Anti-war protester whose arm was broke in cop tiff gets $835,000

[matcom]

<snip>

An anti-war protester who sued San Francisco after a police officer broke her arm with a baton strike during a demonstration would get one of the city's largest-ever payouts in a police case, under an $835,000 deal that the Police Commission approved Wednesday.

The settlement was reached in a federal lawsuit filed by Linda Vaccarezza, 39, of Sonoma, who claimed her civil rights were violated when Police Officer Anthony Nelson clubbed her during the street protests that swept through downtown March 20, 2002, the day after U.S.-led forces invaded Iraq.

Nelson struck Vaccarezza with his baton as officers confronted a crowd of protesters along Market Street after ordering them to clear the streets. Vaccarezza suffered a broken forearm during the incident, which another protester recorded on videotape.

According to an investigation by the city's Office of Citizen Complaints, Nelson said he had been forced to hit Vaccarezza with his baton when she charged him with a wood-backed sign. Vaccarezza, however, told investigators that she had simply been complaining about how police were treating other protesters and had done nothing aggressive.

The Police Commission did not disclose the size of the settlement, but sources familiar with the arrangement confirmed that the sum was $835,000. The deal still must go before the Board of Supervisors.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/12/02/BAGDLA4UFN1.DTL

[Hunting Deer]

1. Ouch

The article says she was struck after being ordered to clear the streets. I was a cop for 25 years. They issue us the batons for a reason and its not to use it to pound nails. It's called enforcing the law. This settlement seems a waste of taxpayer money, doesn't it?

[matcom]

2. not to me

these are OUR streets

[DS1]

4. No shit

There's something called escalation of force that Hunting Deer ~should~ be familiar with. Too bad it's a city employee and not a private security company paying through the fucking nose, but if some punk ass king shit cop wants to go around breaking arms, then screw em.

[el_gato]

8. exactly the streets belong to us not the cops

contrary to what the state sponsored fascist thugs think

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. Hm.

[bowens43]

6. No , it doesn't.

It seems like an appropriate response to compensate for the actions of an over zealous asshole. It's called brutality.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hunting Deer]

9. Hmmm

Did your daddy teach you that word?

I guess cops were/are a part of your life, huh?

[el_gato]

10. do you get off on beating the shit out of citizens?

Do you have no respect for freedom and liberty?

It's obvious you have a limited understanding of the constitution.

[Hunting Deer]

11. Its called the law and it protects us

Read the article: they were ordered to disperse, they did not. That is called breaking the law. If you do not like it, change the law, do not blast the people charged with enforcing the law.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

12. Did you see the video?

Do you believe in the existence of such a thing as police excess?

Why do you think they settled? Perhaps because the officer KNEW he was in the wrong and (wisely) decided to cut losses?

[el_gato]

13. by "us" you mean the rich and powerful

I call a spade a spade and when asswhipes in jackboots start beating the shit out of people because they have the audacity to qeustion those in power I see no need to bow down before them. Only someone with a slave mentality such as yours would state the things you are saying.

[el_gato]

14. They had to pay because the cops broke the law

but you don't care as long as good patriots get the shit beat out of them. Your worship of corrupt authority is all too evident.

Get off your knees.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

16. DON'T FALL FOR THE FLAMEBAIT PLEASE PEOPLE...

I'm of the "give 'em rope" school. It works.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

17. Bullshit this is fucking AMERICA - not a police state. How Orwellian of

you - do you know who George Orwell is?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

18. It seems he DOES know. Lookit here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1036961
<nelson>ha ha!</nelson>

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

19. I have named him "grante destiny" - its kind of porn-star sounding

which suits his "believe in the maker" pomposity

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

20. *Thump* *Thump* *Thump* Another one bites the dust!

And another one gone, another one gone...

[alphafemale]

5. Probably a good thing she had the video tape.

Bad cops suck.

[el_gato]

15. That "cop" belongs in jail

plain and simple

[Wapsie B]

21. Can't let those peace protestors

just peacefully protest. Those who question the establishment in this country are dangerous just by their existence.

[Arkana]

22. Good. If I were her, I'd have gone for more.

Damn Pube cops who think they can bring us back to the days of firehoses and dogs. She deserved every penny.