N.M. cop fired for beating handcuffed teen on video, rehired by neighboring PD



A New Mexico police officer who was fired after a video showed him viciously beating a handcuffed teen suspect was immediately hired by another department in the same state.

Only time will tell when Officer David Smoker will erupt again.

Smoker’s temper violent has already cost Santa Fe taxpayer’s $15,000 from a lawsuit that was filed against him from the beating.

But that didn’t stop the city of Cuba, New Mexico from deciding to take a chance on him when they hired him in February of last year.

It is not clear why criminal charges were not filed against Smoker.

The video was finally made public last month, almost a year after he had been hired by the Cuba Police Department.

It shows two other officers just watching nonchalantly without intervening as he continually beat the handcuffed teen. They were also disciplined including one who lost his job.

Comments

Anonymous
Anonymous

Cuba NM? Have you ever seen Cuba, NM? It only has two paved streets and four or five un- paved ones. The main street is the high way and the whole town is about one mile long and a 1/4 wide. The closest other town is Albuquerque at 75 miles south east. It may have 5 thousand people and is the ass end of no where. It is about as close to hell as you can git. He has been dune no favor.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Can you imagine going to a job interview with this video as a bullet point? Police officer is the only profession that would allow employment with something like this on video as a reference. What business owner, other than police chief would employ a character that acts like this?
Rob´s last blog ..Compass Cards And The San Diego Trolley

Anonymous
Anonymous

Also, the people there tend to be a little on the quick tempered side. I do not think they have reached the 19 th century yet. If he tries a like stunt stunt the kids family WILL kill him. This area makes the wild west look tame.

Anonymous
Anonymous

You wern’t kidding Roger – that place really is the ass end of nowhere.

Note to self – stay away from the US 550

Workingindust´s last blog ..USAF MH-60A

Anonymous
Anonymous

I knew it had to be bad because I spent two years in NM and never even heard of Cuba. I would definitely have remembered that name, having grown up in Miami.

I lived in Deming, so it probably wasn’t that much better.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Hair, meet armpit.
Tim Post´s last blog ..But I Just HAD A Vacation!

Anonymous
Anonymous

I looked it up on Google Earth – It’s literally 1 main road (the highway) with a few offshoots. There’s probably more traffic at a few of the FOB’s I go to than there LMFAO!
Workingindust´s last blog ..USAF MH-60A

Anonymous
Anonymous

“everyone deserves a second chance”….unless of course you’re a civilian

Anonymous
Anonymous

How is this right… also, 15k for that beating? Why are they allowed to get rehired… also, disciplined? How? Paid vacation?
mepsipax´s last blog ..Random rant of nothingness

Anonymous
Anonymous

Deming? Deming is Paradise next to Cuba.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Sounds like a couple of Seattle PD officers might have employment opportunities. Paul Schene would feel right at home with this other imbecile. Schene is scheduled for asnother trial after the first one for his brutal beating of a 15 year old girl in her cell ended in a mistrial.

Anonymous
Anonymous

New Mexico has 1& 1/2 million people, 1/2 million live Albuquerque and area. This state is larger than Germany and most towns are small ,or smaller yet, with almost no money. The only police academies are the State Police academy in Santa Fe and APD,s in Albuquerque, with tuition apx $50,000.and state law requires all officers be certified. Therefore, places like Cube take what they can git. They will pay less and he will have to stick around, because the others will not have him. If he keeps his nose clean in about 5 years he may be able find a better job in say, Deming. He will most likely never work for the larger cities.

Anonymous
Anonymous

That cop belongs in jail. Guys like that give all cops a bad name. It is sad that other officers are WILLING to allow this, and as a result appear just as belligerent as this foul human.
God will judge you for this!

Anonymous
Anonymous

Police culture breeds obstinate thugs. American policing needs surgery from the top down.

Anonymous
Anonymous

This is nothing new. Albuquerque had an officer Babbich, who used a flashlight to cave in the skull of Andres Ramirez several decades ago. The department eventually let him go. Los Alamos County then hired him. I really have to wonder about elected officials but then again most of them live in the fairy tale land where the policeman is your friend.

Anonymous
Anonymous

I would love to see how “Johnny Law” is going to spin this one.

Rail Car Fan

Anonymous
Anonymous

That is just freeking amazing.
A violent out burst and a brutal assault,,, but that is ok, 15 seconds should not ruin his life.
I will remember that when I snap and have a violent outburst.
Moe Speeks´s last blog ..SPONGETECH NEWS TO REPORT,,,,,,FINALLY!!!!!

Anonymous
Anonymous

Only in America !

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