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WHEN VERSIONS COLLIDE - POLICE AND THE DIALECTICS OF ACCOUNTABILITIES

NCJ Number
56864
Journal
Urban Life Volume: 7 Issue: 3 Dated: (OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 379-403
Author(s)
W D DARROUGH
Date Published
1978
Length
25 pages
Annotation
THIS CASE STUDY OF A POLICE-CIVILIAN CONFRONTATION DURING A RALLY BEING HELD WITHOUT A PERMIT IN BERKELEY, CALIF., EXAMINES A CITIZEN'S LETTER OF COMPLAINT AND POLICE REPORTS FOR BIASED WORDS AND PHRASES.
Abstract
THE INCIDENT EVENTUALLY INVOLVED MANY ARRESTS, CHARGES AND COUNTERCHARGES, CITY COUNCIL HEARINGS, AND A 39-PAGE REPORT INVESTIGATING THE ALLEGED POLICE BRUTALITY. THE COMPLAINING LETTER WHICH IS EXAMINED PHRASE BY PHRASE IS THE LONGEST AND MOST SPECIFIC OF THE MANY RECEIVED. IT PICTURES BYSTANDERS WALKING ALONG OR QUIETLY STANDING IN DOORWAYS WHEN SUDDENLY SET UPON BY CIGAR-SMOKING POLICEMEN. THOSE WHO WITNESS THE 'BRUTALITIES' STAND BY UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING. THE POLICE VERSION REPORTS ROCKS AND BEER CANS BEING HURLED AND STRONG CITIZEN ABUSE TO THE POLICE WHILE REFERRING TO THE ARREST AS JUSTIFIED. A SEVERELY EDITED VERSION OF THE LETTER APPEARED IN THE MAYOR'S REPORT, WITH MOST OF THE ADJECTIVES USED BY THE CITIZEN TO CONVEY HIS DISGUST ELIMINATED. THE GREATEST CHANGE OF MEANING OCCURRED IN REFERENCE TO AN INCIDENT INVOLVING A YOUNG WOMAN WITH A BABY. IN THE LETTER SHE WAS BRUTALLY STRUCK AND CLUBBED BY THE POLICE. IN THE MAYOR'S VERSION SHE WAS INTERFERING WITH AN ARREST WITH THE POLICE REFRAINING FROM ARRESTING HER BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO HURT THE BABY. THESE DIALECTICS ILLUSTRATE THE DIFFERENCE IN PERSPECTIVE BETWEEN CITIZENS AND POLICE AND HAMPER ANY INVESTIGATION OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY. EXTENSIVE NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)