New York: Fifteen police from the northeastern city of Philadelphia were taken off street duty after a video emerged showing officers beating three suspects, US media has reported.
The 15 were suspended as part of an investigation into Monday's beating, which was filmed by a Fox29 news helicopter, MSNBC said yesterday.
The 11-minute video showed more than a dozen police kicking, punching and using batons to strike the suspects after a car chase.
Police said the three men who were beaten were suspects in a shooting. No weapons were found in their vehicle, but a fourth suspect fled the scene on foot and remains at large.
"This was one of the most reprehensible displays of police brutality I have ever seen," lawyer Scott Perrine was quoted as saying by the Philadelphia Inquirer, adding his clients were apprehended without probable cause.
Tensions are high in Philadelphia following the shooting death on Saturday of police sergeant Stephen Liczbinski, 39, who was gunned down while in pursuit of bank robbery suspects. His killer remains at large.
"We realise that our officers are all under an excess of stress right now, but we still have to do our job in a professional manner," said police spokesman Frank Vanore.
