Thread by @ScottHech

A cop slapped a handcuffed man dying of a drug overdose. Called him a “bitch.” Shoved a baton in his mouth. That cop got suspended 6 days. But the cop who revealed the cruelty was expelled from the cop union. Now faces 20 years prison for whistleblowing. usatoday.com/story/news/inv…

Sgt. Javier Esqueda shared w/ reporter footage showing how colleagues slapped a Black man in medical distress, restricted his airway, & shoved a baton in his mouth hours before his death. *Esqueda* now faces up to 20 years prison for releasing footage. usatoday.com/story/news/inv…

Members of the Joliet Illinois Police Union voted 35-1 to expel Javier Esqueda for exposing footage of police abuse. “In a letter informing him of the vote, union leaders described his conduct as “reprehensible.” Not the cops though who shoved a baton down a dying man’s throat.

Even more brazen than charging a cop w/ official misconduct for whistleblowing about physically abusing a dying man: theyre doing so while in the national spotlight after USA Today launched a series on *cops who have spoken out against alleged misconduct in their departments.*

While whistleblower faces 20 years, cops involved in Eric Lurry’s death got minor punishments. The harshest: A “6-day suspension of an officer who turned off the sound to the recording in the moments after the sergeant slapped Lurry & called him a "bitch." usatoday.com/story/news/inv…

I misread. Back to first tweet. Wasn’t just one cop who slapped a dying 37 y/o Black man named Eric Lurry, called him a “bitch,” shoved a baton down his throat, drove him to station instead of hospital, & tried to cover it up. It was a *full team of cops.* Lurry’s wife Nicole:

“Prosecutors cleared the officers involved”—caught on camera abusing the body of dying man—“of any criminal wrongdoing.”

Yet prosecutors took the recommendation of police officials & charged the cop who shared the footage w/ misconduct. “Faces 20 years.”usatoday.com/story/news/inv…

Reporter who exposed hundreds of like retaliations. “It doesn't matter how bad the stuff is they expose: deputies beating a man who later died; a captain impregnated a 16 y/o girl then paid for an abortion; co-worker bragging about killing an unarmed teen.”

https://twitter.com/brettmmurphy/status/1458082591144304651?s=21

Cop Unions everywhere are brazen & lawless. In Ohio, cops slammed paraplegic man to ground. Knee to back. Union: “Sometimes the arrest of noncompliant individuals is not pretty, but is a necessary part of law enforcement to maintain public safety."nbcnews.to/3Dso7ia

In Philadelphia, police broke car windows. Pulled a 2 y/o Black toddler out & away from his family. Injured his mom. Then police union posted a photo of the child. Claimed officers were protecting him after he got “lost.” Propaganda: thedailybeast.com/cops-took-blac…

The Chicago police union president made clear last year that any efforts by police to demonstrate support for Black Lives Matter protests would be met with disciplinary action.

In Rochester, NY, after violently cuffing & pepper-spraying a 9 y/o in mental health distress on video, cops were only *suspended. Mayor wanted to do more. "Unfortunately, state law & union contract prevents me from taking more immediate & serious action." npr.org/2021/02/01/962…

Meet Pat Lynch. NYPD union head. Defended Eric Garner’s killer. Threatened strike if fired. Claimed firing him would “freeze the police dept” apparently bc no officers will feel free to kill civilians anymore w/o fear of accountability. Calls protestors “criminal advocates.”

The official Twitter account for the Sergeants Benevolent Association. Representing 13k current/retired NYPD Sergeants. Here attacking NYPD head for speaking out against a Sergeant who killed a 66 y/o Black woman w/ mental illness with 2 close range shots.

https://twitter.com/sbanypd_archive/status/1076739149976227840?s=21

The San Francisco cop Union, like every other police union, takes every opportunity to weaponize a tragedy to call for greater harshness. Even though they know greater harshness doesn't deter, undermines public safety, & fails to heal trauma of survivors.

https://twitter.com/sanfranciscopoa/status/1447583323346255882?s=21

NYPD Fabio Nunez had 19 substantiated force complaints. $200k in civil rights settlements. Choked & tasered a man leaving burn marks for a *noise complaint.* Thanks to Union: Salaried on force 3 years since. Punishment: retirement w/o vacation/overtime. nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-c…

The NYPD Union claimed cop Fabio Nunez did nothing wrong: “[Nunez] adamantly denies ever using a prohibited chokehold.”

And despite this photo showing him strangle a man over a noise complaint, they won. He got 3 years salary. And got to retire.

In short, #abolishpoliceunions.

While I have your attention (thank you) I want to share some critical additional readings for you. Starting with this one from my colleague Alec Karakatsanis, head of Civil Rights Corps, on some of the most common police talking points & how to respond:

https://twitter.com/equalityAlec/status/1422949466986921991?s=20

I wrote recently about how media & even very well-intentioned journalists enable the policing status quo to continue. I critiqued 2 reports from NPR & NY Times & offered a roadmap for journalists on how to do better journalism on crime & punishment. thenation.com/article/societ…

Here is a report you likely didn't hear about. Last month, *the most robust criminological study in history was released.* "Incarceration cannot be justified on grounds it affords public safety." Translation: Prison does not make us safer. Read:

https://twitter.com/ScottHech/status/1447598365252874240?s=20

You should read this extraordinary report on how media ran w/ police talking points on bail reform in NY & successfully pressured a Democratic party-controlled legislature & executive to roll back bail reform based on lies. Power of media.fwd.us/news/new-repor…

I wrote years ago, but still relevant, about how mandatory minimum sentences coerce plea deals that insulate bad police conduct. And even when cops are caught in a lie on the stand, judges/prosecutors keep relying on them.nytimes.com/2019/09/25/opi…