Posted on 07/22/2014 9:32:19 PM PDT by chessplayer
Imagine if I were to tell you there is a large group of government employees, with generous salaries and ridiculously cushy retirement pensions covered by the taxpayer, who enjoy incredible job security and are rarely held accountable even for activities that would almost certainly earn the rest of us prison time. When there is proven misconduct, these government employees are merely reassigned and are rarely dismissed. The bill for any legal settlements concerning their errors? It, too, is covered by the taxpayers. Their unions are among the strongest in the country.
No, I’m not talking about public-school teachers.
I’m talking about the police.
We conservatives recoil at the former; yet routinely defend the latter — even though, unlike teachers, police officers enjoy an utter monopoly on force and can ruin — or end — one’s life in a millisecond.
On Thursday in Staten Island, an asthmatic 43-year-old father of six, Eric Garner, died after a group of policemen descended on him, placing him in a chokehold while attempting to arrest him for allegedly selling cigarettes. A bystander managed to capture video in which Garner clearly cries out, “I can’t breathe!” Even after releasing the chokehold (chokeholds, incidentally, are prohibited by NYPD protocol), the same officer then proceeds to shove and hold Garner’s face against the ground, applying his body weight and pressure on Garner, ignoring Garner’s pleas that he cannot breathe. Worse yet, new video shows at least eight officers standing around Garner’s lifeless, unconscious body.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
But you’re just refering to the so-call bad apple.
There is a much bigger picture to see here.
What many Americans are finding quite disturbing and are questioning are entire departments ramping up into military style units, buying up military war vehicles, using military tactics etc.
In fact why is it we now have hundreds of times more SWAT military commando style teams than just a couple decades ago? We’re talking even small rural departments now have their own military style swat teams. And look at all these govenrment departments, as they too have developed their own militarized units, like the Department of Education, etc.
It’s to the point where they are being used in all kinds of situations, where they were initially ONLY designed for extremely violent people and or violent hostage situations.
Looking at the bigger picture and these trends are very alarming for those paying attention.
The author would do well to use another case than the one in NYC. There are plenty. The “victim” died of a heart attack, not from the choke or control hold the officer was attempting to apply. It was a lawful arrest and the very large man was resisting.
Let other FReepers feel free to chime in.
Oh, I’m not talking about being annoying. I can be level headed and respectful. I wouldn’t push anyone over the edge by being a dick.
I’ll push you over the edge by being very rational and well-stated.
How about #41 code three?
Are these concerns unfounded and invalid?
The Chris Dorner case had an erie feeling that an order was given to all LEO:
“Chris Dorner; Wanted. Dead or Alive....Dead would good too”.
LEO’s assaulted people who couldn’t possibly fit the description and damned near killed a few.
How does that go unanswered, as a matter of law, like any citizen?
What manly men they have "on the force" all over America these days.
All that in the face of violent crime that has dropped to record lows.
The "thin" part of that reference in personal experience is about a mile wide in real life. So yes, there is no "thin" for the majority of us who are not LEOs.
We are (non-LEOs) all either "Perps", or "Uncaught Perps". And yes, I had a female Corrections Officer tell Me that at a bar when she was deciding whether or not to interact with Me, so I know it is not a solitary mindset.
Sorry to offend your delicate sensibilities.
It’s not true.
Right, then, and it never will be, of course.
What happened in the Dorner case was law enforcement going completely out of control in an extremely reckless manner.
From my perspective it is.
Cops used to be much more Andy Taylorish, but that is fading in the big cities.
True. They never will believe anything other than their pavlovian mantra.
Absolutely.
Yours is a strange position. Most of us like rational people who can clearly articulate things. Sounds like you've have a few bad experiences.
Oh, did I forget to mention the "quotas" requirement? Have to bring in that revenue to keep the force funded, after all.
There. That should add to the "good enough" requirement.
Now, most LEOs consider themselves a force equivalent if not greater than what the SWAT concept was originally intended to combat, and it is to the detriment of the average citizen.
No-knock warrants, shooting and killing a WWII vet because he reached for his walking cane after a no-knock midnight breakdoor invasion by the Law Enforcement JBTs and shooting family dogs on a whim without any repercussions whatsoever...
Well, that and speeding in your Official Vehicle any time you wished -that's just the 'perks" don'tcha know.
After all, the LEO managed to get home safely at the end of the shift, so that is all that matters.
A clear and present danger.
Obviously had to be shot otherwise it might have barked at other coppers.
My question to you is have you ever arrested any other officer you observed breaking the law. If and when police worry their fellow officers will start arresting them is when they will start always following the law.
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