Attorney General calls for review of wheelchair case

Attorney General Bill McCollum today released the following statement regarding the case of the Hillsborough detention deputy who tossed a quadriplegic from his wheelchair:

"I have viewed the video of Mr. Sterner's treatment, and I am appalled by the situation which so clearly unfolded in these images. I have forwarded the evidence to my Office of Civil Rights for our immediate
review, and I have asked the director of the office to take the appropriate action.

"We have been in communication with the sheriff and have been assured of his full support and cooperation."

- Rodney Thrash, Times staff writer

From the Today show on NBC. Click to enlarge

Watch Today show clip.

Previous coverage: Treatment of disabled man attracts national spotlight

Comments

[cutter]

Office of civil rights?? Was a copy sent to the NAACP, JESSE AND Rev Al??

[Gilbert R. Ford]

Lets be frank here, this incident occurred in the presence of at least 4 other Deputies. Some appear to be laughing and some appear to be apathetic. Let me say this they are ALL at fault! The perpertrator, is to be treated as a SUSPECT should be! The co-conspirators should be treated as accessories. This should not be treated as an isolated incident, the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office, has recently experienced a few lapses in professional judgement. That fact points to either indiscipline or unprofessionalism, the problem begins at the very top. The culture, that persist within the Department results in this type of boarish behavior!

[ricco]

HAS LAW ENFORCEMENT BEEN GIVEN A FREE PASS POST 9-11?

IT SEEMS THE MAJORITY OF CITIIZENS SUPPORT THE POLICE RIGHT OR WRONG?

99% OF THE POLICE ARE GOOD HARDWORKING ENFORCERS OF THE LAW.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE 1% THAT ARE BRUTAL AND CORRUPT BE REPORTED.

THERE SHOULD BE AN ANONYMOUS WAY OF OFFICERS REPORTING ON BAD COPS AND IN THE PROCESS RECEIVE A CASH REWARD. LIKE CRIME STOPPERS, DOES WITH CITIZENS REPORTING ON CRIMINALS.

[ROGER]

RICCO....YOUR ESTIMATES OF 99% ARE WAY OFF. OST OF THE DETENTION DEPUTIES ARE FRUSTRATED WANNABE COPS THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT. MAYBE 10% ARE GOOD COMPASSIONATE DEPUTIES, UNDERSTANDING POOR LIFE CHOICES PUT THESE PEOPLE IN THEIR CUSTODY. THE OTHER 90% ARE BITTER, CALLOUS,AND GENERALLY ABUSIVE TOWARDS INMATES. IF YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU WRITE, THEN YOU ARE TOTALLY MISINFORMED.ALL OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH ATTITUDE. FROM THE TIME AN INMATE ENTERS BOOKING, THE INDICATIONS ARE THERE. DEPUTIES REFER TO INMATES AS "THE SCUM OF THE EARTH", SCUMBAGS, LOSERS, ETC ETC. THEY ARE THE PRODUCT OF THE ENVIRONMENT CREATED BY THEIR SUPERIORS. HEADS NEED TO ROLL, STARTING AT THE TOP. REMEMBER S--- STARTS AT THE TOP AND ROLLS DOWNHILL. IF I WERE A DETENTION DEPUTY AT HCSO, I WOULD BE EMBARASSED TO ADMIT IT. AND AS FAR AS DEPUTIES COMPLAINING THAT IT IS A TOUGH JOB, NO RESPECT ETC ETC, REMEMBER, THEY WEREN'T DRAFTED, THEY APPLIED FOR, TRAINED FOR, AND TOOK THE JOB. THEY NEED TO STOP WHINING, OR QUIT.

[notpc]

I totally agree with Roger. Should you be arrested and taken to Pinellas
or Tampa...whether you are CONVICTED or
NOT, you are treated like garbage. These deputies are some of the MOST
unprofessional people I have been around in my entire life. They are scum. They delibertly try to incite
an argument just so they can feel justified in treating as the man in the wheel chair was. And the way a policeman has the "right" to decide if you are guilty...trust me, and not convicted...it is wrong. This whole incident should be an embarrasment to all law enforcement people.

It is totally obvious this man had not
walked in years...that is how criminal
this act was. I would call it abuse and she should be tried for it...along with the deputies who watched.

I am so sorry that for 30 years I showed any kind of respect for law enforcement when I worked in hospitals.
They have become nothing more than Hitler's grandchildren.

[grumpy]

It amazes me notpc that you now have lumped all law enforcement as hitler's grandchildren...please know I am not condoning what happened, however all deputies are scum?? I have a hard time understanding your comments

[notpc]

Yes, GRUMPY<

Go sit in the jail "waiting room"...
gives you a whole new meaning to law
enforcement. And the worst part, is
that you have only been accused, not
convicted. So try it. See how you
like it.

[Suzanne Vale]

The officers that were there should all be fired on the spot no discussion.

Fired with no pensions they have no decency towards other people, none.

[Bryan]

I agree with Roger also. It's the old "one rotton apple spoils the whole barrel" and evryone in the orgnization suffers from the acts of a few. I do think that suspects should be offered the dignity displayed by their actions, however police should not have to put up with abusive behavior.

[ROGER]

Bryan you are absolutely correct. The problem stems from the deputies, being so calloused, they "LUMP" everyone into one category SCUMBAG. Each inmate should be treated the way they act. You get what you give. If you have an inmate, that is cooperative, leave the guy alone, don't flex your muscles with him, he wants to get out of there as badly as you want him out. The guys that act up, are abusive, and uncooperative, make their stay as miserable as possible, but DON'T OVERSTEP YOUR BOUNDARIES.

[BeenThere/Living it]

State Attorney all the sudden jumps in when it hits the media, but what happens when he gets certified, hand delivered grievances and complaints about abuse, mistreatments to inmates, specifically protected by the the Americans with Disabilities Act? Not a damn thing....yet????? Hillsborough is not the only County, they just happened to have been caught on video, which "somehow" got posted on YouTube.

[Mimi]

Politics and public image run everything.Those incarcerated are largely the poor and minorities.They have little political clout so no one cares what happens to them.Only when there is focus from the media do the powers that be move.Realize that our criminal justice sytem is one of the best in the world.That doesn't mean its great just better.It most certainly can and needs to improve always.We need to get upset or things will back slide.Just read some of the comments written by those who sympathize with the guards.There are Nazis among us.

[James]

Outrage and disgust concerning the treatment of this disabled man makes me wonder just how "professional" these these "Law Enforcement Officers" are.
Surely,the "quality" of their actions speak for themselves and God help any of us to be so unfortunate as to fall into their hands!

[Ricardo]

I fully believe most law enforcement persons are very good people sacrificing for us every day. Those involved in this horrible wheelchair incident...which is a MAJOR crime....need to all be punished. It's really horrible to witness how the perpetrator of the dumping is allowed to continue without anyone getting this perpetrator out of the area and "subdued." All of those in that immediate area need to be arrested and need to lose their jobs, their seniority, their retirement plans. This situation is totally bad. My condolences to the victim and his family. Tampa is not like that.