“Six Philadelphia Police Department Narcotics Field Unit officers were arrested in early morning raids yesterday on charges alleging they beat, kidnapped, and stole more than $500,000 in drugs, cash, and property from suspects between 2006 and 2012.
Five of the officers — Thomas Liciardello, Brian Reynolds, Michael Spicer, Perry Betts, Linwood Norman — face life in prison if convicted on all 26 of the charges against them. John Speiser, the sixth, faces 40 years.
The men have been followed by allegations of criminal behavior for nearly a decade, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, but previous cases were dropped. The charges against them include stories of dangling suspects from balconies, locking them in hotel rooms, beating them “as the officers kept score on who could inflict the most debilitating injuries,” and underreporting seizures of money and drugs, according to the Inquirer. All of the officers pleaded not guilty.”
Read more here: http://gawker.com/six-philly-narcotics-cops-charged-with-kidnapping-robb-1613867033
Cenk Uygur, Ana Kasparian, Jimmy Dore and Gina Grad of The Young Turks break down the story. Does this story surprise you in anyway? Tell us what you think in the comment section below.
Comments
Who would I guess it was? Cops, of course. But not in all countries. And not 50 years ago in the US. If a couple of these guys, preferably white ones, get significant jail terms, it will send a (weak) signal. This needs to happen many, many places, *soon*, if it’s to make a dent. Not many black folks will be listened to, I’m afraid.
Please, white folks, make it happen!
One problem no one is talking about in depth, only touching upon: While years ago, cops would try to deescalate things yes, that’s because years ago people would LISTEN and act sensibly. In the world of today, people don’t just deescalate, people just don’t act sensibly. Time’s have changed, and they changed for the worse. Blame goes to society as a whole, not one or two groups.