Cops and Skateboarders

During last week’s extensive media coverage of a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputy dumping a quadriplegic out of his chair at Orient Road Jail, you might have missed the widely viewed video of a Baltimore cop berating a 14-year-old skateboarder. It’s quite possibly the best YouTube video I’ve seen since the Gainesville tasing incident.

Last week, the Baltimore Police Department suspended Officer Salvatore Rivieri for taking down a skateboarder in a headlock and scolding him for “disrespect.”

Here’s the video:

I’m officially inducting the cop’s quote, “I’m not ‘man.’ I’m not ‘dude.’ I am Officer Rivieri!” to the YouTube Phrase Hall of Fame, joining “Don’t Tase me, bro!” and Mitt Romney’s ”Who let the dogs out? Who, who.”

The whole episode reminded me of a Sticks of Fire post from last week that  pointed out the arrests of a few Tampa skateboarders. Really, why do cops hate skateboarders so much?

But if you thought Officer Rivieri’s 15-minutes of fame was over, check out this new video where the plump police patroller goes ballistic over an art student’s use of a remote control car:

Out of control cop? Abuse of power? Should the Baltimore Police Department institute diversity training?

Naw. After seeing the second video, I’m blaming Officer Rivieri’s anger on having to ride in that dorky little car all day.

This article appears in Feb 20-26, 2008.