Baltimore cop caught on video berating and pushing a 14-yr-old skateboarder three years ago has been cleared of charges

By Peter Hermann, The Baltimore Sun
Jul. 21, 2010

Ahh classic video, gotta love our 'justice' [sic] system!The Baltimore police officer who was caught on video berating and pushing a 14-year-old skateboarder at the Inner Harbor three years ago has been cleared of the most serious administrative charges, a police union leader said Tuesday.

A three-member police panel called a trial board held a hearing last week and found Officer Salvatore Rivieri guilty of failing to issue the youth a citizen contact receipt and file a report but not guilty on charges of using excessive and unnecessary force and uttering a discourtesy.

The decision is a blow to the Police Department and overturns an investigation led by internal affairs detectives who concluded that Rivieri had exceeded his authority in the incident. Administrative charges that could have led to the officer's termination were filed as a result of that investigation.