Replies

I think this forum - and the nation as a whole - would be much more ready to endorse police behavior if they would just stop the unconscionable and unConstitutional home invasions.

Eh, maybe. Most cop run-ins I know (1st/2nd hand) have been more about revenue generation than helping the public.
- I had a PI because I decided to sleep in my car instead of drive home after having several drinks. (Dismissed later at least.)
- I have an UCW/license holder because after a 60hr week then a couple drinks, I was too tired to drive 20mi home, so I slept in my car. And now that's looking at dismissal by next month, first PD that saw it said it was one of the weakest cases he's seen all month. On top of my good decision to not drive all the way home, as he said. (Note: also had my pistol in the first case, they just confiscated then released after dismissal, no UCW even though I was more intoxicated that time..)
- I have a friend who was just given a dui because she fell asleep at a red light late at night after a long week working, 15+ hours that day. Blew a .02 (Texas limit is .08, FOUR times higher). Hopefully she can get that dismissed easy.
- Another buddy who got a PI because he was sleeping in his truck, and happened to have a pipe (marijuana) in the car. Maybe had 2 beers.

So what, may you ask, do all these cases have in common? NONE of the cops ever even tried to let us call someone to pick up/get a ride home, or at least pick up the vehicle to avoid tow/impound fees. One of my friends has a few minor drug tickets, but otherwise none of these have much, if any, criminal record that would justify an arrest in these situations.

It is rare to have a good run-in with a cop. Most not-bad ones (for me, at least), are the cops at HS football games, who just stand there, not much interaction or anything. When the first thing you think when you see a cop is "oh crap, what am I doing wrong that could attract his attention?", that doesn't speak much for cops' relation with the community. When was the last time you saw a cop just wandering around, talking to the community, instead of sitting just over the hill radar-ing everyone? The biggest daily issue that I see (big city, Dallas) isn't necessarily the no-knocks, but the culture where cops' job is law enforcement, not officer of the peace. And the no-knock issues just stem from that.

All of my interactions with police officers have been polite and professional. I don't drink, so I've never faced the situations you describe, but I have been pulled over for speeding a few times, and once for not having a front license plate (required in Texas, but often not used). In several cases I've gotten off with a warning, and on the others I was guilty so I can't blame the officers.

On the other hand, I am always in fear of a home invasion because any tactic that the cops can use that benefits criminals if they use it will certainly be used by criminals as well. If someone comes crashing into my house with no warning, I'm not going to meekly allow myself to be disarmed regardless of what they are shouting.

I'll stand by my initial statement: we (collectively) would be much more ready to endorse police behavior if they would stop home invasions. That doesn't mean there are no other reasons to be concerned about police misconduct including arrogance under color of law. Just that the odds get enormously better if they stop using tactics that can be misused to readily by real criminals . . . in addition to being wrong on Constitutional grounds.