From an Arizona television station:
A disabled veteran was roughly kicked out of a Social Security office in Mesa after informing a security guard that the American flag flying outside the office was tattered. ...
"The flag means to me more than it does to a lot of people," said [Richard] Moriarty.
So when he saw a tattered flag hanging outside the Mesa Social Security office near Baseline and Country Club Drive, he was devastated.
"Each stripe was torn. It was in tatters," he described.
Moriarty felt like he had to say something. ...
Moriarty said he walked into the office and approached a security guard.
"I said, 'Do you know you need to take that flag down? It's desecrated,'" he said.
Moriarty offered to take it down for them and asked the security guard if he was a veteran. That's when the situation escalated and within seconds, the guard pushed Moriarty out of the office.
"I can't breathe!" yelled Moriarty in a video captured by a witness, Shivani Dallas.
Mesa Police arrived on scene. According to their report, the security guard claimed Moriarty initiated the conflict by pushing him in the chest. The 63-year-old is now charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing. ...
8 comments:
Unbelievable. What is wrong with people these days. The guard could have simply acknowledged the veteran's concerns and said he would report them to the appropriate official.
If the veteran did hit the guard and that is a VERY big if, I am sure he was provoked.
This is what happens when you contract out jobs, because PFS is just about all contractors.
You know Charles, when you posted that picture on the 4th, I was so tempted to make a comment that it was a depiction of America under Trump but I refrained.
However, this incident is just too much.
The bully-in-chief is passing down his legacy, after all he was belligerent to a Gold Star family and proud of it.
Be Best? Yeah, be the best axxhole you can be.
I for one am getting close to coming in from the cold, the way this Agency is headed.
I was prompted to look up the actual news story. It appears to me that the guard clearly over-reacted. All he had to say was "Good point. i will report it. Thank you sir". Wrestling the vet to the ground outside the door was unnecessary as were the police charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing. I hope an Arizona attorney will rep the vet pro bono.
American citizens are now viewed by the power as potential threats that have to be quashed. Discussion is off the table in an authoritarian state. I think some honestly think that if you are at a social security office you are welfare scum as opposed to an American citizen protected by a constitution and a bill of rights. If the government and corporate power would start playing it straight with the American public so much of this brutality, suppression and bullying would not be necessary.
Good thing it wasn't a cop or the guy would have been shot. It has little to do with Trump and everything to do with cops and wannabe cops being bullies. Never trust a cop our wannabe cop they will escalate the situation for no reason.
7:32 AM is spot on. Part of the problem is that SSA uses security as front line "customer service." I really doubt SSA puts ANY emphasis on customer service when hiring, and instead views the position as "rent-a-cop." Use of force represents a FAILURE of de-escalating tension. The easiest way to do this is by saying "Hello" in a friendly way, followed by, "How can I help you?" Most important, they must remain calm when others are not. My personal experience at the FO has been less than ideal. The first time, the guard was cranky. The last time I went, he assumed I was with the lady in front of me and tried to skip to the next person behind me in line. I said, "Excuse me, I am next." He got upset at me, instead of just apologizing. Then he escalated his anger when I didn't understand his instructions. This is not what you want from the greeter. But, then you get what you pay for. I don't know why government puts up with jerks with badges types. Too many Barney Fifes and not enough Andy Taylors.
Not only does the physical assault appear to have been unnecessary, this guard was totally out of line in dealing with the public. I find it hard to believe that even if the older man made a movement to push the guard that the response was completely against the way a trained officer should have handled it. During the confrontation he repeated used the "F-bomb" toward this elderly man. Totally should not be used with the public in SSA offices! If the office manager and another SSA employee witnessed this without attempting to intervene, they also should be disciplined, if not fired!
In the years that I've followed this blog, so many of the comments made by SSA employees toward the public have caused me to believe that there is a substantial portion of SSA employees who completely disrespect the entire citizenry.
If the incident occurred in the office lobby, it would have been recorded on the office video surveillance equipment. I'm surprised some news agency hasn't tried to FOIA a copy of the video yet.
There was a video of the incident and it will make you screaming mad.
https://www.facebook.com/222431871660189/videos/226857611217615/?hc_ref=ARRyVR-xrfguLiannDU1OlA-HDu29hwpASfGIz0EZht6fT8dWn5Nz1kpk4DELB1bkEQ
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