Thais rally behind police officer seen kicking drunk driver

[webfact]

Thais Rally Behind Policeman Seen Kicking DUI Suspect
By Khaosod English


Screenshot of a video showing a traffic police officer who was suspended from duty for kicking a drunk driver who crashed into six cars over the weekend.

BANGKOK — Thais on social media are rallying around a traffic police officer who was suspended from duty for kicking a drunk driver who crashed into six cars over the weekend.

The police force in Nakhon Sawan province announced the suspension of Police Senior Sergeant Major Poradet Detchote after a video, taken by a bystander, showed him kicking a driver who reportedly smashed his car into six vehicles in front of a school and injured a schoolgirl on 15 November.

The suspect's hands were handcuffed behind his back when he was kicked by Pol.Sen.Sgt.Maj. Poradet. Police told the media that the driver, whose name has not been released to the public, tested positive for alcohol in his breath.

Police say Poradet would also face disciplinary and legal action for his assault.

Yet many Thais have posted messages and changed their profile photos on Facebook to express support for Poradet, whose behavior they are calling an appropriate punishment for the drunk driver.

A number of comments argue that the suspect "deserves" to be "taught a lesson" by the police sergeant.

"Why is it a crime for the police to kick him?" one commentator wrote. "The police officer is suspended because of his inappropriate action. What about getting drunk and crashing someone else's cars, isn't that even more inappropriate?"

Source: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1416232315&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2014-11-18

[benalibina]

Shades of grey .......shades of grey......shades of grey......education and morals.......

[Somtamnication]

Wait until these pro kick posters get handcuffed, sitting down and then get kicked in their face. What profile pic will they chose then? Sheep

[chooka]

Animals, believing kicking a person in the head who is on the ground, cuffed and secured is barbaric. There is absolutely no justification for kicking a person who is down. I guess this is just thainess to hand out your own punishment. I bet this hero felt great beating up someone who couldn't defend himself. I bet he kicks over prams with babies in them and laughs also. Lowest piece of cowardly scum.

Edited November 17, 2014 by chooka

[HeijoshinCool]

So, let's get our priorities straight here Thai people:

Cop gets suspended for kicking a suspect, you complain.

Cop posts horrific photos of violated, butchered, female murder victim on social media …. not a word of concern.

[RustBucket]

Why am I not surprised that the Thai populace supports the use of unprovoked violence against a defenceless individual?

Really send out the message loud and clear..... Thais are not very nice people.

[NamKAheng]

Street justice! Seems right for some people when you are not at the receiving end of the kick. What happend to the innocent until proven guilty in a court of law?

[NongKhaiKid]

So, let's get our priorities straight here Thai people:

Cop gets suspended for kicking a suspect, you complain.

Cop posts horrific photos of violated, butchered, female murder victim on social media …. not a word of concern.

There was a lot of concern voiced but only about minimising the damage to tourism.

Anyone surprised ?

[Confuscious]

In many countries outside Thailand, this guy could walk free because of the actions of the Police officer.

That's why it is wrong to kick a suspect.

Police are only supposed to arrest a suspect.
The courts are there for doing the rest.

[orientalsf]

I'm sure the drunk nice man was just sitting there being very quiet and respectful to the officers.

That mean macho officer should have gone on a coffee break and let the family of the school girl he injured, and the owners of the 6 cars he hit, all have a nice conversation with the gentleman. I'm sure they could have worked something out.

[siampolee]

And one wonders why the Kao Tao suspects ''confessed.''

[Bluespunk]

"The suspect's hands were handcuffed behind his back when he was kicked by Pol.Sen.Sgt.Maj. Poradet. "

Only an idiot or a thug would support or justify this sort of action.

He did wrong, he's been caught, let the courts have him and deal with him.

[Bluespunk]

I'm sure the drunk nice man was just sitting there being very quiet and respectful to the officers.

That mean macho officer should have gone on a coffee break and let the family of the school girl he injured, and the owners of the 6 cars he hit, all have a nice conversation with the gentleman. I'm sure they could have worked something out.

All irrelevant. He was caught and now it's the courts job to deal with him.

[z42]

Part of me thinks the cop had a point. But there is such a thing as professionalism and setting a positive example. This drink driver will likely get the book thrown at him & serve some time.
Some idiots will always condone violence so this is nothing new. Just a shame they get a bigger platform for it now. I also wonder what punishment the copper will get,I hope it's served and reported on

[benalibina]

And one wonders why the Kao Tao suspects ''confessed.''

Can you imagine the fear those burmese must have had...still having......power ...using fear and control......without taking the human soul into consideration.....disgraceful.....

[chooka]

I'm sure the drunk nice man was just sitting there being very quiet and respectful to the officers.

That mean macho officer should have gone on a coffee break and let the family of the school girl he injured, and the owners of the 6 cars he hit, all have a nice conversation with the gentleman. I'm sure they could have worked something out.

police are to uphold the law not brake it. They have taken a person into custody and as such his physical and mental wellbeing are 110% thier responsibility. They have a duty of care to protect him not kick the shyt out of him. In Aust this dog excrement would be sued along with police force and his house, car and first born will all be gone.

[falangjim]

I love how the copper's partner just stands and watches him lose it.

I don't know how injured the girl was due to this drunk driver, but for arguments sake, let's say the injuries were minor. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone on TV will correct me. Luckily, all this drunk jerk did was damage some cars. Had he maimed or killed someone during his stupid act, then sure...a little beating before tossed in the clink would have been in order IMHO.

The cop admitted he was wrong, and shockingly even apologized for his actions. When have you heard a policeman apologize? Just let the policeman ride out his suspension, get some counselling, and get back to work. No need to honor him with a demonstration. What fools.

[Bluespunk]

"Why is it a crime for the police to kick him?" one commentator wrote. "The police officer is suspended because of his inappropriate action. What about getting drunk and crashing someone else's cars, isn't that even more inappropriate?"

No, it's not more inappropriate, however it is inappropriate, that's why he will be in court.

That's what the legal system is for.

[NongKhaiKid]

The BIB are never in a hurry to discipline their own people so all this public ' support ' hands justification for no action to them.

In other forces it wouldn't matter as he has acted disgracefully in public and that tarnishes the image of the force.

On the other hand the BIB doesn't have an image to tarnish any worse than it is.

[benalibina]

On the other hand the BIB doesn't have an image to tarnish any worse than it is.

Wiser words have not been written.

[SABloke]

"The police officer is suspended because of his inappropriate action. What about getting drunk and crashing someone else's cars, isn't that even more inappropriate?"

It is more inappropriate, hence the police officer being SUSPENDED and the driver being ARRESTED :rolleyes:

[simple1]

I'm sure the drunk nice man was just sitting there being very quiet and respectful to the officers.

That mean macho officer should have gone on a coffee break and let the family of the school girl he injured, and the owners of the 6 cars he hit, all have a nice conversation with the gentleman. I'm sure they could have worked something out.

police are to uphold the law not brake it. They have taken a person into custody and as such his physical and mental wellbeing are 110% thier responsibility. They have a duty of care to protect him not kick the shyt out of him. In Aust this dog excrement would be sued along with police force and his house, car and first born will all be gone.

Rubbish - look at the penalities and fines handed out for police violence in VIC, QLD etc in the Courts & civil cases.

[SABloke]

''Part of me thinks the cop had a point...

...Some idiots will always condone violence so this is nothing new.''

So are you labelling yourself an idiot, or just that 'part' you?

[ExPratt]

Of course what he did was wrong in any civilized county. However I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about kicking other motorists in the face about every 5 minutes when I'm out in the car

[canman]

Two things came to mind when I first saw this video.

The mafia in brown are poorly trained; they could barely subdue and cuff the guy.

I was suprised the rest of the brown thugs didn't join in the kicking once the guy was down

[DP25]

Drunk drivers are scum and Thailand has long been far to lenient with this crime. It's hard to get upset about one getting a kick to the head, but the officer should have refrained from doing so as it is not his place to dole out punishment.

However, the courts need to seriously increase the severity of punishments. Anyone who drinks and gets behind the wheel should have their vehicle confiscated and spend the next couple years in prison, and that goes for the huge number of foreigners I see doing it too.

[mrtoad]

The worrying thing is the lynch mob mentality and penchant for violence and retribution appears to be growing in Thailand.

[templedog]

Animals, believing kicking a person in the head who is on the ground, cuffed and secured is barbaric. There is absolutely no justification for kicking a person who is down. I guess this is just thainess to hand out your own punishment. I bet this hero felt great beating up someone who couldn't defend himself. I bet he kicks over prams with babies in them and laughs also. Lowest piece of cowardly scum.

Exactly.....soon they'll be worse than the polizei in Amerika. This is as barbaric as Indian street justice.

There is no justification for ANY form of police brutality.

[smedly]

if the majority vote for "kick him" then isn't that what Thai democracy is all about

The OP quite rightly highlights the exact mentality that exists in this 3rd world country

Unfortunately while the leadership has remained the same for years then the whole country inherits it's morality from them

Will things be different in two years time - I'm beginning to doubt it

Edited November 18, 2014 by smedly

[greenchair]

Two wrongs do not make aright