“Hip Hop Professor” Sues Hero Philly Cop
By Wyatt Earp | October 16, 2010
This fine young man is Philadelphia Police Officer Richard Decoatsworth. You may remember him from this post. The officer was shot in the face with a sawed-off shotgun, then pursued his attackers for several blocks before passing out from blood loss. Decoatsworth was later invited to Washington, D.C. and honored by President Obama during his address to Congress in February, 2009.
But hey, forget all that. A “hip-hop professor” says Decoatsworth violated his Constitutional rights, so the officer should surely be fired, right?
A Columbia University professor from Philadelphia is suing the Philadelphia Police Department and an officer who has been hailed a hero in the past. That officer, Richard Decoatsworth, was shot in the face back in 2007.
According to the federal civil rights lawsuit filed this week, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill was pulled over after dropping off a passenger in North Philadelphia back in June. The complaint says Decoatsworth and his partner searched Hill’s car and pockets, and without warning, Decoatsworth pulled Hill out of the car by the arm.
Wow, the officer pulled the arm of nation’s foremost “hip-hop professor,” and he’s only suing for $1 million? I’m surprised Hill didn’t say, “Do you know who I am?”
I think this lawsuit is frivolous at best, and criminal at worst. It would be one thing if he accused an officer who had a history of complaints and a less-than-stellar reputation. Unfortunately for Hill, Decoatsworth is a highly-decorated officer with a virtually spotless record. Personally, I think Hill has a huge axe to grind with police officers, but don’t take my word for it. Take his:
Marc Lamont Hill labels police officers “racist terrorists.”
Marc Lamont Hill labels Baltimore Police uniform rule “racist.”
Mac Lamont Hill claims police use “black bodies for target practice.”
Oh, and Hill is also a huge fan of convicted cop-killer Mumia abu-Jamal.
Topics: Philly, The Job | 18 Comments »
October 16th, 2010 at 7:39 am
Ugh. Hasn’t this officer been through enough bs? Just shaking my head.
October 16th, 2010 at 7:59 am
Kurtis Blow is a hip-hop professor. You sir are NO hip-hop professor!
October 16th, 2010 at 8:04 am
RT – I don’t buy this story for a minute. I’m sure Decoatsworth patted him down for weapons, but that’s normal procedure during a car stop. If anyone had a concern about someone with a gun, it’s this officer.
Randal – Kurtis Blow is the shiznit!
October 16th, 2010 at 9:12 am
What a a$$hole.
What is a hip hop professor?
October 16th, 2010 at 10:13 am
You just ruined my week-end.
Maybe karma will get this scum of the earth as well.
October 16th, 2010 at 10:51 am
MLH is a “*&^%$#*&^%$%^&&*&*(*!@#$%$#@%^”.
No other comment …….
October 16th, 2010 at 11:27 am
For all I know “illegal discharge of a passenger and blocking the street,” may just be a serious issue in Philly at 11th & Lindly… but I don’t see how it’s RAS for a vehicle search.
As someone who has been a life-long supporter of the Police it bothers me to have to say I no longer trust the Police, especially the PPD.
There have been far too many incidents of PPD officers making up their own laws and routinely violating rights.
When a PPD commander says that “Officers’ safety comes first, and not infringing on people’s rights comes second,” it’s a sign of some serious issues.
I don’t see this clowns history as being proof that his claim is valid, nor do I see that Ofc. Decoatsworth’s having been recognized by Obama as a sign that he is beyond reproach.
October 16th, 2010 at 11:52 am
There are two sides to every story, of course. But RAS has to occur for something more than traffic violation to be patted down. I have been pulled over more times than I care to admit and never have been asked to leave the car for a pat down. I also have never declared that I was carrying.
But I am a white guy!!
October 16th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
North Philadelphia is the worst possible district a police officer could be assigned to in this city. It takes a huge pair of balls for these guys to show up at work every day. I doubt that Officer Decoatsworth feels that being honored by the President gives him a license to pull rank. I’m amazed that he went back to the job after being shot in the face. While it is unfortunate that the bad apples get all the press, the good far outweigh the bad.
October 16th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Grrrr…what a complete POS!
October 16th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
“without warning”? Something is off key here. What does the video camera show? Did the “hip hop” prof refuse the “would you step out of the car, sir?” request.
If I was a betting person, once the details are released this suit will go nowhere.
October 16th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
FYI – Decoatsworth not white,he’s only been on the force for 4 years,but have been involved in 3 shootings,the white cop don’t like him ,the black cop don’t like him maybe they don’t want to get killed ,because they sure wont ride with him,he highly aggressive,he grew up in the hood,but sometime you gotta use common sense,hero or no hero,like Ramsey said no one’s above law
October 16th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
This “professor” is a regular on Fox News, proving that FOX is fair and balanced. I wouldn’t give this tool 5 frigging minutes yet they let him run his pipe regularly.
He’s a MUMIA supporter and is as far left as they come. North Philly is Hell on Earth and I’ll bet dollars to doughnuts there is much more to this story than what we are getting thus far. I’m quite sure this “professor” was treated just like any other suspect in that area late at night. If the cops roughed him up for real, for real he would have had a hospital bedside press conference bet on it.
Like Clint Eastwood said: “He looks too good…”
October 17th, 2010 at 9:07 am
He’s a Mumia Supporter?? ASSHAT!
OK, frisk him for walking, talking and living.!! What was I thinking? I would pull him over and snap on a glove for an anal cavity search. OK, I change my initial thinking!!
Sorry I was not informed!
October 17th, 2010 at 10:33 am
Rick – He’s a guy who gets paid to discuss the “thug culture” personified in our inner cities, I guess.
Kim – Never happen. He makes a great living off race-baiting and promoting hatred of the police.
LDIV – No other comment needed.
Vince – Yep, we’re all corrupt. How do you think I pay for the site? I steal drug money and pimp out little girls.
Danny – And for a department that has seen seven officers killed – two in my building – I will give Decoatsworth a wide berth when it comes to a pat down. If that makes me just as corrupt as everyone else in my department, so be it. Maybe you should start reading another, more balanced blog?
Mrs. Crankipants – Jon Brooks noted a story of America’s most dangerous streets. Philadelphia made the list with 13th & Lindley. Two blocks from this car stop. But hey, what do I know about dangerous intersections? This only happened in my division.
DL474 – He makes a living off riling people up against the police. Apparently he convinced some of the commenters here.
Ralph – Who knows what happened? Lord knows the media wouldn’t give the officer the benefit of the doubt. I’ll know more when I go into work on Monday night.
Dmac64219 – Wow, you really know this officer pretty well, don’t you? I guess the fact that i met him a few times and handled two of his prior arrests makes no difference? Especially when I tell you you’re a lying piece of crap? Go away, and find yourself a nice spell check.
Captain – Thank you for being the voice of reason on this post. Wow, never thought I’d be saying that.
Danny – And yet you still felt free to condemn the officer without any facts. I’m pretty sure that president you hate so much said the same thing about the Cambridge officers.
October 17th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
“Vince – Yep, we’re all corrupt. How do you think I pay for the site? I steal drug money and pimp out little girls.”
No Wyattt… I don’t think you are all corrupt. However, wrong as it may be (and I’m willing to be corrected) I’m surprised that there aren’t more cops dimeing on cops and that’s just wrong. I suspect that there are too many who keep their mouths shut when they see bad things happen because they won’t cross or step on the blue line.
Yup, there are dirtballs out there and I’m sure there are cops like you (and my friends) who… you do your best to stop them… Put them away… But violating rights just makes the scum walk… Sure, it’s a lot more fun when they resist… But the result is that too many dirtballs walk. Otherwise Philly would have something better than 30 some % conviction rate… and it does not.
Is the problem only with the DA’s office that can’t put away felons or is it also with patrol officers doing searches without RAS or other slights of rights?
Honestly I don’t know and I wish I did. Is it one or the other or is it both?
To me, being someone who follows issues with the UFA, I’m totally amazed by the lack of understanding for what is actually in the UFA withing the PPD…
I’m also amazed by the leaked copies of internal PPD memos that suggest harass citizens first without real PC, confiscate guns and worry about the Constitiution later.
Guess what… That, just like other things that become “everybody knows” issues paints all PPD officers with a broad ugly brush that sours police advocates like me.
I don’t like it… wish it wasn’t that way… I don’t want it to be a “us and you” issue… But lately, there have been just too many issues for any one to get a pass on it was done with good intentions.
October 18th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
If I’m not mistaken, isn’t a search for weapons confined to areas around the driver allowed? Similar to a Terry Stop?
October 18th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Also, if I’m not mistaken, in cases like this, the Supreme Court has discussed the “Totality of Circumstances”. In this case, consideration of the area of town, if the house where his companion was dropped off was a known drug house, violence in the area all come into play. If a seasoned officer took in all of these elements and this gave him a reasonable suspicion that a crime may be happening or had happened, AND he can articulate that suspicion, then the case against him shouldn’t hold water.