"Rollover Now!" From [HERE] Circuit Court Judge Neil Thomas sided with the city today granting a temporary restraining order to keep two former officers off their job until an appeal is heard. But Thomas ordered the city to put former Chattanooga Police officers Sean Emmer and Adam Cooley back on the payroll and pay their benefits.
City attorneys have filed an appeal in Circuit Court against Administrative Law Judge Kim Summers' 30 page decision to reinstate Emmer and Cooley. Summers, who is also a white person, found the white officers had acted in accordance with their training when they beat Black inmate Adam Tatum more than 44 times with a metal baton, breaking both his legs, during a confrontation at the Salvation Army on McCallie Avenue. Tattum is a Black man. [How many more blows would it have taken for the police conduct to be unreasonable to this white woman? This decision sends the message that this type of (racism) excessive force is justifiable when done to black people by white (people) cops. MORE]
A video shows two large white officers beat Mr. Tatum, a Black man, so forcefully that they broke both of his legs in multiple places. There was no indication that he was resisting arrest or causing harm to himself or others. Nevertheless, the officers overreacted by grabbing him from behind in a choke hold, slamming him down and then hitting him mercilessly no less than 60 times with meal batons and fists while he sat helplessly on the ground. Then a gang of other officers, all white join in on the pouncing. [MORE]
Based on public outcry, City Attorney Phil Noblett argued the police department would have a difficult time enforcing in the community if the officers were allowed back on the streets.
In a white supremacy system all white people should be suspected of being racists. To the extent that you might be dealing with a racist, attempt to comply with police orders. In face to face confrontations with white police officers, white supremacy is your reality. All of your so-called rights may be dealt with later - should they allow it. Nevertheless, avoid incriminating yourself or participating in your own oppression. Victims are rarely in a position to make demands - defense attorneys should keep this in mind.