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I almost 100 percent of the time endorse the
idea of prosecuting someone when a police
officer, corrections officer, armed security officer, retail loss prevention store detective,
firefighter, or paramedic is assaulted while on
the job, but this case is down right silly as hell. !
After working in the law enforcement and armed
security field for nearly 30 years I would say this
police officer OVER REACTED. ! I was once
accidentally bumped by a 75 year old mother
during a domestic incident but I didn't lock her
up. ! At first I didn't think it was an accident.
With all the violent crime occuring here in Greensboro I would hope that our law enforcement officers with the city could focus
in this direction. To the DA's office here in
Guilford County, please don't waist our valued
tax dollars in prosecuting this case.

Thank You, BB

There are bigger problems here in Greensboro than someone trying to represent country & a Police Officer overracting. This man did not deserve to be treated like that.

The charges should be dropped immediately.

I am the daughter of a police officer and I am embarrassed that we have such an idiot working on the force. He should be busted down to the evidence room...ah..that's right...maybe that is where he just came from.

He deserves a written and public apology from the officer and the department. The officer that did this should be written up, re-trained or fired,
Next time he might over-react with a gun in his hand.

By the way, we are calling all current service men,vets, and students to join us in planning a large public protest on the courthouse steps if this case is not dropped.

We support our servciemen and those that support them.

This case is ridiculous.

TO ME IT SOUNDS MORE OR LESS AS IF THE POLICE OFFICER MAYBE HAD MORE AGIANST THIS OLDER GENTELMAN THEN JUST HIS PROTESTING.....I SEE PEOPLE PROTESTING ALL THE TIME IN THE STREETS OF GREENSBORO I WISH I WOULD HAVE SEEN SOMEONE TAKE DOWN AN OLD MAN BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE TAKEN HIS PLACE AND KNOCKED THEM OUT.....THE POLICE ARE SUPPOSED TO SET GOOD EXAMPLES FOR THERE CITY CITIZENS IF THIS POLICE OFFICER REALLY FELT THREATENED BY A 78 YEAR OLD MAN THEN HE DOES NOT NEED TO BE ON THE FORCE WITH A GUN......

I've been posting blog after blog about our GSO PD and the attitude and the arrogance
most of them display. This is due to lack of leadership (which does not exist) and I can do anything attitude because they know there will be no consequences. When investigations
by the GSO PD always turn out in their favor(especially the ones associated with criminals)
this department will only become more corrupt.
They not only think they are above the law they
know the are. What happen to this gentleman
happens to GBO citizens everyday for allowing
the corruption in the PD and in GSO to continue day after day. We not only need to help him, but we need to restore dignity, honesty, pride and respect for each other,
back to our city. This will never happen unless
(like the policeman in this article) we hold officals accountable for their actions instead of rewarding bad judgement and behavior. This gentleman did not deserve this treatment and
neither do the citizens of GSO.

THE GREENSBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS NO --NO -- NO PATIENCE FOR THE NORMAL EVERY DAY PERSON IN GREENSBORO. THE TRUE CRIMINALS TAKE ALL THE GIVE AND TAKE SO THE POLICE HAVE NONE FOR US. THE GENTLEMAN TRYING TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN WAS WRONGED GREATLY. THE CITY COULD CARE LESS. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THE GOOD PEOPLE THINK, OUR CRAZY GOVERNMENT GIVES NO RIGHTS TO THESE PEOPLE--THE CRIMINALS RECEIVE ALL OF THE RIGHTS AND WE GET THE WRONGS.
THIS IS HOW THE GREEENSBORO POLICE DEPT AND OUR CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR AND OUR FAMOUS CITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE AND THE GREAT CITY MANAGER WORK. GVE IT UP PEOPLE!!!!! THE CITY WILL WIN, THEY WILL TELL THIS MAN HE WAS WRONG AND JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER SMALL PEOPLE---HE WILL LOSE !!!!!!!

I guess arresting a 78 year old man prevails
over seeing and following someone (for 30 min.)driving the car they stole from you and never getting a response from our great PD department . This gentleman should get
an award if his arrest will help get the citzens to wake up and see what is happening in this city.
Let's give him the respect and consideration he deserves, not the bulish behavior he received from the GSO. PD.

How is Greensboro making a name for themselves? By having the MOST disfunctional police department in history! First, we have the embarrassment of "The Black Book", then its "documents destroyed" regarding the shoot-out. Finally, Greensboro takes down an elderly man for protesting! Pop, was only doing what he felt to be patriotic. That is what America is about. We have people like Ms. Sheehan who camp out in protest, nothing happen to her. In fact, some tried to make her into a hero. There is NO way the officer in question could have felt threaten or violated by Pop. Therefore, wouldn't the response have been better if he had simply said,"Please don't touch me." How do you justify using such force when no force was applied first. The charges against Pop should be dropped, an apology written by the city AND the police department, plus all legal fees paid. Finally, we need to regain our police department. They are not an entity unto themselves. It's time Greensboro stood up to the corruption and humiliation brought on by the GSO PD. Pops is only the start, we need to end what has begun long ago.

Barber, Johnson, Wells, Perkins, Matheny, Wade, Groat are all way too busy pursuing their own development deals to be bothered with planning and managing for a city.

The GPD sucks.... They are a joke... When will someone wake up and take the Cheif and the rest of his corrupt officers down.

Once again, under the leadership (or lack thereof) of Police Gang Chief Bellamy, the GPD looks like fools. How long will this kind of idiotic behavior have to continue before our city officials and our incompetent city manager will take action. It is HIGH time Greensboro get rid of the criminals in the police dept. and the IDIOTS in city hall. I remember when the honorable David Wray was Chief, he was trying to rid the GPD of crooks, gangsters and criminals who now still have positions on the force. Thanks Mitch Johnson, this problem lies directly at your stinking feet.

This is undoubtedly the most rediculous action I have ever seen by the GPD. How in the world can a police officer feel a threat from a 78 year old man? I could understand the "down on the pavement arrest" if the man had pushed or threatened the officer in any way, but from what I have read that did not happen. Granted I was not a witness, but I tend to believe the citizens on this one.The charges should ABSOLUTELY, 100% be dropped immediately, apologies written by all city officials, and not one red cent come out of the gentleman's pocket...

Fact is you can't lay hands on a police officer, by definition it is assault. If the guy was a drunk that was refusing to follow instructions from a police officer, then put his hands on the officer, nobody would be defending him. People are looking at the reason he was there and not the fact that he broke the law. Also why is everybody coming down on the police officer? He was doing his job.

Law, have you never heard of common sense?
This man was well know to the GPD. The captain that said if you touch a police you go to jail is LYING.Maybe in Greensboro, but no where else. I went out of my way, to prove this point. I not in jail. If your city does not fire this jerk, you folks need a federal investigation.

It's surprising that only one poster is even entertaining the possibility that the police officer might have been in the right.

A modest suggestion is to allow the justice system to take its course. So far, one side of the story has been told. If that story is correct, the police officer over-reacted, and Mr. Kohanowich is owed an apology. However, the officer involved and the DA think that a charge is warranted.

Before jumping to conclusions, we should give them a chance to present their case.

In taking care of octogenarian parents, this situation brings to mind the necessity of understanding the differences between generational ideas, beliefs and behaviors.

Those born before the 1950's were raised with the belief that elders were respected because they are elders, one NEVER interrupts, and a hand on the shoulder is a "just a minute I'll be right with you" type of "body language" statement.

I do not know the age of the policeman referred to in this incident -- I suspect he is significantly younger than Mr. Kohanowich. He may have been raised with similar beliefs. If so, I am sure he behaves appropriately -- in his home environment.

However, AT WORK he is interacting with a population that does not grant respect to those who don't show force. Thus, for safety's sake, his knee jerk reaction (to any behavior that could imply force is going to be used against him) is to "take one down".

I believe -- with the given information -- that this incident was simply a matter of mis-communication.

HOWEVER -- it does bring into focus the necessity of law enforcers -- and others that work with the public -- to be aware of and respectful to the differences between cultural and generational beliefs and behaviors.

We have many, many people reaching the age of retirement. These are people who grew up during a time when peaceful (for the most part) demonstrations were THE way to express one's opinion.

Our police force would be wise to train their employees on HOW to "read" these differences so that MIScommunications can be avoided.

It would also be wise to train them to ACT TOWARDS situations instead of REACTING TO them.

It requires practice to be efficient -- but I am sure over the long run, the results will be well worth the effort.

As for this case, IF THE INFOMATION is relatively accurate as given, the wise course would be to have a mediator work with the policeman and Mr. Kohanowich to facilitate communication where understanding AND resolution can be created -- and the charges can be dropped.

In mis-understandings, the only apology needed is that the mis-understanding happened at all -- and it comes from both parties involved.

I am one who generally talks with her hands, and am also very prone to placing my hand on someones shoulder or arm when talking to them. My father places his hand on my shoulder when talking directly to me to make sure he has my complete attention. If this gentleman was told by one officer that he could stand there, then the miscommunication falls on the officers involved to inform each other and to check with each other before approaching a "suspect" or individual. I worry of any officer that would take an elderly person placing their hand on his shoulder as being assault. Sorry but it simply sounds like someone on a power trip. AND yes, I do have relatives who are police officers and detectives, so I don't think I am biased.

When I first read of this incident, it brought to mind ad from long ago with the image of a small child reaching up and touching a police officer - obviously with a question or a request for help. The implication in that ad was that a police officer was someone who cared for those who needed help. Then an image flashed in my mind of my 10-year-old grandson reaching up to touch an officer, and winding up on the ground with an officer's knee in his back while being handcuffed. The notion that "touching" an officer constitutes an assault is absurd, and if that is written into law, that law should be changed. Any officer that can't differentiate between a friendly touch and an agressive one has no business on our police force.

First of all, assault is the attempt, battery use the actual physical touching unwanted or unsolicited by another. Having said that, intent has to be identified. If the citizens of Greensboro are concerned they should get a copy of the police report and go from there. On the face of the matter it appears that the police officer overreacted and the only way to get the attention of the department is to sue. Rodney King.

If touching a police officer is assault, then I suggest someone remove the statue in front of the police station that show's the young child doing just that. I suppose we should replace it with one of an officer with a person on the ground spread eagle with hands behind the head, and a knee in the back, we will then know that the GPD has a no tolerance rule for touching in any situation and no one will ever make the mistake again. After all no officer in our department seems to be trained to assess the current situation he/she is in to determine if they are in immediate danger and if they need to use force. After all I am not a trained police officer, but I think I could figure out if I needed to throw an older gentleman in the middle of an interview to the ground. Please, it only takes a moment to see whose ego was doing the talking on this day, and I think maybe this officer needs to think about hanging up his motorcycle boots and turning in his badge, we don't need this type of attitude on our streets, the criminal activity is bad enough without this adding to the mix.

Oh....now I see that it was justified.

Bullsit!!!

This is an 80 year old man (-1.9 or so)!

Update!! LT HINSON is on patrol. I thought he was a high ranking officer. All they give him is patrol duties! All he can handle, I guess.

He is handleing a mo-ped accident now. Not solving a murder case from years gone by.

He deserves to be in prison, not jail, PRISON!

Hey, old Dude!! I respect your PATRIOTISM!!
You RULE!!!! Everyone is behind you. We support you Bro. You were right! The prick cop lost it. He was on an EGO TRIP! He deserves loss of pay, more training and lots of it. You deserve and apology from him and the city, reimbursment of legal fees, and the right to keep on being the rightous American that you are bro!!! YOU RULE!!!!
I fly my American FLAG. It's on my house, my car, and my truck. This is a great country. Old dude, don't give up on her. We need you Sir!

OK people -- do we even have all the facts?

If things occurred as presented -- then yes, the police officer would be better off in a different career -- preferably one with limited people contact -- AND a formal apology to Mr. Kohanowich would be appropriate.

HOW can "authority" expect people to be personally responsible IF THEY, THEMSELVES, ARE NOT?

HOWEVER, in general, the news has NOT been presented accurately on a consistent basis for many decades. No one -- other than those involved and/or observing the incident -- know what happened (and all of them are limited by where they were placing their attention as well as their personal perceptions).

Mr. Rowe, in his article on Thursday, included the following:

"At the time, Kohanowich was being interviewed by Jeff Tiberii, a radio reporter from WFDD-FM (88.5)."..."Tiberii has declined to comment."

Since Tiberii has declined to comment -- I have to ask myself "why"? What information is (potentially) being left out of the article because Tiberii "won't comment"? What really happened that Tiberii feels he can't give his perspective?

Until these questions -- or their equivalent -- are answered -- OR at least BOTH sides of the situation have been presented -- how can ANY of us be judge?

It is really nice to blame authority -- and authority CAN be wrong. People are really, really good at pointing the finger.

IF we have the complete story regarding this situation, the problem is (apparently) the officer REACTED instead of assessing the situation and making a decision based on ACCURATE INFORMATION.

ANYONE who judges this situation without hearing all sides IS DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING YOU ARE BLAMING THE OFFICER FOR DOING.

Funny how when you point the finger at someone else -- you are also pointing 3 of them back at yourself.

Another question: Where in the constitution does it say that Police can force people off of a publicly owned median if they are citizens paying taxes to mow the grass on it, or keep it clean & paved?

He wasn't obstructing traffic from any of the reports I've read.

What? Just because the Royal Barack Hussein Obama was coming through, Police can arbitrarily alter constitutional rights? Were they afraid he was going to beat Barack's car with a paper/wooden sign or something?

Mr. Kohanowich's question; "What are we becoming?" is a very good one.

The answer: We are slowly becoming a fascist Police State.. Time to wake up my friends, & push back, before Police & Goverment are telling you how long you can run the water when you brush your teeth.

~ Dan Lee

My Drake aren't you the pot calling the kettle black? I have read all the sides to the story.

Bottom line, you have a right to Freedom of Speech, you may stand in the middle of the road which we as tax payers have paid for. You do not have the right to be shoved to the ground, there was a better way to handle the situation. Drop the charges, EVERYONE say I'm sorry and let's all learn from this. Move on this country and this town has bigger issues than this to focus on.

People who work with and among the public have to be safe. Apparently the posters here would never dream of assaulting a public official, but a lot of people do just that, and often totally unprovoked and unexpectedly.

I believe the police officer in question acted appropriately. I have never been in trouble with the law, yet I know it is assault to touch a police officer. If the assaulter had been told numerous times to move along and refused, I cannot imagine the police officer thought this man was going to hug him for yet again asking him to leave.

Unfortunately we live in a day and age where there is a marked display of DISrespect shown by many people, and often applauded by their peer group. People often act in unpredictable ways and many are easily provoked.

Those dealing with the public are entitled to be safe. To expect this police officer to know what the assaulter's intentions are after numerous verbal altercations, is unreasonable.

IT IS A SAD DAY WHEN A 78 YEAR OLD VETERAN GETS ARRESTED FOR HOLDING A SIGN WHEN WE HAVE BUMS STANDING AT EVERY EXIT OFF THE HWY STARING AT YOU WHEN YOU PULL UP. NOT TO MENTION THE GROUPS OF PEOPLE ALLOWED TO STAND AT THE CORNER OF ELM-EUGENE & LEE ST., WHERE IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS "NO LOITERING"THE OFFICER MUST HAVE BEEN HAVING A BAD DAY ALREADY. HE SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO THIS ELDERLY GENTLEMAN & CHARGES SHOULD MOST CERTAINLY BE DROPPED.
GET A GRIP, WHAT IS THIS CITY COMING TO????

I am surprised at the above comments. I recognize that the PD might be corrupt, however, the "78 year old" was asked repeated to move. When candidates such as this come into town, the PD must know they are secure. If I were asked to move (I have "marched" in my day) I would have felt I must respect the badge and "move along." I might be in my rights, but I must respect the PD. Of course in this day and time we don't respect anyone and teach that to our children. (This is a former teacher speaking.)

He refused to comply with the police officer and then pushed the officer. The officer acted legally and the protester broke the law. Throw out all the other things which have no bearing...his age, his veteran status, his political affiliation...the law applies to everyone. Why do some people not get this?

Look, I don't believe for a moment that this police officer felt threatened by this elderly gentleman. They have seen this man before and he has never caused problems before, and I don't believe they felt that he was a threat to Barack Obama. This police officer obviously felt like he was being disrespected when Pop didn't move, so he overreacted and used more force than was needed to remove him. I understand that policemen feel that they are in danger at all times in this day and time, but come on! This policeman should have used common sense to determine whether the man was a threat or not, which he obviously was not. Mr. K. is owed an apology for being treated like a common criminal while exercising his right to free speech.

Why not just shoot the old man and save the poor officer from having to get out of his car and move a patriotic citizen out of the way so a stupid politician and his crowd of idiots can get by. Or maybe the secret service officers PROTECTING Obama could have shot him for the threat he posed.

Give me a break, Greensboro...your police officer is what gives LAW the reputation of ABUSIVENESS that it has now. North Carolina and the tricities is doing so well on the national front...Duke, and now Pops.

Just shoot him next time, punk officer big shot. Show the folks that you know how to manage crowd control in the metropolitan area.

Your mayor and your city councilmen should be on their knees begging this gentleman's pardon. And the officer should be transferred to the garbage pick up detail.

Fellow cops, put this one to bed quickly, if it got out of hand OK, but its time to make it right, morally, if not legally.

We should all be ashamed of the sad state of our Greensboro Police Department, and a weak lame City Council which allows it.

Where is real leadership in this city? Has it all moved on to Charlotte, Raleigh and other more progressive cities?

We should be ashamed to call this rotten gang a police department and more than a little embarassed to call Greensboro our home.

Take a good look Greensboro. We have big city problems being handled by little town people.

Police officers are no longer allowed to use discretion. In this day of paramilitary police forces there is no use of judgement on the part of the officer to determine whether they can give and take a little. I can not even immagine the pressure that these people are expected to perform under each and every day. They are the one's who should be making the multi-million dollar contracts, not the athletes and business execs. They are the only one's who are expected to put themselves between us and the bad guys. And do they get the backing from the department and the city that they need and deserve? No. They are disrespected by the people that they are sworn to protect, they are chastised by the council over every little action, a council and town manager who are a disgrace, and they are grossly underpaid for the job that they do.
Hell yes the officer over-reacted when he threw this old man to the ground and arrested him. And hell yes the other officer over-reacted when he unloaded his gun into an unarmed man. Last year I was put into a situation with a deputy that could have gotten ugly if I had not had discretion enough to back away and do what the officer had told me to do. I was upset too, but I have enough respect for these people to understand that they are only humans, they are not robo-cops they are people just like you and I with a very difficult job to do.
If you don't want a police officer ruining your day then all you have to do is: 1-show them some respect & 2-do what they ask you to do. It's that simple. God bless those who serve to protect those who will not .

Police officers are no longer allowed to use discretion. In this day of paramilitary police forces there is no use of judgement on the part of the officer to determine whether they can give and take a little. I can not even immagine the pressure that these people are expected to perform under each and every day. They are the one's who should be making the multi-million dollar contracts, not the athletes and business execs. They are the only one's who are expected to put themselves between us and the bad guys. And do they get the backing from the department and the city that they need and deserve? No. They are disrespected by the people that they are sworn to protect, they are chastised by the council over every little action, a council and town manager who are a disgrace, and they are grossly underpaid for the job that they do.
Hell yes the officer over-reacted when he threw this old man to the ground and arrested him. And hell yes the other officer over-reacted when he unloaded his gun into an unarmed man. Last year I was put into a situation with a deputy that could have gotten ugly if I had not had discretion enough to back away and do what the officer had told me to do. I was upset too, but I have enough respect for these people to understand that they are only humans, they are not robo-cops they are people just like you and I with a very difficult job to do.
If you don't want a police officer ruining your day then all you have to do is: 1-show them some respect & 2-do what they ask you to do. It's that simple. God bless those who serve to protect those who will not .