UPDATE: The location has been changed from Wes Montgomery Park to the Veterans Memorial Plaza.

One of the challenges our soldiers on patrol in Iraq have is the hostility of the communities they're patrolling. It's dangerous enough to spend every workday in our most dangerous neighborhoods, regularly dealing with the most violent and worthless scum in Indiana. But it's truly terrifying when the civilians surrounding you are dangerous, too. That's the difference between a mere police beat and a war zone. The racial tensions in downtown Indy's Black community threaten to boil over into a race riot at the slightest provocation.

On Sunday, May 16th, IMPD Officer Clouthier and Sgt. Shaughnessy were arresting Vincent Johnson, a Black youth, for burglarizing a home at 546 Fisher Creek Dr when a mob began to form around them. They were angrily objecting to the arrest, with two thugs from the crowd, Xavier Lewis and the burglar's older brother, Brandon Johnson, attempting to incite a riot.

Xavier was arrested without incident, but Brandon, having been told to leave the scene, shouted "I'm not going fucking anywhere!" Officer Carney attempted to arrest the juvenile, who violently jerked his hand away and squared up on him with a threat display. Officer Carney slapped Brandon, who then fell to the ground and grabbed ahold of his leg. Carney grabbed him by the hair and slapped him again, shouting "Stop resisting! Stop resisting!"

As one officer was warding off the enclosing mob with his taser, Off-duty Officer Piland arrived on the scene and assisted with the arrest. Brandon continued to resist, struggling away from the handcuffs and attempting to get up. Piland fought to restrain the boy while the other officers were attempting to handcuff him.

Fortunately, the only person injured was Brandon, whose injuries are consistent with having violently resisted arrest. Given the hostility of the mob and the youth, it's remarkable that things ended as peacefully as they did, with no lasting disabilities or injuries. The mob dissipated, the thugs went to jail, and the neighborhood was a little bit safer.

But this is only the beginning of the story.

The local media picked up some pictures of Brandon Johnson's badly bruised face and ran with them, suggesting that the incident may be an episode of "policy brutality". It wasn't, but the suggestion stuck with the Black community, whose preachers and community organizers began agitating for "justice" for this "victim" of "police brutality". It's times like these that our officers need our support the most.

Instead, newly-appointed Chief Ciesielski buckled under pressure and fired Officer Piland, unceremoniously terminating the career of a heroic officer who committed his life to protecting our communities. This man, 2008's Rookie of the Year, a man without a single disciplinary action preceding this episode, is joining the rest of us in the unemployment line due to the cowardice of our elected and appointed officials, the apathy of ordinary Hoosiers, and the agitation of Indy's race hustlers.

But one can kind of understand why Chief Ciesielski has panicked. The FBI is now investigating his department for potential "civil rights" abuses. Al Sharpton is coming to Indianapolis next week to stir the pot. The media is fanning the flames. As a political appointee, his own career is at stake. But he not only made a cowardly decision in ending the young officer's career. He made a bad decision: these sharks only get more aggressive when they smell fear, and now want all five of the officers involved terminated immediately.

Chief Ciesielski Offers up Officer Piland

Only Indiana's Fraternal Order of Police has had the courage so far to stand up for what's right. They are appealing Piland's termination, taking it to a merit board that could potentially overturn the chief's recommendation. While we at Hoosier Nation will be hoping for this board to make the right decision, we'll also be out on the street standing in solidarity with our fellow Hoosiers against Al Sharpton and his attempt to escalate the thug mentality in Indy's Black ghettos.

Please join us at 7:00pm on Sunday, July 11th, as we defend Officer Piland within a mile of where Al Sharpton will be lionizing Brandon Johnson as a martyr and spreading the very disrespect for law enforcement that caused this episode in the first place. We'll be at the Veterans Memorial Plaza in downtown Indianapolis. The event will include a couple of featured speakers and picketing along Meridian St in support of law and order, the brave men and women entrusted to keep our communities safe, and the victims of these thugs.

Don't forget to bring a sign!

If you plan to attend, be sure to join the Facebook Event, then invite your Facebook friends.

Event: Hoosiers for Heroes, Standing Behind our Officers 

UPDATE: The location has been changed from Wes Montgomery Park to the Veterans Memorial Plaza.