Baltimore Cop Suspended after Video Surfaces
by Big Dog on Feb 12, 2008 at 11:11 General
A Baltimore City police officer has been suspended after a video of him surfaced on You Tube. The officer is shown harassing a 14 year old kid who was skateboarding. It is not clear in the video but it appears that the police officer, Salvatore Rivieri, told the boys earlier that they were not allowed to skateboard there and then they did it again. Rivieri get pretty abusive and he assaults one of the children.
The video, available here, shows Rivieri verbally abusing one of the skate boarding kids (the others, according to the officer, had sense enough to shut up). Rivieri is seen yelling at the kids and threatens to smack one of them around and then he confiscates the skateboard and throws the kid to the ground. When the kid tries to get up the officer is there to ensure he stays on the ground.
It appeared to me that this cop had an attitude and that he has this ego problem where he believes that people are required to show him respect because he wears a badge. It is no secret that I have no use for most cops and that I find them irritating and egotistical. They think that because they carry a badge and a gun they are hot stuff when many are nothing more than corrupt (case in point) abusers of their power.
This incident could have ended quickly and without the drama if the police officer, the supposed adult in this situation, had not kept goading the kid and going after him. If the cop felt it was necessary to confiscate the skateboard then he should have done so without assaulting the kid. Kids are a pain in the rear end but that does not give the police officers license to abuse them.
Paul Blair of the police union said that a video only shows one part of the story. Perhaps so (no one ever looked at the other story in the Rodney King video) but it is pretty clear in this video that the cop was abusing the kid and trying to assert his authority in a fashion not warranted by the situation. The kid’s biggest offense was calling the cop dude.
Mr. Blair should also pay attention to the end of the video. Officer Rivieri notices the person with the camera and asks “is that camera on?” The person must answer no and Rivieri says “I better not see myself on…” just as the camera goes blank. It is obvious he knew he was wrong and he did not want it taped.
Well it was and I hope he pays for violating the civil rights of this kid and for assaulting him. Unfortunately for the kid, he is white so Jackson and Sharpton will not be organizing marches and protests on his behalf. If the kid had been black we would be having a field day here with the race baiters.
I hope this kid learned a lesson. Always carry donuts when skateboarding. Another thing to remember, these kind of jackass cops are all over and they are just as disrespectful to the adults who pay their salaries.
Story at WBAL
Tags: baltimore cop, child abuse, ego problem, suspended cop
It surprises me that you talk about cops in general with such disdain. In my opinion there are just as many people in the Military that abuse power and are sleazy like a bad cop. In the end both the Armed Forces and the Police are pretty important parts of our society, right up there with Firefighters, so what’s the difference?
I have seen too many bad ones. The military does something about bad people, the cops hide them in the thin blue line.
Wow, we partially agree on something! I knew it would eventually happen 😉 I didn’t realize you had a hidden rebel in you. You should let that light shine thru sometimes.
The cop was over-the-top and he represents the worst in cop behavior. Someone who is such a petty authoritarian should never be given a badge. And he makes all cops look like dicks, which obviously, they all aren’t.
Not sure if I agree with your statement about Sharpton. He’d probably agree that the cop was overreacting and the fact of the matter is black people get this treatment quite often. Hell, anyone who doesn’t fit into the typical law-and-order mindset of thuggish cops gets it from time to time: hippies, skateboarders, minorities, people who look different, people who are mentally retarded (and get tazed because the cops mistakenly think they’re dealing with someone dangerous), people who demand that the cops respect their rights, etc. I’ve read that in Germany they specifically single out the LAPD as people that German tourists should NOT talk to.
The only newsworthy thing about this story is that it was a white 14 year old and that it was caught on film. These incidents happen all the time.
Analyze the video carefully. When the video starts, the cop wasn’t angry. That kid mouthed off right away, and he kept mouthing off.
The first kid knew they were in trouble — you can hear it in his voice — he knew they were skating at a place where they weren’t supposed to skate. He tells the cop that the other kid has earplugs in.
Then the other kid (with earplugs out) never answers any of the cop’s questions. He doesn’t answer, he says he’s going to call his mom. He ignores what he is told to do until he is pushed around (and even then he continues to passively resist).
I agree that the cop over-reacted, but that kid was asking for it. Kids who behave like that are not very deserving of respect. If the idea is that respect is earned not given, then that should apply to the kids, too. Why were they riding their skateboards at a place that doesn’t allow it? What’s respectful about that? Why was that kid mouthing off? Why are you so willing to give your respect to that kid?
I think you have it in for cops and can’t see past your bias. If you believe in people earning respect, why aren’t you complaining about the kids not earing it?
27 years ago when I was a naive law student from a middle class home, I believed that all law enforcement officers were right and that they only accused guilty people. Now, after more than a quarter of a century dealing in the legal profession, I am sad to say that the conduct of this officer is far too common. (By the way, I do not do criminal defense work). While I have the utmost respect for those civil servants who conduct themselves professionally, I believe that there should be a no tolerence policy for any officer who treats a child like this, even one time! This officer should be fired and never given another job in law enforcement. What most law abiding Americans do not realize is how pervasive this type of behaviour is among law enforcement officers.
Andy,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Make no mistake, I do not exonerate the kid but he is a kid. The cop is an adult and he is a peace officer. He could have written citations or arrested them but to physically handle the kid and push him back down is wrong.
The kid could have been taken home to his mother and a citation written. In any event, the cop was way out of line. We expect kids to push the envelope but what separates adults from children is the way each responds to an incident.
He is a kid. Thats was kids in Colorado and Kentucky. Thats the problem today. Poor kids they do nothing its the establishment. I’m 60 years old and have never seen such disrespect by kids. Well maybe he might be lucky and have a policemen get there before the punk gets gundown. Oh thats right those dirty cops!
Jim,
I think that if this was any other adult there would be charges filed. At the very least he should loose his job to regain trust for the department.
What I would like to point out is that the cameraman is very smart. He is taking the footage slightly off center so the cop will not turn on him but in the end attracts the officers displeasure. I would like to know what happened then for those of you defending this pillar of the community. He knew he was in the wrong and lost it on this kid.
Even if the kid did mouth off there is no call for a cop to hit a child. that is child abuse.
if the cop thought the kid did something that bad he should have arrested him not wrestle him t the ground or push him down. the cop is a thug with a badge. any cop that hits a kid when the kid did nto attemp to attack or physically injure the cop is worthless and should be charged with everything they can throw at him.
I use to go skateboarding in places that you weren’t allowed to skate in and that’s just kids being kids. But, when you get caught, apologize and go on. That kid was very disrespectful. He was just trying to be a Billy Badass in front of his kids and he pushed the cops buttons. Cops are human like us and make mistakes, therefore just about all of you who say he is wrong, you’re right, but if it was you, it would be alright cause the boy was a little punk and deserved it. The cop should retain his job. And the boy should check his attitude.
What we should do to prove that we hate cops is that when our house got burglarized, we don’t call cops.
I don’t understand how the kid was being that disrespectful! The cop needs to be ABOVE petty childish remarks. If the kid said something under his breath, the cop needs to let it go and carry on. Thats why ADULTS are cops. But this stuff happens all the time.
Why are cops always around for petty bullsh*t, but when you REALLY NEED them, they take like 3 hours to get there.
More and more people need to tape cops “in action” so that people can SEE what cops really are….
…inadequate…
Why do we give people with no college education, no background in human psychology, and no ability to keep their temper a GUN.
Isn’t it messed-up to anybody that we arm some of the dumbest people in society with firearms? And the only reason we’re told to do EVERYTHING they say is because of a badge?
I live in Baltimore and have nothing but respect for the cops I’ve encountered. They are friendly courteous helpful etc. This guy is someone who somehow made it through the screening process by error. He needs to be cut loose. Some people are just not meant to serve
The kid was a punk and the cop over reacted. Normal reactions by people everyday. But I agree with everyone that says the cop should be punished. He is the adult and more so a police officer. Especially since he has been on the Baltimore City police force for such a long time, he should know how to conduct himself in a calm and collected manner.
I agree with the no tolerance policy stated by charles, but it should be expanded to include an officer getting caught over stepping his authority on any occasion. If you abuse your power, it should be revoked. What he did was illegal, civilians rarely get away with minor infractions when caught in the eyes of the law. Why should a policeman be any different?
That kid deserved it. He didn’t stop skateboarding when he was asked, he didn’t hand over the skateboard when it was confiscated, then he lunged at the officer to wrestle the skateboard back. The kid is just one skateboard and 4 years away from being a full-grown criminal. The kid is practicing his craft. The officer didn’t react in a “politically” correct manner, but it’s all this politeness that is screwing up American kids!
Mother of 2, that kid did not deserve to be assaulted by the police officer who threw him down and then pushed him down again. If the kid is not obeying write him a ticket or arrest him. A badge does not give the cop the right to assault people.
Pete, what difference does it make? The cops only come AFTER a crime. It would be a different story if they were there to prevent the crime but they are not.
Remember, when seconds count the police are only minutes away.
I think everyone is overlooking at WHY the cop was yelling at the kids. They were committing the crime of skateboarding in public..COME ON. I hope I don’t get stopped for riding my bike to work and harassed and then physically abused for this. I don’t understand why respect is even at question here. Respect isn’t part of the law and and should be determined on an individual basis, as this officer does not deserve any respect in this situation. He merely took advantage of the situation and wouldn’t have responded in such a manner if the kids were older. He just wanted to throw some fourteen year old kids around. I think he deserves to get fired not just suspended.
I know a lot of police officers, I’m not going to go into how, but I do. Fact is they are people just like anyone else, and can over react just like any other person. Now because of their position we hold them to a higher standard then we do other people we encounter everyday (as we should, after all they are trained and carry weapons) but they can still make mistakes like anyone else. Also every once in a while or in other words, all the time and every day, some people who should not be cops get through the system and become cops. These less then savory individuals treat everyone just like what we have seen here. I like to call these cops by their other more appropriate name dirty f’n pigs. I believe on most police cars it still reads to protect and to serve, not “respect me or else”
Michael, no one is overlooking the fact that the kids did something wrong. The reaction is the problem. If this guy pulled an adult over for speeding we would not accept this kind of behavior.
The kids were wrong but we pay the police to handle the situation as professionals. If he was frustrated then he needs a break.
Andy and Michael you are bot retards. The kid did not mouth of at all he was just trying to answer the cop and the cop continually interrupted and thats why he wasn’t getting his questions answered. He had no right to yell at any of the kids it’s not like they were doing anything really wrong to begin with, this cop could of been anywhere else in town pursuing the real wrong doers but instead he likes to be a bully to kids who are just trying to have fun. This cop just needs to be fired and never let around people again.
Big Dog and Kenny,
Michael was just exhibiting the fine art of sarcasm at the beginning of his post. He goes on to say “this officer does not deserve any respect…” and “he deserves to get fired not just suspended.”
However you are both correct in saying Andy is a complete idiot. 😉
John,
I noticed that after I wrote. It is what happens when I do not have a sufficient amount of coffee..
Hey… it is not letting me post a link so you guys have to put
rivieri kick camera
into google and click the second result. It is another video of the same cop going off on an art student doing a project in Baltimore!
Here is the link
OK people! I agree the Police Officer was terrible and the child was a wonderful little boy. He,ll grow up and kill a few people so what. I am sixty years old and amazed how kids are today. I’ve seen them spit on older people, laugh at handicap people and of course be disrespectable to teachers,police,elderly, or adults. But I want to thank everyone for protecting these wonderful example of the human race. Great kids!
John, for a 60 year old you sure don’t act mature and you don’t pay attention. No one here said the kid was an angel or that he did nothing wrong. Despite what the kid did, the cop should not have reacted that way. Beating on a person is police brutality.
Arrest him, ticket him or take him home to his parents but the cop was over the line in the way he acted. The kid might grow up to kill someone or that cop might injure a person.
How would you feel if this guy stopped your wife for speeding and he smacked her around a bit because she was to slow getting her license?
The kid was wrong but at your age you should know that you do not justify bad behavior by pointing tot he bad behavior of others.
BY NOW I WOULD HOPE YOU HAVE SEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD VID OF THIS COP AT YOUTUBE. TO FIND THE HARDER TO FIND VID, SEARCH “BALTIMORE COP BMXERS”
THIS COP NEVER LOST HIS COOL, HE HAD NONE TO LOOSE.
HIS JOB HAS LONG SINCE GONE TO HIS HEAD, I WONDER VALIUM?
Wait a second. That kid DID NOTHING WRONG. Skateboarding where signs say “no skateboarding”? That makes him a criminal? He was being a kid. He didn’t hear the cop at first, but was never disrespectful.
Police officers are not above any laws. They can’t just go around acting like bullies. In this situation, the police officer is the criminal, not the 14 year old boy.
He deserves to be terminated.
I agree!
OK I,m sorry we’ll all have a pity party for the young kids that are picked on by cops and cheer for all the cops gunned down.
John, maybe next time you get stopped a cop can slap you around for being ignorant.
All the cops gunned down? Baltimore had nearly 300 murders last year and i can’t recall them being cops. More cops here get killed in car accidents.
First you question my maturity and then you tell me I’m ignorant. Typical liberal view that can’t stand opposite view. The kid was a punk.Didn’t know what respect meant. By the way I deal with these spoiled rotten kids all the time.My job.
John, I have no liberal views. I believe that the police should be held to higher standards than the public because we give them a badge and a gun and they should follow the laws.
NO POLICE OFFICER should be allowed to throw a kid around. It is plain and simple. Unless that kid had a weapon or was fighting that police officer then there should be no beat down by the cop. The cop tried to confiscate the skateboard and he abused the kid. Then when the kid tried to get up the cop pushed him down. That is abuse and it is against the law.
I meant being ignorant with the police…
I don’t care who you deal with every day. If you beat up kids without provocation you should not be employed. If you cannot use the tools available to you to keep the kids in line you should find other work.
This kid was wrong and he should have gotten a ticket or been arrested if he was giving the police officer a hard time. The cop crossed the line and should have to pay for it.
If a cop did that to my kid he had better hope I never found him out of uniform. To protect and serve (and beat your kids). Get real John, punk kids or not unless you are attacked you have no right to put your hand on them. If you think you do, you are part of the problem.
fired that douche!!
Believe me I’M not part of the problem. All my children are grown up and in careers. They all know if they had talk to a police officer,teacher, or even older people that way I would of thrown there ass to the ground.By the way locally we had police show restaint with a13 year old, he is dead and not 13 year old who thought it was funny. Your theory works the cop didn’t put his hand on the kid.
John,
It is a matter of common sense. The kid was obviously not a threat. If that kid was a threat to any man than I question the manliness of that so called man. The kid was not armed and he did not fight with the cop.
Showing restraint is warranted unless the situation shows there is danger. Only an idiot believes that this cop was in danger.
Once again John, no one is saying the kid was in the right, only that the cop acted incorrectly. Ticket or arrest but don’t beat the kid up. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A NON VIOLENT SITUATION until the cop got violent…
I feel the same way as the cop . kids today have no respect for anyone . I was very glad he did not put his hands on the boy but do understand the cops frustration .
I don’t disagree that the kid was being disrespectful, esspecially if the cop had told them before not to skateboard there, but that doesn’t give him the right to throw the kid around. Police are supposed to use reasonable force to end a situation. The kid wasn’t being violent, wasn’t resisting, and still the cop threw him around. That is excessive force, and possible criminal battery. I agree that the cop should be fired, and charged.
Wow thats a child getting abuse a white boy even worse
I know I am restating a position here that has been stated over and over here in the comments but I feel it deserves support. Cop have no F&^%ing right to treat anyone that way. Like you said who is the adult and who has the power? I mean really is it necessary or is it like you said an ego that demands respect that is at work here? Keep up the good work.