Man shatters Portland police cruiser's window and pepper sprays officer inside, PPB says

[sl8]

https://katu.com/news/local/man-shatters-portland-police-cruisers-window-and-pepper-sprays-officer-inside-ppb-says

Man shatters Portland police cruiser's window and pepper sprays officer inside, PPB says

by KATU Staff
Sunday, October 4th 2020

PORTLAND, Ore. – A 41-year-old is facing several charges, accused of breaking out the window of a Portland Police cruiser Sunday morning and spraying pepper spray inside the vehicle.

John Russell is facing charges of assaulting a public safety officer, aggravated harassment, and first-degree criminal mischief.

According to police, an officer was doing paperwork inside of their marked patrol vehicle near South Corbett Avenue and Lane Street when about 9:40 a.m. someone walked up to the SUV, shattered the glass of the rear hatch, and pepper sprayed the interior.

The suspect then ran to a nearby car and drove away. The officer managed to broadcast the suspect’s description and Russell was pulled over about six blocks away.

[...]

[3Hotdogs]

1. Now, one Portland cop

Knows what it’s like to be pepper sprayed for no justifiable reason.

[CaptYossarian]

2. This won't help.

Only a small percentage of cops are pricks. The rest are expected to cover their asses and aren't allowed to dissent.

This one, along with the 2 who were shot, were probably part of the good ones.

Now they will definitely turn bad.

[quakerboy]

4. Corrupt is corrupt

[CaptYossarian]

5. About 20-25 years ago, there was a deputy who bucked the system against his sheriff.

They had a quota system that required deputies to pull over a certain number of drivers each month. The deputy made it known to the media and the public.

One day, there was a farmer waving a gun at his property. The deputy responded on his radio, along with some fellow officers. The other officers did not show up and the rogue deputy ended up leaving a widow and 2 young sons. The widow worked with my wife at the time. That's how I know the truth.

It's also about survival.

I've been a whistleblower about a dozen times in my life. My life was never in danger because you have to pick your battles. My nemesis was never armed.

[quakerboy]

6. Corrupt is corrupt.

Luckily here in the USA people are as yet still free to leave one job and seek another if they find some part of their job morally bankrupt or illegal.

Or they can stay and fight the corruption.

Or they can do nothing and be complicit.

And they can be perfectly nice people in any of those courses of action.

Having a family or being a nice person does not preclude them being corrupt. Nor does it excuse the corruption.

[CaptYossarian]

7. Everything you say is true.

My example of a rogue deputy (in a good way) was an extreme one. The complicit officers are probably in fear for their lives too, while they are part of a system that was established generations ago. Yes, they can change jobs, but then we lose the good ones that aren't murdering people of color.

My guess is that the 95% who are complicit are morally flexible. If and when the system gets reformed, including the wrist-slapping in the courts, those will conform to a more just and equitable system that sees people and not just skin color. As I originally said, shooting them will not help.

[BadGimp]

3. That's FUBAR

And not that far from me... dang