I do not believe it is right for anyone outside of law enforcement to goad cops into confrontations in the hopes one will blow his top. I read the transcript of this. The cop didn’t get out of his car threatening the guy. It took a while of the kid being ompletely uncooperative in response to legitimate questions be fore the cop blew it. And he did blow it and that is not the way a cop should behave. It’s not the temperament a cop should have. That said, I am of the belief that if the kid had been honest and cooperative, none of this would have happened.
I’m sorry, I just don’t think the kid is right...nor the officer. This is a case of ends justifying questionable means. I don’t like it and it’s going to make cops’ jobs more difficult.
If this were the media doing this to an American soldier, FReepers would be calling for the reporter’s head and cheering the soldier.
Damn straight we would.
But police officers are not soldiers, and they are not fighting a war. They are supposed to be professional public servants, rather than union thugs.
I can not share your protective view of LEOs. If anything they should be more open to civilian scrutiny, not less.
What I saw/heard/read was a citizen do what was requried and nothing more. A pattern I have followed for many years myself. Its not goading, its how all such encounters should be done. While a LEO is free to ask any questions he likes we as citizens have no requirement to answer those outside the LEO's authority. If the LEO can not handle that and stay professional, he has no business wearing a bade.