Skateboarding Magazine » Odd Stuff

Remember The Youtube Cop? Well They Fired His Ass!

doglife — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:55:07 +0000

The president of the Baltimore police union, Robert Cherry, lashed out at the city’s police commissioner who today fired the police offer who three years ago berated a 14-year-old skateboarder at the Inner Harbor. The incident was capture on video and posted to YouTube (video posted on earlier blog). A police disciplinary panel had acquitted officer Salvatore Rivieri of the most serious charges, using excessive and unnecessary force and discourtesies. The panel instead convicted the officer of administrative charges of failing to file a report and recommended a five-day suspension. Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld disagreed and upped the punishment to termination. His office declined to comment further..

But Cherry had a lot to say:

“It’s outrageous,” Cherry said. “It’s well beyond the punishment that should’ve been meted out. … This is the mechanism to police the police. The trial board is judge and jury. They have seen this video over and over again. Officer Rivieri took the stand and testified and was cross-examined by city lawyers.”

Cherry said that what Bealefeld did was akin to a “jury coming back with a verdict of acquittal and the prosecutor saying, ‘Hell no, put him in the chair and electrocute him.’ That’s what the commissioner just did.” The union president said that “whether you agree or disagree with Sal’s tactics, he didn’t curse, he didn’t beat this kid. He gave the kid his skateboard back and called his mother.” Cherry also noted that neither Bush nor his mother filed a complaint until seven months after the July 1, 2007 encounter, after the video appeared on YouTube. “Obviously the trial board saw something different than the police commissioner,” Cherry said.

Cherry later sent this statement:

The FOP has worked diligently with the BPD over the years to ensure that our disciplinary process for police officers is fair and equitable. There is a process in place to “police the police” and in this instance the departmental trial board – members of the BPD selected from a list and agreed upon by both the PC’s legal team and the police officer – listened to all the evidence and returned a verdict of not guilty on all the serious charges, finding Police Officer Sal Riveria guilty of failing to submit a police report and recommended 5 days loss of leave. For the PC to increase the punishment to termination is an abuse of his discretion and not only does it end the career of a 19 year veteran who was out there doing his job, the PC’s decision sends the wrong message to all our police officers who are expected to aggressively keep our streets safe but cannot expect to be treated fairly and not discriminated against in any disciplinary proceedings. We will appeal the decision of the PC on behalf of Police Officer Riveria.

Courtesy – Baltimore Sun

Extreme Terrestrial

doglife — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 05:06:42 +0000

ET the Extreme Terrestrial was inspired by E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial which is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg.

Skateboarding priest becomes YouTube hit

doglife — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:58:47 +0000

A Hungarian Roman Catholic priest has become a YouTube hit with his distinctive method of spreading the word on wheels. The Reverend Zoltan Lendvai, 45, who lives and preaches in Redics, a small village on Hungary’s border with Slovenia, believes skateboarding can open the way to God for young people.

Lendvai says he follows the ways of Saint John Bosco, an Italian priest and educator in the 19th century who dedicated his life to improving the lot of poor youngsters and used games as part of their education.

He learned the skills of skateboarding at the age of 14 at school but it was only later, when he served as a priest in the town of Kormend in northwest Hungary, that he realized the impact his skill could have on youngsters.

He said three boys aged between 16 and 18 who had never attended church before started coming regularly after he showed them a few skateboard tricks.

His first board bore the papal coat of arms and he has since given away at least six to his young parishioners.

Vertrax skateboard comes with tread instead of wheels

doglife — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:46:03 +0000

Mention skateboard and what flashes across your mind? A board that has four wheels at the bottom, often associated with spills from daredevils who grind their way across a variety of public property.

The Vertrax Electric Skateboard moves on a tread, making this skateboard all-terrain ready. Designed by Bryson Lovett this skateboard runs smoothly on sand, snow, dirt, concrete and even on grass.

Combining the dynamics of a skateboard and a motorcycle, the Vertrax Electric Skateboard works very quietly, while emitting no exhaust. This futuristic piece will definitely be a convenient means of travel with its efficient and eco-friendly qualities.

Bryson Lovett

Jet Powered Skateboard

doglife — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:58:42 +0000

A couple of jets on the back of a skateboard sounds like a sound idea.