stop the troublemakers.

  18. 18.

    scav

    @scott (the other one):

    For their part, lawyers for the city said the violence and destruction caused by the protesters required a response. 

    Quick way for the police to up their league stats. For every crime committed, immediately go out and shoot someone: Case Solved!  If you get bored, wader out, shoot someone and get a cold case off the books.

  19. 19.

    West of the Rockies

    Here’s what sucks (I say this as someone with 14 years civilian experience in city and county law enforcement)…

    DPD will not pay a dime.  The City of Denver and its tax-payer base will pay.  Cuts will be made to other city services.  When the next city budget is being debated, DPD will trot out its “thin blue line” argument.   They will win.

    The status quo will remain, save some cosmetic changes.

  20. 20.

    Another Scott

    Good, good. I hope a better police department is created as a result.

    The latest entry In the “every GQP accusation is a confession” file, BlueVirginia.US:

    Attorney General Miyares Gives Plea Deal to Predator Who Solicited A Minor

    Richmond, VA – In case you missed it, a recent report by NBC 4 found that Attorney General Miyares, the self-proclaimed tough on crime Attorney General, offered a plea deal to former Loudoun County Sheriff’s Deputy Dustin Amos. Amos was recently arrested and charged for two felonies for soliciting a minor online.

    The report states:

    Former Loudoun County Sheriff’s Deputy Dustin Amos was recently arrested and charged for two felonies for soliciting a minor online. Virginia State Police say Amos “repeatedly messaged” who he thought was a 15-year-old girl but was actually a police officer and “expressed his sexual desire for her.”

    Miyares’ office offered Amos a deal where he only pleaded guilty to one of the two felonies.

    “You have to make individual decisions based on the evidence you have,” Miyares said. “That’s very, very different than set policies where you have a memorandum that’s circulated to every prosecutor in your office that’s saying, where possible, don’t follow mandatory minimums.”

    Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj called Miyares a hypocrite.

    […]

    I hope enough sensible Virginia voters are paying attention, and getting it through their heads that every election matters every single time. AG Mark Herring losing his race was a huge loss for the state commonwealth.

    Grr…,
    Scott.

  22. 22.

    West of the Rockies

    Denver, if it wants real change, needs to hire the right chief.  Top-down is how change is made.  Promote the usual creeps, they promote after their own image.  As each new captain and lieutenant and sergeant position opens, promote carefully.  New hires have to be carefully hired.  The training officers have to be on board.

    Top down.

  24. 24.

    Kelly

    Impunity. Police impunity. Wealthy impunity. Corporate impunity (a fine is a price). Politician impunity (mostly a few small fry pols get busted). Oh yeah Justice Thomas

  25. 25.

    Sure Lurkalot

    Sad that it’s almost always taxpayers who bear the cost of police misconduct.

    Denver instituted a program called STAR (support team assisted response), sending mental health professionals on certain calls with good results, I believe it’s going to be expanded. That’s the direction we need to go IMHO.

  29. 29.

    Betsy

    Good evening everyone. Since it’s an open thread I thought I’d take this opportunity to say that I, who walked out of my job one day in mid-January because my stupid boss wouldn’t let me do my computer-based work remotely during the height of the Omicron peak, have completed my first week at my new job, where I make 12,000 more dollars per year and work from home. Many thanks for all the good wishes from many folks here.  I’m so glad I joined the Great Resignation!

  30. 30.

    Sure Lurkalot

    @Betsy: I ran into a former workmate today who left her well paying job 15 years ago to be a grunt at our botanical gardens. She is now a supervisor and super happy. It made my day.

    And your post made my day again. Nicely done!

  32. 32.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Betsy: Wow. Good for you.

    After nearly a year of working from home starting with the pandemic, I decided I liked the “from home” part more than the “working” part, so I retired. I guess it helped that I was at a reasonable retirement age and was fully vested in a defined-benefit pension plan.

  34. 34.

    Ishiyama

    @mrmoshpotato: I am well aware that what I propose would be contrary to various union contracts and State laws, as they presently stand. So what? Laws can be changed, emergencies can be declared. Or does that only work for when Republicans take over fiscal management of minority communities?

    Can you criticize this proposal on policy grounds? Why would it work, or not work?

  35. 35.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    @Dan B:

    When Louisville was suffering riots, Inwas watching real time live video of fires being set five floors below my office window, and some greasy little white anarchist smashing out the windows of the Subway across the street for my office and attempted fire setting there. We resumed work the next day, and I continued participation in the Breonna Taylor marches.

    It was an exhausting pain in the ass, but our lives didn’t get upended.

  37. 37.

    Almost Retired

    @Gin & Tonic: Awesome.  I have the opposite problem!  I was planning on retiring in mid 2021, and I told my litigation clients in 2019 that I would see their cases through to the end (but not appeals).  Seemed like a safe bet.

    And then Covid shut down the Courts and we’re still working through the backlog.  So I labor on….

    In retrospect, in 2019, I should have said “I am outta here in July 2021 no matter what mofos, so settle this case by then or find another lawyer suckas!!”

    It’s possible this approach would have raised some ethical issues.

  39. 39.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Ishiyama:

    Can you criticize this proposal on policy grounds? Why would it work, or not work?

    Because wrongfully fired police would sue the shit out of the city!  This isn’t like grade school where a teacher can punish the entire class for one or two assholes and they have no recourse.

    ETA – good luck finding even a Democratic super majority that would pass those kinds of laws that would allow mass firings just for the fuck of it.

  43. 43.

    Villago Delenda Est

    Until this starts hitting cops where it hurts…in their pension funds…this madness will continue.  The lack of accountability of peace officers for their actions is to me unconscionable.  It’s time to make being a bad cop a very painful thing.

  44. 44.

    Raven

    I went to Denver
    Late last fall.
    I went to do my job.
    Yeah, I didn’t break any law.
    We worked a hippie place,
    Like many in our land.
    They couldn’t bust the place,
    And so they got the band.
    ‘Cause the police in Denver,
    No, they don’t want none of them long hairs hanging around.
    And that’s the reason why
    They want to tear Canned Heat’s reputation down.

  49. 49.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @UncleEbeneezer: in order to maintain their preferred social hierarchy.

    DING DING DING DING DING!  Tell us, Don Pardo, what UncleEbeneezer has won!

  59. 59.

    mrmoshpotato

    Oh damn.  One of the Elite 8 games is at the United Center.  It will be the Madhouse on Madison tomorrow on Sunday.

    ETA – I see Iowa State-Miami is there tonight.

  64. 64.

    Leto

    While we’re losing our shit over the wife of a Justice who will never see justice, remember that Republican states are still up to fuckery:

    Qasim Rashid, Esq.@QasimRashid
    Idaho just passed a new law banning abortion at 6 weeks, and allowing the rapists family to sue even a minor for $20,000 per family member if she terminates the pregnancy.

    And even this story is being drowned out by the wife of a SCOTUS Justice working to overthrow democracy.?
    1:37 PM · Mar 25, 2022·Twitter Web App

  65. 65.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Leto: “But Democrats want women to have control over their own bodies, so both sides!” -Some NYT asshole or Chuck Todd in the coming days

  66. 66.

    Dan B

    A Belarussian army unit will be fighting in Ukraine.

    For Ukraine!  They pledged allegiance.

    NEXTA TV

  69. 69.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Ishiyama: I never said laws can’t be changed.  I said good luck getting such insane laws passed.  The punish-the-whole-class mentality has no place in the adult world, and it’s a bullshit policy in grade/high school too.

  71. 71.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Dan B:

    A Belarussian army unit will be fighting in Ukraine.

    For Ukraine!  They pledged allegiance.

    NEXTA TV

    Did they defect from the Belarusian army?  ETA – did dictator Lukashenko give his blessing?

  73. 73.

    Skepticat

    I just was watching again a documentary that long ago I helped crowdfund through Kickstarter—<a href="http://Raising’ Hell; The Life and Times of Molly Ivins.”https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07WZH8S3X/ref=atv_dl_rdr?autoplay=1“>

    I met Molly when she came to speak a group of which I was president. It was just after her cancer diagnosis. I was gobsmacked by what an amazingly brilliant and witty person she was, and I’ve read all her fabulous books. I also got to meet Gov. Ann Richards (she of the “Poor George, he can’t help it; he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.” line) at one of those speeches, which gave me a whole new, strong appreciation for Texas women. If only we had them around now; I deeply mourn both of them.
    It’s well worth renting this from Amazon for a couple of bucks.

  77. 77.

    Ishiyama

    @mrmoshpotato: 10 % is not “the whole class”. We are not talking about unruly schoolchildren. Every time an “unwholesome” citizen is murdered by the police, they are applying the same principle – punish one to enforce obedience from one hundred.

  79. 79.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Ishiyama: 10 % is not “the whole class”.

    #4: Fire 10% of the police force, at all ranks, selected randomly. Tell the remaining ones to spill their guts on their peers’ misconduct, or another 10% gets fired. Repeat until you have hired an entire, clean new force. It’s called decimation and it worked for the Romans.

    Ummmm…..

    Every time an “unwholesome” citizen is murdered by the police, they are applying the same principle – punish one to enforce obedience from one hundred.

    *grade school*He started it!*grade school

  80. 80.

    Ishiyama

    @mrmoshpotato: Does it work in grade school? Is that your objection? Children are not in school voluntarily; law enforcement choose their job. And where did I say that I wanted to fire firefighters or municipal workers in general?

  81. 81.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Ishiyama:

    Does it work in grade school?

    Regardless of whether it works or not, it’s a bullshit way of going about things.

    And where did I say that I wanted to fire firefighters or municipal workers in general?

    Where did you? I never accused you of that.

  86. 86.

    Mike G

    “But…they were questioning cops’ rights to kill unarmed people! We had to get capriciously violent!”

    Cops seem to have egos both as large as all outdoors and fragile as glass.

    I wonder why people don’t respect them any more.

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