Thanks for writing this. Let's not also forget the all-out cultural campaign that the police union is waging to win the sympathy of the Rochester public for the shot policeman:

-uniformed officers sent by the union pack the courtroom to intimidate the judge every time Tyquan appears.

-at the same time, there is a constant stream of reports in the corporate media of yellow ribbons being posted in the community for the officer, special masses being said in church for the officer, and interviews with the officer's family.

Are the police, via their PR full court press in the corporate media, hoping that the Rochester public will have made up their minds about Tyquan long before the facts of what looks to have been police brutality become a matter of public record during the trial this summer?

It may be that this kid was defending himself and/ or became enraged (even having a psychotic break) after being beaten repeatedly by the police. Who knows, or would be able to predict, how they themselves would react after their residence was entered without a warrant, and they and their friends were punched and kicked in a protracted manner, and even thrown down a flight of stairs?

As a tax-paying resident of this city, I do not authorize police to behave in the manner that was reported by eyewitnesses in this case. The mayor's office and the police commissioner should investigate what happen with the police on the day of the shooting immediately.

anyone know when the trial starts?

D&C 2/17: "The judge scheduled a tentative trial date for Aug. 10. Rivera will return to court April 1 for argument of motions, when his defense is expected to challenge evidence and how it was gathered."

Full story: www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article

At D&D 2/17 (www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article)

"The judge scheduled a tentative trial date for Aug. 10. Rivera will return to court April 1 for argument of motions, when his defense is expected to challenge evidence and how it was gathered."

Tyquan never confessed to this crime, he just turned himself in. Far as we know, he didn't commith this crime.

Thanks for the correction, I fixed the article.

Thank you for stepping forward to tell what happened before the cop was shot. I feel badly that the Officer was shot, but this is my neighborhood and my people (Black children) and I just could not believe or understand why one of these boys would shoot in a cowardly and coldblooded way. There had to be something else. Yes, I have witnessed officers harrassing young black men in the neighborhood. When I have called the police to come because of the transactions, they never do, they only come in my opinion when they want to or have nothing else to do. We have to stand up and stop what we're doing, and not give the police the ambinition to treat and prosecute us the way they do. We are always judged as being wrong. Yes these boys flood the streets and you can't ride up the street without them motioning to make a sale, but lets stop buying and take back our neighborhoods. Parents have to be accountable and take back their sons and daughters. We as parents know when our children are engaged in wrong things and hanging in places where they don't live. Even if we don't, we should have enough love and concern for our children to find out where they are and what they are doing. This is what happened back in the day, the neighborhood was united and we stuck together. We knew who lived where and who belonged to who. I am very saddened by this whole ordeal, but I also feel sorry for the child who pulled the trigger, thank God that cop did not die. Please stand behind this child, he needs us just as the cop needs us. Two people have been wounded. The disrespect and the unhuman treatment that officers enflict on black men needs to stop. We all have to take a stand.

I can't agree more with this statement. It's really important for the fight against police brutality to be linked with people working together to create safe spaces and good environments for children to grow up in. Otherwise people are living in this situation where they don't like the police, but they don't see how they could live without them.

If you know of any efforts going on in Rochester, please send indymedia an email (rochesterindymedia (at) rocus.org). I'd love to highlight groups working to create safety in their communities without depending on police.

Has anyone from Indymedia or any other indep. journalist tried to find out what happened in the neighborhood? There was an article in today's D and C describing a (failed?) effort by the police and DA's office to establish "trust" on Dayton St. yesterday with a cookout and canvassing. That article again indicates there was a "street stop" with no indication for arrest -- no mention of entering a house, etc. Maybe there are people waiting to tell what really happened and no one asked. That would be a shame. Anyone reading this from the neighborhood? In the Indymedia world WE ALL are the media - I'm sure the author of this Indyedia article would help with camera, etc. if anyone has a contact.

First of all, I believe Tyquan Rivera is in need of community support just as much as officer DiPonzio. Tyquan is A CHILD. Secondly, We as adults and community residents should thoroughly address ALL issues, obstacles and concerns that hinder OUR COMMUNITIES collective success. These definitive obstacles include (but are not limited to), drug dealers, corrupt politicians and bad cops. Lastly, I believe we must all become more responsible, intelligent and courageous in advocating for ourselves as a community.

I hope you know that none of this is true it is all bs to make excuses. No house was ever entered. They dont intimidate judges and the officers are not sent by the union they go to show support for some one who was hurt for no reason.

Well, that's certainly one version of events--a version that seems to be repeated over and over. The problem that arises is that another version of events has come to light and it doesn't include the idea of police as innocent victims/do-ers of no wrong. I'm willing to at least accept another possibility of what happened from someone who claimed to be in the house and witnessed it rather than swallow what the corporate press have to say about the matter.

I'd like to know what evidence you have that proves that what the person who wrote the email said and experienced isn't true.

there is proof, but they don't need to prove it to you, just the judge. So go and blame the cops instead of helping them convict this piece of garbage that just has a grudge against cops because they took him out of the streets and brought him home. Oh no, maybe they "dissed" him and told him to stay at home. Well, in that case, in your opinion, the cop probably deserved it? Crappy people make crappy neighborhoods. Sooooo

No "other version" of events has come to light.

For all you know that email is complete fiction.

If it actually "came to light" you would be able to question the source.

There's no light on that version. None whatsoever.

Who is this Ignorant Fool trying to state that the police dont enter houses or Intimidate Judges. Rochester Police are true Fascists.

I understand this is Indie News, but would spell check kill you?

Where are the spelling mistakes? We'd love to fix them.

This is why I no longer pay attention or give any credence to IndyMedia stories:

SLOPPY journalism. And nobody wants to learn how to do it right. Doing it right is "too corporate."

It is "too corporate" to verify an anonymous source. How can you determine the veracity of a statement if the writer will not stand publicly by his or her words?

The reason the "corporate media" didn't give any attention to this email is that they had no way to question the source.

When you are charged with something, whether it is attempted homicide or police brutality, you have the constitutional right to confront your accuser. According to the culture of IndyMedia, it's ok to publish unverifiable information as long as it supports a left/liberal perspective on events.

If you were real journalists (that is, people who know what they are doing), you would insist upon tracking down the source of that statement.

If you want people to take you seriously then do a serious job of reporting, no matter which direction the evidence takes you.

As for nobody talking to "eyewitnesses": gimme a break. I guess the officers at the scene don't count as "eyewitnesses" because they wear a uniform. And you can bet they talked to any and everyone who was in the vicinity, eyewitness or not.

Someone reads an anonymous email on a radio station, and that somehow provides "evidence" of police brutality.

If that anonymous email charged an IndyMedia "reporter" with something you can bet you all would be all over it like white on rice arguing that it was a "corporate lie," the proof being in the fact that the writer would not come forward and stand behind his/her words.

Anyone can say anything if they don't have to face cross-examination.

The article clearly sources the email and describes the context in which it was read. Readers can make up their own minds about how much value to put on it. Clearly, it is not absolute proof, but it does add another perspective to the story that none of the corporate media outlets have covered -- still to this day.

You claim that indymedia has sloppy journalism, but don't dispute the accuracy of the report. I hope we agree that the email was read on WDKX's water cooler show. On the other hand, corporate new accounts have stated many facts inaccurately. For example, check out this article, where testimony of a BB gun sale gets turned into the sale of the murder weapon by R News:

rochester.indymedia.org/newswire/display/22694

People talk about "advocacy" journalism or "unprofessionalism," but my experience is that indymedia articles are much less likely to have factual errors than corporate media articles on the same topics. It seems to be clearly the case with the Tyquan Rivera story.

Looking at the pictures of Rivera the day he turned himself in, there are no visible bruises, lumps etc which would be present if in fact he was kicked (implying he was on the ground), punched, and subsequently fell down the stairs...unless the police (I am assuming this means multiple) were very careful in their senseless beating. Normally...when a stomping takes place, the attack is all over the body...the face is a prime target...anyone who has ever witnessed or partaken in a jumping of sorts knows this. BUT since we are attempting to legitimize a conspiracy theory, maybe there is special police union training that the RPD goes through that teaches them not to stomp their victims’ faces...I'm just saying...it's possible.