Police union fights back for fired officer in Harbor incident
The president of the Baltimore police union, Robert Cherry, lashed out at the city's police commissioner who today fired the police offer who three years ago berated a 14-year-old skateboarder at the Inner Harbor.
The incident was capture on video and posted to YouTube (video posted on earlier blog). A police disciplinary panel had acquitted officer Salvatore Rivieri of the most serious charges, using excessive and unnecessary force and discourtesies. The panel instead convicted the officer of administrative charges of failing to file a report and recommended a five-day suspension.
Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld disagreed and upped the punishment to termination. His office declined to comment further. But Cherry had a lot to say:
“It’s outrageous,” Cherry said. “It’s well beyond the punishment that should’ve been meted out. … This is the mechanism to police the police. The trial board is judge and jury. They have seen this video over and over again. Officer Rivieri took the stand and testified and was cross-examined by city lawyers.”
Cherry said that what Bealefeld did was akin to a “jury coming back with a verdict of acquittal and the prosecutor saying, ‘Hell no, put him in the chair and electrocute him.’ That’s what the commissioner just did.”
The union president said that “whether you agree or disagree with Sal’s tactics, he didn’t curse, he didn’t beat this kid. He gave the kid his skateboard back and called his mother.” Cherry also noted that neither Bush nor his mother filed a complaint until seven months after the July 1, 2007 encounter, after the video appeared on YouTube.
“Obviously the trial board saw something different than the police commissioner,” Cherry said.
Cherry later sent this statement:
The FOP has worked diligently with the BPD over the years to ensure that our disciplinary process for police officers is fair and equitable. There is a process in place to "police the police" and in this instance the departmental trial board - members of the BPD selected from a list and agreed upon by both the PC's legal team and the police officer - listened to all the evidence and returned a verdict of not guilty on all the serious charges, finding Police Officer Sal Rivieri guilty of failing to submit a police report and recommended 5 days loss of leave.
For the PC to increase the punishment to termination is an abuse of his discretion and not only does it end the career of a 19 year veteran who was out there doing his job, the PC's decision sends the wrong message to all our police officers who are expected to aggressively keep our streets safe but cannot expect to be treated fairly and not discriminated against in any disciplinary proceedings. We will appeal the decision of the PC on behalf of Police Officer Rivieri.
Categories: Breaking news, City Hall, Confronting crime, Courts and the justice system
Comments
And we wonder why this city is so unsafe.
We've got the Clownfield in charge of officers that are going to the golf driving ranges on the city's time (see driving range off Northern Parkway) and a community that, so far, has made a video called "Stop Snitching" their claim to fame.
Perhaps instead of "Balti" it should be "BS" more. Because that's the only thing we seem to be getting more of in this city.
Posted by: Gonefield | August 25, 2010 4:17 PM
The officer stepped WAY over bounds in this. You cannot watch that video and think any differently. And for all the "he threw out what they jury heard" crap: That's his option, it's legal and in this case called for. Juries/panels etc. do NOT always make the honest choice but often a political one. In this case Bealefield actually took a stand and showed some backbone. And if you think this is bad on the cops tell that to the cop that came down our street last week, stopped his cruiser when he saw a skateboard in the street, threw it in the trash can and kept on driving. Could have SPOKEN to the kid who owned the board - who at 10 y.o. FLEES from the police when ever they show up because they are, most of them, self-righteous and self-important (albeit heavily worked and in a difficult town) assholes to the public they serve. Try "policing" instead of bullying on the simple shit and maybe all the serious stuff wouldn't be piling on their plates.
Posted by: baltobikeboi | August 26, 2010 12:22 AM
i think the commissioner bealefield overacted be the disciplinary panel underacted. To find Rivieri only guilty of not filing a report is wrong. I feel he was excessive. There was no need to headlock the boy. I know Rivieri apologised to the mother, so what. If the skater had resisted arrest and hit Rivieri, he would be charge. If he then called Rivieri's mother/wife & aplogised the charges still would not be dropped.
Posted by: lilkunta | August 26, 2010 11:21 AM
I am appalled the Police Commissioner would do this. Why - there is more to this than meets the eye. Did the Mayor demand the firing? I cannot beleave Bealefeld would want to reopen this nonsense. The City has enough to do fighting violent crime, drugs, etc. I am ashamed of Baltimore!
Posted by: Rosalind Heid | August 26, 2010 1:28 PM
I know Sal and he IS a good cop. We all must realize that we are human and on occasions, we may step out of line and make a mistake, even the Police Commissioner. I am sure that the PC has done things in his PERSONAL and professional life that he was glad he didn't get caught doing. This is the problem with society today, too much PC. I bet the PC got some great kudos from the Mayors office. WOW. Lets see if the PC sleeps good at night.
Punishment for this, yes, but not termination. Why have the trial board. Sounds like a dictatorship. Oh, I forgot, look how our government is now!!!! I know that Sal will get his job back. The PC will eventually get FIRED.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 27, 2010 3:06 PM
In the name of all that is fair, I hope and pray that Salvatore Rivieri does NOT get his job back. For now, the streets of Baltimore are safe without Rivieri in uniform.
Posted by: Nathan | August 28, 2010 6:22 PM
Whoever said this guy is a good cop and he just stepped out of line to assault a 14 year old this one time...
Once is enough.
What if the video was your son and the cop wasn't your friend? You wouldn't think that then.
Beating up a kid over something so stupid is not a mistake anybody makes from time to time, it is an inexcusable action.
Also, it happened multiple times:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKnExaM5xUY
KEEP THIS GUY OFF THE STREET!!!!!
Posted by: dave | August 31, 2010 12:29 PM
Also, claiming we have some sort of Orwellian government because the police are being held accountable for assaults on the public is completely backwards.
The more government agents are held accountable, the freer we will be.
And if you think an officer shouldn't be fired for one incident in which he attacked a 14 year old kid, then why should the Police Commissioner be fired after one incident in which you claim he erred, and erred on the side of caution, not violence.
Sally is scum.
Posted by: dave | August 31, 2010 12:33 PM
"Is everyone so blind and so politically correct" that America's youth are out of control? When I was growing up, Law officer's were treated with the utmost respect, after all their job is to protect little jerk's like this brat! Kudo's to this officer!, if more cop's had "ball's" like this guy there would be far, far less kid's with rap sheets. The parent (s) of this kid should be ashamed as the video clearly show's the disrespect that their little "precious" displays. Our society is in the crapper, and people who defend our nation weather in our city's or abroad deserve our respect, period. If you don't agree, please move to Iran.....
Posted by: A. Hutch | February 28, 2011 4:05 PM