They did finally take the teeth-smashing cop off of protester duty after so many concerned requestst to the Denver PD.

KUSA*TV - 9news.com

"Detective Michael Cordova will have a non-line assignment during the DNC in which he will not be "working crowd control," said DPD spokesman Sonny Jackson.

The videotape shows the officers kicking, punching and striking John Heaney in the head during an arrest on April 4th outside of Coors Field. Heaney was riding his bicycle past the stadium on his way to see his dying mother in a nursing home when the officers accused him on running a red light at 20th and Blake Streets.

Sadly the thug is still not even suspended (with pay even) since the assault in April.

To be honest, I don't mind the brutality so much. I realize cops are human, some are power-hungry testosterone junkies. Some as jerks, some of them abuse their authority. I get that. What I don't understand is that all of these cops get away with it. This Denver cop is still on the job.

Most people would get fired for yelling at their boss, even slapping a co-worker, certainly punching a customer. Somehow these guys don't get criminally prosecuted, let alone even suspended. Why should they be allowed to work with the public for six months while an internal investigation clears them of all charges. And really, why does it take so long in a case with videotape? Call me a cynic, but they really are waiting for things to blow over and the media to forget.

you never have to worry about job security; the whole of your fellow force members will line up behind you no matter what your crime.

like you, it bothers me greatly that so few people take an interest in "what cops are really doing" to us all. i guess it has to happen to one personally before the mythology of "cops love you!" is shattered.

if you're in that camp of believers in "protect and serve" (which is unlikely if you read this blog, but) check out the "cops you won't see on teevee's COPS" feature at helen and harry's place. (scroll down and to the right)

they do very good, if very frightening and depressing, weekly work on this issue.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?...

I'm not saying that the police are selectively arresting people to squash media criticism... I mean that is what Nazi Germany did... I'm just saying...

The sheriff's officer is seen telling Eslocker the sidewalk is owned by the hotel. Later, he is seen pushing Eslocker off the sidewalk into oncoming traffic, forcing him to the other side of the street.

It was two hours later when Denver police arrived to place Eslocker under arrest, apparently based on a complaint from the Brown Palace Hotel, a central location for Democratic officials.

During the arrest, one of the officers can be heard saying to Eslocker, "You're lucky I didn't knock the f..k out of you."

But, can I just say I found that first video particularly disturbing? Having witnesses domestic violence as a young child, watching that cop absolutely deck that woman was disturbing and maddening. People that know me know that I don't get angry about a whole lot (that can be a good and a bad thing), but what is shown above makes me see red. I can't even watch that video, anymore.