Glendale police chief criticizes Trump’s rough suspect treatment joke
Another Valley police force has condemned President Donald Trump for joking about officers roughing up suspects during arrests.
(Facebook Photo/Glendale Police Department-Arizona)
(Facebook Photo/Glendale Police Department-Arizona)
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Another Valley police force has condemned President Donald Trump for joking about officers roughing up suspects during arrests.
“We not only care about our community as a whole, we care about the individuals that live in our community,” Glendale Police Chief Rick St. John said.
“That’s how we’re going to lead law enforcement here in Glendale. And if people want to speak out in opposition to that — whether it’s the president of the United States or anyone else — they have the freedom to do that.”
St. John was speaking after Trump’s speech in Long Island, New York last week where he addressed law enforcement. He said he didn’t mind seeing suspects being treated a little rough by police officers.
“When you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon – you just see them thrown in, rough – I said, ‘Please don’t be too nice,'” the president said. “Like, when [police officers] put somebody in the car, and you’re protecting their head…I said, ‘You can take the hand away, okay?'”
Both White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions have said Trump was joking, but St. John said freedom of speech does not protest from poorly-timed of ill-made remarks.
St. John said it would not be out of place for the president to apologize.
“People are people, and everybody’s entitled to make mistakes, but when you make a mistake, you have to own up to that mistake and apologize,” he said.
The Phoenix Police Department also criticized the president’s remarks.
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Comments
9 Comments
Police are normal men and women just like everyone else. You can't tell me that they don't secretly hope some of their arrests won't bump their heads as they get into the squad car. Sure, they have to help them avoid it, but if a suspect was unruly, swearing and spitting on an officer, I'm sure they would like to beat the tar out of them--and sometimes they rough them up a little--or worse. Get off the high horses! Nobody condones rough treatment, but they think about it. Those night sticks are not for show, handcuffs fit really tightly sometimes, faces get planted on hot sidewalks and pavement, and suspects sometimes fall unexpectedly. A comment by the President does not worsen things.
Well after Sanford where Obama miraculously turned an latino/black white, Ferguson, LA, Boston, Philadelphia ,Chicago, New York, Seattle , Phoenix and even Tent City where you lapped that whole schitck up - I'd say playing into their hands is exactly what you do
Yet another Dave O - ism starring Dave O played by himself.