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Reaction to Jail Video Is Disgust
Tribune photo by Kelvin Ma
Joe Didomenico, executive director of Self Reliance, Inc., Center for Independent Living, is an advocate for fair treatment of the disabled.
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Published: February 13, 2008
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TAMPA - The shockwave of reaction has reached a national audience as more people see a jail videotape showing a Hillsborough corrections deputy dumping an inmate from his wheelchair.
"I thought it was a joke when I saw it on television," said Cheri Hofmann, spokeswoman for the Disabilities and Business Technical Assistance Center, a nationwide advocacy group that specializes in training and awareness. "That video was incredible. Not only were his rights violated, his civil rights were violated."
In fact, late Tuesday, the head of the Florida Civil Rights Association called on Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey to order an immediate investigation by into the case.
"The excessive use of force complaint filed today against these sheriff's deputies with the U.S. Attorney General will assure the public, especially people with disabilities, their civil rights will be protected by federal officials at the highest level," said J. Willie David III, president of the advocacy organization, in a news release Tuesday.
"I was stunned," said Joe Didomenico, with Self Reliance, a disability advocacy group in Tampa. "The fact that it happened in this day and age … I'm not surprised. I know there is a tremendous lack of education and training in disability issues out there."
The tape shows 32-year-old Brian Sterner tumble out of his wheelchair while being booked into the Orient Road Jail last month. A corrections deputy yanks up the back of the chair, sending Sterner sprawling onto the tile floor. The deputy moves forward to search Sterner's pockets as he lies in front of the booking desk.
Hillsborough Sheriff David Gee said in a statement Tuesday that lack of training was not the issue. He blamed "aberrant behavior" and pointed to the 230 people booked into the jail last year who came in wheelchairs.
Advocacy groups disagreed.
"Hillsborough County is lacking in training in how to deal with the disabled," said Hofmann, based in Florida's Panhandle, who helps businesses meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and offers training in how to deal with the disabled.
Sterner, she said, "was a person first. That lack of sensitivity reflects a lack of a training structure in state and local government."
Anyone who deals with the public should learn how to handle those with disabilities whether they are in wheelchairs, are blind or have other disabilities, she said. One in five people in the United States is disabled in one way or another, the U.S. Census Bureau says.
Training is available, Sterner said, and it isn't expensive. Organizations that offer instruction are everywhere.
"Just because you are in jail and you have a disability doesn't mean you are treated any differently," she said. "When he was rolled in there, that wheelchair was an extension of his body."
She has offered training in jails and police departments across the Southeast. In many areas, it's mandatory, she said.
Training and a general insensitivity toward the disabled is the issue, in the view of Didomenico, who has been an advocate for the disabled for 36 years.
He said the problem must be prevalent at the jail, judging from the reactions from other corrections officers in the room. One deputy is smiling as he walks out of range of the video camera.
"If you have an isolated incident," Didomenico said, "you don't have people standing around and not making an issue of it."
He added, "I wasn't privy to what went on just before this happened but regardless of what was said, even if he was a malingerer, that's not a way to treat another human being."
On Monday and Tuesday, the video spread on the Internet and through new reports, including a live appearance by Sterner Tuesday morning on the New York set of NBC-TV's Today Show.
"I had members of my council e-mailing the video to me," said Debra Dowds, executive director of the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council in Tallahassee. "They all were very upset. I just couldn't believe that somebody would do that. I don't understand why somebody could be treated like this. It's inexcusable."
She said reports of mistreatment of disabled people by law enforcement reach the council from time to time, but never "anything as blatant as this."
She said she doubts the matter was an isolated incident.
"There were people standing there," she said. "Somebody was laughing. Nobody around them seemed to think it was a big deal. If it was so isolated, why did everybody else think it was OK?"
Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( Kel ) on February 13, 2008 at 6:39 p.m.
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Posted by ( ebb ) on February 13, 2008 at 6:52 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This was not a racial crime - it was a crime commited against a handicapped person.I bet she would be willing to abuse anybody reguardless of race.I cannot understand why she is not in jail and why her buddies are home on vacation with our tax dolars.
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Posted by ( apmatssim ) on February 13, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
VOTE NOW!!!
Show Sheriff David Gee what we think
http://www.tboforums.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/4332/
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Posted by ( scottfwtx ) on February 13, 2008 at 6:58 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
She's not fired and behind bars yet? What's the hold up?
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Posted by ( puleo61 ) on February 13, 2008 at 7 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
only fools would believe this doesn't happen often.
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Posted by ( rjc59 ) on February 13, 2008 at 7:15 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
SUICIDERISK YOU have another problem, you can not efford slaves. stay with the issue.
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Posted by ( frishbb ) on February 13, 2008 at 7:15 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
For David Gee to state that this is not a training issue shows his lack of knowledge as to the poor quality of training at Hillsborough Community College.( Where the corrections academy is held).
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Posted by ( alashley ) on February 13, 2008 at 7:24 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
rjc59
Have you considered the possibility that what SuicideRisk is implying is part of the issue? Or are you so simple as to think that race is not part of the issue here because the victim is white?
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Posted by ( vogueangel ) on February 13, 2008 at 7:26 p.m.
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Posted by ( crcg ) on February 13, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
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Posted by ( specialtimes ) on February 13, 2008 at 7:44 p.m.
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Posted by ( rjc59 ) on February 13, 2008 at 7:45 p.m.
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Posted by ( dakota ) on February 13, 2008 at 7:56 p.m.
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Posted by ( Leena ) on February 13, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
MAYBE another quad was arrested and taken to the station without his wheel barrel and they needed this one?
She should have "How's my driving call 1-800-pig-thug" I think that should fit on one line on her backside!
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Posted by ( scottfwtx ) on February 13, 2008 at 8:08 p.m.
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Posted by ( alashley ) on February 13, 2008 at 8:10 p.m.
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Posted by ( sweede ) on February 13, 2008 at 8:10 p.m.
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Posted by ( alashley ) on February 13, 2008 at 8:18 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
So sweede you are saying that sometimes it is appropriate to dump someone from a wheelchair. Especially if they are misbehaving. Are you a cop?
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Posted by ( JenJen ) on February 13, 2008 at 8:59 p.m.
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Posted by ( johnnydonovan ) on February 13, 2008 at 9 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
police brutality at its fines i would say...ummmmmmmmm
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Posted by ( scottfwtx ) on February 13, 2008 at 9:01 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
sweede you are an idiot. They guy was sober, but even if he had been totally out of it, ask for help, don't throw him on the floor!! Good god!
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Posted by ( goodlife ) on February 13, 2008 at 9:03 p.m.
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Posted by ( valricomom ) on February 13, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
hmmmm remember the stink about the boot camp death. that alone was inhumane. let's just see what happens. i have access to a wheelchair. wonder how she would feel being dumped out of one.
remember there are two sides to every story but neither condones abuse to a paraplegic. the others involved including the stupidvisor should all be canned......
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Posted by ( JenJen ) on February 13, 2008 at 9:12 p.m.
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Posted by ( JenJen ) on February 13, 2008 at 9:18 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
ok, let me be a bit more politically correct. In regards to the Boot Camp death...this is the same situation, just the races reversed. Ummmm...black CHILD, refused to run (sickle cell trait as they said); white MAN--parapalegic (still had SOME use of arms) refused to stand. White man, ammonia, we know the rest. Black woman, parapalegic man, we know the rest. Let's see where this goes. Now, lets see the HUMAN aspect...no matter the color, we ALL deserve to be treated at HUMANS!!
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Posted by ( Magic_81 ) on February 13, 2008 at 9:21 p.m.
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Posted by ( sweede ) on February 13, 2008 at 9:25 p.m.
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Posted by ( FLNativeKenny ) on February 13, 2008 at 9:30 p.m.
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Posted by ( signit4bes ) on February 13, 2008 at 9:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Yup. It's on BBC's homepage!
Charlette Marshall-Jones, the world knows what you did!
Still think it's funny?
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Posted by ( JenJen ) on February 13, 2008 at 9:34 p.m.
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Posted by ( apmatssim ) on February 13, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is a hate crime!
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Posted by ( alashley ) on February 13, 2008 at 9:46 p.m.
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Posted by ( wd56 ) on February 13, 2008 at 9:58 p.m.
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Posted by ( signit4bes ) on February 13, 2008 at 10:01 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I can understand celebrating being published, but not censored. Be it by 'the man' or because it was appalling, I wouldn't be proud either way.
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Posted by ( GF ) on February 13, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
To those that say this is not a racial issue, I say, how do you know? You were not there.
To those that say it is a training issue, I say, show me the section of the correct course that tells you not to dump a handicapped person out of their wheelchair. This is just common sense. If you have to "train" someone not to do that, I don't think they are the right fit for the job to begin with.
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Posted by ( rjc59 ) on February 13, 2008 at 10:28 p.m.
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Posted by ( alashley ) on February 13, 2008 at 10:32 p.m.
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Posted by ( ebb ) on February 13, 2008 at 10:48 p.m.
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Posted by ( joeyg ) on February 13, 2008 at 10:54 p.m.
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Posted by ( sabata ) on February 13, 2008 at 11:15 p.m.
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Posted by ( alashley ) on February 13, 2008 at 11:18 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Yes there would be
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Posted by ( wd56 ) on February 13, 2008 at 11:22 p.m.
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Posted by ( jonathanseer ) on February 13, 2008 at 11:31 p.m.
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Posted by ( ejt345 ) on February 13, 2008 at 11:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
As a Black American I'm ashamed of this woman's behavior and she should be fired. Having said that let me also say I didn't know some white people held such awful pity parties. Geez get a life. Why are you so quick to play the race card? I thought that was our job? You put us to shame lol.
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Posted by ( alashley ) on February 13, 2008 at 11:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Where do you think we learned to play the race card?
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Posted by ( ejt345 ) on February 13, 2008 at 11:39 p.m.
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Posted by ( ejt345 ) on February 13, 2008 at 11:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Huh alashley didn't I say playing the race card was our job? I guess it's not just a black mind that's a terrible thing to waste. Kisses.......
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Posted by ( alashley ) on February 13, 2008 at 11:45 p.m.
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Posted by ( missUoT ) on February 14, 2008 at midnight ( Suggest removal )
not to brush aside what this woman did, but i really would like to see what led up to this. no matter what it was her actions were uncalled for, but there is more too it. always is. this woman is a very nice lady, and for this to happen is appalling. there should be serious actions taken. very unfortunate for her and her career and what LEO's now look like
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Posted by ( alashley ) on February 14, 2008 at 12:07 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This woman is a very nice lady? Where? In church?
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Posted by ( ebb ) on February 14, 2008 at 12:11 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
ejt345- we have been blessed with a good supply of dumb azz blacks as well as dumb azz whites. That leaves the rest of us to marvel at things like this and be glad we are not involved with being dumped from wheelchairs or having our property damaged by riots.
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Posted by ( RUSerious ) on February 14, 2008 at 12:20 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Sheriff Gee will take of the problem, right?? She will be fired and face charges. However, what will happen to the Corporal who is shown on the video laughing as he walks away? He is just as responsible as she is. He should have taken action immediately by relieving her of duty at the very least. We'll see what happens. I am appalled, albeit not surprised, by the incident. Mr. Sterner, you deserve every bit of compensation you receive stemming from this.
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Posted by ( Magic_81 ) on February 14, 2008 at 1:05 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
How long will this county put up with a sheriffs department like this. This isn't the first incident by far and it won't be the last. They need to quit passing the job of sheriff on to the next Admiral, General, Grand Dragon or whatever else they have in that place and hire a professional to rebuilt the whole place. YES, this was a hate crime. Wake Up! The HCSD is the best reason I know of to protext our second ammendment rights.
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Posted by ( Magic_81 ) on February 14, 2008 at 1:07 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
When guns are outlawed only morons like those will have guns. Isn't that a pleasant thought.
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Posted by ( bytes44 ) on February 14, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I worked in a nursing home my first day I trained with an employee who was praised for her excellence work with the elderly. She was very big women and black. During the morning when it was time to get the elderly up each room we went into I saw horror on their faces, Thinking because it was her size. One Morning after my training was done she was back on her own she walked out of an elderly patient room whom had dementia this frail dependent elderly women had two black eyes. The praised employee was fired after investigation. The moral is many factors play into the roll of abuse one is overworked, stressed can't perform thier jobs as required. Was it because the fraile lady said you are big and black was that the final straw yes because i've seen it not just once more than twice. She had low self esteem and forgot why she was there why the elderly needed help. Instead she let the race card over power her. Hearing the comments day in and day out from the white elderly, knowing that raceist people still exist. This is not an excuse for her actions.
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Posted by ( specialtimes ) on February 14, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
ebb----- I agree with you there are bad in both races but why is it when blacks do something wrong they dont take the blame like white people do. WE don't have a NAACP to run to or to even stick up for us. I think that is why there are so many white people saying its race cause you all know that is what would be all over the front pages if this was reversed.
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Posted by ( HC ) on February 14, 2008 at 12:11 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted by ( scotland2 ) on February 14, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This deputy should be fired, charged and sent to jail, who does she think she is, I don't care about training in a situation like this common decency should have been shown to another human being, I cannot comprehend that this low life has worked in our system for 20 plus years. To the deputy if you read this you should be ashamed to show your face anywhere what kind of ANIMAL are you?????
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Posted by ( scottfwtx ) on February 14, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why have so many comments been removed here?
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