http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/ The members of the United States Deaf Community and its' allies wish to express outrage at Doug Bahl's conviction of "obstruction of a peace officer." Doug Bahl, a deaf man, was pulled over by the Ramsey County police and Mr. Bahl informed the officers that he was deaf. The police officers, now aware that he was deaf and therefore needed his eyes to understand communication, willfully pepper-sprayed him in his eyes because of his apparent noncompliance with verbal commands. The officers subsequently proceeded to physically assault Mr. Bahl. Mr. Bahl then was held in jail for four days incommunicado. He was not allowed access to a TTY, a device that enables him to use the phone. He could not contact an attorney, or his family to inform them of his situation. This is a blatant violation of his civil rights and a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We therefore petition the Ramsey County Sheriff Department in Minnesota to set an example for the rest of the nation by ensuring this unnecessary outrage never happens again by doing the following: 1. Require all officers to attend sensitivity training about cultural and communication differences of the deaf community. 2. Explain how the American Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act applies to the police when they are dealing with a deaf citizen. 3. Review rules of police handling as applied to deaf citizens, and work with the Deaf Community in procedures of approaching a deaf citizen i.e., what to do and what not to do. 4. Implement a community liaison between the police and the Deaf Community. Sincerely Yours, Wed, 19 Sep 2007 11:1:01 CDT en-us 3 http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig5065982 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST I support this petition. Similar incident happened to me which lead me to be incommunicado and no interpreter through out the whole period of court process. I go through this constantly. I need help as well. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig4786422 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST I support this petition. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig4397966 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST I support this petition. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig4347173 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST I support this petition. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig4344289 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST I am deaf man but against Deaf Clubs most non profit and been bad survey and bad fundraise defraud etc. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig4252077 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST I support this petition. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig3881356 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig3843967 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST No one should have to go through what Mr. Bahl did! The whole time without an interpreter?... I realize that it was during the weekend but there was absolutely no excuses for not having an interpreter for the first hearing after that weekend. I agree that the police officers who were involved in that incident fabricated the report and are in cahoots to protect themselves. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig3805188 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST Stop This right away http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig3795790 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST Stop Police Brutality Against the Deaf! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig3780912 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST It's totally ridiculous of the police in the Ramsey County and everywhere to cause unnecesscary bodily injury to any deaf person incudling myself and you for their so-called failure of understanding verbal comands. I am so certain the similiar situation has happened to some deaf people in the past and will probably happen again in the future. That's a scary thought!The victim got beaten up over an amazinly stupid thing! Seriously, not only the police need to be educated on how to deal with a deaf person, they need to know better not to abuse their position and try to get away with it! No way! Make them pay for their dire consquences!I hope the petition will make a huge difference for the victim big time! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig3780684 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig3736892 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig3730614 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST I am deaf, so I feel very bad for him, and I was extremely hot-steaming in my brains about Doug Bahl tragedy by a police officer.I was VERY upset, so now,I feel better now.Anyways, I will supportDoug Bahl for his rights must be equallyhearing people did. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig3724589 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST I am aghast and extremely disappointed in the judge's decision. Disappointed, yes. Surprised, not. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig3703586 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST PLease trest us repect .. you need to understand deaf more .... http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig3697940 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST You don't have to be deaf to know that justice was not served. I'll be watching for the civil trial and rooting for Mr. Bahl. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig3695938 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig3692305 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST if the pololice knew that this person was deaf then they should have sent for a deaf interpreter so the communication would be clear as to what was exspected from him. and HOW can he communicate with pepper spray in his eyes? the man must see so he can know what's happening to him. some times officials get too carried away and want to use brute force. WRONG. remember..we all have rights. if this person had been spanish speaking then the police would have gotton him an interpreter. well then the same applies to deaf/hoh. the department should send at least one officer to a basic traing collage for signing skills. yes they were WRONG in using the spray let alone using brute force just because they wear a badge. i hope the courts go in favor for the deaf man. i support the deaf and their rights. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/deafbahl/#sig3692297 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:0:00 CST