Shocking new video shows a police officer from Alton, IL, pepper spraying two handcuffed teenagers while they sit calmly in a jail cell.
In the footage, the officer is standing at least four feet away from the two teenagers, then suddenly attacks one of them when the boy does nothing but say something and lean back in his seat. Then the officer turns and attacks the other teen, just for good measure. He calmly walks out of the cell while the first boy, still handcuffed and unable to touch his face, squirms in agony.
The video says it all, and there are no excuses. The officer is on administrative leave pending an investigation and the police chief promises to discipline him, but we need to make sure that the punishment fits the crime: The fact that this so-called peace officer could think for even a second that such an action is acceptable proves he is not fit to be a public servant. He must be removed from the force.
The story gets worse - it took two months before anyone mentioned this incident to Chief Simmons, and two more months before they gave him a formal report. Simmons seems to be taking the issue seriously and is implementing deadlines for future reports so this doesn't happen again, but he needs to do more.
Police brutality cannot be tolerated. Our government's armed agents are there to keep us safe, not threaten us. Tell Chief Simmons: It's time to fire the officer who attacked the teens, and suspend the ones who knowingly dragged their feet with the report!
