A second NYPD whistleblower testified Wednesday that department brass pressured cops for arrests and stop-and-frisk quotas and that he was smeared as a “rat” for bucking the system.

Officer Pedro Serrano said he was ostracized for protesting the quotas demanded at the 40th Precinct in the South Bronx. “They said, ‘Hey, this is the way it is, you can’t fight a losing battle,’” Serrano testified in Manhattan Federal Court.

Serrano, 43, a member of the police force since 2004, followed Officer Adhyl Polanco to the witness stand in the class-action lawsuit against the controversial stop-and-frisk tactics.

Like Polanco, Serrano said the quota demanded by supervisors is 20 summonses and one arrest a month. He did not specify how many stop-and-frisks he was required to make.

He also backed Polanco’s claim that the quota system had the support of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.

Serrano testified that he was once criticized by supervisors for failing to make any stop-and-frisks in a month when he surpassed his quota, issuing 20 summonses and making three arrests.


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/testifies-called-rat-protesting-stop-and-frisk-quotas-article-1.1294612#ixzz2OUA2n0wt

THROGS NECK — A NYPD officer plans to sue the city for $15 million, saying she has been the victim of a racially and sexually charged work environment since 2011.

Eunice Vilaseca claims her supervisor at the NYPD's Housing Bureau in the Bronx, Lt. Dennis Azambuja, repeatedly discriminated against her and other minority employees while other supervisors ignored or condoned his actions, according to a notice of claim her lawyers filed March 14.

According to the notice of claim, Azambuja — who works at NYPD's Public Service Area 8 at the Throggs Neck Houses — announced that he had a “Hit List” of African American and Hispanic workers he disliked for their ethnicity. He also made offensive comments about Vilaseca's "Spanish hair," and “openly referred to females as ‘Bit--es’" in the workplace, according to the notice of claim filed by the Sanders Firm.


Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130322/throgs-neck/nypd-housing-boss-mocked-spanish-hair-women-minorities-cop-claims#ixzz2OU7RfETQ

Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- An officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is now on paid administrative leave, after being recorded during a traffic stop.

The YouTube video, which has gotten thousands of views, shows the officer react angrily after rear-ending a motorcycle. It happened near Harmon Avenue and Koval Lane.

The officer will be on paid administrative leave until LVMPD completes an internal investigation.

The motorcyclist, John Paul Rosario, had a video camera attached to his helmet.

Rosario was never issued a ticket by the officer and is glad the police department has taken action. But, he thinks paid administrative leave is pretty generous for what he describes as "uncalled for aggression by an officer."

http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/196252011.html

CHARLESTON, S.C. A Charleston County deputy has been arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge after authorities say he punched a teen during a November traffic stop.

State Law Enforcement Division agents took 27-year-old Christopher Davis into custody Friday.

Investigators say Davis pulled over 19-year-old Devante Pittman on Nov. 11 for not signaling a turn.

Authorities say Davis punched Pittman several times in the mouth during the stop before arresting him and putting him in handcuffs.

Davis told investigators he hit the driver only after the teen grabbed him. Pittman also is charged with a misdemeanor count of assault.

It wasn't clear if Davis had an attorney. He has been a deputy since April 2011.

Pittman has sued the sheriff's office and the deputies involved in the traffic stop.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/03/15/3917219/charleston-county-deputy-charged.html#storylink=cpy

CINCINNATI -- A federal judge today refused to throw out a civil rights lawsuit in the case of an unarmed, mentally ill Ohio man who died during a confrontation with police after being shocked with a stun gun seven times, kicked and repeatedly struck with a baton - all mostly after he had fallen face-first onto cement and stopped moving.

Doug Boucher, 39, died after the Dec. 13, 2009, confrontation with two officers outside a convenience store in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason. Boucher had been stopped for allegedly making lewd comments to the store's 19-year-old female clerk.

Attorneys for the city of Mason had argued that the officers' actions were reasonable and justified, and that the lawsuit, filed by Boucher's parents, should be dropped.

In his ruling, U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel allowed allegations of excessive force, wrongful death and intentional infliction of emotional distress to stand.

He also denied the city's request to stop a forensic pathologist from testifying that he believes the repeated use of the stun gun caused Boucher's heart to fail.

"What gives the court pause is that (the officers) repeatedly tased Boucher in such manner that a jury might find he was subjected to gratuitous violence from officers that momentarily `lost it.'" Spiegel wrote.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/03/22/Judge_lets_Cincinnati_stun-gun_death_suit_go_forward.html