Riverside Officers Sent to "Character Building" After Skateboard Smashing Incident Sparks Outrage

What Happened?

Two Riverside police officers have been ordered to attend a "character building" course after a viral video showed them deliberately breaking a teenager's skateboard during an encounter. The incident, which occurred last month near Fairmount Park, has reignited debates about police conduct and accountability.

The Controversial Footage

• A 17-year-old skater was reportedly doing tricks when officers approached
• Body cam footage shows one officer grabbing the board mid-trick
• Second officer is seen stomping on the skateboard, snapping it in half
• Teenager can be heard saying "That's my property!"

Department Response

Riverside PD Chief Larry Gonzalez called the officers' actions "unacceptable" but defended the decision to send them to training rather than impose harsher discipline:

"While this doesn't rise to the level of termination, we recognize it damaged community trust. The character development program has successfully reformed officer behavior in similar situations."

Community Reaction

1. Skate Advocates: Organized a "Skate-In" protest at City Hall
2. Civil Rights Groups: Demanding the officers' names be released
3. Police Union: Claims the teen was violating park ordinances
4. Local Businesses: Several donated new skateboards to the teen

Legal Ramifications

Constitutional law experts debate whether this constitutes unlawful property destruction. California Penal Code 594 makes vandalism a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, regardless of who commits it.

What Do You Think?

• Should police face criminal charges for destroying property during non-violent encounters?
• Is "character building" training sufficient punishment for officers who abuse their power?
• Would you support defunding police departments that repeatedly fail to discipline bad actors?
• Are skateboarders unfairly targeted by law enforcement compared to other groups?
• Should body cam footage of minor police misconduct always be made public?