On Aug. 9, 1997, more than three years into Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani’s first term, a 30-year-old Haitian immigrant named Abner Louima was arrested and brutalized by a white police officer inside the restroom of the 70th Precinct station house in Brooklyn. The attack became a national symbol of police brutality and fed perceptions that white police officers in New York were harassing or abusing young black men as part of a citywide crackdown on crime.
One officer, Justin A. Volpe, admitted in court in May 1999 that he had rammed a broken broomstick into Mr. Louima’s rectum, and then had thrust it in his face. He said he had mistakenly believed that Mr. Louima had punched him in the head during a street brawl outside a nightclub, but he acknowledged that he had also intended to humiliate the handcuffed immigrant. He left the force and was later sentenced to 30 years in prison. The commanders of the 70th Precinct were replaced within days of the assault.
As the legal case wound on, Charles Schwarz, a former police officer, was sentenced in federal court in 2002 to five years in prison for perjury stemming from the torture case. A jury found that Mr. Schwarz had lied when he testified that he had not taken Mr. Louima to the station house bathroom where the assault took place.
Mr. Louima, who was born in Thomassin, Haiti, on November 24, 1966, and immigrated to New York in 1991, won more than $8 million in settlements with the city and the police union. Afterward, he moved to Florida.
Mr. Giuliani denounced the assault, but many black leaders have held him responsible for the aggressive policing they say prompted the attacks.
14 comments:
That's a good example for the rest of police officers to learn from.Anything wrong happen can follow you, sometimes some of them are lucky to escape certain punishments based on racial factor.Not all the time the same can happen, they should remember their mission as " protect and serve" in order for the public to feel safe when they have seen cops.
I think in Michael is just using this as a way to get rich quick. I'm not saying they were right for what they did if it did in deed happen, but come on now. The first case they were 100% wrong for what they did even if it were just a case of mistaken identity. Police officer should be protecting the civilians not turturing them as they've done......2053
D.J. 8791 ---> I find it extremely disturbing how officers and sometimes lawyers behave as if they have no heart. I know there are some crazy, mentally ill people running around in this world but these individuals (lawyers & officers) always try to put individuals 6ft under in their organized lies. The only reason the Lawyer is defending them anyway is because he is getting payed! The officers will do anything to keep themselves out of Jail and they trying to say this guy made the whole story up, faked his injury, for money?
Firstly, of all the Police officers you could have chosen - why those three (3)? Of all the outstanding warrants you have - why put yourself in even deeper poop with the Justice system? The only reason why those cops beat him up that badly and threw him out like trash is because they thought, having such a bad record as he does, he would have kept his mouth closed.
There are so many corrupted officers in the force today that it is extremely hard to believe just any. Especially when they try to use mental disability and/or financial want against those victims - so now everyone is crazy and money hungry? what about you? RIDICULOUS. These officers try to put civilians down all the time and expect that they should behave better towards them. It's either they step up to the table and start conducting things in a more appreciable manner or prepared to be beating people down and being prosecuted for the rest of their time on that job. The huge barrier and level of hatred that has grown between the civilians and those who are 'supposed' to be protecting them is a SHAME.
At long last the price of abuse, $8million dollars, being abuse is not a quick rich scheme especially when it is a men reporting that other men did it to him, it is at most humiliating and degrading. No wonder he left the state, would he have still been a target for testifying?? Things that make you go Humm
My nephew was a victim to police brutality. Unfortunately justice did not prevailed. In urban communities it is the closest you can get to reality. we have to deal with random illegal searches and seizures, harrassment, and physical abuse in the hands of law enforcement. all the rights our great leaders had fought for do not mean anything to these white and black police officers who should make sure no one is not violating our Constitutional rights. people in all communities should have awareness of their rights as a cititzen of the United States and educate other so they would not be subjected to this type of unruly behavior. SJS-5514
And the beat goes on.......this country will never change. Police brutality has become synonymous with child birth, they both occur every minute of every day and either the strong survive or they perish. Why, why, why would anyone justify the behavior of these officers? They did what they did and there is no excuse! 5223
@ Elizabeth had you taken the time to actually read the comment you would see that i am talking about "Michael" AS STATED and not Mr. Louima.....VAF2053
I think when some is handcuffed and you assault them you are a PUNK!!!!AH1123
you know what... this is Sick! We are in the US of A... we have rights as individuals... and if this individual was not brutally assaulted none of this would of transpired! If I was assaulted in any way by law enforcement... by the same ppl that were suppose to protect me... I would sue, I would make it public i would do what it would take to make sure that people no longer get a way w/ something like this!
I'm glad he has gotten his justice I I hope cop remember what their duty is. Protect not harm. Sk
Lisa i agree so much with you. Law Enforcement at times do things without thinking and i know that we all are human but wat did this man do so bad that you assualt them in the worst way?
SB8642
What comes around goes around, God doesn't like ugly!!!!!
These police officers have to start thinking before they act. SJC 1687
im glad that he got so much money, and thats good for that cop, he should have got more than 30 years, hope his a** learn his d*** lesson.
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