Highlighting the pervasive issue of police abuse, a North County Police Cooperative (NCPC) officer in St. Louis County, recently found himself on the receiving end of criminal charges. The charges came after a shocking revelation—this officer allegedly allowed his own brother to sadistically torture a handcuffed man, flagrantly abusing his authority in the process.

The officer in question, Cpl. James Sims has since been dismissed from his post at the NCPC, following an intensive probe into his blatantly criminal conduct. He now faces a string of charges, including first-degree assault, third-degree assault, and fourth-degree assault.

The story unfolded back in November 2022, when Sims, then acting as a supervisor in Dellwood, received a call from his brother seeking assistance amid a fight in Pine Lawn. Abandoning his assigned zone without authorization—a clear violation of protocol—Sims arrived at the scene, sidestepping the requirement to notify dispatch and conveniently failing to activate his body camera.

Upon his arrival, Sims took the law into his own hands, handcuffing the victim and allowing his brother to pummel the defenseless man. The arriving officers discovered a scene of brutal “street justice”: a handcuffed victim, beaten and bloodied, allowed to leave the scene without any proper procedure or interview by other officers.

However, this wasn’t Sims’ only transgression. In April 2023, he was spotted accosting the same victim at a convenience store, outside of his jurisdiction. Sims followed, threatened, and ultimately assaulted the victim, slamming him onto a car hood and knocking him to the ground. This continued pattern of abuse clearly illustrates Sims’ willingness to exploit his authority to inflict pain and exact his own version of justice.

Despite these serious allegations, as of Monday evening, Sims remains free, with a cash-only bond set at $250,000. Nevertheless, his unchecked actions paint a troubling picture of a police officer who felt emboldened to misuse his power, with little regard for the law he was sworn to uphold.

In the wake of this scandal, the NCPC expressed its dedication to ethical and transparent policing, pledging to hold officers accountable for their actions. Likewise, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell commended the NCPC for its investigation, emphasizing the need for law enforcement to be held to the same standards as the public they serve.

While Sims’ actions represent the deeds of one rogue officer, they underline a broader issue: the potential for authority to be abused within the police system. Such is the problem with granting a monopoly on the use of force to a single, unaccountable, and often sadistically violent group of individuals.

This article was originally featured at The Free Thought Project and is republished with permission.