General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsInkster to pay $1.4 million to Detroit man beaten by police officer
And the police officer is facing criminal charges.
http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2015/05/inkster_to_pay_14_million_to_d.html
Floyd Dent, the 57-year-old Detroit man beaten by police in Inkster during a traffic stop Jan. 28, will receive a significant sum for his pain and suffering.
"I can confirm that there was a settlement (with Inkster) for $1.4 million," a representative for Gregory Rohl, the attorney representing Dent, said Thursday morning. "I can give any more information than that."
Rohl previously said he was in talks with Inkster officials about a settlement and planned to file a civil lawsuit if those negotiations broke down.
Fired Inkster Police Officer William Melendez, 46, who delivered at least 16 punches to Dent's face and head seconds after pulling him from his vehicle during a traffic stop for an alleged minor violation, is now facing criminal charges.
JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)He deserves it!
gollygee
(22,336 posts)the cities that know they're racist and know they're violent and keep them employed also need to be held accountable.
JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)In an ideal world - I wish PD Unions were the ones held accountable for when of their members fucked up instead of the citizens of the community.
Taitertots
(7,745 posts)Make cops personally responsible for the settlement and watch how fast they stop being criminals.
JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)But the reality is - they pay into that for protection. That union protects them. Union or the Cop him/her self. I don't care. It's just not fair that this jerk did what he did and now he's going to take money that could spent on educating the children of Inkster away from them.
If the Police Unions and by virtue of the Union -the entire Police Force MEMBERSHIP was held accountable -
We'd see cops start throwing elbows at each other.
They have no motivation to throw elbows at each other to get ahead in today's environment.
Taitertots
(7,745 posts)The police union shouldn't be expected to control the behavior of their members. So they shouldn't be held accountable for something the have no responsibility over.
The department and the individuals are responsible for their behavior and they should be held accountable.
JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)Should they provide legal counsel? Protection? Because that's what I see. They all pay dues, they are all the wall of blue, they stick together, they never throw elbows and they always hide behind their unions.
Or should it just be about benefits and pay - which is really what the Telecom unions do (seen this first hand).
gollygee
(22,336 posts)and that cop therefore keeps his/her job, and then is a part of an unjustified shooting? There could be cases where the union has some responsibility. Though you're right that they can't be arbritrarily held responsible.
JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)I agree with that. But then - I think they shouldn't be providing legal counsel to their members.
If it is everyone for him/her self - then it should be that way all the way through.
I don't see how Police Unions benefit all of the workers (majority in enterprise and small businesses) in America. CWA has benefitted everyone in the industry. Those benefits and perks we have today in our offices and cubes are result of their efforts. And if one of their members beat up someone on the job for some arbitrary reason -
They'd throw that person's ass under the bus - because that's NOT who they are. That's not what they are about - at all.
gollygee
(22,336 posts)Some level of responsilbity comes from their defending every single cop who commits every single crime no matter how obviously wrong and guilty they are.
gollygee
(22,336 posts)They're nationwide. Getting rid of individuals in the current criminal justice system doesn't do much because they just get replaced by similar individuals. But if the union started taking hits, there might be nataionwide police anti-racism work and anger management counseling.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)I know this is off topic,but I wonder if Inkster taxpayers are going to get the bill for this.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)2000 Census - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inkster,_Michigan
Can't be good because its make up was driven by Ford - considering the turn down in the Auto Industry and Detroit's slow recovery. . .
Didn't realize that the racial make up (73% African American) was driven by auto workers that didn't want to commute to Detroit -
But who were not allowed to live in Dearborn.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)life in the town that borders it (Westland). This whole area suffered immensely from the turn down in the auto industry.It was terrifying to watch happen.
gollygee
(22,336 posts)If the city hired and kept employed a violent and racist cop, they have responsibility, but yes the debt goes down to the citizens and not the people who kept the cop employed. Even if it's paid by insurance, their insurance rates will go up. And it does make me wonder if this had happened in Grosse Pointe, if that city would have been held responsible.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)aikoaiko
(34,183 posts)JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,364 posts)Except the shop is in Florida.
Yeah, Mr Dent deserves a break. Officer Melendez, on the other hand, deserves something else.