Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Salisbury University Students Reach Out

Back By Popular Demand. The comments keep flowing in on this Post so I thought I'd bring it back for more debate. It's an excellent topic but don't think it's over. There's another side to this story I'll be producing very soon.

I thought that the issue of Salisbury Police brutality needs to be brought to media attention. I would like you to read the following which is one of many facebook groups made by Salisbury University students which have complained about SPD.

The amount of students upset with the SPD became so great that the University sent out e-mails setting up meetings to try and fix the issues. Unfortunately, Salisbury does NOT give the University Students a voice. The story I provided below is just one of many disgusting and inappropriate acts the police have done.

I can guarantee that if you investigate more on the issue of how the Salisbury Police Department have treated University students you would be very upset. I would like to remain anonymous due to the fact that I do not trust the SPD and I do not want to be targeted by them.

I already know someone who had wrote to USA Today and other local news stations in hope that things can be changed. This incident you are about to read is more disturbing than what is written. There are witnesses who claimed the officers on the scene taunted these students and asked them questions such as "Do you believe in God?" That is highly inappropriate and if this was done to anyone in my home town those officers would be either fined, suspended, or even fired for such horrible actions.

Group Info Name: Free the UV 3
Type: Organizations - Advocacy Organizations
Description: A group dedicated to the intolerably injustice of the Salisbury p.d!

I just watched 2 of my very good friends be ridiculously accosted by the SPD. This group of badged fascists just trampled on and abused the rights of several very honest and great Salisbury university students. My close friend Robby's apartment was literally moments ago invaded by Salisbury's finest.

The brutality that i just witnessed first hand was enough to make realize that something must be done against this invasive and violent police force.

While attending a party at UV, a VERY small party at that, with about 10 other SU students, I had stepped outside and then witnessed 3 SPD officers storm up the steps and almost literally burst through the door of this apartment. Upon forcefully pushing through the doorway, without being asked to enter, I witnessed my friend Steve be torn from the apartment while simply expressing his constitutional 4th amendment rights. he was thrown against the siding of the apartment building, his blood splattering the wall, where he was then forced to the ground while one officer sprayed mace in his eyes and another beat his left knee with a baton until blood stained the concrete patio...

Under excruciating pain, Steve held his composure and continued to assert his rights. The officers brutally manhandled Steve and threw him against the ground, his eyes burning from the mace attack.

The officers treated the other residents of the apartment like criminals, forcing them against the wall handcuffed. I witnessed several more officers enter the residence, treating it as if it was a crime scene and its inhabitants simple criminals.

I have never seen such blatant brutality and aggression from a so-called "police" organization. The brutality shown against fellow students, and blatant disregard for our most basic constitutional rights was enough to make me sick. I nearly threw up watching what was going on as I could hopelessly tell my friends to to as they were told.

The SPD showed no sympathy against these fellow students, and treated them like the criminals that harrass us nightly. Why are the SPD treating our students like this? Why are they harrassing us and treating us like an oppressed population? Is it not our money that keeps this town (and this 'law enforcement' agency) afloat economically? Why do we continue to allow this sort or brutality?

I saw a human being beaten and thrown aside like an animal, something I hoped I would never see...Are we to continue to allow this blatant abuse of power? Can we allow the SPD to continue to so loosely interpret our rights?

This group is in hopes that we as a student organization can come together and stand against this blatant abuse of our rights. Are we animals?

Join this group and spread the word, this kind of reactionary oppression CANNOT be allowed!
In fight for:
Robby Zayas
Jacob Hinlicky
and any other residents or occupants of this building!

All SU students should be aware of this! I have just spoken with the SPD and will be filing a complaint against them in the morning to regress this situation! Please show your support!
Contact Info Email: ip08813@students.salisbury.edu
Office: Salisbury University

86 comments:

Anonymous said...

this is not the first time the police have beat up students for ABSOLUTELY NO JUSTIFIABLE REASON! not all the police are bad but there are a few of them who are abusing their power.

Anonymous said...

that is sadistic and crooked

dan said...

NOTE: I am not defending the actions of the police, if the account here is at all accurate.

I agree that there are issues with the department and their treatment of the sudent population, but let us not forget the eyewitness to this "unwarranted use of brutality."

As we all know, college students tend to be masters at hyperbole, and tend to be a bit obnoxious about their knowledge of their "rights." (I am not condemming them, I was like that at that age too, but still.) So, not matter how often the writer referred to a thesaurus to express his disbelief and horror, the chance for exagerration is pretty subsantial. (Honestly, if you are looking at this with any sor of open mind, you can not get more than a few lines into this letter before saying, "Woah there. Calm down and tell me what realy happened.")

That beig said, it would be worthwhile to see the offical police report of the incident and/or any other accounts from people who were at the party. Private parties happen all the time, and the police do not just barge in without reason/information/or suspiscion. There may be a bias against college students overall in teh department (I do not know) but I can not see true professional officers being that forceful and agressive with no provocation.

The writer's account is one view. (A biased account, but an account nonetheless.) Let's step back and put together a true picture o the events before defending the holier-than-thou ground.

Anonymous said...

I would advise the student to clean up the grammar, vocabulary and spelling errors prior to releasing this to any other press outlets if they want to be taken seriously.

Unknown said...

And his point is? As a high school freshman in the 70's we knew to hangout on campus and get caught meant intimidation and physical punishment was coming. By my junior year though we began to exact revenge on them and humiliated several into resigning as our threats of violent revenge on sight began to be exacted by our skateboarding mob of vigilantes. Fat slobs are still a disgrace to a badge! Plan your revenge as a meal best served cold!

Anonymous said...

As a neighbor of college students I would like to do the same as the SPD. Students are arrogent and extremely inconciderate. It's all about them. The justifiable reason is more than likely because the punks mouth off to the police. I back the police in their treatment of students.

Anonymous said...

C'mon SU students have been terrorizing the community in Salisbury for as long as I can remember! Their parties are extremely out of hand and continue to all hours of the night. Meanwhile the neighbors and other citizens have to put up with the juvenile behavior and defacing of their property? This is a bunch of fabrication brought on by some spoiled brat college punks with no respect for those around them. Not to mention how many times a weekend the police are called for these parties. I'm happy to see some college brat got locked up and put through a brief synapsis of what the rest of the community endures so they can have their parties. I will also mention the defacing and theft of property of local business after these parties are over.
SU students: If you wanted to be treated like and adult, start acting like one! Until then quit your whining and grow up!

Anonymous said...

Have seen questionable SPD actions myself and it truly will take a formal complaint to bring this out in the open--the young kids have the commitment and motivation and hopefully they will follow through with the complaint process immediately.

Anonymous said...

Some where between this story and the story of the Police Officers involved you might find the truth. I am sure that the SU students would never disobey an order from a police officer. Please, I have seen what you call a small college party. Obviously the Police didn't just show up there to beat these students up someone had to call in a complaint for them to be there. I would say as normal it was a noise complaint. Anyway some where in this story you might find the truth.

Anonymous said...

You need to revisit your remedial English class before attempting to write a fictional story.

Anonymous said...

Suggest looking into the numerous cases that have been thrown out in the District Court under these circumstances and the SPD's "zero tolerance" notions. There may be a real "class action" case.

Anonymous said...

Hope that SU students don't get bullied into voting for the SAPOA candidate like they did last election, their questionably legal votes got Comegys re-elected, keeping Barrie as queen of Salisbury and its police department.

Anonymous said...

Vic Keen is a great guy but most of the others have a major ego.

Anonymous said...

The party was "small" by who's standards? How many people were there? and how many complaaints had been called in? I'm not saying that the police department is always right, but somehow, I find it hard to swallow that a group of University students partying were as calm, quiet and dignified in asserting their "rights" as this letter implies.

Anonymous said...

This is one side and one perspective.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a particularly one sided view of the events. Very nice use of descriptive language that I suspect you don't fully know how to use. Move to Cuba. Viva la revolucion and have fun standing in line for milk and bread. God Bless America and those that try to maintain peaceful good order.

Anonymous said...

Salisbury Cambodia

Anonymous said...

Do I recall that SU students were recruited to vote in the City Council election last year. I wonder who they voted for.

Hint: who recruited them?

Dee, dee, deee.

Anonymous said...

Dan:

We're you ever in the District Court when some of those cases are tried and thrown out?

Anonymous said...

I am a student at SU but I am also a local and always have been, I do not live on campus but hear of all the parties that go on. I myself have never been to one because I know that they will get busted and that is just not something I want to deal with. This person says there was 10 other people there plus the writer and his two other friends, so about 13 people. If they are in those apartments to UV, they are pretty small if everyone is in one area like the living room, so I am sure it was pretty loud and disturbing. Some college students need to remember that there are students that come to this great college in order to learn and not to party all the time, many are on scholarships and must maintain a certain GPA along with a behavior code, lots of times it's most likely other students that call the police.

Anonymous said...

First off I can say that my neighbors who are adults not students are always throwing parties and I can guarantee the police would not treat them the way they treat college students. If an officer beat the crap out of your child for throwing a party which, in case some people forgot, we did as young adults most of you would be outraged. Also, the party was in University Village I do not know of anyone who lives there that is not a student. There is something very serious going on here. If these officers had beat these kids up it is apparant that they did so because they felt they could get away with it. Not all students are bad and if anything look at some neighborhoods with locals and tell me that there are not any drugs or crime going on there!

Anonymous said...

If they have a legitimate complaint, they can take legal action against the police involved. I suspect this isn't quite an accurate report of what really happened. But they have rights, and occasionally they have to defend their rights. Go for it and learn something about your constitutional rights....

Anonymous said...

Correct me if I am wrong here but were there not two Police Officers accused of sexually molesting young girls? Hmm... maybe we are on to something here. Go search the articles online they are there. That is a fact. If they have those types of people as officers I would not be suprised that this story happened.

Bob said...

If the students would start to realize that their obnoxious parties and rebellious attitudes (which are the cause of many unnecessary disruptions in the neighborhoods surrounding the college) are not going to be tolerated, they could avoid problems with the law. The people are tired of being awakened in the middle of the night because these students do as they please without regard to the rights of others. If their parents had whipped their asses when they were young and taught them some respect they would have to be dealt with by the police as adults. Quit your crying and grow up! You're not entitled to special treatment because you're college students.

These police officers are doing what they need to do and I would bet they are acting within their rights under the law. I would like to have a dime for every roadside attorney who told me what I could or couldn't do and were way off base. I'd be as rich as Joe.....well almost.....

Anonymous said...

I do not think that asking people if they believe in God is a standard procedure. I do not understand why two officers would pepper spray and beat in a kids knee cap when I am sure they could have restrained him without the excess violence. This goes to show why cops are called PIGS!!!

Anonymous said...

If parents had whooped their asses when they were little, the cops wouldn't havr to do it now.

Their supposed to go to school to learn---not party and be stupid.

Anonymous said...

I agree that there are more severe crimes going on in Salisbury than college kids partying. Who cares they don't bother me. Our crime rates are very high and if you look carefully most of them are committed by our own not students. Unfortunately, this can not be fixed until our police stop focusing on small things like college kids.

Anonymous said...

the SPD only focus on college kids because they are easy targets and they are too scared to deal with more serious crimes going on

Anonymous said...

Hey the Police do not focus on your college parties they have to handle all complaints that are called not just the ones you want them to handle. Come on be serious you would be the first one complaining on this blog site if a Police Officer didn't respond to something you called in. There is a noise ordinance in the City of Salisbury and if you are violating you are breaking the law and enforcing the law is the Police Officer's job. Jesus be serious.

Anonymous said...

These kids deserve a beating?! That is a trashy way to think. I can bet that every single person who posted on this story has been to a party and drank before when they were around that age. So does that mean that you guys deserve a beating too? Get over yourselves. It is that mentality that oppresses the people being violated.

Anonymous said...

As a Salisbury student, I can say that the police ( and MD State Police) sit at University Village and University Park ( which are both STUDENT housing complexes) waiting & watching. If more than a few students enter an apartment at night, so do they. My freshman year I was at a party that was busted ( by about 10 cops) on Smith street, and my two freinds and I asked a police officer to escort us to the edge of campus ( we were walking) and they flat out refused. Less than a month later, I was robbed at gunpoint at the corner of Smith & West College. Point being, why are the police busting parties when they need to be curtailing the drug and gun crimes that occur everyday? We come into the town and leave, so why waste your time writing noise violations when those who sell drugs & guns to your kids call Salisbury home?

And to the 4:34 annon. post...I find it hard to beleive that you only went to school to learn and never attended a party. If so, stop by one of our parties, maybe we will teach you beer pong.

Anonymous said...

I am serious. I know that two years ago three students were jumped at the Wawa on Route 13. Police did not do anything to find the suspects and within the hour three more students were jumped in University Park by the same people. It took more than one incident for action to be taken? Oh and one of the victims was a girl who was punched in the face. I do not care if you hate Salisbury students but that should not have happened. My town has an excellent police force and they do not beat people up for having parties. I hope that the local news gets ahold of these stories.

Anonymous said...

I would like to see the police bust into the homes of Salisbury locals and tell me what they find. I can list several streets where drugs can be found. But what the locals do is different from college students? Whatever. No one is a saint so stop acting like one. And the kids do not need a beating I think the cops do. I just looked up an interesting story about Deputy 1st Class Charles McMichael.

Anonymous said...

Well, we certainly are not dealing with an English scholar here. I'm sure the police would love to be focusing on "more serious crimes" but as it has been said, the police do not get to pick and choose what calls they go to and when they go to those calls they are expected to handle them without bias; just because a party host is a rich whiney white kid from PG county where their parents and the police let them do anything, does not mean that the same goes here. I also believe that the residents that live around the "party house" have rights as well, such as the right not to be woken from a sound sleep and the right not to have their yard littered with trash. I am not necessarily defending the actions of the police in this case because I can't, I wasn't there, just as many here can't defend the students because they were not there, but I do feel the police are acting in the best interests of the community by strictly enforcing the noise ordinances in a lawful manner. I also am a firm believer in "you get what you pay for". If you want better and more mature officers you are going to have to pay for it. I've heard what they make and I can't believe anyone would be willing to put up with what they have to for the money they earn. On a related note, if you were to look at the charges on the "accosted" individuals on the Maryland Judiciary Case Search I'm sure you would see that the police ARE going after the drug users.

Anonymous said...

Here's a challenge to all the college students who were subjected to this: GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING NEXT WEEK AND STAND UP AS A GROUP AND TELL YOUR STORY THERE FOR ALL TO HEAR. Remember that you college kids were specifically targeted for voting in favor of certain Council members--now's your time to tell them what you want to say; they owe you big time!

If I don't see you there en masse, I'll know you didn't have the guts to do so.

Anonymous said...

DISTRICT COURT FOR WICOMICO COUNTY - CRIMINAL SYSTEM
Case Number: 3H00046014Tracking No:083764101304
Case Type: CRIMINAL
District Code: 02Location Code:03
Document Type: STATEMENT OF CHARGESIssued Date:01/24/2008
Case Status: ACTIVE

Defendant Information
Defendant Name: HINLICKY, JACOB PAUL JR

Charge and Disposition Information


Charge No: 001Description:OBSTRUCTING & HINDERING
Statute: CLDescription:OBSTRUCTING & HINDERING
Amended Date: CJIS Code:1 0043MO/PLL:Probable Cause:
Incident Date From: 01/24/2008 To: 01/24/2008 Victim Age:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charge No: 002Description:DISORDERLY CONDUCT
Statute: 27.121.(b).(2)Description:DISORDERLY CONDUCT
Amended Date: CJIS Code:2 0050MO/PLL:Probable Cause:X
Incident Date From: 01/24/2008 To: 01/24/2008 Victim Age:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charge No: 003Description:ASSAULT SEC DEG-LAW ENFORCMENT
Statute: CR.3.203.(2)Description:ASSAULT SEC DEG-LAW ENFORCMENT OFC
Amended Date: CJIS Code:1 1416MO/PLL:Probable Cause:
Incident Date From: 01/24/2008 To: 01/24/2008 Victim Age:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charge No: 004Description:ASSAULT-SEC DEGREE
Statute: CR.3.203Description:ASSAULT-SEC DEGREE
Amended Date: CJIS Code:1 1415MO/PLL:Probable Cause:X
Incident Date From: 01/24/2008 To: 01/24/2008 Victim Age:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charge No: 005Description:CDS: POSSESSION-MARIHUANA
Statute: CR.5.601.(a)(1)Description:CDS: POSSESSION-MARIHUANA
Amended Date: CJIS Code:1 0573MO/PLL:Probable Cause:
Incident Date From: 01/24/2008 To: 01/24/2008 Victim Age:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charge No: 006Description:CDS:POSS PARAPHERNALIA
Statute: CR.5.619.(c)(1)Description:CDS:POSS PARAPHERNALIA
Amended Date: CJIS Code:5 3550MO/PLL:Probable Cause:
Incident Date From: 01/24/2008 To: 01/24/2008 Victim Age:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anonymous said...

The last comment proves why you idiots get the ass whoopin ya'll need.

Anonymous said...

I can not believe that people feel that violence of that degree is justified for students having a party. I can only hope that there are more humane residents in Salisbury. I do not think the rest of the country would agree with what the SPD did to that student.

Anonymous said...

Who wants to remain anonymous and then uses their University assigned email address?

Anonymous said...

I sure that the part about being told to quiet down 8 times and people screaming over the loud music and pissing in the street never happened. I don't know a thing about this incident but cops don't just kick in doors and beat people up in front of a crowd because they can. There has to be more to it.

Anonymous said...

Tracy Ross Sparpaglione is an ex-Salisbury, Maryland, patrolman accused of committing rape and burglary while on duty last May. He violated a 19 year old female. I feel that the people who make up the SPD should be constantly evaluated by non-Salisbury officials to make sure they are doing their jobs properly. There are some who misuse their authority at the cost of innocent individuals and for their own pleasure.

Anonymous said...

Jesus be serious? What is it with you people and Jesus and God and such? lol

Anonymous said...

I like the fellow Dan's comment -- let's get the whole story. The are messed up students and there are messed up cops. Good students, good cops. I'd like to know more about what happened.

I do want to comment on something that burns me up:
"Is it not our money that keeps this town (and this 'law enforcement' agency) afloat economically?"

Actually, kid, no it isn't. Your institution and you don't pay taxes to support the police. While your money is part of the economy now, Salisbury was doing pretty well before the college became such a big deal. Frankly, I think the place was much better off economically and was a nicer place to live. But by golly, our tax money goes to support your state-funded school and your financial aid.

So, I hope you file a complaint. I hope there's a fair investigation. And then we'll see what's what. I'd never want a copy banging on my kid, and I'd never want my kid mouthing off to a cop, either. Every one of them got through school without an incident.

And you might want to pay attention to the person who brought up what the students did in the election. Without realizing it, you sold out your own interests and screwed the city in the process.

I may just be an old fart, but I know of what I speak.

Anonymous said...

If it is a fact that the officers used pepper spray and used a baton on this kid they can be in serious trouble. That would be defined as excessive force. I am sure the kid would have complied with their requests without that degree of brutality. If it is a fact the officers entered the apartment without consent they can be in serious trouble. A noise complaint does not justify entrance into the residence. I would get a lawyer if they did that to me. It sounds as though the officers were behaving more like a bunch of hooligans than the kids. They should know one's rights more than anyone and if this story is true they should be reprimanded for their behavior. I would be embarassed at how they handled the situation in an amateurish way if I were in charge of the department.

Anonymous said...

I would like to provide a few more details to provide a more balanced perspective on the incident, as I was there when this occurred. Firstly, there were only about 6 people in the residence. Secondly, The person that was beaten and restrained by police had answered the door, and it was at this time that the officer entered the apartment, claiming probable cause for having smelled illegal substances. While there were certainly faults by both parties involved, the harrasment, name calling and verbal abuse incurred by the students, in addition to the excessive force used by the officers to restrain the individual, were beyond what was necessary. To also be fair and balanced, an officer did allow water to be poured over the maced student's face. Whether this was due to the third parties present watching the events is unclear. Questioning a person's belief in God while berating them is not standard police procedure, at last I checked. Unfortunately, I suspect that, as usual, the reputation of students at this institution will only lead the court's to be in favor of the police as so often happens. A serious look needs to be taken at the tactics and procedures of police towards students of this community, students providing this community with their money and economic support. It seems obvious where we fall in the police's eyes.

Anonymous said...

I think This Is BULLSHIT... I can't believe the salisbury police would do this crap... Let me tell you about the Salisbury Students who DON't GIVE a Dam and walk through the PINEHURST area at all HOURS of the Night, just raising hell... These are the assholes that that should have a BIG FOOT IN THEIR ASS.. The Students should have RIGHTS but they have to be live up to their duties ALSO...

Anonymous said...

HEY JOE
This is GREAT, LOOK AT ALL YOUR FEEDBACK...
Me think you hit NERVE.
You should send this to the Pres at SU... time for a Major POW-WOW...
Good job this is what the dailey rag misses

Anonymous said...

"I do not understand why two officers would pepper spray and beat in a kids knee cap"

Because assholes like Granddad will defend anything the little pricks on the SPD do, even rape.

Anonymous said...

If this story was true, the student that was beaten would have had his parents involved so fast your head would spin. The parents would have brought one of those out of town attorneys with them to file a suit that would make Barries head spin.

Students and SU do not stimulate the economy in this town, if that were the case we'd all be starving in summer months when you all leave. Don't let some politician like Mike Dunn fill your heads with that crap. Perdue stimulates the economy in this town, if they shut down it would be a ghost town. If the University shut down it would be one of many pieces of real estate for sale.

Maybe the next time Richard Insley sends around letters threatening you kids with a rent increase or eviction you'll think twice before selling your souls for a vote.

Anonymous said...

-First- slammed into the siding
-Second- thrown to the ground

My suggestion, should of listened the first two times.

Tim Chaney said...

I doubt even those students that fell prey to the scavengers during the last election will for it when they are reminded of the 14% tax increase and now they have to pay more rent.

We should lobby college students and get them legally registered, they could really put a cramp in someone's campaign if the representatives voted for the excessive tax increase.

They made students think that it was the dirty dozen that didn't like college students, they were fooled just as we were fooled by Louweasal~!

Anonymous said...

Did anyone get pics of this on their cell phones?

riverrat

Anonymous said...

BARF! Get over the sob story!! SU students continually curse at, throw things at, and taunt the police whenever the police are called to break up an out-of-control party. Underaged drinking and drugs are everywhere, and the SU students want to blame the police for doing their job?! GROW UP!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

If you think about it, doesn't the story make some sense if you think about it in this light:

SPD trains to deal with 'church street'. Those are the tactics the officers are trained to operate under. Overwhelm the situation with extreme force, and bring it down quickly. Then, get out fast before the rest of the neighborhood comes for you.

What they don't know how to do is to deal with 'normal' people. I have NEVER heard of SPD issuing a noise warning... (aka knocking on a door, and just saying keep it down). [Which is the NORM just about everywhere else].

Maybe what is needed is more training for SPD on how to deal with rational, normal, respectable (unarmed) people. The likelyhood of a cop getting shot at UV or UP... highly unlikely. Most folks there have a lot to lose.

When SPD uses ghettobuster tactics on unarmed, drunk, college students, it just shows a lack of training and judgement.

Frankly, SPD should spend some time with SUPD, learn how to interact with community members.


[Just as a quick example of inept SPD, one day during the fall, a good windstorm blew almost all the leaves off a tree in one day, covering my car totally in leaves. An SPD office stopped me, and threatend to tow my 'disabled' car if I didn't have it towed. I practically laughed in his face, because that is how the conversation started. Not, "Hi, how are you doing?"... not "Can I talk to you for a moment". Just "Move your 'disabled' car or I'll get it towed and fine you". ]


Morale: Better training for SPD on how to deal with reasonable people. How to be friendly, and say "Hello", and "Please". Save ghettobuster tactics for the ghetoo.

Anonymous said...

That last comment is not true. I have never seen that type of behavior before. No student would throw something at an officer because that would give them a reason to abuse their power and that would be their way of saying they were justified. We know cops can hurt us for made up reasons or by blowing something out of proportion so they can get away with it because it has happened before. I have been at Salisbury University for almost 3 years and never saw students throwing things at cops. I think that they just need to not let their power go to their heads.

Anonymous said...

I would first like to say that I am a college student at SU; I like to party but also like going to school for what it is, school.

I would first like to address the new noise ordinance in Salisbury.

To a response:
“There is a noise ordinance in the City of Salisbury and if you are violating you are breaking the law and enforcing the law is the Police Officer's job. Jesus be serious.”

It’s hard to take a law seriously when a “$500 fine and/or 90 days in jail” is possible for making noise…”Noise detectors aren’t used by the police officer; they must use his discretion to determine what is loud.”
(Source: http://www.salisbury.com/suflyer/story.asp?sid=770)
It seems as if subjectivity among the police could also be an issue.

To take notice to some of the replies which makes reference to SU students as,
“spoiled brat college punks” and “You're not entitled to special treatment because you're college students”.

I do not believe that college students are looking for special treatment. I believe that they are looking for respect that they believe, as legal adults, should get.
I find it ironic that the respect we look for, we don’t even get from a fellow blogger who calls us spoiled, brats and punks.

In regards to this comment:
“(J)ust because a party host is a rich whiney white kid from PG county where their parents and the police let them do anything, does not mean that the same goes here. I also believe that the residents that live around the "party house" have rights as well, such as the right not to be woken from a sound sleep and the right not to have their yard littered with trash.”

Most students are not from Prince George’s county. And even if they were, are you saying that there are no laws there? Or perhaps that the student’s parents upbringing methods in that area are inferior to the parents methods in Salisbury?

I agree that decency and order should be upheld in neighborhoods. However, where this incident took place,(University Village) was a college specified apartment complex. It is 100% college oriented. There are no families or hard working parents living there.
Although being woken up in the middle of the night is obnoxious and annoying, I probably would have a hard time even getting to sleep with the serious and violent crimes that occur in the city on a regular basis.
I and fellow students, very frequently, get emails regarding hold-ups and robberies that occurred in the area. Shootings and other serious crimes are also very evident. My apartment actually got robbed during the winter break. Although late night noise is irritating, I would be more concerned with my child’s safety.

To this comment:
“Actually, kid, no it isn't. Your institution and you don't pay taxes to support the police. While your money is part of the economy now, Salisbury was doing pretty well before the college became such a big deal. Frankly, I think the place was much better off economically and was a nicer place to live. But by golly, our tax money goes to support your state-funded school and your financial aid.”

I acknowledge that although students do not keep the city of Salisbury, ‘afloat’, we do, however, help in a significant way. Yes everyone’s tax money goes to help state funded schools, like Salisbury, but people living in Salisbury are not the only one’s paying for it. In fact, because the household median income and population is less than what it is in other counties, Wicomico county contributes significantly less, when compared to the entire state. Financial aid is a federally funded loan. Yes, it is a loan, which means it will have to be repaid.

Since I keep hearing Jesus and God in these responses, I find it a little bit scary to hear multiple comments regarding physical abuse that ‘we all need’.
“The last comment proves why you idiots get the ass whoopin ya'll need.” and “These are the assholes that that should have a BIG FOOT IN THEIR ASS..”

Is corporal punishment moral? I find it frightening that parents are using this kind of diction as if they believe it is the right way to raise their children.

Anonymous said...

so all the breaking and enterings, muggings, people getting jumped, the car-jackings, hard drugs, prostitution done by locals, also an officer raping a young girl while on duty is nothing compared to these 'crazy' college students having.. Oh my.. parties? yea they are the ones tarnishing salisbury. haaaaaa! yeah right. i can not believe how narrow-minded some people are

Anonymous said...

10:36 you hit that one right on the head!

Just about all those kids have their own cell phones, yet none of them could capture this incident on video??

Makes it more difficult to swallow this story seeing that they had the means to document such charges, yet failed to do so .....

Anonymous said...

To Dan....

Yes, college students do believe they are above the law and should be given special treatement. It is your narrow minded, young un-educated thoughts they believe they don't think that. And, if college students would act accordingly (such as not like arrogant punks who provoke ass beatings) they would get the respect that they would deserve. Other than that...see you in court. Even if the judge finds a not guilty verdict (which he won't), at least one of you college students got an ass whoopin that you deserve (on a daily basis).

Anonymous said...

Listen, i am not saying that the police do not abuse their power, but are you serious? "Blood splattering the walls"? Ok, so if they were in the middle of no where and you claimed this happened, I might believe it...for a split second! But in the middle of a very busy, active apartment complex....get real!

Not all students are arrogant, disrespectful, self absorbed POS', however, Its rare that an intoxicated person (not to mention a college student in the presence of his peers)is respectful to leos. Granted there are the funny ones, but even they still give a hard time.

Anonymous said...

All these people bringing up one guy at SPD that F'ed up! Correct me if I am wrong but didnt they fire him immediately? One officer slipped through the cracks...not many do, not on a criminal level anyway...these guys go through a long process of background checks, psycological test and so on, I am sure not many slip throughthe cracks...and if they do its because of the damn stress on the job. I find it hard to believe that of the few that do slip through the cracks all showed up at this house!

There are cops who take advantage but the chances are slim that in front of alot of witnesses they would beat this kid with a boton, spraying his blood on the walls and pepper spray him, atleast without good reason!

Anonymous said...

if those cops saw students taking pictures they might mace them and beat them too for some made up reason so they would not have pictures of the incident. students do not have fair treatment in these situations. why would there be more than one student reporting things like this if these cops are being professional? we are not all spoiled brats we know when we are being taken advantage of. that is the bottom line. the way they took care of this particular situation is very scary and as someone said before sadistic. sorry but the mentality of people believing we should get our asses kicked.. it isnt the 1930's its 2008 last time i checked.

Anonymous said...

"There are cops who take advantage but the chances are slim that in front of alot of witnesses they would beat this kid with a boton, spraying his blood on the walls and pepper spray him, atleast without good reason!"

All of the witnesses are students so it is their word against SPDs. They know this is an advantage. Even you take their word over the students without being present. That is why nothing has changed and incidents continue to happen because students do not have a voice.

Anonymous said...

Lawyer Fees: $500 - $2,000
Court Costs: $100.00
The poor violated SU Student being found guilty, and the Police Officers receiving overtime pay: PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

As mahy people that take videos and piics with cell phones and put them on youtube.com and nobody has any of this incident? Its easy to say what the police did was wrong, but the kid was charged with assault. What did he do? I am very sure police did not just walk up the stairs, kick in the door, grab the first person they see in front of a large group of people and slam him into a wall and onto the floor. I guess the fact that alcohol was a factor that had nothing to do with judgement as to what occurred?

Anonymous said...

All I will say is whaaa, give me a fu&@^($ break. Why dont you cry me a river? You guys are nothing but a bunch of young punks who think you know the law. I am sure your party was "small" and your idiot friend was trying to voice his opinion about his rights. I would like to read this police report.


You should try being a fiction fantasy author. You would be half decent at it, scumbag!!

Anonymous said...

to the 4:10 comment:

We are not saying that they should not be punished for the crime committed. What we want to expose are the tactics used by the police against these students. That comment further proves that it is the ignorance of some people that stop this problem from being handled. I could not imagine how offended church organizations would be if they knew that the police said the things they did about if they believed in God and such. Also, in case you are isolated from the rest of the country, unnecessary police brutality is taken very seriously esp. when brought to media attention.

Anonymous said...

I hope you students do get the attention of USA Today and any other national media outlet available. Someone needs to shine some light on Chief Webster, the city of Salisbury and the lack of leadership.

I also agree that the Rambo types need to get a grip you are civil servants not judge, jury and executioners. You really make it hard on the few good cops Salisbury has in the city.

This is what happens when the mayor of a city turns everything upside down to get her yes men and women in place. Instead of seasoned police officers we now have poorly trained, highly inexperienced kids with guns playing cop.

Anonymous said...

whaaaa whaaaaa whaaaaa...what a bunch of college pussies. There's nothing better than going to a college party and shoving their "I KNOW MY RIGHTS" right down their throats....Time to grow up boys & girls....It only goes downhill for you from here. The only rights you have are the one's that we leave you on the side of the road with...bloody as a pulp....I love it. Have you called Mommy & Daddy to come hold your hands yet????? Ooooohhhh....we're scared now.....Punks...

Anonymous said...

To whomever wrote this in response to dan's comment-

"Yes, college students do believe they are above the law and should be given special treatement. It is your narrow minded, young un-educated thoughts they believe they don't think that. And, if college students would act accordingly (such as not like arrogant punks who provoke ass beatings) they would get the respect that they would deserve. Other than that...see you in court. Even if the judge finds a not guilty verdict (which he won't), at least one of you college students got an ass whoopin that you deserve (on a daily basis)."

The statement has many gramatical errors and even has problems making sense, and to put college students out as "un-educated" is a bit cynical and paradoxical. Maybe you shouldn't be criticizing other people, if you can't put together an intelligent argument.

Anonymous said...

Please take your case to the city
council!!! I want you kids to look
right into Debbie Cambell's eyes and say you guys weren't doing anything wrong and the Police beat on you for noooo reason.

Anonymous said...

12:28- I didn't realize this was an English writing class. I've also seen many errors in your statement. Don't throw stones in glass houses.

Anonymous said...

How is it that we deserve a beating when there are locals driving around with guns, heroine, and coke? We should take our complaints to someone who is educated and unbiased. Guys do not argue with these people who are trying to justify a beating. They are not in our best interests because they hate students and do not care what happens to us. They do not see what their own are doing but they would rather blow what we do out of proportion just to get off on the fact that someone was violated. They like to use violence to handle situations. That is the message that they are giving. These are the people who are responsible for the many injustices of the Salisbury Police Dept. because they support that garbage. Do not waste your time on them.

Anonymous said...

Church organizations would be very upset because there was more to what was said when they asked if these kids believed in God. Sadism is a sin and only done by mentally sick people who should not have a badge.

Anonymous said...

"It is your narrow minded, young un-educated thoughts they believe they don't think that."

College students get an education that is why they go there. Maybe you should take a walk over to the admissions building and apply for a few classes to get yourself an education. Be careful, you might be sterotyped as being out of control if you go to the University. We are not as bad as these people think. I can assure everyone here that I do not drive to class with 50 envelopes of heroine, crash into tree stumps, or beat women. Wait a minute here! Beating a local woman is considered bad but beating students isn't? I guess you can get away with the same things criminals do if you have a badge.

Anonymous said...

"whaaaa whaaaaa whaaaaa...what a bunch of college pussies."

a pussy is a person who justifies crap like this instead of taking the higher road.

ps. WHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! let me beat someone up to make me feel better. what a crock of sh*t

Anonymous said...

I live near the college and am sick & tired of the college kids. Alot, not all, of them act like the most irresponsible brats. They park where they want, throw their beer cans in my yard and can't keep their mouths shut when it's time to be in bed. There are some very nice kids, but they keep to themselves and don't act like a bunch of kids that are away from their parents for the first time and can't make a reasonable decision. They are smart mouthed kids that need an adjustment by the Police. Keep your beer cans and throw up in your yards. I support the Police

Anonymous said...

Joe I live in the area of the athletic fields, student housing,etc. and travel south division often and the side roads.Ever since you posted the SU student comment on your blog about the SPD it appears the SPD are targeting the students with traffic voliations.I travel these streets daily and rarely seen a Spd officer make a traffic stop.Now Ive seen several in the past two days.WCSO/St.Pol. monitor this are regularly.SPD gotta be on a vendetta.

Anonymous said...

If you're serious about this, get a large group together and go the City Council meeting. Sign up to speak on the sheet at the door and don't be shut down by LouWeasle Smith, the President. Demand to speak. If you don't do it, how can you make yourselves heard? I'll be there to see if you do it.

Anonymous said...

Unless you were there, which according to the repsorted witnesses of 6, then how can you say he was beat? Oh thats right, again its just police and locals picking on college kids. All of these college partys are open door anyone can enter events. Someone want to go in an video tape one of these "small" non-violent, non-law breaking events? Its been on tv before have SU students forgotten?

Anonymous said...

Well said, 10:11 am.

Anonymous said...

I do recall a few years back the shirt made up by you little farts that was a big sucess. It said,

"Why go to Harvard and think, when you can go to Salisbury and Drink".

All you little alcoholics were very proud of it.

Everyone wants police protection, when you get it you complain. The cops hands are tied and they can not enforce crap because of the bleeding hearts ACLU.

When people are afraid of the POPO, then they will not act like assholes, I hope you all are now afraid of the POPO!

Anonymous said...

The city council meeting is tonight at 6:00pm at the GOB on the corner of Division St & Rt 50. Chief Webster will be there making his plea for yet more money. Come on down and speak your piece in front of the man that is supposed to keep his people in line. If not, shut the hell up and keep taking your ass whoopings.

Gary Comegys is the man you students were swindled into voting for, make him listen to you. Use little words, he is a bit challenged.

Anonymous said...

as an SU grad i'm sure his story has a little juice added to it (to say the least). but i have witnessed SPD mace people (twice)for just being in the area where officers were assisting people.

Anonymous said...

For all the lawyers out there, read the case law. It is illegal to resist arrest even if you think is an an unlawful arrest.
As for the college students, if you would act your age you would probably never have a problem. I remember just a few years ago, SU students being very disrespectful towards the police and throwing beer bottles at the police and police cars. WOW SU made a name for itself on the internet. There are some bright ones there.

Anonymous said...

is it okay to put your hands on an officer? is that okay with you? how would you feel when you need them in that situation under the circumstances