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NewslettersOfficer hurt in Bay Street scuffle
Mon, 2008-07-14 21:31 — Anonymous
A Beaufort police officer was injured Sunday after a scuffle with a 17-year-old ended in the pair smashing into the window of a downtown business, according to police. Read the story here.
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Finish the article, Gazette. ...the officer's name is???????
Why would that be a important part of the story?
Providing the name of the officer involved is just as relevant, if not more than, the name of the accused. I am sure many more people know and are more concerned about the officer than the accused. Most of us read the news in the hopes of obtaining a factually complete and unbiased story.
Let's just say he is the son of a well-loved, and respected officer.
I guess because so many people know the police officers around Beaufort and it just might be someone we know. I also wanted to know who the officer was while reading the story.
I asked because if you notice, in so many of the articles the BG puts on line they neglect to put the names of the people involved. I was surprised they even included the "scuffler's" name this time, because usually they just put the article in and leave you hanging. It's as though the article is put in as an afterthought, or just to take up space.
I can't believe that our kids are way to disrespectful to our officers these days. The officer involved is one of our homegrown and son of a longtime officer. Kids acting like adults should be treated as adults. Thank this officer for caring and taking action. I know he started the confrontation in a mannerly way because of his character and the kid should have listened and now hope is he gets what he deserves. Putting the officers name in the article does not eliminate the fact it is another incident where kids think because they are kids no one can discipline them. Next time rethink the timeout as punishment.
another local hood-rat causing problems... his mama must be proud. and ppl complain why there is nothing to do in beaufort HAHA. wow...
THE TRUTH!!! New
OKAY FIRST OFF THESE OFFICERS LIED. I WAS THERE AND I WATCHED UNTIL AN OFFICER SPREAD MACE INTO EVERYONES FACE THAT WAS STANDING NEAR. FOR THOSE OF YA'LL WHO DON'T KNOW MR.HOPKINS HE IS A VERY RESPECTFUL YOUNG ADULT. THESE COPS MADE IT SOUND LIKE THEY BOTH FELL INTO THE WINDOW. (HUGE LIE) THIS OFFICER THREW MR.HOPKINS INTO THE WINDOW, THEN ANOTHER OFFICER CAME AND STARTED BEATING MR.HOPKINS WITH HIS FLASHLIGHT. AGAIN FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW MR.HOPKINS HE IS REALLY SMALL FOR HIS AGE AND THESE OFFICERS WERE TWICE HIS SIZE THEY COULD HAVE EASILY HANDLED THE SITUATION BUT DECIDED TO GET PHYSICAL. AND AS FOR THE YELLING GOES AT THE YOUNG LADY WHY THE HELL WOULD THESE COPS CARE THEY YELLED AT A GIRL THE NIGHT BEFORE USING VILE LANGUAGE. SO DON'T GO BY WHAT THE POLICE SAID BECAUSE MR.HOPKINS HAD HIS OWN BLOOD ALL OVER HIM FROM BEING THROWIN INTO THE GLASS BY THE OFFICER. DON'T JUDGE SOMEONE BEFORE YOU HEAR BOTH SIDES.
OKAY FIRST OFF THESE OFFICERS LIED. I WAS THERE AND I WATCHED UNTIL AN OFFICER SPREAD MACE INTO EVERYONES FACE THAT WAS STANDING NEAR. FOR THOSE OF YA'LL WHO DON'T KNOW MR.HOPKINS HE IS A VERY RESPECTFUL YOUNG ADULT. THESE COPS MADE IT SOUND LIKE THEY BOTH FELL INTO THE WINDOW. (HUGE LIE) THIS OFFICER THREW MR.HOPKINS INTO THE WINDOW, THEN ANOTHER OFFICER CAME AND STARTED BEATING MR.HOPKINS WITH HIS FLASHLIGHT. AGAIN FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW MR.HOPKINS HE IS REALLY SMALL FOR HIS AGE AND THESE OFFICERS WERE TWICE HIS SIZE THEY COULD HAVE EASILY HANDLED THE SITUATION BUT DECIDED TO GET PHYSICAL. AND AS FOR THE YELLING GOES AT THE YOUNG LADY WHY THE HELL WOULD THESE COPS CARE THEY YELLED AT A GIRL THE NIGHT BEFORE USING VILE LANGUAGE. SO DON'T GO BY WHAT THE POLICE SAID BECAUSE MR.HOPKINS HAD HIS OWN BLOOD ALL OVER HIM FROM BEING THROWIN INTO THE GLASS BY THE OFFICER. DON'T JUDGE SOMEONE BEFORE YOU HEAR BOTH SIDES.
And have a good time. So what if those cops decided to take it out on the little twerp. He shouldn't have been yelling in public and they are risking a big lawsuit themselves.
It will all be investigated by the police and attempted to be dropped. Take the hit and sue the **** out of em. Don't drop the charges for anyone. Get a lawyer from out of town.
OKAY FIRST OFF THESE OFFICERS LIED. I WAS THERE AND I WATCHED UNTIL AN OFFICER SPREAD MACE INTO EVERYONES FACE THAT WAS STANDING NEAR. FOR THOSE OF YA'LL WHO DON'T KNOW MR.HOPKINS HE IS A VERY RESPECTFUL YOUNG ADULT. THESE COPS MADE IT SOUND LIKE THEY BOTH FELL INTO THE WINDOW. (HUGE LIE) THIS OFFICER THREW MR.HOPKINS INTO THE WINDOW, THEN ANOTHER OFFICER CAME AND STARTED BEATING MR.HOPKINS WITH HIS FLASHLIGHT. AGAIN FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW MR.HOPKINS HE IS REALLY SMALL FOR HIS AGE AND THESE OFFICERS WERE TWICE HIS SIZE THEY COULD HAVE EASILY HANDLED THE SITUATION BUT DECIDED TO GET PHYSICAL. AND AS FOR THE YELLING GOES AT THE YOUNG LADY WHY THE HELL WOULD THESE COPS CARE THEY YELLED AT A GIRL THE NIGHT BEFORE USING VILE LANGUAGE. SO DON'T GO BY WHAT THE POLICE SAID BECAUSE MR.HOPKINS HAD HIS OWN BLOOD ALL OVER HIM FROM BEING THROWIN INTO THE GLASS BY THE OFFICER. DON'T JUDGE SOMEONE BEFORE YOU HEAR BOTH SIDES.
All that and no full stun drive?
Sorry to say but most of these new officers think they are above the law,They have attitudes from hell. I made a call one day reporting that my son was robbed at gun point and they made it out to be his fault that it happened. I had 3 officers respond to my home and when 2 of them got out their car and started talking they automatically had an attitude for some reason. The 3rd must have been in training because he couldn't comprehend what we were telling him, even after explaining it to him 5 times..
WHERE ARE ALL THE OLD OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR AWHILE??
PLEASE COME BACK!!!!!!
I happen to know ALL of the individuals involved with this. Hopkins is far from respectful. He has a history of violence, starting when he assaulted his mother at 15 or 16. Lets not forget him always having to be reported as a runaway b/c he couldn't abide by his mother's rules, getting mad and leaving. I guess that's why when he went to jail for assaulting the police, he was also served with the family court warrant for failure to appear. Doesn't sound like he is too respectful to me. Hopkins wasn't cut during the altercation...the officer was and will be out for awhile. Face it, he has no respect for himself or anyone else to include the officers involved with this. The situation is bad all the way around, and unfortunatly a good officer got hurt. Maybe the time Hopkins has in jail to think about his actions, he will now understand he has to be held accountable for his actions.
Possession of Marijuana. Yep, Hopkins is a real saint. My read is that he(Hopkins) got what he deserved. Force ceases when resistance ceases.
Those that criticize law enforcement for their tactics should walk the proverbial mile in their shoes. Feel free to apply for a job with the local PD, go the academy, come back and straighten out the department.
So, Your version is very different from the Gazettes. Based on your writing and the fact that you were a witness to the event and this occured after "teen night" I will assume you are also a teenager. Not that being a teenager makes you unbelievable.
I do wish that the Gazette would publish the name of the officer also, if it is who I think it is, I do not picture him throwing anybody thru a plate glass window. He is a very admirable young man and he has been brought up with good values. He is also very young looking and I can see a punk thinking that he could get over on him. Not that I am saying your friend is a punk.
So, your friend is small for his age. Maybe that is why he was seen yelling at a young lady. Because of his size...does he just go around a pick on young ladies??
And for all of the comments made against our police officers...I agree with the blogger that said walk a day in their shoes!! The problem is not our police officers (not saying that they all are without fault), the problem is that parents have neglected to teach their children respect!! For all the money in the world--I would not want to be a police officer or a teacher for that matter! Anyone that has to come into contact on a daily basis with the teenagers of today. I was taught respect and I teach my children to respect others and I do not tolerate and will not tolerate lip from some teenage punk! However, that is why I am not in those positions.
Our officers are trained to handle the issues that come up. And instead of putting them down or saying to get lawyers and sue...we should give them our respect and loyalty!
I should have known it. Monday was bash a Fireman day, and I asked who was next. Now I won't have to wonder. We have moved on to bash a Policeman day. Of course the "suspect" is a saint, and every single time he has been in trouble, he was framed and beaten by a bad cop. In this circumstance, I am sure that when he was approached by the Police Officer, he shut his mouth, didn't resist and didn’t act belligerent. He was cooperative and respectful like he's supposed to.
As Col. Jessep might say, and I'm paraphrasing here:
...we live in a world that has walls and those walls need to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, shouthernsweetie? Policemen have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Mr. Hopkins and curse the Police Department; you have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what they know: that Mr. Hopkins' arrest and injuries, while tragic, probably saved lives and that the Police Department's existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties you want them on that beat, you need them on that beat. They use words like honor, code, loyalty. They use them as the backbone of a life trying to defend something. You use them as a punch line. They have neither the time nor the inclination to explain themselves to a someone who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very protection they provide and then questions the manner in which they do it. They would rather you just said "thank you," and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest that you join up, pick up a weapon, a bullet proof vest and walk a beat. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to...
Very nice...But I doubt that Southernsweetie has ever heard of Colonel Jessep or A Few Good Men! Doubt she knows much about respect or honor either.
sufficiently cover the WHO, what, when, and where.
So who was the officer? Who cares if his assailant was a "puny twerp". An injured officer deserves additional gratitude from the community. So just give us the facts, just the facts (Insert Sgt Friday voice here).
Not to hijack the thread BUT, I thought it appropriate to post this. I read this in a paper while a Military Policeman in Okinawa more than 34 years ago.
"Well Mr. Citizen, I guess you've got me figured out. I seem to fit neatly into the category you portray me in. I’m typed, characterized, standardized, classified, grouped, and always typical. I’m a lousy cop.
Unfortunately, the reverse isn’t always true. I never seem to figure you out. You teach your children from infancy that I’m a Boogie Man and then are shocked when they identify me with my traditional enemy, the criminal. You raise cain about the guy that cuts you off in traffic, but let me catch you doing the same thing and I’m picking on you.
You should know all about laws but never got one single ticket you deserve. You accuse me of coddling juveniles until I catch your kid doing something wrong, then I’m badge happy. You take an hour for lunch and several coffee breaks each day, but point me out as a loafer if you see me having a cup.
You shout foul if you observe me driving fast enroute to a call, but raise hell if I take more than 20 seconds to respond when you call. You’re a witty conversationalist, but bore me to death at social gatherings with your vast knowledge of “My Job”. You call it part of my job if someone strikes me and police brutality if I strike back.
You wouldn’t think of telling a dentist how to pull teeth, but are always willing to give me a few pointers on law enforcement. You talk to me in a manner and with language that would assure you a bloody nose from anyone else. You cry that something should be done about this or that crime but of course it’s OK if I change a tire for your wife or work many hours overtime searching for you lost daughter.
You stand up on your little soap box and rant and rave and call me names but never seem to realize that your life depends on one thing: “THE LOUSY COP”
Author unknown--
Save the bandwidth. We've all known enough great/good/average/crookeda$$ cops to know that a police force is simply a microcosm of the society it serves to protect. But as such, we need to know that cops get hurt trying to do a job and they need our gratitude.
btw if you're in law enforcement for the pity or the pay then take my advice and get another job. If you wish to be payed and pitied then move to Lebanon and become a professional funeral wailer.
Southern Sweetie, don’t blame the cop for doing his job. I’m sure you would have wanted the officer there if he was not your friend and yelling in your face…I would put money on it that you would. Blaming the cop for doing their job seems to the norm in our society. That is too bad. Well I support the Police even when I get caught messing up, I don’t blame them for my actions. Sorry you got hurt officer, speedy recovery to you my friend and don’t let them get you down. Knowing from what I know about police salaries, they are really in it for the money…lol.
I have come to the conclusion that many people are basing their opinions on their bias towards cops and/or knowledge of Randell personally. I feel that unless you were there (it seems one person was) or you actually knew Randell. I personally know Randell quite well, a good friend of mine actually; and despite the fact that I was not even in South Carolina for this event, if Randell was shouting at a "young lady" he most likely knew her and wasn't doing it in aggression. Also, if anybody was harassing him (even an authority figure such as a cop) he would defend himself. It seems people do have a bias towards cops, whether it be that they always uphold "justice," or are just pigs. In this case the cop being was most likely not being "just." As for a comment about his history of violence; particularly towards his mother, I have talked to him about this in many discussions, it was the mother who was provoking him.
As for a comment about his history of violence; particularly towards his mother, I have talked to him about this in many discussions, it was the mother who was provoking him.
The mother was provoking him?? That gives him the right to be abusive towards her? That's about as lame as it gets!