I know young black and latino males that have wanted to file complaints against cops in the City of Laurel and have been told NO you can't. Bring in the justice dept to set them straight.

If people would do what is right. BEHAVE Conduct (oneself) properly. We would not have the troubles that we have.

May, I know people that have been pulled over for no reason - one young man in particular who does not drink, smoke or use drugs. His car was torn apart by Laurel's finest looking for whatever that they did not find. When he called the station to ask about a formal complaint he was told he could not do it. This is just one instance.

I feel there may be a few bad apples on the force, but you can't punish all of them for what a few do..I think we have some great Officers on the force, Sharon Powell Laurel

There are a few bad apples everywhere you go and the LPD is no different. There are two wrongs in this situation Mr. Williams for fighting at the bar and causing a disturbance and the cop that used excessive force. Now we all know two wrongs don't make a right! I hope that the energy that everyone is putting into this, they are putting more energy in mobilizing people to get to the polls and vote in November!

Where will Laurel be in five years if those who want to steal, drink and drug ( who live on the streets at other's expense one way or another) are allowed to do whatever they want, to whomever they want, with no consequences? It's hard to deal with these violent crazies; it's hard for the police, too. I've lived around here for more than 25 years and have never had any problem with the police; but then again, I don't break the law. As far as I'm concerned, if you're drunk and fighting in a bar, the police can pull you out however they need to. If you threaten them, smart talk them, etc....I don't care if you get a smack to quiet yourself down. This strange concept that one can behave badly, do whatever they want and then complain about the consequences seems juvenile, childish. These perps need to grow up, behave, get a job and contribute to the community. My sincere thanks to the law enforcers, who protect those of us who want a calm, safe community.

all i can say is we dont know the full story here,we have seen the officers actions but not what set him off. i have to ask why/what would make him so upset as to slap mr. williams, maybe he or his family were threatened by mr. williams,who knows? best we can do is wait for it all to come out in court..

1

I think most of you are funny. It pisses me off that any of you, naacp, black or anyone would question the alleged use of force is disproportionately used more with blacks and hispanics...Do you know why?? BEACUSE THEY CAUSE MOST OF THE TROUBLE THAT’S WHY!!!!

DON'T ACT LIKE YOU DON'T SEE HOW SAVAGE THESE KIDS ACT VS OTHERS. YOU(!!!!!!) ARE JUST MAKING THINGS WORSE. NOT THE POLICE

If the man was Spitting on the cop why doesnt he react like it. If someone spit at me I would move. If I was a cop trying to arrest him I would pepper spray him or take him to the ground to get him under control. The other officer never reacted like he was assaulting his partner. Nor did any other cops come help him and get him to stop "spitting" on him.

I'm sorry That Mr Williams had to go though this whole thing. But he was the one who they call the police for.
behave and you don't get into trouble. respect other peolpe, and respect yourself by BEHAVING YOURSELF

This whole new "attitude" that the police are always wrong is making me sick! I'm tired of cases being taken out of context with little snippets of video from a cell phone or a video camera. There was a REASON for the police being called and I must say, nobody's ever called them on ME!!!! How about YOU! Let these people go their job. I also want to add that being SPIT on is probably not part of your workday but am sure that we'll get remarks like...."If they don't want to be spit on they shouldn't.....". These anti law enforcement comments are turning my stomach.

What would have happened if Williams was white? Would the NAACP still be making an issue about this? Yes, on the surface the officer, Officer Diaz, who by his name appears to be hispanic, may have done something wrong, but where is the NAACP when police do something right? As someone said in an earlier comment, Officer Diaz saved a woman, who happened to be black, from a burning car. Where was the NAACP and their community meeting to praise the actions of the police in that incident? In my day I have been smacked around by the police. I never thought it was justified, but who likes being told what they were doing was wrong? I know I don't. But there was no special interest group I could get in my corner to get on their bullhorn, so I was out of luck. My point being is that if all anyone reflects on is the bad and not the good, all it does is foster hate. I am not saying that what Officer Diaz did in this situation was right, by any means. I do not know the whole story. I agree that he should be suspended while this investigation is going on. But why does race have to be bought into everything? If you want to preach equality, then practice equality. Again, if Williams were white, would we be having this debate? How about if the officer were black? How about if the officer were black and Williams white? Would the NAACP get involved in all those instances? Police brutality only seems to be an issue to the NAACP when the officer is white. Where is the equality in that?

WAKE UP PEOPLE! The NAACP & Bob Ross are a JOKE! They promote RACISM to the extreme and are only there when a PAYDAY might be involved! Isn't it funny that if ANY other group of people wanted to form an organization such as there's, they would be the FIRST TO SCREAM - DISCRIMINATION & RACISM! It's either BLACK THIS or BLACK that, and that's it! But if you really think about it, who else would want to be associated or belong to a group with such so called VALUES! I would leave the LBGC out of it, but after all, they did sponsor the meeting! Hey Bob, put this in your file along with my other comments! I AIN'T AFRAID!

I dont see why everyone is ganging up on the NAACP. The office used excessive force on a "man" that was handcuffed and in his custody. Forget the race. Its about justified treatment. How would you feel if your child was arrested for something stupid and then beaten by the cop. Its wrong. End of story.

Fighting is not stupid, it's a cause of why most innocent people become victims, not the idiots who have nothing better to do than fight at a club where people are enjoying themselves. They are the reason why Laurel can't maintain a regular spot for entertainment. This guy is a joke along with the NAACP. I guess excessive force is ok for the person who is 100 percent wrong for fIghtIng the police officers but they are the ones who get blamed and sued for protecting themselves??? Wow, when did we start protecting the guilty??? That's just sad. These assholes can get away with such savage behavior and have organizations like the NAACP protecting them. What a big, huge joke.

I have to agree with most the posters on here. I've lived in Laurel sInce I was two and recently moved because of these hoolIgans who just come and tear thIs cIty up and gIve It a bad rap. How can troublemakers expect to be treated with respect when they do whatever they want to and then get protected? This is the main reason why people think the NAACP is a cornball instigating organization. Do something positive in PG county like clean up these drug areas. Oh maybe that's too much to ask since most of them are black, huh?

I'm so glad to see some "push back" from those of us who appreciate and respect police officer's efforts to make our community safe and livable. The perps/crazies run wild and think they can misbehave and do anything they want to anyone. When confronted because of thier bad behavior, they pull the race card or whine about police brutality. Gee- then they are surprised when many perceive the groups who foster and reward this type of bad behavior as enablers/criminal supporters.
Still haven't seen any response from Bob yet about his apparently blatent attempts to intimidate posters here; would like to see a clear explaination from him about this behavior.

Bob Ross

5:32 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012

Thanks for your comment
Will add all commrnts to our Laurel MD files
Bob Ross, President PGC NAACP

What, no article or update on the barely 12 people who came to "protest"? In a City of 30,000 people, only 12 including non Laurel residents from the NAACP show up and the fact that it's a laughable failure, not surprisingly, gets no coverage from the Patch. Shocking. Josh Gardner is as biased in his reporting as Bob Ross is in his sentiment towards common sense. This is and has been a few people attempting to justify their relevance by getting in the middle of a situation that has nothing to do with them. Where is Mr. Ross speaking when crimes being commited in his Laurel neighborhoods, or drugs being sold? No protests then, that's obviously not an issue worth looking at to him or the organization he "runs".
And @ Colliemom, I agree, it does seem like blatant intimidation attempts from Mr. Ross, I wonder why no Patch employee has said or done anything?

Laruel police call for the removal of the NAACP

Thanks for your comment
Will add all commrnts to our Laurel MD files
Bob Ross, President PGC NAACP

We need to protest REST IN PEACE RONNIE WHITE U THINK U WOULD FEEL SAFE BUT THE POLICE IS A GANG

Oh god. A Ronnie White post! We've hit an all time low. He was a scumbag same who ever attempted to butcher the English language in that last post to waste a breath on him. Where are the updates on this "story"?