Comments on: San Luis Obispo slated to pay $195,000 for alleged police brutality

By: slocycling

slocycling — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 05:04:54 +0000

A perfect reason, real Americans don’t always like cops either.

However, with out knowing the whole story, the one fact that elludes me, resisted arrest, the charge booked on.

How did that happen to begin with, the man opened the door, and willingly allowed the officers inside.
Forget the money, we should have their 4 badges, NOT for making a mistake, but worse, TRYING TO COVER IT UP.

As for the money, who is going to pay for all that loss of physical ability.
(on a side note, back to trusting what a kid says over an adult….. not too bright)

Like or Dislike: 3 0

By: Boobay

Boobay — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:02:38 +0000

Question: so is the Slo PD trying to hide the fact what happened?? If they are ashamed what the police officers just did then why didn’t they suspend them?

My opinion in this is that the four police that attacked him are the criminals because first of all..

Milne who did not resistant an arrest and which he invited the four police over inside and said that he lived there. So he was being cropadive

The four police which can see there are pictures of him and his family on the wall in the living; where the police officers were. So they had no right at all to search him and had no right to attack him at all…

Milne which was not questioned first if he was the owner of the house or not

Second of all he only had a knife on him and they just pepper stray him.. couldn’t they just ask him to give the knife to them.. and then handcuff him but no they had to pepper spray him and pin him to the ground and beat him up then handcuffed him…

The police then found a gun while he was handcuffed then later was once again pined down while handcuffed and beat up defenseless. Open his eyes and pepper sprayed his eyes.

Nothing happen to the 4 police officers

Like or Dislike: 7 0

By: pugpresley

pugpresley — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:29:49 +0000

WOW? 195K? doesn’t make sense. If it happened exactly this way, a 195k is chump change. My feeling is he was advised by attorney to take the deal because of the knife and gun issue. Just a guess, maybe the jury might feel the officers felt “threatened”. Especially with the absense of any audio or video. It’s too bad.
SLO PD has ahistory of this. Remembe about 10 yrs. ago when a young SLO PD officer broke a college student’s arm, who was doing NOTHING.
And Milne being being prosecuted? WTF!! tax payer money down the drain.
Union Pacific Police? hadn’t heard any complaints, but the interesting thing is the rail cop is a former Morro Bay Police Officer who resigned instead of being fired.
Ian Parkinson? former Morro Bay cop and high school grad. Not a nice guy when he was on the MB force. Hope he doesn’t become sheriff. I had personal dealings with him as an officer in MB and we was totally UNPROFESSIONAL.!!!!

Like or Dislike: 8 0

By: Joe Public

Joe Public — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:18:30 +0000

Methinks that the “closed law firm” has been prior burned by the firm, now wallowing in sour grapes … hence they ignoramously vent in the blog and want to see the firm closed and doesth protest too much gainst them – embarrassingly bypassing the issue in the article..

Like or Dislike: 2 1

By: tj

tj — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:49:51 +0000

I, too, am amazed that anyone finds the SLO PD story of all recording and video equipment malfunctioning simultaneously to be credible. This stinks to high-heaven.

I’ve also heard some incredible stories of out of bounds behavior by the SLO railroad police. Someone ought to take a look at them too.

Like or Dislike: 11 2

By: Cindy

Cindy — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:12:03 +0000

I would certainly expect that he was cleared of criminal charges. Don’t know how much it cost him but it shouldn’t have been too difficult. I had a friend in Redondo Beach that something similar happened to. It took all of one hearing that lasted about 3 hours. The judge was furious with the police and the DA, he told them all off before finding for my friend. Like I said , what criminal charges did they even have to clear Mr. Milne of? Sounds like the police were the criminals.

Like or Dislike: 9 4

By: Westside85

Westside85 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:23:50 +0000

let’s get things straight, is this about some personal vendetta that YOU have against this law firm??? Because it seems to me as though Mr. Milne has no criminal record pertaining to evading arrest today due to his criminal trial being successfully won by his attorney whom happens to be employed at the firm that you say is worthless. It seems to me that if this worthless attorney and law firm never cleared him of the criminal charges, then there would be no civil trial to even consider. Before making comments, why not try a little research and remember that this is about Mr. Milne and not your personal frustrations.

Like or Dislike: 6 2

By: Kettel

Kettel — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:27:29 +0000

Many are, Someone made a list.
http://www.unknownnews.org/policelog.html
This story is on it.

Like or Dislike: 2 3

By: closed law firm

closed law firm — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:06:16 +0000

If this leaked, $195K settlement, actually occurs, I’d expect the next headlines to read: “After decades of presents in the San Luis Obispo community, James McKiernan Lawyers permanently closes its doors. Sources suggest that their representation in the ‘Milne’ suite seriously smacked of back-door influences with the city, all of which encouraged and resulted in a ridiculously low, settlement amount. With this association, there is little chance that anyone needing legal services will ever again consider this firm.”

Like or Dislike: 14 7

By: zaphod

zaphod — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:31:29 +0000

Something smells in Denmark not to blame Denmark! it is your comment that is the stinking troll. and we don’t like any stinky troll y comments here.

Like or Dislike: 4 5

By: BeenThereDoneThat

BeenThereDoneThat — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:38:01 +0000

O.k. so you are sitting cleaning your guns, there is a knock at the door and not knowing who it is, you put the gun in your pocket before answering the door so there is no gun sitting in the open.

I’m sorry this is America and if the gun is legal and you are in YOUR HOME, that is not illegal last I knew.

Sitting in your house with no shirt?? Wow if that is against the law or implies crime, we better start rounding up a lot of men in this country. Good God they may sit around in their underwear next!!

Like or Dislike: 26 1

By: jlwils

jlwils — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:07:07 +0000

Yeah, I normally sit in my easy chair with no shirt on, watching television with a knife and a gun in my pockets. Something smells in Denmark. I’m not backing the PD’s action, but something isn’t adding up. In addition, there were two female officers involved. I think they all need to meet at the White House and have a beer with Barry.

Like or Dislike: 4 29

By: Westside85

Westside85 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:35:06 +0000

I wouldn’t exactly attack the attorney on retainer in this situation. In my particular opinion Mr. Milne, it seems to me that your attorney did a very good job seeing as he was able to win the Criminal case against the city of SLO, something that has not happened in the past that frequently. I’m sure that there are many situations that need to be taken into consideration when going into trial, for example not all Jurors think alike and may not award a verdict that is more than the 195,000$ that SLO is offering. I do however agree that you deserve much more and going to trial will most likely help that occur and good luck sir! As for your attorney, it seems as though if he was able to win your criminal trial in SUCH a conservative and close minded law enforcement town—then i’ll be ready to bet he’ll be you’re best pick when it comes to the civil trial. Best wishes Mr. Milne.

Like or Dislike: 8 6

By: Karen Velie

Karen Velie — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:06:49 +0000

I will be on the Dave Congalton KVEC show at 4 p.m. to discuss this issue. Turn your radio to 920 AM or listen live at http://www.920kvec.com.

Like or Dislike: 3 2

By: Nancy

Nancy — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:05:50 +0000

What do you expect. They have a high school education if that and six months of training. We pay them 100K and give them a gun, Any freeking idiot can be a cop.We are living in a dangerous society,

Like or Dislike: 27 12

By: bobfromsanluis

bobfromsanluis — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:02:59 +0000

So, the police respond to a burglary call, with three SLO officers and a Cal Poly officer; the are let into the home by a man that “might” be a burglar (why would a burglar even open the door?), the officers do not give the man the chance to retrieve his identification, they don’t notice the family pictures around the room, all of their recording devices are “malfunctioning”, the wrestle him to the ground, they pepper spray him not once, but twice, even prying open his eyes for the second dose, they arrest him and the recording devices in the interrogation room “malfunctions” as well. Have I got the gist of the story correct? Wow. Every officer involved should be on suspension, the city attorney should be sweating bullets as to how much the city really should be made to pay for this man’s suffering, injuries and embarrassment, not to mention the fact that he was in his own home at the time of the arrest. I say the city is lucky this man wasn’t from a minority race, or there would absolute hell to pay. Chief Linden, you have failed here as to answering to the public for the actions of your officers. And a citizens oversight committee is desperately needed to oversee all law enforcement actions in the county. This should not have happened, and should never again.

Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 59 2

By: not suprized

not suprized — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:24:04 +0000

Please dont be suprized by any of this. As a life time SLO county resident I have seen this kind of stuff alot out of the SLO PD. Before Cal Coast news there wasn’t anyone that exposed it. The SLO PD. is as crooked as it gets. Always has been like there all from the North County or something. When Ian Parkinson is handed the Sherrifs job you will all learn about him too. His love life has a very colorfull past! Sorry wont elaborate affriad I will be next on the SS Slo polices hit list. As in any organization there not all bad. But the good ones seem to not stick around along time. Its a very sad thing but us life long residents are used to it. Anyone else remember who really started the Poly Royal riots? and it goes on and on. I hope Mr. Miline has a full recovery. And I hope some day soon The SLO PD. is cleaned up and becomes a first rate organization. But I really doubt it ever will!!

Like or Dislike: 16 3

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 04:08:54 +0000

Mr. Milne, I agree with Bluebird, your attorney ‘sold you out’. Don’t settle for $195,000. They kicked your butt big time, now if you really don’t want this to happen to any other citizen, you need to kick theirs back. Take this to a jury, you will be awarded so much more. We need to make an example of the police who acted like criminals, just looking at your injuries (particularly your elbow) makes me hurt, not to mention the pepper spray twice! The SLO PD don’t appear to be taking any responsibility for this, they will pay a smitten of what you are due and then close the door. Save us all Mr. Milne, fire your attorney and tell them NO DEAL.

Like or Dislike: 35 9

By: Bluebird

Bluebird — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:13:40 +0000

Without the pictures it would be impossible to picture the brutal beating the SLO PD inflicted on their victim. This is worse then what the two Arizona transients did to the man they met on the tracks. These are rogue cops who should not be on the street ever again. It appears that Milne’s attorney sold him out. I can’t help but wonder if he as well as the mediator is part of the whole good old boy system in SLO county.

Like or Dislike: 29 7

By: SLO-Insider

SLO-Insider — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:27:45 +0000

Police Unit Recorders, worn by the officers (a light lets the officer know if the unit is turned on), are required as part of department policy to be on during this type of call. Not having them on is a reason for an officer to be written up. Probably why they claimed they malfunctioned. Does anyone find it odd that three malfunctioned on the same evening?

Wasn’t one of the officers involved, Amy Chastain, in a relationship with one her supervisors, the one currently running for sheriff, at the time of the alleged excessive force? Could this be why department heads see nothing wrong with this incident?

From Ian Parkinson for Sheriff’s web site: “Ian is directly responsible for the adoption and installation of the integrated Mobile Data Computer and Mobile Video Camera units in all patrol cars. In recognition of his outstanding service, he was twice awarded the department’s Distinguished Service Award.

Whose responsibility is it that none of the recording systems where operating the evening they mistook a homeowner in his own home for a burglar, including the interrogation room audio and video systems? Why didn’t they ask for ID or look at the pictures on the wall? And why with these photos clearly showing assault, was there not an investigation and action taken by the Chief or her Lieutenant against these officers?

And lastly, would this type of behavior have been OK if they had come across a thief and not an innocent homeowner?

Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 46 7