I am very conservative and I have the greatest respect for our police. In most cases I will believe a policeman over an ordinary citizen unless there is extra ordinary evidence to prove the policeman wrong.

I am completely against civil disobedience and I will never ride in a group like critical mass.

BUT,

If you study the youtube clip it appears that there is a conspiracy to single out Long and to brutalize him to discourage other riders.

The first time you see Officer Patrick Pogan is when he and another officer (2nd Officer) is in the middle of the street. It appears that Pogan and 2nd Officer are facing each other and are talking. Then you see Pogan start walking to the left side of the street 2nd Officer is following behind Pogan as if he knows what is going to happen. It appears that Pogan singles out Long (the hit cyclist) and then hits him. What is surprising is the reaction of 2nd Officer. Since Pogan was a rookie Policeman it can be assumed that 2nd Officer was a veteran. What is surprising it appears that 2nd Oficer has pre-knowledge of what going to happen and he is not shocked by this rookie policeman's actions.

It would appear to me that Pogan and 2nd Officer planed this attack and that 2nd Officer is just as guilty as Pogan.

This footage lends credibility to the statements of the organizer of Critical Mass that policemen pick people out of the crowd to discourage others from riding.

I would love to be on the review board reviewing Pogan actions. I would call 2nd Officer and ask him what did he tell Pogan, did he have any pre-knowelge of the insident. I would want Pogan to hear what 2nd Officer was testifying to.

Hopefully Pogan not wanting to be a scapegoat would come clean and tell that he was order to take out the cyclist. I can not believe that a rookie cop who only been on the force for a month would take such action without being told to.

buddy