MovieChat Forums > Cops (1989) Discussion > Being black is not probable cause...

Being black is not probable cause...

posted 10 years ago by Fresh615
6 replies | jump to latest

I recently saw an episode of cops where a couple of officers on patrol roll up on two black guys working on their car that is parked along the street. The officers asked them for ID and began hassling them and asking if they could search the car and their persons. One of the black guys asked what their probable cause was and he was ignored, of course. Eventually it was discovered that one of the man was in possession of marijuana, and they arrested the other guy too. I don't know what for. I suppose for being black. I think the lawyer should show the tape of this episode and get the whole thing thrown out. As far as I am concerned, you can't even ask me my name without a reason.

[–] jdh2425-445-184688 10 years ago

I agree.
I'm white, and I remember seeing an episode a long time ago that sort of started out with the cameraman in the car with the cop.
As he's doing the usual intro or whatever talking about his job, he sees two white kids, and says either to the cameraman, or to the kids when he confronts them (or maybe it was both), that they had no business being there since they were white.
The cop even specifically admitted that that was the reason he confronted the kids!
Even though the cop ended up being right about his intuition, he should have simply observed them at most. He had no probable cause just because of their color.
I was surprised the editors let this stay in.
It gave me a new perspective on how black people view the police.

[–] jimcat63-1 10 years ago

I am white and I have been scrutinized by the police when broken down on the road.

Like it or not, they have the guns and they have the badges. PC doesn't mean squat if your car is illegal or your license is wrong.

.

[–] Fresh615 10 years ago

That is assuming your car is illegal and your license is wrong. My question is why two MEN were approached working on a car. Did I say they were broken down? There were no suspicious circumstances. They were parked off the side of the road, parallel to to it, on the lawn, just like any average white redneck. Cops would drive right past if they were white.

[–] Charlie_Foxtrot_Company 10 years ago

actually, they were parked like two feet away from the curb. The officer said that he was checking it out because they were illegally impeding the road way :shrug: It's kinda of a stretch but it was sort of a narrow street, so technically I believe he did have PC to investigate them. He did ask them though if there was a problem / if the car broke down and if that's why it was in the roadway.

As he's doing the usual intro or whatever talking about his job, he sees two white kids, and says either to the cameraman, or to the kids when he confronts them (or maybe it was both), that they had no business being there since they were white.

Haha, I think I remember than one. It was in New Jersey with Officer Damiano. He was saying that they shouldn't be in the projects and kept implying that the girl could have been raped down there. I was thinking WTF to myself too, but I guess that was a different era where police got away with more stuff.

[–] darkavenger77 10 years ago

Being black is not probable cause...

Neither is being white- even in the south. Check out the second segment:
http://movpod.in/iypo46ow5a1c
Next issue.

Dean: I am wearing sunglasses at night. You know who does that? No-talent douche bags!

[–] Arvin-G-Borkar 9 years ago

I think it was more for the cause that that area was known for drug trafficking. Then again, I do agree it was half prejudice as well as when they generalize an area where the drug trafficking is prevalent, it always seems to be where there are a HUGE population of Blacks.

Better watch out, better start crying. Better hurry up, run and hide. Krampus is coming to town! >:)