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File a Complaint about the Police
by Paul
Tuesday, Mar. 25, 2003 at 5:15 PM
I was not at the protest, but I have read all of the comments about police brutality and inappropriate police actions (rascist epiphets, political sarcasm, etc). I believe that people who have a complaint about the police should file it formally.
Here is the link to file a citizen's complaint about the Pittsburgh Police:
http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/cprb/html/complaints.html
Why should you file a formal complaint? Because, as citizens, we deserve to receive professional behavior from the police. Writing about your experiences on the Internet will not help a lot. You should file a formal complaint, if you saw or experienced inappropriate behavior.
www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/cprb/html/complaints.html
Good advice!
by Andy Horbal
Tuesday, Mar. 25, 2003 at 6:01 PM
arh6@pitt.edu Oakland
In light of the UNIVERSAL sentiment that we were mistreated by the police I would hope that tomorrow there are 122 complaints filed. Thank you for the link!
Don't forget the rioting deputies
by Mike
Tuesday, Mar. 25, 2003 at 6:27 PM
File a complaint against DeFazio's gestapo while you're at it. As much as it pains me to admit it, the city cops have been much more well behaved.
http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/feedback/index.asp
to mr. fuck
by Brian
Tuesday, Mar. 25, 2003 at 9:53 PM
artriotmedia@aol.com
The longest time I've went without showering since I was a child was when I was in jail for protesting. I'm very clean and probably score more than you. Cause lets face it, it's only ugly people who support the war. Your ideas of us all being hippies and not showering is based on the general populouses concept of what occured during the '60s. Hippies realy didn't do much. They didn't shower and they weren't productive. But they were a small part of the movement against the war in the '60s. In fact, they were just a branch of the Yippies, but they don't teach you about yippies in school because if more people knew about them then the movement would be reborn. Have you ever heard of Abbie Hoffman? Dorothy Day? Huey P. Newton? Bobby Seale? Allen Ginsberg? None of these people were realy actual "hippies" and they were people who were strongly involved in the antiwar movement. Perhaps try reading a book some time. Your use of the "666" in your title is great though. Using the mark of the beast is a great way to get me to respect you. I think it's a great idea though that the prowar folks are going to take that number. Fine, we'll take 777 and it's all good with your comments, I'll forgive you up to seventy times seven.
Ignore the Troll
by Paul
Wednesday, Mar. 26, 2003 at 7:14 AM
Ignore the guy who is talking about showers. This issue has nothing to do with hygiene.
If you believe that you experienced or witnessed inappropriate police behavior, you should file a formal complaint. When you file your complaint, I recommend that you avoid the use of adjectives like "gestapo" and simply state the facts as you witnessed them. Obviously, only tell the truth and do not embellish anything. You should file a complaint if you witnessed something, even if you were not arrested.
If all we do is write messages to each other, we are really just "preaching to the choir". We should decide that we will try to create an environment in Pittsburgh where the police act with professionalism. We also need to act with professionalism. Skip the profanity.
More Advice--People who were not arrested
by Larry
Wednesday, Mar. 26, 2003 at 7:49 AM
Good advice, Paul. I would like to add the following:
1. Do not view your complaint as an opportunity to vent your anger. If you simply state facts, you will be more effective.
2. It is really important that people who were present and who witnessed the event also submit a complaint, even if they were not arrested. If you saw inappropriate actions, even if you do not have names of officers, your observations are really important.
3. Keep a copy of your written complaint.
It is important to file the complaint as soon as possible.
Monday's meeting
by Theo
Wednesday, Mar. 26, 2003 at 9:22 AM
TheoK444@aol.com
At Monday's meeting, did any of the attorneys address the issue of filing a complaint? I recall the lawyer for the ACLU talking about a civil suit, and saying that it should wait until the criminal charges were dealt with. Would this also apply to filing a complaint? Does anybody know?
Filing a complaint now
by Laurence
Thursday, Mar. 27, 2003 at 10:11 PM
You don't need a lawyer to file a complaint.
It would be good to get an internal investigation under way. You never know what might be found.
file a complaint about the protesters
by Conservative Guy
Thursday, Mar. 27, 2003 at 10:29 PM
There's too many protesters who are like this... sounds to me like more and more of you are getting out of control... =)
READ THIS:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,82395,00.html
Stay Focused--Police Overreacted for Political Reasons
by Eric
Friday, Mar. 28, 2003 at 6:28 AM
None of the people arrested were involved in that incident in Vermont.
In Pittsburgh, there is an issue with the police.
How many windows were broken on March 20? How much property damage occurred? Maybe damage to one license plate? And over 100 people were arrested? People on a sidewalk?
We were arrested for political reasons by police who think that we are unpatriotic.
No political reasons
by George K.
Friday, Mar. 28, 2003 at 11:27 AM
dodgerambler@yahoo.com
There were no political reasons to arrest you group of "flower-children" who want to recreate your parents glory days of sitting around, smoking dope, and stringing pooka shells while complaining about "The Man".
Your unpermitted march ran OVER ITS TIME LIMIT.
No matter if you are ON the sidewalks or NOT, police have a DUTY of CROWD control. That is how they also prevent riots, and drug activity on street corners any other night of the week. It was just that your "diverse-tactic" crowd of idiots could have, at any time, decided break out and start trashing shit. So, all of you became a "problem crowd who would not disperse when ordered to do so" , no matter if the order was given then or ten minutes ago. You did not have any right to that LARGE gathering, since the elected officials of the city of Pittsburgh passed ordinances that require permits for gatherings as large as yours. In effect, you had already violated laws, and the length of time that you violated them warrented the actions taken.
You people are children and, for you adults involved, you are maladjusted sociopaths. Please please please go back on your medications and wear your tinfoil hat if it helps to stave off the next attack......
huh?
by jwg
Friday, Mar. 28, 2003 at 12:01 PM
"Your unpermitted march ran OVER ITS TIME LIMIT. "
how is there limits on something that is not permitted to begin with.
the police didn't start a'beating until the crowd was dispursing. The only thing I learnd is that if you follow police orders, you will be beaten and arrested.
"always do what your mama said, brush your teeth and go to bed, cause that way never worked for me"
i see what's up
by Conservative Guy
Friday, Mar. 28, 2003 at 4:35 PM
it's apparent that all you hippies just don't want to and can't accept the laws... now i don't claim to know the exact laws and such... but i do know that if the police tell me to get out of wherever i am, then i should be leaving... and quickly... don't continue to stand around and BS or even take your time getting out... make it your top priority and leave ASAP... cause you're only going to be basically taunting and disrespecting the police... and all of this is true especially when you don't have a permit to have your rally... don't be jackasses and show some respect...
respect
by jwg
Friday, Mar. 28, 2003 at 4:48 PM
you mean the same respect they show us, by showing up in riot gear and waiving axe handles?
the respect they showed by punching people who were already handcuffed?
aye, respect.
Sidewalk
by Shorty
Friday, Mar. 28, 2003 at 11:18 PM
The March 20 mass-arrest was totally ridiculous.
There should be an investigation of the Pittsburgh Police. I would not be surprised to learn that the busses were reserved in advance, and the arrests were planned in advance.
Also, did anybody hear an order to disburse? All I heard was an order to get on the sidewalk.
Disburse
by Theo
Saturday, Mar. 29, 2003 at 9:38 PM
TheoK444@aol.com
There was an order to disburse 60-90 seconds before they started arresting people. This was not sufficient time for anybody to leave. Even if more time was given, the police blocked the only routes we could have used to disburse. They in effect boxed us in, then told us to disburse, then almost immediately started arresting us for failure to disburse. And yes, i do think they planned it. They herded us into the alleyway where most of us were arrested.
No Announcement of Failure to Disburse
by Art
Sunday, Mar. 30, 2003 at 10:03 AM
The arrest papers say that a Sargent Kacsuta made approximately 10 announcements, using a PA system, to the crowd to disburse.
The audio and video tapes only show annoncements to get on the sidewalk.
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