Video of Police actually Looting :(

[edbri871]

http://riotvideo.com/Cops_Looting_New_O ... trina.html

This is simply pathetic

[scostorms]

Oh no it's the end of the world. I don't see why the public can loot as long as it is not violent, yet the police when they loot it's all media attention. Like, give me a break who really cares if the police are taking some shoes and shirts. Thousands are dying, and this news station reports some police officers taking clothes. This is ridiculous. If I was that reporter, I would be pretty embarassed. All that stuff is useless now, why let it go to waste.

[simplykristi]

That's disgusting. What hapened to serve and protect?

Kristi

[themusk]

The New Orleans PD has a reputation for corruption, and unfortunately that video illustrates why (keep in mind that they were not only looting, while they were looting somewhere else in the city someone was probably drowning or being raped or beaten or stabbed or shot).

That said, not all NOLA police officers are of that ilk. New Orleans cops should not all be painted as corrupt thieves who desert their posts, any more than all victims of the storm are murderous criminals and looters too lazy to get out.

[edbri871]

There is a difference is looting for food to survive, but when the police are there to serve and protect the people, and to keep order, they should not being taking clothing for themselves. Pathetic

[Windy]

Agreed, though there has been a call from several sheriffs depts for people -- anyone, really, to send them some clothing because, well, they're out and have been wearing the same stuff for 6 days.

I wanted to punch that reporter. Kid's eyeballing a pink pair of pants and he makes a snarky remark. Obviously if a boy is lifting a pink pair of pants in the middle of the greatest catastrophe in American history, he's not thinking about fashion.

Makes me happy I'm not watching MSNBC much.

[al79philly]

I wanted to punch that reporter. Kid's eyeballing a pink pair of pants and he makes a snarky remark. Obviously if a boy is lifting a pink pair of pants in the middle of the greatest catastrophe in American history, he's not thinking about fashion.

Makes me happy I'm not watching MSNBC much.

Unfortunately, that's going to make for an awkward conversation when the kid's parents see the video. "So...all the other kids were taking bikes and footballs and you were stealing.... pink women's shorts... Hmmm... Maybe we need to talk."

[GalvestonDuck]

How about this one: http://riotvideo.com/Katrina-_Weatherman_Yells.html

[baygirl_1]

How prophetic are Martin Savidge's words at the end of that video: "How far will it (the breakdown of law and order) go in 3 or 4 days?" That occurred the day after the hurricane (Tuesday). I can certainly understand people trying to find food, water, and even perhaps clothing. However, the people in that video were taking away kids' cars and bikes! Also, the cops were shopping-- the weren't just trying to find anything to wear. No. They were being very choosy about the merchandise they were putting in their basket. The fact is when they became police officers they pledged to uphold law and order. I have family and friends in law enforcement (police and sheriff departments). It's one thing to be overwhelmed with violations of the law and turn a blind eye. That is bad enough. But to actually take part in such behavior is abhorrent.

[Cookiely]

How prophetic are Martin Savidge's words at the end of that video: "How far will it (the breakdown of law and order) go in 3 or 4 days?" That occurred the day after the hurricane (Tuesday). I can certainly understand people trying to find food, water, and even perhaps clothing. However, the people in that video were taking away kids' cars and bikes! Also, the cops were shopping-- the weren't just trying to find anything to wear. No. They were being very choosy about the merchandise they were putting in their basket. The fact is when they became police officers they pledged to uphold law and order. I have family and friends in law enforcement (police and sheriff departments). It's one thing to be overwhelmed with violations of the law and turn a blind eye. That is bad enough. But to actually take part in such behavior is abhorrent.

I agree. Police and others of authority are held to a higher standard. They shame the badge.

[Galvestongirl]

I personally hope someone above their head has seen this, and they are repramanded approprately! What an example to set for everyone else, how can a person restor law and order, when they themselves are out of controll.....this just absolutely P)@#$ me off.

[themusk]

For a balanced view here and to honor the police who have brought honor to their city and their badge:

Waiting for help, officers keep a lonely vigil

[JQ Public]

eh who cares....it was clothing. I'm sure walmart has been crippled by this. Police are people too.

[Windy]

I personally hope someone above their head has seen this, and they are repramanded approprately! What an example to set for everyone else, how can a person restor law and order, when they themselves are out of controll.....this just absolutely P)@#$ me off.

How do you get reprimanded when the city more or less no longer exists? More than 40% of the force has just walked off the job. My guess is that punishing looting cops is going to be low on the list of priorities as they try to figure what the heck to do with NOLA over the next few years.

I understand the western tendency to immediately react negatively when lawlessness is seen on TV, but, really, stopping looting of NOLA's vacant commerical buildings right now is priority #4,945 -- priority #1 being saving lives, priority #2 being sustaining lives, and priority #3 being evacuating people.

[oneness]

For a balanced view here and to honor the police who have brought honor to their city and their badge:

Waiting for help, officers keep a lonely vigil

Great story, thanks for that.

[crazycajuncane]

The weatherman snapping like that is funny!

[Wacahootaman]

Good post Baygirl

How prophetic are Martin Savidge's words at the end of that video: "How far will it (the breakdown of law and order) go in 3 or 4 days?" That occurred the day after the hurricane (Tuesday). I can certainly understand people trying to find food, water, and even perhaps clothing. However, the people in that video were taking away kids' cars and bikes! Also, the cops were shopping-- the weren't just trying to find anything to wear. No. They were being very choosy about the merchandise they were putting in their basket.

It is incredible that many on this thread justify this police corruption. Police corruption is a cancer.

The fact that the NOLA police largely collapsed and those that tried to do their job were not supported by an incompetent city hall is the main reason that hundreds died needlessly in the aftermath of the hurricane.

Yet the NOLA police had had numerous scandals involving payoffs, thefts and worse before the hurricane so this should not surprise anyone fimiliar with their history.

[natmicstef]

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to sit back and do nothing"...

It is not ok for policemen to steal and saying its no big deal is condoning the doing of wrong and setting the scene for more and worse to follow.

[Wacahootaman]

The cops reply was really a classic!

When asked by the reporter who caught her looting on camera what she was doing, she replied

"Just doing my job.

Taking shoes?

No Looking for looters"

And he asks, " Did ya find any?"

LOL, this is some of the most newsworthy video to come out of this story!

But it will be supressed if not censored because it is not politically correct.

Just watch.

[Windy]

Good post Baygirl

How prophetic are Martin Savidge's words at the end of that video: "How far will it (the breakdown of law and order) go in 3 or 4 days?" That occurred the day after the hurricane (Tuesday). I can certainly understand people trying to find food, water, and even perhaps clothing. However, the people in that video were taking away kids' cars and bikes! Also, the cops were shopping-- the weren't just trying to find anything to wear. No. They were being very choosy about the merchandise they were putting in their basket.

It is incredible that many on this thread justify this police corruption. Police corruption is a cancer.

The fact that the NOLA police largely collapsed and those that tried to do their job were not supported by an incompetent city hall is the main reason that hundreds died needlessly in the aftermath of the hurricane.

Yet the NOLA police had had numerous scandals involving payoffs, thefts and worse before the hurricane so this should not surprise anyone fimiliar with their history.

I'm not defending the cops on a moral level, I'm simply saying that, pragmatically, this sort of thing usually happens in these types of situations. It's NOT right, but it's not a priority to fix it.