So who’s the bigger virtue signaler here, the Brass, or the SWAT team guys who “quit”. I notice that none of them actually quit, and stopped receiving a paycheck. Guess they weren’t that disgusted over it.
If I read it correctly, they resigned from the SWAT team and back to general policing?
I would think that is a significant career move downwards, as I would guess those SWAT team positions are sought after by many.
I wouldn’t be so quick to call them “virtue signalers”. Most of them are probably in their 30-40 year old range, in the prime of their careers.
I would think a move like that wouldn’t be regarded as simple virtue signaling.
In this case, I think they are on solid ground regarding their level of anger. Being on a SWAT team as an auxiliary duty usually is remunerated with extra pay, especially because of the extra training time and extra risk assumed by the participant. SWAT, to the chief, is a “cleanup” force that can cover a lot of mistakes (although not all).
The officers in question are still actively policing in their jurisdiction, which is likely a good thing for the citizens therein. They are refusing to act in the capacity of emergency flyswatters for the police chief and city hierarchy.
If this were a dedicated SWAT team - a group whose only duties are acting as SWAT - I would not be inclined to be so charitable.