A riot cop holds flower gun.
  • Goldy | The Stranger
  • A riot cop holds one of those “flower” guns.

To be clear, most of my interactions with Seattle police officers during the Occupy Seattle protests have been friendly, respectful, and professional, but last night… not so much.

When I asked an officer what his scary looking riot gun shot, he repeatedly responded “flowers.” Ha, ha. And every time I struggled to get a close up shot of a gun (rain on the lens was fucking with my autofocus), another clown-cop, the appropriately named Officer Jokela kept jumping in the way, striking what he thought were comical poses.

Later (alas, after my video camera had apparently run out of power), when I told another officer that I was a reporter, and asked whether I was safe filming where I was, or whether the next time the pepper spray came out I would be sprayed along with the protesters, he laughed: “Stand there and you’ll find out.” Hey, thanks for the help, officer.

I guess I just don’t get cop humor.

To be clear, whatever the circumstances, and whatever the law, last night Seattle police were assaulting civilians and laughing about it. And that’s just not cool. Several of the victims I talked to said they were indiscriminately pepper sprayed with no verbal warning, with one woman describing the pain as like having “habanero pepper seeds rubbed on your eyeballs.” And as Cienna reports, one US Coast Guard veteran complains that he was mocked by officers as he attempted to recover from his own assault, an incident that I believe I observed as I was calling in my final report from the scene. I didn’t actually hear the exchange, but I can confirm that the officers were smiling and laughing.

So far, Seattle has escaped the worst kind of police abuses we’ve seen in NYC, Oakland and elsewhere, and most of the officers deserve some credit for the restraint they have shown, especially in the face of deliberate provocation on the part of a handful of “anarchists.” But there are certainly some bad apples on the force who are just itching to lash out, and who seem to disturbingly enjoy their opportunities to do just that; it’s something their commanding officers and more responsible colleagues might want to keep an eye on, because pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets may be nonlethal, but they are not flowers, and they are certainly no joke.

I’ve got no problem with officers darkly kibitzing amongst themselves if that’s what it takes to relieve the tension. But if they continue to openly show disrespect for the citizens they serve, that attitude can’t help but be returned.

Officer Jokela strikes a pose as he attempts to prevent a reporter from doing his job.
  • Goldy | The Stranger
  • Officer Jokela strikes a pose as he attempts to prevent a reporter from doing his job.

62 replies on “Seattle Cops Think Rubber Bullets and Pepper Spray Are a Big Joke”

  5. Jesus Christ, some people are never happy. Would you rather he split your fucking head open?

    Just a bored civil servant trying to get through the day. What a monster.

  6. Most big monsters start out as little monsters; it’s the getting away with minor abuses that give them the confidence to escalate up to the major ones.

  7. @6, yep. by Friday the SPD will be using armored tanks and gang rape against the protesters.

    @1, Isn’t John Curely dead, or homophobic or racist? There’s something about him that sticks out in my mind…none of it good.

  9. Gross gross gross!

    That guy washing his eyes wth the water running off the awning obviously doesn’t realize that the water is filtered through tons of piled up pigeon shit before fallIng down on his face.

  10. For what it’s worth, I was there around 9 last night. Officer Jokela was one of the friendlier cops. Meaning he’d at least respond to questions from protestors, rather than stick to a stony glare. He even explained to another protestor what a dangly bauble on his bike was all about.

  11. I’m sure Goldy never jokes around in the office while he’s doing his job. Because that would be unprofessional, you know.

  12. They take our crap all day. And they know there is a core of “Hate the Police” Bandana Face Brigade that will push the issue until pepper spray is necessary. AT Chase folks were asked to move (I was there). They then attempted to use there bikes as barriers. If you are in the vicinity of #occupy folks locking arms and refusing PD demands, there’s a real good chance you will be spayed. The human chain, no car in or out was a stupid action on our part.
    Some cops are thugs, but most were cool. Joked with several guys in front of Sheraton. One took a 99% button. But they have a job. If we start breaking crap and holding up traffic, they will do their job.
    We are here to change the system, let the Chase guy know we’re pissed. We’re not here to fight with cops.

  13. All big city police departments need one of those powerful water cannons or one of those new crowd lasers that make protesters feel like they’re on fire. The police are being way too tolerant in places like Seattle and Oakland. They better put the hammer down before this Marxist crap gets out of hand.

  15. its disgusting. this is not a regular job. they fucking have lawful use of force. they should be more professional, every one of them, and held to a higher standard or fired. their very presence at a peaceful protest escalates violence.

  20. “The human chain, no car in or out was a stupid action on our part.”

    Yeah, it really fucking was. The people are turning against you pretty quickly. I’d say you need to get your house in order concerning these ‘radical’ types.

  21. I understand your concern Goldy, but guns shoot bullets. I can’t help but think, “Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer.”

  23. Adding:

    I support your right protest, but if you continue fucking up our neighborhood, screwing with our lives, and basically making a goddamned mess of our peace, then we are going to get mad at YOU, not ‘the system.’ We aren’t going to ragefuck ‘the banks’ because you have a 20 something poly-sci hair up your ass and start breaking shit. We live here. Please don’t shit on the rug.

    Thanks.

  25. @23 that’s exactly what they’re saying to the Chase CEO who is helping loot America and sell us to his comrades in Red China.

  29. Seattle OWS reminds me of Fresh Prince song “Parents Just Dont Understand”, when you steal dads car and take it for a joy ride, man those parents get all upset, what up with that yo!?

    When protesters attempt to ransack the lobby of a bank and hotel, relentlessly provoking and taunting the cops, man they really dont like that and mace us when we continue to taunt them, those cops just dont understand what were trying to do here, what up with that yo!?

  30. Blocking streets without a permit is a crime.

    Blocking access to private businesses is a crime.

    And Goldstein, lying to the police is a crime. You’re not a reporter, you’re apropagandist hack.

    Too bad the police didn’t start using those flowers to sweep the streets of the trash.

  31. @ 31, you apologized for calling for violence, yet here you are doing it again.

    Don’t bother apologizing unless you mean it.

    @ Goldy, I said this on the other thread where the “flowers” comment was first reported, and I’ll say it here again – Ask a stupid question…

  32. No. I apologized for wishing physical harm on someone in lieu of reasoned debate.

    If a person stands in front of a train, I wouldn’t apologize for noting that the Sounder in the back might not feel very good and he ought to move. If a person commits crimes I don’t apologize for wishing the police to enforce the law using non-lethal but forceful means.

  33. Here’s another positive thing SLOG could feature.

    Patrick.net is running a great thread about replacing our current tax system with a 2% Asset Tax:

    2% Asset Tax Can Eliminate All Other Taxes

    If the total value of all US assets is about $200 trillion, and the total tax revenue in the US (federal, state, and local combined) is about $4 trillion per year, then if follows that a simple tax of 2% on all US assets would pay all taxes.

    http://patrick.net/forum/?p=1133205

  35. @32: So it’s stupid for a person who has never seen a riot control rifle before to ask the officer holding it to confirm whether it shoots rubber bullets? It was dark. Maybe it shot pepper spray. Or tear gas canisters. Or real bullets. I assumed rubber bullets, but it’s stupid of me to confirm, huh?

    Honestly, I politely asked an officer of the peace a straightforward question. And three times he gives me a stupid, bullshit response. But I guess that’s my fault.

  36. @ 36 Goldy

    Well to be fair to the cop you are really ugly and stupid-looking, and your high wimpy voice is incredibly annoying.

    He is probably just another of the thousands of seattleites who hate your fucking guts.

  37. When a donut devil is killed it sometimes brings a smile to my face. I’m just joking around, really I am.

    Police are a huge waste of tax money.

  38. @36

    That’s okay! I hope you get firsthand experience of what one of these looks like in action soon!

    (Hint- Maalox won’t take the sting out of a rubber bullet.)

    Cheers.

  41. @ 36, yes. It was not only stupid, but it was lazy if you not to research riot control methods before you went to cover the fucking riot.

    Jesus, just when I think I couldn’t be less impressed with Slog’s resident politics expert, you come up with something that underwhelms further. Can’t be bothered to think that the Secy of State race matters. Can’t be bothered to figure out which gun shoots bullets and which one launches canisters. Thinks police might be packing live ammo for riot control. Jesus fuck…

  42. So, SB, @ 39 is NOT an example of wishing harm on someone in lieu of reasoned debate? Do you do this out of contempt or stupidity?

  45. @36: Goldy, it’s a great question. However, just because you are the media doesn’t mean people are constitutionally obligated to give you a straight answer. Or even morally obligated.

    Also, these cops handed you fascinating story, which you sort of blew. The actions of the cops you mentioned are pretty unique as far as I know, and possibly point to some formal media-relations strategies adopted by the department? Humor as a deescalation tactic? Or possibly this is just a coping mechanism for being in a tense situation with your every move captured by dozens of cameras.

    Either way, that’s a fucking interesting story. Whining that they made your job difficult? Not so much.

  46. I have never seen such a hands off approach but police to such blatant assaults upon them. So what if they laugh or joke to blow off tension/steam. Get over it.

  49. Goldy, You need to tell the cops you are working press and show your press I.D. As far as Officer Jokela it looks like he is making fun of the guy in the camo. Cops can be jerks but you have to sometimes think that cops are people too. I know you must know a a-hole at your work. Same as with cops I would think that if you was a cop in the cold and rain you would not like to be at home and not in the rain.

  50. P.S. I just seen the video and I know your not that guy but you do sound like that Richard Lee ( Kurt was murdered) guy maybe the cop thought ot was you? Just sayin.

  51. Seattleblues @39: Wishing physical violence on me, huh? I guess nothing takes the sting out of the constant intellectual ass kicking you get here in the comment threads.

  52. Now that I have seen the post about the Costie. You Officer Jokela is acting like a Juggalo sporadic,disorganized, individualistic and an asshole you fucking clown!

  55. I’m new to reading the Stranger, but this Goldy already strikes me as an angry man with a chip on his shoulder toward authority.

    Goldy, we get it. In you’re mind, you’re a rebel fighting the good fight. In reality, you’re just as slanted and myopic as a Fox News contributor.

    So that you don’t give the rest of us more reasoned, analytical liberals a bad name, would you mind toning down the anger a little? I mean holy sh*t.

  57. Captain Wigged Out!

    How the heck are ya, old buddy? Hope the wife and kiddies are doing well. Job going good for you pal? Get the gutters cleaned out for the winter?

    Well good to talk to you. Take care now.

    @57

    Please do. OPA needs more stories of good cops doing their jobs. The SPD was a model of restraint and courtesy in the face of a mob, and should be recognized for it.

    @53

    I have no need to wish violence on someone so earnestly seeking that it be directed to him.

    If ever I recieve an intellectual ass kicking here, I’ll get back to you on whether it stings or not.

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