Dec 2, 7:07 AM EST


Ariz. Cop Had Black Men Rap Away Ticket

By AMANDA LEE MYERS



TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- City leaders have apologized after a program on Tempe's cable channel showed a white police officer telling two black men they could get out of a littering ticket by performing a rap.

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman and Police Chief Tom Ryff apologized for the show Thursday and suspended its future production after black community leaders voiced outrage and disappointment.

"I accept responsibility for the actions of my staff and apologize to any members of our community who have been offended," Ryff said during a news conference Friday.

The segment appeared on "Tempe StreetBeat," a program produced by police in the Phoenix suburb that followed several officers on patrol. It shows Sgt. Chuck Schoville pulling over two men in August in a mall parking lot.

He first asks for a name and ID from the driver and then asks the two men if they know how much the fine is for littering.

The officer then tells the men that they can avoid getting a littering ticket "if the two of you just do a little rap about - what do you want to do a rap about? Littering? About the dangers of littering."

The two men agree, and each performs a short rap, laughing afterward. One says, "The dangers of littering, you will get a ticket. If you ain't wit' it, you better be experienced."

The second man raps, "Yo, I just got pulled over 'cause I threw my trash out the window when they rolled over. They got behind me and pulled me over."

Later, Schoville talks football with the men, one of whom agrees with his prediction that the Oakland Raiders will make it to the Super Bowl this year.

Schoville then says, "You know why you say I'm right? Because I got a gun and badge. I'm always right. That's the way it works, right?" The three laugh and the two men get in their car.

Leaders of chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Action Network expressed outrage and demanded that the city act.

The Rev. Jarrett Maupin of the National Action Network, who was at Friday's news conference, said he had accepted Hallman's and Ryff's apologies and intends to make sure the police department makes good on a proposal for an African American advisory board and increased diversity training.

"It's important for police officers to realize that black people do not speak hip hop," Maupin said. "We're not all rappers and thugs and gangbangers. We speak the English language and we're entitled to the same amount of respect."

Ryff said the department is investigating how the video got on the air, who watched it and who edited it. He wouldn't discuss whether there would be any punishment for those involved.

The chief said that he hadn't been able to contact Schoville, a 25-year veteran of the Tempe force, because the officer is on vacation. A message was left with the department seeking comment from the sergeant.

Because the men in the video were not cited, Tempe police had no record of their names.

and they say only hot blond chicks can get out of tickets

Yep, this is terrible!
How terribly racist to think that most rappers are black! Oh, horrors!
And it's so unrealistic that the blacks in this skit didn't immediately charge the white cop with abuse, and go running to Uncle Jesse or Reverend Al.
C'mon. What's the deal?
The black community adores rap. And rap is nothing but a minsterel show.
Bill Cosby himself noted this a few years ago, that rappers with gold chains, exaggerated movements, outlandish clothing and speaking in black venacular is just a modern Minsterel Show.
The blacks booed Cosby for his blasts against the black community --- while Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton sat on stage, looking embarassed that someone in the black community would DARE to chastize their own.
This is outrageous overreaction.
But just to be fair, let's chastize black comedians who make fun of whites having no rhythm. Isn't that racist?
The city leaders of Tempe need to grow a pair.

Been seeing this on the news .. and its just getting to the point of 'get over it already' .. water off a ducks back. Being a minority, you just have to learn to deal with such igornance and not stoop to their level.

I know of a lot of people that listen to rap who are white. Not all rap or hip hop is about gangs or thugs either. NAACP is just a bunch of pushy jerks who feel the need to whine because if gives them a sense of righteousness even though they have no merit in this case.

Shoot, I'd have rapped to get out of a ticket. Make me an offer! I'm white as pasty European heritage comes but if I can avoid a fine I'll rhyme!

...yeah, I learned my lesson and now I'm rappin' to get over this fine without confessin' that in my back seat there's a Smith and Wesson and 12 grams of crack so I'm rappin' to the man to get off my back so I don't go to jail cause I can't make bail cause all my cash be rapped up in my stash...

Exactly what I was thinking, Ethyl!!
Especially since littering fines can be as much as $500.

I've seen $3500.00 fines. Skay roo that. I'm rappin'.

OK, as a member of a minority I will say what I'm sure a bunch of people are thinking:

If you don't want to be viewed as a sterotype...STOP DRESSING, ACTING, AND SPEAKING AS ONE!!!!!


I did not see this video, but I would be willing to bet that one reason the police officer felt comfortable asking these guys to do a rap was because they looked like the type of guys who rap. I'm sure if these men had been black but dressed in business casual attire or in even business formal attire he would not have spoken to them about rapping.

^^ Excellent point.

The two guys dont really look offended to me I think i'd sing and dance aswell if i didnt get a ticket.

I just found a still frame on ABC news...


This is an undated frame grab from a Tempe, Ariz., police video showing a segment produced by Tempe, Ariz., police where a Tempe police officer tells a black man that he could get out of a littering ticket by performing a rap. Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman and Police Chief Tom Ryff apologized for the show Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, and suspended its future production after black community leaders voiced outrage and disappointment. (AP Photo/Tempe Police via APTN)
Source

Interesting.

man who cares he was bein nice, he could have just gave them the fine and walked away..i highly doubt they felt violated in anyway they probably laughed about it.

Hmmm, he looks rapperish to me.

I think the cop should be fired.

Why?

Because....he usurped his authority. When he asked them to rap to avoid the ticket, he took on the role of both judge and jury...finding them guilty of littering and sentencing them as well. He had no legal right to do what he did. His only job was to issue them a ticket or give them a verbal reprimand. Not to mention that he disenfranchised the city treasury by not giving them a fine. By giving them an avenue to avoid a fine he went beyond his authority as a police officer. He should be given walking papers.

Both men accused of littering laughed.



They also talked footbal.

Update: Cop off the hook after asking black men to rap

TEMPE, Ariz. - A police sergeant won’t be disciplined for his role in a television program that showed him asking two black men to perform a rap song to get out of a littering ticket, officials said.

But after completing an administrative police review, authorities said the department would have to undergo diversity training, and the police-produced cable television show, “StreetBeat,” will be taken off the air for a few months until checks and balances can be developed.

“And hopefully it’ll never happen again,” Tempe police spokesman Jeff Lane said.

Sgt. Chuck Schoville, a 25-year department veteran, stopped the two men in August in a mall parking lot after seeing a motorist toss a paper bag from his window. The stop appeared on a segment of “StreetBeat,” which showed Schoville talking to the driver about the consequences of a littering ticket and asking the passenger to pick up the litter — as well as perform a rap song.

He also discussed football with the men, predicting the Oakland Raiders would be in the Super Bowl. The driver agreed, and Schoville said, “You know why you say I’m right? Because I’ve got a gun and badge. I’m always right. That’s the way it works, right?” Then the men laughed, and shook hands.

According to the review, the driver, Louis Baker said the exchange “made him feel violated, categorized and confused.”

Schoville did not return a phone call seeking comment.

An administrative review by the police department concluded that Schoville failed to make clear that the rap request was separate from enforcement, and the televised segment “gives the distinct appearance that Mr. Tarvin and Mr. Baker had to perform to avoid a citation,” which led the men and some community members to find the segment “inappropriate and offensive.”

Jarrett Maupin II, southwest regional director of the National Action Network, an activist group founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton, said he’s pleased “for the professionalism exhibited during the investigation.”
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Instead of joking around with the public, cops should just be stone faced ticket machines.

Yeah, and then we will all sit around reminiscing about the good ol' days, when cops had a sense of humor.

I'd give it a go to avoid a ticket!

Yo sorry, for dropping the litter,
It not my fault, I just felt so bitter.
Yeah, now I feel like such a donkey.
I don’t want a ticket off some fat honky.

oh no er er think I've blown my chances..me and my big mouth.

Rapping out a ticket? Thats stupid.

personally id be overcome with happiness if a cop offered me the chance to rap myself out of a ticket.

of course the guy is gonna say “made him feel violated, categorized and confused.” after such a big deal was made out of it, he probably thinks he can sue or something. i hope he gets shot for pullin out his wallet next time.

How about this: once they stop portraying white people as stupid, suburban rednecks on their t.v shows, we'll abandone that whole hip-hopster thing.

I think that whole thing was more of a joke and people should learn to actually laugh once and a while instead of jumping at everything as "offensive".

First of all, please read the article before commenting. "The guy" you are refering to is a Mr. Schoville who did not return a phone call seeking comment and is not envolved in the non-legally-related outrage concerning the 'rapping' incident. He hasn't pressed any charges or made a legal move to date.

The people leading the crusade are the Leaders of chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Action Network so perhaps you would like members of said groups to get shot while brandishing their wallets?


Once anain, read the op and articles in the thread before "jumping the gun". BANG!

"Mr. Schoville" is the cop, but i'm glad you think you're so smart. I did read the articles in the thread, and i quote

thank you very much.

why exaclty are people mad

Hmmm Seems like someone in the community is sticking their nose where it doesn't belong. I'm anti-racist, but from the information on that article, it just seemed like the officer was joking around like guys do. It might be a different story if the men acted offended, but I think they acted just like any other guy would... hell I would love the opportunity like that to get out of a ticket....and I'd talk mad sports.....even golf....even curling if I got out of a ticket. Gnarf!

Sorry.... but... do you live in a large town ??? I don't know how big tempe arizona is.. But People who live in small towns.. go through this everyday. 1: A Police Officer will call you by you're first name if you are well known to them.. 2: Police officers here will pull you over if they reconize you in a strange car and they know your background history. I'm not saying that these guys went through this by NO means at all. But I do agree with the part about them getting out of paying a fine to the city. I'm just saying in a small town.. you put up with the " cop taking the role of both judge and jury" and being threatened, or possibly worse; beaten THEN taken to jail in which the whole small town system knows each other so you know you're in deeper than you want to be. Over all though, I think this is a silly news story. Based on the fact of NAACP flying in to "Save thee dayy!!" Did the guy who felt offended CALL them... or just wait for word to get around to the media then once NAACP stepped their foot into the door of oppurtunity to raise a stink and then claim he was "offended" ... basic plan = sue city... more money to NAACP (or where ever it goes) for the next "job" to be handled.





Yeah... well I agree on the "guys being guys." thing. Unforutantly... I don't think I'd get the slim chance of being asked to rap, or talk sports to get out of a ticket. I'd get the nice little green slip and a " have a good day *insert edited: eating grin here*... and remember... show up on or before the date due!" for a 250 speeding ticket in turn also makes my insurance go up, as for a littering ticket ... I"m not exactly that stupid either or bold because there's no getting out of it for me.

I don't know why these guys are complaining. I mean it could have been worse.
Anyone seen the film Bad Lieutenant.

Good point.