[Haiku Guy]

Here is the correct approach by those doing a necessary job in a society of free peoples :signalling the vehicle to stop ,and a cautious approach with HOLSTERED weapons until close enough to see the occupants were an older woman and children,at which time a slight relaxation in posture would have been appropriate,followed by a REQUEST for license and registration,and a question as to the reason for "cruising the parking lot".

Actually, they would have had to approach the vehicle and question why they were driving a stolen vehicle. Remember, at the time of the stop, the information in the hands of the police indicated that the vehicle was stolen. It was only a subsequent check of the VIN Number that revealed that the vehicle was not stolen.

If they had drawn a weapon on somebody for just cruising the parking lot, that might be an over-reaction. But I have driven around that very parking lot, for the very same reason, looking at out-of-state plates, and I only got followed by a patrol vehicle until I exited the base.

When the patrol vehicle showed up in my rearview, it dawned on me that my driving around looking at license plates might look a little suspicious, so I waved at the guards and departed, being very careful to stop at all the signs and follow all the speed limits. I guess my license plate came up clean, or it would have been me handcuffed on the side of the road. I would have been OK with that.

The rest of your post is just more ranting at these officers for doing something they didn't do. Yes, cops sometimes shoot dogs. Yes, cops sometimes rough people up. That did not happen here.

[hoosierham]

You are still suffering from the adversarial mindset.

My current work involves checking employee and contractor screening data,and improperly entered,incorrect,and late data entry has caused many people un-necessary delay and aggravation.

Making a request for license and registration before making accusations based on computer stored info is a non-confrontational move that won’t look bad if the vehicle turns out to be legitimate,and if stolen status is confirmed you have the driver’s ID ,making it less likely for him to run.Also if driver balks or makes move to flee or fight ,the officer can then draw a weapon.That worked for America’s police for decades.

Approaching every situation with gun pointed is overkill,sometimes literally.

As for ranting,well, the all too often excesses of today’s law ENFORCERS need ranting about.Because those in law enforcement won’t speak out ,likely of fear of being harassed or shunned by other members of the fraternity. Public employee unions are a very bad thing.