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Changing Hawaii
IT made for a riveting and dramatic TV news clip, that's for sure. Last week, a black suspect in a Philadelphia carjacking was pulled from the vehicle by police, then beaten and stomped by at least a dozen law-enforcement personnel -- both black and white, uniformed and plain-clothes -- for about 30 seconds before being led away. No excuse for
police brutality,
say ex-copsUnfortunately for the cops (but luckily for suspect Thomas Jones), a news helicopter caught his apprehension live on camera and beamed it to that city's wide-eyed residents.
Later, it was shared with the nation via CNN, FOX News and other television outlets, much to the mortification of Philadelphia civic leaders and police officials.
Immediately came their pleas not to rush to judgment, that an impartial investigation would commence, and that this was NOT another racially motivated incident of Rodney King proportions.
But those who saw the snippet of videotape were quick to judge, since how we characterize an event has much to do with past experiences and how we view the players involved.
A current or former police officer might watch the Philadelphia clip and see justifiable use of force to subdue a dangerous suspect. Meanwhile, a criminal defense attorney might see a shocking but typical case of "blue rage" in action.
But what would be the impressions of a couple of former Hawaii cops turned criminal defense attorneys -- like Dean Yamashiro of Oahu and Alexander "Alika" Thoene of the Big Island? What do they think of what happened to Thomas Jones?
"You cannot condone any type of police brutality," said Yamashiro, who served with the Honolulu Police Department from 1976-83 before graduating from the University of Hawaii law school and joining the public defender's office, where he now serves as chief deputy of the department.
Yamashiro said that, while he still has many friends on the force, he can remember working the receiving desk and seeing officers quickly lose their tempers with suspects and excessively use force.
That's when other police must immediately step in to break it up, not only for the alleged perpetrator's sake but also to keep their brethren in blue from getting into trouble, said Yamashiro.
THOENE, who served 15 years with HPD before becoming an attorney in Hilo, agreed that the stressfulness of law enforcement can easily lead to a roughing-up of suspects. But it's the cop's responsibility to exercise restraint, he pointed out.
"In training, we were taught to swallow dirt and spit out rocks," he said.
Thoene remembered that, while he was on the force, a tape of the Rodney King beating by Los Angeles police was used as an educational tool to demonstrate what could easily develop when "emotions run high."
"That tape was played to every HPD watch to show them how disgusting, demoralizing and degrading it was to the profession," recalled Thoene, who added that whatever justification was given for the brutality to King, "It was wrong."
Especially wrong because police are taught to use restraint and resort to force only when necessary. They are afforded the privilege of carrying guns and other weapons in accordance with their mandate to keep the peace. But they must never abuse their power or let their adrenaline get the best of them. Even if a thug deserves the worst.
Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
dchang@starbulletin.com, or by fax at 523-7863.