PoliceLink

Ok guys(and gals), here is a true story and it's followed by some questions.My cousin joined the police force in Puerto Rico and was involved in some type of drug bust while he was still in his probationary period or training period(not sure which or how it works over there).During the bust his sergeant started to beat on one of the guys that was handcuffed with a club, baton, etc, not sure really.My cousin knew the guy from growing up together in the same neighborhood and school.He told the sarge to stop and was told to mind his own business and continued to work the guy over with the stick so my cousin tried to stop him physically.It turned into an ugly scene, both of them fighting and ended with my cousin losing his job.My cousin was terribly ashamed of getting kicked off the force and has lied to everyone saying that he is still a cop, only his immediate family and well, a few others really know the truth.I know that he wasn't siding with the criminal over his fellow officers, he just felt that it was wrong to beat on a handcuffed prisoner and tried to stop it.At least that's what I think knowing my cousin.Law enforcement in PR is not the same as here in the US, lots of corruption, police are severely outgunned and out manned, etc.Criminals literally run entire areas and neighborhoods over there.About 10 years ago the National Guard was called in by the governor to help with the druglords and crime it got so bad.My question is, did my cousin do the right thing?Did he have the right idea but went about it the wrong way, was he justified or do you never second guess in a situation like that?Things are dealt with differently over there than they are here so does that make any difference?The other question would be, if he moved to the states would he be able to get into LE in the states or would this disqualify him?I personally feel that he was right to try and stop it but am not so sure about how he went about it.All comments, questions, or answers are welcome, thnx.

SO168 says ...

i think what your cousin did was right. he told his sgt to stop beating on a handcuffed prisoner. even though the prisoner is a shit bag thats still a violation a civil rights. the sgt did not stop so your cousin had two choices to look the other way or do what was morally right. i think thats crazy he got fired do they not have cameras and recorders over there? in tx that sgt would have been the one to loose his job. im not sure abut the ? of your cousinn becoming a po in the states im sure he could.  i wish him luck in the future!

He did the right thing.  Of course, your comments about this only happening outside the US is a little skewed. First hand experience of the same thing happening where I worked numerous times by those in leadership positions.  Good ole Police Work in Georgia as I was told!!!

I'm sure he would be able to obtain a position in LE in the US. 

Why was this thread moved to non sworn personnel?I placed it in ask a cop on purpose.Anyone can answer but I was looking for cops to answer mainly.

I have had to restrain a fellow officer before and I would do it again. Thankfully, I was able to restrain him before he did anything bad. The guy was handcuffed and pushing the officers buttons. He deserved a good whooping don't get me wrong, but he wasn't worth my brother LEO losing his job over. The bad thing is that I went to school with the suspect and part of what made the other officer mad was that the suspect was saying stuff to me.