“Choose this day whom you will serve.”: An Open Letter to American Law Enforcement.

Sipsey Street Irregulars ^ | 2-17-10 | Mike Vanderboegh

[ironwill]

The clock is ticking...

[SJSAMPLE]

It should be noted that the VAST majority of “rank and file” police officers, in poll after poll, have expressed support for the armed citizenry.

Failure to get that out of the way only makes for an “us vs them” attitude on both sides.

[Matthew James]

bttt

[randomhero97]

Failure to get that out of the way only makes for an “us vs them” attitude on both sides.

Maybe they understand that they are citizens like to rest of us. They are not a federalized agency or part of the military.

[randomhero97]

Doh, should be don’t understand.

[ironwill]

"It should be noted that the VAST majority of “rank and file” police officers, in poll after poll, have expressed support for the armed citizenry."

This is what we're counting on.

[DariusBane]

Great Post. I have said for years that I am the natural constituent of the Police. The law abiding tax payer. However my trust in the institution of Police, and Sheriff has been damaged by saturation patrols, dui checkpoints, petty barons running little city speed traps. Your correct, they need us. They need us to comply. They need us to pay taxes. Without me, the tax paying “good citizen” the streets are awash in blood. LEO, I know you are here on Free Republic. Time to stand up and be counted.

[Copernicus]

Failure to get that out of the way only makes for an “us vs them” attitude on both sides.

Yeah, but then you have stupid stuff like this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/518374/posts

Best regards,

[ZX12R]

I hate to say it, I really do, but I believe many in the police forces will do what they are told, until they wake and realize that they have cast their lots with the unjust. Then, and only then, (hopefully) you will see a majority of them behave otherwise. Some will be known quickly, by their refusal to unjustly engage American citizens. Unfortunately, this is the jumbled caliber of people in law enforcement today. As it stands now, as a whole, they deserve the distrust that they have garnered.

[Repeat Offender]

I used to live in a certain military town. One day in said town there was a police speed trap setup in the usual place. At the end of the road (the direction he was facing) and across the intersection, was a McDonalds. On this particular day I noticed the local boy ambitiously pulling over "speeders."

Same as any other day. The usual travel speed 5 miles an hour over...ie 40 mph. I also happened to notice 4 "people of color" hanging out in the McDonald's parking lot and dealing drugs in the drive through lane.

Did I mention that I lived and paid taxes in this neighborhood? Who is the bigger threat, speeders going 5 over or drug dealers?

Familiar with the "I'll get around to it" attitude of our local police department, I explained to the dispatch that taxpayers were more concerned with keeping our neighborhoods safe than ticketing folks (the majority were servicemembers). I also explained that if the police couldn't handle the priorities of the taxpaying public, said taxpaying public would "vigalante justice" handle the problems of drug dealers in our fair town.

Fastest response I'd ever seen. Of course they rode the entire way with lights and sirens to the McDonalds. That was when I realized they weren't after the drug dealers, but hoping to find pissed off members of the public. And naturally, the dealers fled. Apparently the unmarked cars were needed elsewhere..... FOR SPEED TRAPS. And nothing says sting like sirens and lights.

[ThunderSleeps]

That is my beef with the local police, specifically the Country Sheriff's Dept. Now first off, no, they haven't given me a speeding ticket or anything so this isn't personal. In fact, as a rule, I don't speed, I obey all traffic laws. It makes for a remarkable stress-free commute. Although I do listen to "America Right" channel 166 on Sirius/XM and that can get me angry at the socialists/fascists in DC...

What bugs me is that last year there was this tremendous hue and cry that if we didn't pass this proposition or some such on the local ballot they'd have to cut the force. Note, this was obvious pressure: cut police and fire first, scare the citizenry. Never mind there are a ton of lesser needed things financed by the County. eg. All that drainage ditch work? Let it go natural. Widening roads in the oddest places, for just a mile or two at a stretch. What's the point?

So what do I see several times a month? County Sheriff's patrol cars running speed traps on the way to work. They are blatantly targeting the people that commute to a large, relatively remote military base. There is nothing and no-one for anyone to hit or get into trouble with out there. You could (and I have seen) people safely drive that road 20mph over the speed limit. There are maybe 2 accidents a year out that way - invariably at the one lone stop light. Not attributable to speeding, but rather inattention. So it is obvious the speed traps are merely a revenue maker.

So my beef is this. If we really need all these officers on the force and should have raised taxes to support them (the measure went down to defeat by a large margin), what is it that is so important? Do they need all these officers to address crime in the County? There is crime in the County, livestock, drugs, domestics, theft... Why aren't the officers addressing these crimes? If they've got time to sit on the side of the road and write tickets to people just going to/from work and maybe in a bit of a harmless hurry, then there can't be all that much need for them.

I place the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Sheriff. He's the one setting the strategy, determining where their focus and manpower goes. Next election, he goes.

[robomatik]

"You -- ALL of you -- law enforcement officers, will then need us, the armed citizenry -- ALL of us willing and competent to muster -- to defend public order against the tide of chaos represented by five or ten million gang members and the tens of millions of panicked unprepared refugees or opportunistic criminals left unrestrained by a breakdown.

Do you seriously think that federal police, all 150,000 of them, will actually help you in that event, beyond issuing orders that they will not be personally endangered with carrying out?"

ping-eroonie!

[Cyber Liberty]

The most coherent response you’ll get from many LEO is “Huh?”

[DariusBane]

My point is to all LEO officers and bureaucrats you need my support. You don’t have it anymore.

[PowderMonkey]

"This is what we're counting on."

You will be bitterly disappointed. Opinions polls? Utterly discredited by the historical record: Kent State, Ruby Ridge, Waco, New Orleans...When the moment of actual choosing comes; the moment of truth; that moment of extreme clarity and realization of the deadly consequences of high-risk decisions, the Centurions will side with the State. They will have no choice. Not because they're cowards, but because it's their bread and butter, their rice bowl. It's what they trained for, and swore to uphold (The Law). Mortgages, pensions, children to put through college, medical bills, elderly parents in nursing homes, car payments..."I was just following orders." When the stuff hits the fan, Police blue is all that matters. They won't be getting their knickers in a twist over legalities and constitutional issues. They'll be doing their job as ordered, too busy "maintaining order," and too angry with you and yours for causing all this strife. Count on it.

[redgolum]

Most cops and military will follow orders. That is what they are trained to do. They will follow orders (at least initially) just like the Cops in New Orleans or the city cops in that North Carolina town that was the test case for martial law.

The real question is what will happen if a significant portion of the people and ruling class (which is a very important factor) resist something.

[qaz123]

The very, very large majority of cops don’t even know what the words mean when they took their oath’s. All they know is that they had to recite it in order to get their jobs. One of the most important elements of law enforcement is adherence to the 4th amendment. One that is violated routinely in any and every way, just look at Katrina. They had cops that knew they were doing wrong and did it any way. Just following orders, they say. They have been and continue to build an “us vs. them” attitude with the public and that will only hurt them down the road.

[ArrogantBustard]

It should be noted that the VAST majority of “rank and file” police officers, in poll after poll, have expressed support for the armed citizenry.

Prove it. Questions for the so-called "pro-gun" police:

1) You stop a car for speeding. The otherwise law-abiding driver (who has absolutely zero criminal history), happens to be carrying a pistol without any sort of license, as required by your State's laws. Do you arrest him for the gun law violations?

2) You discover, by whatever means, that an otherwise law abiding citizen (who has absolutely zero criminal history), owns an automatic rifle, which he has not registered with BATF. Do your arrest him or report him to BATF for the federal gun law violation?

[sport]

The “if” it will happen has already passed. It has been answered in the affirmative. We are now awaiting for the “when” and, in my opinion, it is not far down the road.