"If I believed that sending Anthony Abbate to prison would stop people from getting drunk and hitting other people, I'd sentence him to the maximum"
June 23, 2009 6:52 PM Subscribe
Anthony Abbate Gets Probation.
One really does have to ask the question: "Can a violent cop get jail time in Chicago?"
One really does have to ask the question: "Can a violent cop get jail time in Chicago?"
This post was deleted for the following reason: if this is a MeFi worthy topic, can someone please make the post wihtout the tagline editorial, please? -- jessamyn
Those guys that were sitting around watching that happen are a bunch of cowards.
posted by Falconetti at 7:08 PM on June 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Falconetti at 7:08 PM on June 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
This psychopath used to walk around with a badge and a gun.
This isn't relevant. He wasn't acting as a cop when he beat her, he was acting a regular guy. A regular guy with no prior criminal record, strong ties to the community and successfully went to rehab, i.e. the king of person who gets probation for this sort of offense all the time.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:10 PM on June 23, 2009
This isn't relevant. He wasn't acting as a cop when he beat her, he was acting a regular guy. A regular guy with no prior criminal record, strong ties to the community and successfully went to rehab, i.e. the king of person who gets probation for this sort of offense all the time.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:10 PM on June 23, 2009
One really does have to ask the question: "Can a violent cop get jail time in Chicago?"
I feel your pain. I think it's a real bummer that this guy got away with this. At least some jail time would've been something preferable, IMO, particularly since I think cops need to be held to an even higher standard in things like this than ordinary citizens. But I for one don't need that sort of editorializing in FPPs, and I believe this opinion is shared by many others here. Don't get me wrong, it's not a major offense, and I can empathize with your needing to get something off your chest, but readers here can reach their own conclusions about these things. The links alone, with news posts like this, should suffice.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:13 PM on June 23, 2009
I feel your pain. I think it's a real bummer that this guy got away with this. At least some jail time would've been something preferable, IMO, particularly since I think cops need to be held to an even higher standard in things like this than ordinary citizens. But I for one don't need that sort of editorializing in FPPs, and I believe this opinion is shared by many others here. Don't get me wrong, it's not a major offense, and I can empathize with your needing to get something off your chest, but readers here can reach their own conclusions about these things. The links alone, with news posts like this, should suffice.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:13 PM on June 23, 2009
I'm not arguing it's relevancy in the context of the kind of punishment he should get, Bulgaroktonos. I'm saying here's a guy with very apparent anger issues (as the video clearly demonstrates) who had a day job as a gun-wielding authoritarian figure. And I do find that more than a little frightening.
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 7:14 PM on June 23, 2009
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 7:14 PM on June 23, 2009
Don't we have designated people who come into these threads and explain that while in general, cops deserve punishment for doing wrong, cop X doesn't deserve any punishment? There's three posts in this thread already, folks, get with it.
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:17 PM on June 23, 2009
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:17 PM on June 23, 2009
Indeed, we haven't had an anti-cop thread in quite some time. Shall I pop some corn, then?
posted by jabberjaw at 7:17 PM on June 23, 2009
posted by jabberjaw at 7:17 PM on June 23, 2009
Oh fuck off, defense attorney Peter Hickey
Everyone deserves legal defense.
Those guys that were sitting around watching that happen are a bunch of cowards.
The video I saw was only about two or three seconds long, but played in a loop, so you see him throw her against the wall and punch her a bunch of times. But that only happened once. I think if something like that happened out of the blue it would take more then a couple seconds to figure out what was going on and react.
Why is he described as "Chicago Police officer"? He doesn't still have his job, right?
posted by delmoi at 7:17 PM on June 23, 2009
Everyone deserves legal defense.
Those guys that were sitting around watching that happen are a bunch of cowards.
The video I saw was only about two or three seconds long, but played in a loop, so you see him throw her against the wall and punch her a bunch of times. But that only happened once. I think if something like that happened out of the blue it would take more then a couple seconds to figure out what was going on and react.
Why is he described as "Chicago Police officer"? He doesn't still have his job, right?
posted by delmoi at 7:17 PM on June 23, 2009
Why is he described as "Chicago Police officer"? He doesn't still have his job, right?
"The police department is seeking to have Abbate fired, and the Independent Police Review Authority has recommended that he be dismissed, according to Supt. Jody Weis. The case is up before the Police Board on July 7."
So, sort-of. It usually isn't as easy as firing for public employees, employment isn't at-will like for private companies. But it does seem like he will be fired, the department is not trying to protect him (at least not protect his job).
posted by wildcrdj at 7:20 PM on June 23, 2009
Those guys that were sitting around watching that happen are a bunch of cowards.
Bah. Had I known he was an off-duty cop, I probably would have been a "coward" too. Defending a stranger from stranger might be worth the damage I'd potentially take in the altercation, but defending a stranger from an "officer of the law" isn't worth the very real possibility of spending N years in prison. Or the legal bills.
If you think that's ridiculous, I'd like you to explain the reasons underlying your faith in the American legal system.
posted by Kwantsar at 7:22 PM on June 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
Bah. Had I known he was an off-duty cop, I probably would have been a "coward" too. Defending a stranger from stranger might be worth the damage I'd potentially take in the altercation, but defending a stranger from an "officer of the law" isn't worth the very real possibility of spending N years in prison. Or the legal bills.
If you think that's ridiculous, I'd like you to explain the reasons underlying your faith in the American legal system.
posted by Kwantsar at 7:22 PM on June 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
I feel your pain. I think it's a real bummer that this guy got away with this. At least some jail time would've been something preferable, IMO, particularly since I think cops need to be held to an even higher standard in things like this than ordinary citizens.
I agree with that in general, but this guy wasn't on the job, or in uniform when this happened. It would make sense for him to be treated like anyone else if that was the case.
On the other hand, if the guy wasn't a cop would he really not have gone to jail? I assume the judge is comparing the damage done to the victim compared to other crimes with similar outcomes and giving the guy an average sentence. It would be nice if we had more data on that.
posted by delmoi at 7:26 PM on June 23, 2009
I agree with that in general, but this guy wasn't on the job, or in uniform when this happened. It would make sense for him to be treated like anyone else if that was the case.
On the other hand, if the guy wasn't a cop would he really not have gone to jail? I assume the judge is comparing the damage done to the victim compared to other crimes with similar outcomes and giving the guy an average sentence. It would be nice if we had more data on that.
posted by delmoi at 7:26 PM on June 23, 2009
Of course he got off. Cops are like children, they can't be expected to understand the consequences of their actions. If they did, don't you think they'd be held responsible for them?
posted by stavrogin at 7:31 PM on June 23, 2009
posted by stavrogin at 7:31 PM on June 23, 2009
"If I believed sentencing Anthony Abbate to prison would stop people from getting drunk and hitting people, I’d give him the maximum sentence"
Defeatism FTW.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:31 PM on June 23, 2009
Defeatism FTW.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:31 PM on June 23, 2009
delmoi, check out the HuffPo link for the video.
Oh wow, that's a lot worse.
posted by delmoi at 7:34 PM on June 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
Oh wow, that's a lot worse.
posted by delmoi at 7:34 PM on June 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
I blame Obama.
posted by Christ, what an asshole at 7:40 PM on June 23, 2009
posted by Christ, what an asshole at 7:40 PM on June 23, 2009
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Oh fuck off, defense attorney Peter Hickey. I watched that video. There was nothing "silly" about the way Mr. Abbate acted. He invaded a server's personal space and repeatedly struck her, not the actions of someone making a stupid mistake but of someone deeply angry and disturbed. And the cute part? This psychopath used to walk around with a badge and a gun.
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 7:05 PM on June 23, 2009