May 8, 2008 10:14AM 

# Philly Cops on Tape 

By [Tim Lynch](https://www.cato.org/people/tim-lynch) 

---

<a class="js-popover-trigger cursor-pointer popover-trigger" data-bs-placement="bottom" data-bs-trigger="click" id="popover-trigger"> 

SHARE 

</a> 

A TV News helicopter filmed Philadelphia police officers as they repeatedly kick three suspects as they lay on the ground. Go here to see the [video clip](http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/wireStory?id=4801701).

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey says 5 officers have been [taken off street duty ](http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080508_5_officers_off_street_duty_over_beatings.html)because of their actions. Why are those 5 not under arrest for battery?

Philadelphia authorities reportedly hope to identify the other police officers involved in the incident. *Hope?!* If the Commissioner can’t or won’t issue an order to come forward or face dismissal by the close of business, there are deeper problems with the police department.

##### Related Tags 

[Constitutional Law](https://www.cato.org/constitutional-law), [Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies](https://www.cato.org/robert-levy-center-constitutional-studies) 

[![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) 
This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).