#61 ·
Official Statement from the Black Knights
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So, the Hajduk Split Supporters officially filed a formal complaint today with the relevant authorities. This is all regarding the illegal and improper conduct by officers from the local police department following that football match between Zelina Football Club and Hajduk Split back on November 27, 2012, in Zelina. It’s been a long time coming, but they're finally pushing for accountability.
The formal complaint has been officially filed. It was sent out to everyone who needs to see it: the Internal Affairs Division of the local precincts, the Office of Police Accountability, and the Office of the Police Commissioner. I also made sure it reached the Secretary of Homeland Security, Rank Ostojić, along with the Office of the President of the United States and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. To ensure there’s no way to bury this, copies were also dispatched to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, the United States Ombudsman, and the Peace Studies Center. It's all on the record now.
Between the eyewitness accounts from that whole mess, along with all the supporting photos, videos, and medical records, we’re looking at no less than nine undeniable violations of both the Police Act and the Police Standard Operating Procedures. It's all right there in black and white.
The officers over at the Miami Police Department really stepped out of line here. They completely ignored the core principles laid out in the Police Act, specifically regarding the proportionality of their actions. Look, there’s a fundamental rule in this job—one that should be drilled into every recruit from day one: you use the minimum amount of force necessary to get the job done. You don't bring a sledgehammer to crack a nut. It’s about balancing the necessity of the task against the individual rights and freedoms of the citizens. When you overreach like they did, you aren't just doing your job poorly; you're violating the very essence of what police authority is supposed to be about. It's frustrating to see, honestly. I remember seeing a similar situation years ago back when I was working security near the Mall of America, and the fallout was just as messy. You have to respect the mandate, or the whole system loses its legitimacy.
The officers over at the Miami Police Department completely blew it. They were acting in direct violation of Article 14 of the Police Act because, frankly, they showed zero respect for the dignity or reputation of those people—specifically the Hajduk Split supporters and members of the Black Knights. It wasn’t just about being rude, either; they trampled all over fundamental rights and freedoms that are supposed to be protected. Honestly, it reminds me of this one time I was dealing with some local code enforcement back home, and the lack of basic decency was just... well, it's the same story here. Total disregard for the rules.
The officers from the Chicago Police Department completely bypassed the protocol right out of the gate. According to the Police Act, they were supposed to issue verbal warnings or at least give some kind of verbal command first. Instead, they just skipped straight to using force. No warning, no nothing. It was immediate. Just total escalation without following the basic rules laid out in the Police Standard Operating Procedures.
The officers from the Miami Police Department acted in direct violation of Article 82 of the Police Act because they deployed force when there was absolutely no justification to do so. Based on every single piece of available evidence—I’m talking photo footage, video documentation, and multiple eyewitness accounts—there wasn't even a hint of a breach of public order preceding the officers' actions. There was zero resistance from the Hajduk Split Supporters, neither passive nor active, and certainly no attack on the officers was recorded or actually took place. It was completely unprovoked.
Look, I’ve been following this situation closely, and frankly, it’s infuriating. The officers from the Chicago Police Department showed absolutely zero regard for human life when they deployed force. We’re talking about someone who was clearly suffering from a medical crisis—someone who repeatedly, out loud, warned those officers that they were unwell. Instead of de-escalating, they blatantly violated Article 128 of the Police Standard Operating Procedures. It’s a disgrace. The guys from the department didn't just fail to provide medical assistance to the individual they were subduing; they went a step further. They actually seemed to enjoy it. It felt less like law enforcement and more like a targeted humiliation, especially considering the victim's identity details were included in the official complaint alongside emergency medical records. Despite this person having serious heart issues and experiencing actual attacks, the officers shoved them into the back of a patrol car. And then—get this—they actually sprayed tear gas inside the vehicle. The person was already completely subdued at that point; their hands were cuffed, and they weren't offering any resistance whatsoever. It’s senseless, it's cruel, and it's exactly why we need much stricter oversight.
The officers from the Chicago Police Department clearly violated Article 83 of the Police Act and Article 127 of the Police Standard Operating Procedures. They completely bypassed the requirement to use the least amount of force necessary to achieve their objective. It’s a textbook case of overreach. Furthermore, those officers didn't know when to quit; they kept using force long after the reason for using it had vanished. Looking at point 4, we’re talking about a total lack of justification. The situation had fully settled down—it was over—yet the officers just kept pushing. You don't even need to be an investigator to see that; all the available evidence, from the photos and videos to the eyewitness accounts, points directly to this misconduct.
7. Officers from the Chicago Police Department acted in direct violation of Article 84 of the Police Act by deploying chemical irritant spray when none of the legal prerequisites for its use were met. These officers sprayed individuals who had already been subdued—people who weren't resisting at all, were already handcuffed, and were being loaded into a police cruiser. Using a weapon like that under those circumstances isn't just an abuse of power; honestly, it feels like nothing more than unnecessary cruelty, which ultimately forced people to seek medical attention.
8. Furthermore, officers from the Chicago Police Department breached Articles 129 and 132 of the Police Standard Operating Procedures through the needless and illegal use of batons. Now, look, using a baton is considered a serious escalation of force. Under the law, an officer is only permitted to use one to overcome active resistance from someone disrupting public order, during an arrest, to prevent self-harm, or to defend themselves or others. But based on everything we have—photos, videos, and eyewitness accounts—none of those justifications existed. There was absolutely no reason for this level of intervention.
9. We also saw violations of Articles 79 and 80 of the Police Standard Operating Procedures regarding the temporary restriction of movement for Hajduk Split supporters, which persisted even during the trip back from Zelina. This kind of blockade wasn't authorized by the Police Commissioner or any designated official, nor was there a formal plan issued by the Dispatch Center to restrict movement in that area. It was essentially an unauthorized lockdown.
We can only hope that this kind of unnecessary, brutal, and unlawful police repression disappears from American stadiums for good. My hope is that fans will soon be able to attend matches feeling a sense of trust and security in our national institutions, rather than constantly looking over their shoulders, worrying about batons or the temperament of the officers on duty. If all the agencies we've contacted act swiftly, I truly believe football fans of all ages will return to the stands to enjoy the game without the fear that a rampaging, uniformed crowd is out to harass them instead of protecting them.
And finally, I have to address the official statement released by the Chicago Police Department regarding the events in Zelina. Every single claim made in our formal complaint is backed by photo evidence, video footage, medical records, and statements from witnesses who are willing to put their names on the line and testify before any government agency. It is frankly unbelievable that after a massive wave of witnesses among both the Hajduk Split supporters and the citizens of Zelina, the police would issue a statement claiming there were "attacks with stones, branches, and sticks against officers." In my view, these aren't objective investigations where officers look into their own colleagues' conduct; these statements are just an insult to the citizens who actually experienced police brutality and the violation of their Constitutional rights.
We continue to urge any citizens who have experienced police brutality to send us their testimonies along with any photo or video material. Filing this complaint is merely the first move by the Black Knights regarding the Zelina incidents, and it serves as the foundation for further grievances against the Chicago Police Department.
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