Confidential Report Finds Officers Violated Multiple Policies in Kelly Thomas Beating

Report Finds Officer 'Savage' and 'Willing to Abuse His Position Of Authority'

A confidential internal affairs report dated April 2012 looking into the police-related death of schizophrenic drifter Kelly Thomas in 2011 reveals officers violated multiple Fullerton Police Department polices, including those monitoring use of force. Further, the report from the Office of Independent Review, a law enforcement oversight group, was very critical of former officer Jay Cicinelli's descriptions of how he beat Thomas in the face with a Taser "twenty times."

"Thumping the shit out of him", "smashed his face", and "beat" denote excessive use of force per se and should not have been uttered. The mental imagery that such statements convey is a savage person who is willing to abuse his position of authority to exact street punishment to citizens he encounters.

According to the report (Originally published by Voice of OC), one of the first officers to have contact with Thomas, former officer Manuel Ramos, didn't even tell Thomas he was about to be arrested. Then, once the altercation escalated, Ramos ignored Thomas' cries for help:

The failure of Ramos to consider the extremis that Thomas may have been in as demonstrated by his cries of apology, his calls for his father, his screams of pain, and his repeated statements that he could not breathe are not in accord with the actions of a reasonable officer.

In January 2014, Ramos and Cicinellis were found not guilty of criminal charges in Thomas' death. Ramos had been charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, the first murder charge for an officer in Orange County history.

Originally, the story didn't get much traction in mainstream news. But, the story went viral on the internet when Thomas's father, Ron Thomas, released grainy video of the incident and a picture of his son, bloodied in the hospital. For more, watch Cops vs. Cameras: The Killing of Kelly Thomas and the Power of New Media. 

Comments

[C. S. P. Schofield]

You mean they didn't "follow all department procedures"? THAT'S refreshing.

[Ted S.]

They obviously need more training.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Or expanded procedures.

[Ted S.]

Expanded like their waistlines?

[Jerryskids]

They may very well have a policy of not actually saying you're beating the shit out of some asshole when you are "engaged in restraining the combative and non-cooperative suspect using what the officer perceived to be the appropriate level of physicality necessary to affectuate the lawful arrest while maintaining due diligence regarding the safety of the officer, the suspect, bystanders and the general public" - but I really don't give a shit if they violated "policies" when the policies themselves allow for violating the Constitution and the law and the general public and human decency and common sense. "Policy" is not the supreme law of the land - it's not even a law, for fuck's sake - so I don't even want to hear any crap about your "policies".

[This Machine Chips Fascists]

I see the focus on policy and training largely coming from the unions. It's a blame shifting tactic, putting admin on the defensive, always with the goal of preserving the union members' jobs. The uttering of the proper legalisms(combative and non-cooperative suspect) at the proper time(STOP RESISTING!) work like magic spells to protect initiates from the consequences of their actions.

I remember seeing video of a traffic stop where the cop was escalating and the driver said he was in fear for his life. The cop's demeanor changed immediately, as if the words themselves triggered a preprogrammed response. It was weird.

[Heroic Mulatto]

as if the words themselves triggered a preprogrammed response.

Illuminati confirmed.

[This Machine Chips Fascists]

Change is coming.

[sarcasmic]

I remember seeing video of a traffic stop where the cop was escalating and the driver said he was in fear for his life. The cop's demeanor changed immediately, as if the words themselves triggered a preprogrammed response. It was weird.

That's because "I feared for my life" is the boilerplate language cops put into their reports when they use deadly force. In a way they are magical words, because saying them to a cop is basically saying "Keep it up and you're dead" without actually saying those words.

[sarcasmic]

There was a video posted here on Reason not too long ago where a family was dealing with some belligerent cops at the door. One of the cops threatened to drag one of them outside (and presumably open a can of whoop-ass on him for disobeying and failing to show sufficient respect), and the guy responded by saying "Do that and I will fear for my life." The cop backed off immediately.

[This Machine Chips Fascists]

That might be what I'm thinking of.

[Bob Meyer]

What kind of sociopath needs to be trained to understand that when someone your beating cries out "Stop, stop, please, I'm sorry" that you've gone too far?

When Kelly Thomas cried out "Dad" I broke down and cried. I have three sons.

That cop needs to go to jail preferably in general population where a few thugs can see if they can get him to cry out "Stop, stop, I'm sorry".

[Chipper Chipping Rodrigue]

Space Mining Is Closer Than You Think, And The Prospects Are Great

Trigger warnings: Digg, Neil Degreaser-Tyson

[Ayn Random Variation]

I'm trying to think of what excuse the progs will come up for being against this. Even they can't use OMG!! global warming / environment. KKKKorprations? Fair wages? How can a non-unionized-astronaut-miner support a family of 4 on $X? Racist? Is it Racist?

[Chipper Chipping Rodrigue]

Report Finds Officer 'Savage' and 'Willing to Abuse His Position Of Authority'. That's Not OK.

Fixed

[Ted S.]

This isn't a Robby Soave piece.

[Ted S.]

And yet the pigs were still found "not guilty".

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

You know that wasn't a fair trial.

[Ted S.]

Sure. It's another example of the double standard that the pigs get in their favor.

[Karl Hungus]

You know that wasn't a fair trial.

Obviously these guys are murderers and it's travesty that they're not behind bars for the rest of their lives, but what was unfair about the trial? I'm genuinely asking, not questioning your assertion; I simply didn't follow the trial.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

The jury intimidation.

http://reason.com/blog/2015/08.....nt_5501450

[Karl Hungus]

You know, not only do I remember that, I remember discussing it here the day the verdict was handed down. I've never seen the regulars here as seething with rage as they were that day.

[JW]

Is there a special stock of peers that they open up when they need only the mostest brain-dead and utterly useless for a cop jury?

[Mr Lizard]

Not required. In this case the enforcer class packed the courtroom and documented the entire jury. Quite simple and effective, and innovative for a pack of rabid mammals.

[Ayn Random Variation]

Like when Michael Corleone brought that guy's brother from Italy into the courtroom during his testimony. "Criminal enterprise? What criminal enterprise? I was just kidding?"

[RBS]

What lizard said.

[Copernicus would chip]

I'm not trying to pick nits here but...

What does "confidential" mean in this case? The word just leaps off the screen at me as being very significant, but is then ignored in the story.

Does it mean "able to hide it from the plaintiff" until too late and the pigs are protected from double jeopardy?

[DEG]

Yes

[Adans smith]

They can't go after there own.Look for the union label if your beating a guy on the street!!

[Aloysious]

Report Finds Officer 'Savage' and 'Willing to Abuse His Position Of Authority'

I wonder what the response of the people of OC is today? Have they noticed? Do they care? Will anyone in the media even ask?

[wareagle]

Not only was Thomas white, he was also homeless with mental problems, and about as close to a non-person as our betters in the media and political worlds can imagine. But whatever you do, do not dare say that all lives matter.

[Jordan]

Since a jury of OC citizens already acquitted the cops, the response will be a big "Meh".

[Cbalducc]

Perhaps we should abolish the people of OC and elect another.

[Jerryskids]

The people of Fullerton got together and held a recall election and got rid of the city council members who refused to condemn the police. The "justice system" was (and is) rigged right from the beginning to acquit the cops - it wasn't "the people" who let this one slide.
.
You might criticize the people for settling for protests and recall elections when woodchippers are readily available for rent at the nearest Home Depot and so very obviously necessary in this case. That's the most disturbing part of this case to me - if you can't quickly get together a lynch mob citizen's justice committee for this sort of shit, what hope is there of ever getting one? The pigs just flat-out beat a guy to death and now you want to get picky about following proper procedures in dealing with the situation? No, the law applies to everybody or it applies to nobody.
.
And I'm not saying the law should apply to everybody or apply to nobody, I'm saying the law will. Sure, it may take a while, but sooner or later you wind up with government officials swinging from lampposts - and the history books never say "Look at the terrible thing the people did", the history books always say "what the fuck took them so long"?

[This Machine Chips Fascists]

Preach ON Brutha! Amen!

[Paul.]

"Thumping the shit out of him", "smashed his face", and "beat" denote excessive use of force per se and should not have been uttered."
----

This is disturbing. The subtext here is that had the officer not uttered these things, his actions may have slipped past internal affairs? Doesn't this wording suggest that police should carry on with all of their behaviors, but watch what they "utter"in front of a camera, lest it look bad?

[DEG]

The subtext here is that had the officer not uttered these things, his actions may have slipped past internal affairs?

For some reason the cops think they can't let the mask slip.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

That's EXACTLY what it means.

See. We policed our own. We are forcing our officers to be polite when engaging in "you will respect my authoritah" savage beatings.

[RBS]

You're making me do this!

[Sevo]

I don't find it that way, just re-enforcement of the claims of brutal force.

[Paul.]

Instead of 'words should not have been uttered', how about 'punches and smashes to the face should not have been thrown'.

[Necron 99]

The policy is to repeat "quit resisting" while engaged in thumping the shit out of him. Clearly a policy violation to let the truth slip.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

So many of these disgusting asshole cop stories, I can't keep them straight. Which one was Kelly Thomas? Where did it happen, and what did he do to bring about his beating from these fine, upstanding public servants?

Seriously, Paul, I honestly can't keep them straight. A quick paragraph recap of the "crime" and what city/state this particular "respecting authority refresher course" took place in would help a lot.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

They beat a schizophrenic homeless guy to death outside of a train station in Fullerton, CA. The first cop on scene put on rubber gloves in front of him and said "I'm going to fuck you up".

During the trial, members of the Fullerton Police Department were allowed to sit across from the jury, in uniform and fully armed, and were permitted by the judge to make derogatory statements about every witness who was unfavorable to the defense. The judge belongs in jail too.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

If true, and I'm not doubting your word, that's the most horrendous abuse of power I've ever heard of. Is there an appeal?

[Suthenboy]

It is true.

Appeal? Double jeopardy, bitch.

It was a show trial held for the purpose of acquitting these murdering shitbags so that no one can come at them later.

[PM]

It was a show trial held for the purpose of acquitting these murdering shitbags so that no one can come at them later.

They only narrowly avoided giving one of the shitstains his job back.

[Copernicus would chip]

And only today I was wondering why there's been a rash of Police snipings recently. Something about chickens and roosting.

[Cbalducc]

What news media reported that situation? Or did the media conspire to surpress the truth?

[PM]

In fairness to the local media in the area, they actually did cover it pretty well. It got no national traction.

[OneOut]

Kelly Thomas committed the unpardonable sin of being white while getting killed by the police.

[Bitterbear]

#onlyblacklivesmatter.

[Ayn Random Variation]

Surely, Obama's DOJ will file civil rights charges against the stupidly acting cops. I will start holding my breath....................NOW!

[DK]

The two pieces of shit were coaching Little League the last I heard (one of them in the city I grew up in). Gabriel San Roman (a blogger for OC Weekly) has kept up on the reporting. And, it looks like the Ramos asshole was arrested for domestic violence last month and just reported yesterday:

Kelly Thomas Killing

The first article there mentions a civil trial this month.

Though the arrest happened in mid-July, ABC7 first reported it only yesterday afternoon. With a big civil trial lined up this month over his son's death, Thomas speculates that it's not a coincidence. "They want it as quiet as possible," he says of the city. "Ramos being arrested isn't going to make him look good."

[JW]

The judge belongs in jail too.

I'm sure the system will get around to that.

There are days where being a civilized people doesn't work to your advantage.

[Ted S.]

Woodchippers.

[Gene]

Yup.

[Troy muy grande boner]

I was thinking of something with a scope: 30.06, 7mm.

[Suthenboy]

I am reluctant to lay blame on the judge, at least until I know more.

You can bet your ass that the cops, who were pretty blatant about threatening the jury, had no qualms about leaning on the judge as well.

[Troy muy grande boner]

I'm not. If it is indeed true that he allowed all those pigs to sit in the courtroom in uniform, then he abdicated his duty to insure a fair, impartial trial. His head should be on a pike in front of the courthouse.

[Suthenboy]

He probably had no choice. I am not saying that it would be wrong to take steps to encourage the others, but I doubt the cops asked nicely if they could sit in on the trial.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

It is the policy of my local police department to attend court unarmed and dressed in a suit when on official business. This avoids ever putting the judge in a situation where he has to throw officers out of his court.

These Fullerton officers were not on duty. They attended this trial on their free time. They had no reason to be in uniform or armed. They should not have been allowed in the courthouse, let alone allowed to attend the trial.

Other than the bailiff, the only cops that should have been in that courtroom were the ones on trial. This judge absolutely had the authority to toss them, but he didn't, because he's as crooked as they are.

[PM]

Reason covered the shit out of it, but the testimony of the FBI agent on the excessive use of force from the trial probably sums it up the best:

http://reason.com/blog/2013/12.....thomas-bru

[PM]

The rest of Reason's coverage can be found here. The vid in the article is also a good synopsis.

[Cbalducc]

Did Kelly's father pursue a civil case against the police?

[Hamster of Doom]

If I recall correctly, at some point the city informed Mr Thomas that the settlement wouldn't be worth much as his son was a mentally ill homeless man, and "not a rocket scientist".

Here.

All might have gone unreported, had Kelly's father Ron Thomas accepted a $900,000 hush money offer from the Fullerton City attorney. Instead Ron rebuked the offer (here). Purportedly the Fullerton settlement attorney said it is enough money - "your son was not a rocket scientist". A decent man, not concerned with the money, Ron Thomas became upset and demanded justice.

[Mr. Paulbotto]

You know who else thought the lives of the mentally ill were worth less than those of rocket scientists?

[RBS]

JFK?

[Troy muy grande boner]

I would want a civil trial just to get to be able sit across from that cocksucker and depose him and then get him on the stand. Since he cannot be tried again because of the double jeopardy clause, he could not claim the 5th. We do not live in a society of law any more.

[Crusty Juggler]

This is a never-ending nut punch that causes instant despondence.

[Copernicus would chip]

Sun Tzu once said:

Dem nuts, dey no punch demselves.

[Troy muy grande boner]

that causes instant despondence.

Yeah, and once that feeling passes, I realize we are living in an antiseptic dystopia.... well if you are lucky enough to live in the suburbs.

[Crusty Juggler]

FORMER FULLERTON COP ACQUITTED IN KELLY THOMAS TRIAL ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Manuel Ramos? You don't say.

[PM]

A limp dick sociopath who gets his jollies choking out a poor homeless wretch on the street beats his wife? Well I'll be damned.

[Crusty Juggler]

The comments to the article indicate that Ramos was coaching little league baseball, which was doing last year. Yay Fullerton!

[Crusty Juggler]

I had forgotten about this heartwarming tidbit: Cop Who Beat Kelly Thomas To Death Gets $40,000/Year To Sit At Home

The LAPD explained that after the loss of his eye, they couldn't find a place on the force for Cicinelli.

As a result, they agreed to an annual pension of 70% of his salary, which came out to $40,000 a year, as part of a disability pension.

The Los Angeles Times reported back in 2011, that "despite his disability, Cicinelli was hired as an officer by the Fullerton Police Department, where he worked his way up from a reserve officer to a corporal earning $88,544 a year."

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Don't forget: disability is tax free.

[Troy muy grande boner]

Some how I am guessing that if you can beat a man to death, he doesn't have to worry about too much punishment for slapping his wife around.

[Ted S.]

And the press won't get angry over this the way they did over Ray Rice, who got more of a punishment from Roger Goodell than he did from the legal system.

[MattFC]

Not trying to make light of a shitty story, but the headline on the app reads: "Confidential Report Finds Officers Violated Multiple Policies in Kelly Thomas". First thought: there were Officer...s IN Kelly Thomas? Multiple? Second thought: there are policies governing activity in Kelly Thomas? Certainly got me to click on the story Reason if that was your goal.

[Harold Falcon]

No, you're just an idiot.

[MattFC]

Sorry you feel that way, Harold. But thanks for taking time out of your day to share.

[F. Romans Countrymen, Jr.]

Yeah but, hey y'all, some old guy killed a LION!

[MattFC]

Not just an old guy. A fucking dentist! Who donated to Romney! These cops are at least union people.

[Mr Lizard]

OT: Which one of you mammals let their orphans out???!!!! One of them shot out the rear window of my car, and window in my neighbors house. Most likely with a pellet gun

[Mr. Paulbotto]

Wasn't me. I recently started seeding my orphans' guts with the yeast that causes auto-brewery syndrome and force-feeding them grapes so that I can make red wine from their blood...

[Cytotoxic]

The effects of the disease can have profound effects on everyday life; as well the recurring side effects of dizziness, dry mouth, hangovers, disorientation, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, which can lead to other health problems such as depression and anxiety - the random state of intoxication can lead to personal difficulties and the relative obscurity of the condition can also make it hard to seek treatment.

I....have those things, off and on. Can it also cause iron deficiency?

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

Why does a lizard need windows?

[Mr Lizard]

So I can see out the back of my car. Not that I can actually drive it. That's what my larger orphan is for. And occasionally Florida Man

[The Late P Brooks]

Blah blah blah inequality is bad, mmmmkay?

As Ken and I talk to business leaders and try to drum up support for our cause, we find almost unanimous agreement on the nature of the problem and the urgent need for solutions. That's the good news. Our concern is action. We have been told by chief executives that to pay employees more fairly, they need more support from their boards, from prominent business leaders, from the media and even from the government, to combat the intense market pressure to maximize short-term shareholder returns.

So while we celebrate those who do the right thing, how can we move more businesses and chief executives to act now? We really don't want civil unrest or an 80 percent tax rate to jar us into action.

There is a way to start. Government can provide tax incentives to business to pay more to employees making $80,000 or less. The program would exist for three to five years and then be evaluated for effectiveness.

The benefits would be huge. People would have more money to spend, and many would no longer need government help. That would mean a reduction in entitlements.

Because nothing can happen absent government nudging.

[Pl?ya Manhattan.]

So $80,000 is the new living wage?

[Notorious G.K.C.]

"We really don't want civil unrest or an 80 percent tax rate to jar us into action."

Yeah, civil unrest would be very unfortunate, know what I mean? I mean, God forbid, they might torch your businesses, assault your customers, burn your cars, and drive you out of town. How much better it would be to just increase your employees' pay! If you know what I'm sayin'.

[JW]

Everyone gets to make $50/hour. Problem solved!

I keep wondering just how much dumber our culture can get before it collapses completely.

[MJGreen - Docile Citizen]

LOL, does anyone on any side buy this? We're capitalists who really want to pay our employees more; how about you give us some tax incentives, huh? Huh?

[Mr. Paulbotto]

The benefits would be huge. People would have more money to spend, and many would no longer need government help. That would mean a reduction in entitlements.

That's not how this works. That's not how any of this works.

[lap83]

"many would no longer need government help."

Oh good, so not all of these $80,000 earners will need government help. Sounds like a plan

[Ayn Random Variation]

"There is a way to start. Government can provide tax incentives to business to pay more to employees making $80,000 or less...
The benefits would be huge. People would have more money to spend, and many would no longer need government help.."

I know it's unhelpful to point this out to a prog, but an alternative would be for the Gov't to lower income taxes, property taxes, gas taxes and other sales taxes.

"We really don't want civil unrest or an 80 percent tax rate to jar us into action."

Sounds like a threat to me. (Checks gun and ammo supply)

[The Late P Brooks]

Finally, that other America, the one that hasn't been able to climb out of debt, will know that help is coming ? not as an increase in government support, but as a fairer way to share in the hard work and incremental value a business generates. As has been proved again and again, shareholders also win, because satisfied employees produce better results.

Yes, because giving those people more money will solve the problems caused by their poor financial decisions.
"Guess what, Honey; I got a raise."
"Ooh, now we can get a new car!"

[The Late P Brooks]

Krugabe no likee Rethuglitards, apparently.

The point is that while media puff pieces have portrayed Mr. Trump's rivals as serious men ? Jeb the moderate, Rand the original thinker, Marco the face of a new generation ? their supposed seriousness is all surface. Judge them by positions as opposed to image, and what you have is a lineup of cranks. And as I said, this is no accident.

It has long been obvious that the conventions of political reporting and political commentary make it almost impossible to say the obvious ? namely, that one of our two major parties has gone off the deep end. Or as the political analysts Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein put it in their book "It's Even Worse Than It Looks," the G.O.P. has become an "insurgent outlier ? unpersuaded by conventional understanding of facts, evidence, and science." It's a party that has no room for rational positions on many major issues.

Or to put it another way, modern Republican politicians can't be serious ? not if they want to win primaries and have any future within the party. Crank economics, crank science, crank foreign policy are all necessary parts of a candidate's resume.
.
If only they could be as smart and reasonable as Bernie Sanders.

[Mr. Paulbotto]

Wow. If there were any more projection in that article, it would be an old 52" Mitsubishi TV.

[Suthenboy]

"...what you have is a lineup of cranks. And as I said, this is no accident...one of our two major parties has gone off the deep end. "

Uh huh. This, from a guy who thinks we need to mint a platinum one trillion dollar coin to fund our defense against a fake alien invasion.

The left's star economist doesn't even know what money is.

[Jerryskids]

the G.O.P. has become an "insurgent outlier...
.
An "outlier" that represents a majority in the House and the Senate and state legislatures and state governorships? I don't know what this Krugman fellow's educational background is but he sure ain't gonna be winning any Nobel prizes anytime soon in any subject requiring any knowledge of basic math or statistics or even logic if he thinks the majority of people can constitute an outlier.

/goes back to reading NYT op/ed arguing it's only fair and reasonable that every person be guaranteed an above-average income

[Cytotoxic]

modern Republican politicians can't be serious ? not if they want to win

How many states are GOP control of both the executive and legislature?

[The Late P Brooks]

I keep wondering just how much dumber our culture can get before it collapses completely.
.
Thank a teechur.

[ThomasD]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Murder my child and prison will be the only safe place left for you.

[Cytotoxic]

OT: I give a belated toast to the crew of the Enola Gay, and all the rest that had the brains and moral uprightness to create true peace.

[Cytotoxic]

Woops that was meant for the Stewart column. Copy-paste.

[buybuydandavis]

"Thumping the shit out of him", "smashed his face", and "beat" denote excessive use of force per se and should not have been uttered. The mental imagery that such statements convey is a savage person who is willing to abuse his position of authority to exact street punishment to citizens he encounters.
####

Yeah! You're not supposed to *say* it, dumbass!

First, never use active voice for police violence.

Always *passive voice*, or make the beaten the actors.

Multiple injuries were required to restrain suspect.
or
Suspect sustained multiple injuries as he was brought under control.

See how easy that was?

[Bob Meyer]

And don't forget

Suspect talked to imaginary relative.

[Cbalducc]

The law might be monitoring your posts now. Some of you advocating killing cops could find yourselves getting a "visit".

[Cbalducc]

If you want to defend a cop killer, here's your man:

http://www.breitbart.com/big-g.....nd-family/