CYRIL FARR writes:
Last week’s Kempton Express detailed another incident of police brutality, this time allegedly perpetrated by EMPD officers on a Bonaero park mother and daughter. I am sure the real criminals must be shaking in fear of being apprehended by those “brave” cops.
It seems that despite extensive adverse publicity in Express the bully cops have not been deterred and the incidences are actually increasing, probably because their bosses are turning a blind eye to police excesses.
Also read:
• Women involved in metro police brutality speak out
The lady victim doesn’t seem to be entirely blameless because she drove off after being stopped in a speed trap, and frankly I am tired of motorists breaking the speeding laws and putting other lives at risk, but that does not warrant rogue police officers behaving like jackboot Gestapo in a Banana Republic Police State, brandishing their firearms and assaulting women in Women’s Month, nogal.
Kempton Express performs a vital watchdog community service by regularly exposing the warts in our City and its encouraging to see that Kemptonians are not playing the victim and are pressing criminal charges against rogue cops.
Such cops are giving a bad reputation to the great majority of really brave and decent police officers who are the thin line protecting the vulnerable public from criminal anarchy, and the rotten apples should be weeded out, with the good cops being in the forefront of exposing the minority detritus in their midst.
Very often, police do not take seriously charges against one of their own, and ideally, criminal charges for assault by police officers should be laid with the Independent Police Investigative Unit. Alternatively, police can also be sued for damages, preferably in their personal capacity and not the department, so that they feel the impact of financial sanctions in their own pocket.
If the victim was also racially insulted as the Bonaero ladies allege, crimen injuria can be added to the assault charges, and for good measure, a charge of wrongful arrest can be added to the basket of charges.
Such resolute attrition by victims of police assault will deter other potential thuggish behaviour from police officers who are tasked by society to protect and serve.
