Police 'brutality' or youthful arrogance?

[MeMyselfAndI]

Probe into officer’s beating of street racerhttp://www.gulf-times.com/site/images/spacer.gif
AFP/Vladivostok

Russia has opened a criminal probe of a top traffic police officer after an Internet video allegedly showed him beating a participant in an illegal street race, officials said yesterday.
The probe is the latest case in Russia of people using the Internet to embarrass top officials.
A criminal case has been opened against Alexander Lysenko for allegedly exceeding his authority in the incident overnight May 25-26 in Vladivostok, the press service of the investigative committee for the Primorsky region said.
Lysenko, Vladivostok’s top traffic officer, was driving home from work when he encountered a group of youths taking part in an illegal street race on the main highway out of the city.
Video footage viewed by thousands on YouTube shows him arguing with the young drivers, thumping one in the back and pulling him by the ear.
Reports said that Lysenko was on sick leave and police insisted he had not been sacked.
In an interview with local media, Lysenko confirmed an encounter with street racers but said “there was not the slightest question of violence”.
Internet penetration in Russia is growing at speed and users are frequently posting videos to show up alleged corruption or abuse of office by officials.
Last month a driver for Russian Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu was fired after a YouTube video showed him threatening to shoot a motorist who failed to get out of the way in heavy traffic.
But while exposure of officials usually delights Russian Internet users, many comments on the latest incident voice support for Lysenko and anger at the illegal street racers whose late-night antics cause chaos in the Pacific port city.
“Well done, officer!” wrote one user on YouTube. “These idiots just cause problems. I would have done the same.”
Vladivostok has embarked on a huge rebuilding and clean-up programme as it prepares to host the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in 2012.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=439405&version=1&template_id=39&parent_id=21

I am no idealist. I know police in Russia overstep their authority and victimize innocent people all too often.

But the street-racers are a problem too
http://www.avtosport32.narod2.ru/reportazhi/PICT0348.jpg?rand=142156147565145
We have these guys in Moscow, and lots of them in my part of the city.

Evere seen Fast & Furious? I don't need to, I see and hear that every damn night. Every time, we lie in our bed, and we listen to engines roaring outside, and I want to go out there and shoot every one of the young bastards. Not just because they are loud, at night, but because they may kill, not just one of their own, but some innocent person. We already have had accidents with them too. One nighbor of ours had his car hit by one of their super-charged 'bullets'... These people don't give a damn about their own safety or that of others around them. Fast and furious... more like young and stupid. Good for the officer in this case, as far as I'm concerned. Hope they clear him of all charges.

[Michael]

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=439405&version=1&template_id=39&parent_id=21

I am no idealist. I know police in Russia overstep their authority and victimize innocent people all too often.

But the street-racers are a problem too

We have these guys in Moscow, and lots of them in my part of the city.

Evere seen Fast & Furious? I don't need to, I see and hear that every damn night. Every time, we lie in our bed, and we listen to engines roaring outside, and I want to go out there and shoot every one of the young bastards. Not just because they are loud, at night, but because they may kill, not just one of their own, but some innocent person. We already have had accidents with them too. One nighbor of ours had his car hit by one of their super-charged 'bullets'... These people don't give a damn about their own safety or that of others around them. Fast and furious... more like young and stupid. Good for the officer in this case, as far as I'm concerned. Hope they clear him of all charges.

I agree that street racers are a very serious problem. But letting cops beat people isn't the answer.

We have a new law that allows the cops to legally seize any cars involved (new 'street racing' law) amongst a whole host of other legal weapons that means the courts can seriously hammer you if you get caught.

[MeMyselfAndI]

I agree that street racers are a very serious problem. But letting cops beat people isn't the answer.

We have a new law that allows the cops to legally seize any cars involved (new 'street racing' law) amongst a whole host of other legal weapons that means the courts can seriously hammer you if you get caught.

Yes, that can work. I know also that in another part of Moscow, close to Sheremetyevo airport, they solved their street racing issue by giving a unused runway to the racers and letting them just use that, so they are away from people, so do not cause any danger to anyone.

But we don't have any runways...

[Michael]

Yes, that can work. I know also that in another part of Moscow, close to Sheremetyevo airport, they solved their street racing issue by giving a unused runway to the racers and letting them just use that, so they are away from people, so do not cause any danger to anyone.

But we don't have any runways...

Yes, I'd consider that a good solution too. The problem isn't that a couple of guys want to race their cars - the problem is the danger to the public when they do it. If the danger to the public is removed, then they can race all they want. :shrug:

I think the ideal and most functional solution is a combination of both approaches.

[Americano]

Yes, that can work. I know also that in another part of Moscow, close to Sheremetyevo airport, they solved their street racing issue by giving a unused runway to the racers and letting them just use that, so they are away from people, so do not cause any danger to anyone.

But we don't have any runways...

Airports providing runways on Sundays was exactly how sanctioned drag racing (straight line acceleration contests between two vehicles) started in the US in the mid-1950s and developed into a significant industry. Officials believed it would alleviate street racing.

In spite of draconian penalties for street racing it still continues, even where there are legal facilities. I was long addicted to fast cars, the acceleration/handling they provided and indulged that interest on public roads with no remorse. Some do and some don't.

[MeMyselfAndI]

Airports providing runways on Sundays was exactly how sanctioned drag racing (straight line acceleration contests between two vehicles) started in the US in the mid-1950s and developed into a significant industry. Officials believed it would alleviate street racing.

In spite of draconian penalties for street racing it still continues, even where there are legal facilities. I was long addicted to fast cars, the acceleration/handling they provided and indulged that interest on public roads with no remorse. Some do and some don't.

Yes, and, well, I think that those guys, if their energy and talent could be channeled in a more productive way can do a lot of good for the country. I mean, they are ingenious mechanics and engineers, many of them, young as they are. Most of them build their cars, or 'bullets' as they call them, themselves, from scratch, in their (or their father's, usually) garage, from spare parts they find at automobile graveyards and some extra additions for speed and such that they get I don't know where, like the powered-up engines, which are available, supposedly, only for police and military vehicles. they get them through family connections or through bribing...

As I said, very talented young men, who could be very useful for the country, if the government can find a way to work with them.

[Americano]

Yes, and, well, I think that those guys, if their energy and talent could be channeled in a more productive way can do a lot of good for the country. I mean, they are ingenious mechanics and engineers, many of them, young as they are. Most of them build their cars, or 'bullets' as they call them, themselves, from scratch, in their (or their father's, usually) garage, from spare parts they find at automobile graveyards and some extra additions for speed and such that they get I don't know where, like the powered-up engines, which are available, supposedly, only for police and military vehicles. they get them through family connections or through bribing...

As I said, very talented young men, who could be very useful for the country, if the government can find a way to work with them.

Regardless of their capabilities or potential, not everyone dances to the tune presented or demanded by conventional society.

[MeMyselfAndI]

Regardless of their capabilities or potential, not everyone dances to the tune presented or demanded by conventional society.

Indeed. It is a shame. I think those boys are wasting their lives.

[NickKIELCEPoland]

MeMyselfandI, what is the point of writing this long article about street racing. You could have just said 'they were street racing' and that would have been enough for a sensible person to say 'utterly stupid and evil'. We are not stupid in the west.

As to the police officer being violent. Do you think they should have been violent against the boy who tropped the wheel out of the window?

The police would have more of an excuse if he knew that the legal system would be 'soft' on them. Can you tell me what punishment they would have been likely to receive in court?

[MeMyselfAndI]

MeMyselfandI, what is the point of writing this long article about street racing. You could have just said 'they were street racing' and that would have been enough for a sensible person to say 'utterly stupid and evil'. We are not stupid in the west.

As to the police officer being violent. Do you think they should have been violent against the boy who tropped the wheel out of the window?

The police would have more of an excuse if he knew that the legal system would be 'soft' on them. Can you tell me what punishment they would have been likely to receive in court?

The boy? For resisting police, a couple months in prison, I suppose. Street-racing, that's another two years in a cell with confiscation of the vehicle involved.