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Who Will Protect You from the Police? The Rise of Government-Sanctioned Home Invasions
The Times Weekly.Com ^ | October 23, 2013 | John W. Whitehead

Posted on 10/24/2013 11:32:32 AM PDT by Q-ManRN

Before I go any further, let me start by saying this: the problem is not that all police are bad. The problem, is that increasing numbers of police officers are badly trained, illiterate when it comes to the Constitution, especially the Fourth Amendment, and, in some cases, willfully ignorant about the fact that they are supposed to be peacekeepers working for us, the taxpayer.

Unfortunately, with every passing week, we are hearing more and more horror stories in which homeowners are injured or killed simply because they mistook a SWAT team raid by police for a home invasion by criminals. Never mind that the unsuspecting homeowner, woken from sleep by the sounds of a violent entry, has no way of distinguishing between a home invasion by a criminal as opposed to a government agent. Too often, the destruction of life and property wrought by the police is no less horrifying than that carried out by criminal invaders.

Actually, we may be worse off today than our colonial ancestors when one considers the extent to which courts have sanctioned the use of no-knock raids by police SWAT teams (occurring at a rate of 70,000 to 80,000 a year and growing); the arsenal of lethal weapons available to local police agencies; the ease with which courts now dispense search warrants based often on little more than a suspicion of wrongdoing; and the inability of police to distinguish between reasonable suspicion and the higher standard of probable cause, the latter of which is required by the Constitution before any government official can search an individual or his property.

(Excerpt) Read more at thetimesweekly.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: donutwatch; fourthamendment; homeinvasion; police; warriorcops
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I maybe old fashion, but I miss the neighborhood beat cop who walked the beat. He knew the decent folks in the neighborhood by name and he knew the troublemakers too. He talked with you. You felt connected to that officer and like he cared about you and your family. He was there to serve and protect you.

Today, cops zoom by you in a police car and you only talk to them when their is a problem or a community event. They kick in your door or shoot you in the middle of the night because they do not know you from Adam and your name is just another name in their report.

I was browsing in a store yesterday that sells tactical apparel and gear and that store is naturally frequently by police officers. The whole time that I was there, police officers basically ignored me. If I smiled at them or said "hello", their acknowledgement was either non-existent or almost imperceptible as they walked by me. One officer insulted the store owner who was not there and then asked the clerk for a police discount.

All too often, I hear about police officers being accused of crimes themselves or losing their jobs doing things that would have landed me in jail.

This is what happens when police become aloof and too far removed from the average citizen that they are supposed to serve. It becomes too easy for police to see themselves as powerful enforcers rather than humble community servants. And it is this same empowered aloofness that opens the door to the militarization of police.

We need less SWAT teams and more beat cops walking the beat.

1 posted on 10/24/2013 11:32:32 AM PDT by Q-ManRN
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To: Q-ManRN

Entrance IEDs.


2 posted on 10/24/2013 11:33:30 AM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Q-ManRN
homeowners are injured or killed simply because they mistook a SWAT team raid by police for a home invasion by criminals

Probably because of the balaclavas they wear...?

3 posted on 10/24/2013 11:35:13 AM PDT by grobdriver
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To: Q-ManRN

Today, cops zoom by you in a police car...

...with its windows tinted black...


4 posted on 10/24/2013 11:35:22 AM PDT by WayneS (Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos...)
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To: gonzo; MinuteGal; M Kehoe; mcmuffin; Matchett-PI; Seeking the truth; JulieRNR21; surfer; ...

ping


5 posted on 10/24/2013 11:36:02 AM PDT by Q-ManRN (Progressivism is regressive!)
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To: Q-ManRN
I live in an old 'hood where the USPS still has walking routes. These are apparently coveted routes and AFAICR we've had but two (main) MailMEN over 30+ years.

They know all, are friends with the indigenous dogs and peeps, and get a big neighborhood party at retirement.

6 posted on 10/24/2013 11:37:10 AM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Q-ManRN

After they pick granpa and granma up off the floor, they issue an ‘apology.’

An apology is not enough. Those people were MURDERED! People need to go to jail for life!

If you defend yourself against an invasion, you are not in the wrong!


7 posted on 10/24/2013 11:37:21 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Media: completely irresponsible traitors. Complicit in the destruction of our country.)
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To: Q-ManRN
Yes.

Our police departments need to recruit more Andy Taylors, fewer Barney Fifes, and absolutely no "Rambos".

Unfortunately, today it seems they employ huge numbers of Rambo/Barney Fife hybrids and very few Andy Taylors.

8 posted on 10/24/2013 11:39:53 AM PDT by WayneS (Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos...)
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To: grobdriver

That, and the fact that it appears they quite often do not identify themselves until after the shooting starts.


9 posted on 10/24/2013 11:41:20 AM PDT by WayneS (Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos...)
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To: WayneS

It is more important that police recruits speak Mexican or qualify for same sex marriage.

Seriously, it is a societal issue. People in general have become more detach whether it is because cell phones or just being pricks is a subjective interpretation.


10 posted on 10/24/2013 11:45:05 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: WayneS

just this week on the freeway a sheriff squad cut in front of me and the next lane, to get off the freeway, no signals, no lights on, just being a jerk.


11 posted on 10/24/2013 11:50:00 AM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: WayneS

why? read freedom from war, state dept pub 7277.

this is what swat and leos are being turned into.


12 posted on 10/24/2013 11:51:00 AM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: WayneS

I like those analogies!


13 posted on 10/24/2013 11:54:20 AM PDT by Q-ManRN (Progressivism is regressive!)
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To: Paladin2

That is a wonderful example of my point. Thank you.


14 posted on 10/24/2013 11:56:38 AM PDT by Q-ManRN (Progressivism is regressive!)
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To: Q-ManRN
Spot the similarities in the photos!

"Remember, it's for your safety!"


"Juden, rouse!"



"Everybody out!"
15 posted on 10/24/2013 11:56:41 AM PDT by Darteaus94025 (Phony President)
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To: Q-ManRN

The sum total of my 52 years of experience on this planet is that cops’ purpose is to raise money for the welfare state by harassing innocent citizens attempting to legally go about their day.

If they want to change my opinion, formed by every single interaction with cops I’ve ever had, they can start now. They have the next 50 years to convince me to the contrary.

Cops never enforce the law against bad guys. They always bust innocent moms and dads trying their best to follow the law. That’s all I’ve ever seen.


16 posted on 10/24/2013 11:57:24 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (If you like the website, you'll love the healthcare!)
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To: Q-ManRN

Thanks. I think they are quite apropos in today’s society.

And they have the added benefit of being simple enough that even most liberals can understand them.


17 posted on 10/24/2013 11:57:25 AM PDT by WayneS (Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos...)
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To: Q-ManRN
This is what happens when police become aloof and too far removed from the average citizen that they are supposed to serve.

And of course that aloofness is the natural result of having professional standards handed down that can not be defended in discussion with responsible, informed, educated citizens.

How does a cop justify lying to a suspect who is "presumed innocent" for the purpose of obtaining incriminating information? How does a cop justify mistaking a sidearm for a tazer? How does a cop justify doing otherwise actionable damage to a person or property, using intimidation and violent action under the rubric of "fearing for their personal safety?"

The short answer is: they don't. They just keep their mouths shut and continue about their business.

18 posted on 10/24/2013 11:59:52 AM PDT by papertyger ("refusing to draw an inescapable conclusion does not qualify as a 'difference of opinion.'")
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To: Q-ManRN
This is what happens when police become aloof and too far removed from the average citizen that they are supposed to serve.

And of course that aloofness is the natural result of having professional standards handed down that can not be defended in discussion with responsible, informed, educated citizens.

How does a cop justify lying to a suspect who is "presumed innocent" for the purpose of obtaining incriminating information? How does a cop justify mistaking a sidearm for a tazer? How does a cop justify doing otherwise actionable damage to a person or property, using intimidation and violent action under the rubric of "fearing for their personal safety?"

The short answer is: they don't. They just keep their mouths shut and continue about their business.

19 posted on 10/24/2013 11:59:53 AM PDT by papertyger ("refusing to draw an inescapable conclusion does not qualify as a 'difference of opinion.'")
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To: Q-ManRN

The cops are just the most well armed and organized gang in two of the four cities I’ve lived in.

I would never call them. They’re plain dangerous.


20 posted on 10/24/2013 11:59:56 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (If you like the website, you'll love the healthcare!)
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