not specific to the brown case,

[dolf]

do you think there's a problem with US policing?
a quick scan of youtube will deliver plenty of cases of cops behaving badly. very little action seems to be taken when things go wrong. with the riots today, it looks like the lives of all cops are being put at risk by this poor relationship with the public.
perhaps the saddest thing I found so far, a guy with downs who was accidentally suffocated by a group of cops, because he was kicking up a (non-violent) fuss at the cinema.

 

[unregistered]

 

[dolf]

poopyhead.

would more cctv help?

 

[unregistered]

 

[dolf]

Me father was a judge. I got to know (and still do) lots of SC State Highway Patrolmen, various counties sheriff department personnel, and local law enforcement. I can honestly say, there are no finer men and women of integrity and fairness I've known, including the military. Of all the thousands upon thousands of public servants, an extremely small percentage does not taint this for me.

I assume most people are decent. but some clearly are not.
are the few being appropriately dealt with?

 

[feverplanet]

Police caught framing woman for DUI on dashboard cam. They get charged and most plead guilty.

 

[Liar]

I had dealings with American cops once. I found them to be decent chaps, but overly keen to exercise their authority without any real reason. But I don't think that specific for police per se. I've found the same trait shown by corporate bosses. Or for that matter in families. It's probably down to a cultural difference between the US and my Scandinavian mindset. Here, bossing people around is considered rude. Even if you're the boss. Especially if you're the boss. I get the feeling that that's not the case in the US. A little assertion of authority is ok, even expected.

 

[pete]

In the US, all cops are bad, at least the overwhelming vast majority. All they want to do is beat someone with their batons, or, if they get lucky, shoot people. They never ever put their lives on the line but rather hang out at Krispy Kreme donut shops and talk about beating and killing innocents. Almost everyone they encounter is innocent and just returning from seeing their grandmothers or daughters and were rudely set upon by these cop thugs.

the day isn't over, but my money's on ^^^^^ this as the dumbest post of the day

 

[unregistered]

 

[BotanyBoy]

http://rs1img.memecdn.com/Fuck-the-police_o_96336.gif

Gestapo mother fuckers....

 

[dolf]

I had dealings with American cops once. I found them to be decent chaps, but overly keen to exercise their authority without any real reason. But I don't think that specific for police per se. I've found the same trait shown by corporate bosses. Or for that matter in families. It's probably down to a cultural difference between the US and my Scandinavian mindset. Here, bossing people around is considered rude. Even if you're the boss. Especially if you're the boss. I get the feeling that that's not the case in the US. A little assertion of authority is ok, even expected.

that's what I think. all the ''yes sir! no sir!' like naughty kids caught taking cookies. there's a deference between being expected to be polite and expected to be subservient, and being rude shouldn't be treated like a criminal offence.

 

[pete]

My money is on the above for being stupid enough not to see through it.

Carry on.

sorry bro, southern humor escapes me.
i'm used to the type of sarcasm that's actually funny

 

[Bidin~Time]

I believe we have neglected to teach our children to be respectful. All around me, I hear children calling their parents names. Names, which, had I been guilty of the same, my parents would have left me with absolutely no doubt of just how grievous an offense I had committed. Children who are not taught respect for their parents, have no reason to believe they should respect any one else. Not teachers, or playmates, partners in life, or co workers, and lastly and most sad, themselves. Respect is the foundation upon which all relationships are built, without it, there can be no lasting positive relationship of any kind.

 

[DooleyDarter]

My oldest son is a police officer. He is a level headed and even handed individual who I think most people would like to see coming their way if they needed an officer. Not to mention he also inherited his dad's exceedingly good looks.

 

[unregistered]

 

[Que Va]

I assume most people are decent. but some clearly are not.
are the few being appropriately dealt with?

Yes. More and more departments are requiring body-cams and cops are very much aware they are likely being recorded or filmed.

The small percentage that abuse people do not last long. The profession does attract it's share of abusers, but a lot of them are screened out before hiring. No department wants the hassle of a cop that likes getting in fights.

It is because it is unusual that a incidents that show unprofessionalism go viral.

 

[unregistered]

 

[feverplanet]

Yes. More and more departments are requiring body-cams and cops are very much aware they are likely being recorded or filmed.

The small percentage that abuse people do not last long. The profession does attract it's share of abusers, but a lot of them are screened out before hiring. No department wants the hassle of a cop that likes getting in fights.

It is because it is unusual that a incidents that show unprofessionalism go viral.

Perhaps it's the getting caught part that's unusual, not the unprofessionalism.

 

[possum123]

There is a big problem in the U.S. It isn't only the cops that have a problem.
There are good people and good cops. They cannot be heard over the yelling of those who benefit from problems. We have some people who make millions of $ every time there is any problem between the cops and the people. The bigger the problem the bigger the pay off is.

In the end everyone looses. People looking to loot and burn will come from everywhere. Some people will actually try to solve the problems. Cops will be told to step back and let the people talk. Then those who make a living out of crime rush forward.

 

[PayDay]

Of all the thousands upon thousands of public servants, an extremely small percentage does not taint this for me.

This---^

There are far too many good police officers to blame all of them for the public trust violations of a few.

You could show me endless links of police corruption and it wouldn't change the fact that many of them would dive into a wrecked car to save a little kid.

Abuse of a position of power is nothing new, but not all cops are abusive.

 

[Pookie]

I've gotten out of getting three speeding tickets. So I have mixed feelings about cops.

 

[dolf]

This---^

There are far too many good police officers to blame all of them for the public trust violations of a few.

You could show me endless links of police corruption and it wouldn't change the fact that many of them would dive into a wrecked car to save a little kid.

Abuse of a position of power is nothing new, but not all cops are abusive.

this doesn't solve the obvious problem.

suggest some solutions.

 

[kbate]

Yes, there is a problem with many police in the U.S.

It isn't that they are bad, it is that they believe they are separate from the public and that they are not constrained by the laws they are supposed to uphold.

Police should be part of the community, but even in small towns they aren't:

My horses got out onto a highway one night and the county police stopped traffic in both directions while I recovered them and repaired the fence - I tried the next day to go to the station with some gifts (baked goods and thank you notes), but was refused admittance to the station; only police, politicians and criminals may tread on that hallowed ground.

Police cars have every possible weapon, radar, laser, radio and computer, but we don't fit them with cameras? Bicyclists wear a helmet cam, I have a 'beagle cam', my kids have 'hat cameras', why can't cops who wear radios and armor have a camera as part of their equipment?

Here is why: I sat on a jury in 2003. A young man had beaten his girlfriend and she had called the police. He plead out the assault and battery case and was awaiting sentencing on that charge, when the prosecutor decided to add a charge, "Abduction". The girl had re-approached the prosecution during the sentencing phase and told him that, "x and i were in the bedroom and he locked the door and wouldn't let me out." Then she said, "He put a gun to my head." We were shown the cruiser camera evidence of the arrest which had occurred later on the night of the incident. The policeman walked up to the man's door, knocked and when it was answered, arrested the man and walked back to the cruiser, after allowing the man to return to the house unaccompanied to get his shirt and shoes. Nowhere did he evidence concern about a gun, and no cop allows a suspect who is known to have a gun move out of sight. We acquitted. Without the video, which basically disproved the girl's gun story and showed that lying didn't bother her, that young man would have had 10 to 25 years tacked onto his 2-3 years for the assault. And that's why they hate cameras, they have to do it right or risk losing.

(Not a bad cop, but a bad girl who knew he had a gun at home and lied to try to make the crime appear worse than it was but the police and prosecutor went along with it because, "Glory if we can convict!".

It's a law problem. They want numbers, not justice.

 

[Pookie]

Me father was a judge. I got to know (and still do) lots of SC State Highway Patrolmen, various counties sheriff department personnel, and local law enforcement. I can honestly say, there are no finer men and women of integrity and fairness I've known, including the military. Of all the thousands upon thousands of public servants, an extremely small percentage does not taint this for me.

My sheriff is under indictment. Metts? Ever met Metts?

 

[PayDay]

this doesn't solve the obvious problem.

suggest some solutions.

The check and balance system for accountability within law enforcement already exists (internal affairs, color of law, etc), as does the court system which can also do the same thing. Sometimes it just takes a while because the police, with their high degree of public trust, need to be shielded from the whimsy of society.

"I do not believe you can legislate evil out of the hearts of men."

...but to actually suggest something from my own experiences with 'the system' I would say that most local level (and some aspects of State) law enforcement could stop buying machine guns and armored vehicles and use that money instead to employ a more efficient or accurate system of accountability, say with someone accountable to moral honesty and not police or government.

Really that---^ would only expedite public trust (or color of law) violations through the court system.

The rules for law enforcement interaction with the public are already written down, but no one can make anyone do their job.

It's a borderline Catch-22...