The storyline about cops under fire is complete and utter bullshit spewed by the statist press and those who want to further take away you liberties and freedoms. It’s the people who are under fire by the government and their police state thugs who bully, abuse, and shakedown the citizens. The storyline is obliterated below.
Guest Post by Jesse Walker
If there really is a war on cops, whoever’s fighting it seems to be losing.
With the “war on cops” narrative on the rise again, you might be wondering: When it comes to lethal violence against police officers, how does 2015 stack up against other years? Mark Perry of the American Enterprise Institute took a look at the annual number of cops who died of non-accidental gunshots, as measured by the Officer Down Memorial Page. This year isn’t over yet, obviously, but if the trend thus far continues, 2015’s rate will be higher than 2013’s. It will also be lower than every other year since 1870:
The trend may look a little different if you added the cop-killings committed with other weapons—knives, cars, bombs—but probably not drastically so. (2015‘s total would go up by six, 2013‘s by eight. 1975‘s would grow by 17.) The pattern is just overwhelming. Even if you don’t adjust for population, the police of 2013 and 2015 are on track to have fewer firearm deaths than any other years of the 20th and 21st centuries:
It’s a funny sort of war that produces a lower body count than there was before the war began.
Update: Radley Balko has posted a more detailed discussion of this issue at The Washington Post. Among other things, he shows that assaults on police officers have also been in decline, and he looks at what happens if you calculate a cop-killing rate based on the number of officers on the street rather than the total U.S. population. (The short version: The exact numbers depend on what estimates you use for the police population, but the trend there is also sharply downward.) Read his post here.
Deaths alone don’t tell the story.
The promotion of hate against the police, from all sorts of cultural leaders, does.
Bullshit
The cops are nothing but enforcers for the out of control state. They are reaping what they have sown.
Admin – not yet they aren’t but they will.
When we get rid of the cops we’ll live in a paradise where anyone can do anything they want without fear to anyone they want to do it to, or at least the strong will be able to to the weak (who are almost everyone posting here).
Assholeanonymous
We need enough cops to withhold the rule of law. No more. Idiots like you worship the state and willingly bow down to your masters. It’s brainless twits like yourself who beg the government to protect them by taking away your liberties and freedom. You are nothing but a sheep.
I like my local cops: they are cheaply bribed. And, truth told, they ain’t bad folks all things considered. Then again, I don’t live in the USA; if I did, I’d likely feel differently. Down here (SA), they know their place and while they tend to kick around the lumpen, overall it’s likely best that they do. US cops tend to forget that they too are lumpen; the sooner y’all teach them that, the better.
So, Monte, a good cop is like a good politician: One who STAYS bought.
Butch Cassidy: “Kid, who’s the best lawman?”
Sundance Kid: “Best..how? You mean toughest or easiest to bribe?”
cops should exist to protect people and their property from theft and assault. Thats pretty much it. In fact, if they stuck to that, I have a feeling there would be a lot fewer unsolved murders, rapes, thefts, etc. The problem is that actually investigating a crime after it happens is hard work, and most cops are lazy and aren’t very smart either. In fact, its been shown time and again that police depts don’t want highly intelligent people to be cops, which certainly explains why most of them are simpletons. Also, there is a reserve incentive when it comes to solving crimes. most depts like to see a high number of arrests, doesn’t matter what they are for. If one cops spends a lot of time and energy investigating a breaking and entering(for example) and catches the guy and brings him in, he will risk getting passed over for promotion, etc, than the guy who arrests 10 people in the same time period for stupid shit like simple possession. Also, the dept gets to keep any money found on those arrested for posession, and there are provisions nearly everywhere for the police to then go and steal those arrested peoples property since they are connected to drug use/distribution.
So, one guy solves a REAL crime, the other guy arrests a bunch of losers who aren’t actually harming anyone, but brings some stolen loot into the dept. Its little surprise cops spend their time focusing on the dumb, easy shit. That dumb and easy shit is also what makes people like me dislike cops. Aside from when I was a smart ass teenager, Ive never in my adult life had a negative encounter with one, but I still dislike and distrust them due to their predatory nature against those guilty of what essentially amounts to victimless crimes, and their unconstitutional searches/seizures.
It also infuriates me to hear people constantly thanking them for doing such a “dangerous job” when, as the article above and countless others prove, isn’t really that dangerous. If you want to thank someone for doing their dangerous job, do thank the lineman who works on the power lines in your area. shake his hand. his job is a hell of a lot more dangerous, and actually performs a great service to us all every day he works, unlike nearly every cop
sorry, long post
Cops are so lazy they couldn’t catch a cold in Antarctica.
There is much angst and consternation against prosecutors and grand juries who refuse to bring charges against police officers, even when incontrovertible evidence is presented. Even with incontrovertible audio and video evidence, prosecutors are loath to prosecute rogue law enforcement personnel.
Let’s examine the reasons why it is so difficult to prosecute thug cops:
Most prosecutors are former police officers or have extensive dealings with police departments and have ongoing relationships with police departments in their respective jurisdictions. They are friendly with the judges in their jurisdictions, as well. This, along with “absolute immunity” makes it easy for them to “cover up” police abuses and behavior. Prosecutors cannot be sued for malfeasance…it takes a judge (who prosecutors are friendly with) to bring charges on a rogue prosecutor (which almost never happens).
In addition, prosecutors guide the actions of grand juries. Prosecutors are not required to introduce any evidence to grand juries, (can and do) easily “whitewash” the actions of rogue cops. On the other hand, prosecutors can (and often do) go after honest citizens who seek justice outside official channels…prosecutors have ultimate power and are not afraid to use it…their immunity sees to that.
Another aspect to a grand jury’s inability to prosecute bad cops is the fear of retribution…cops drive around all day, have nothing but time, have access to various databases, and can easily get the names and addresses of grand jurors…this, in itself can be a powerful deterrent against grand jurors who “want to do the right thing” and prosecute bad cops. There are many cases of cops parking in front of grand jurors’ residences, following them around, and threaten to issue citations to them, in order to “convince” them to “make the right decision”…the “thin blue line” at its worst…
The whole system has to change.
Eliminate absolute and qualified immunity for all public officials. The fear of personal lawsuits would be a powerful deterrent against abuses of the public.
Any funds disbursed to civilians as a result of official misconduct must be taken from the police pension funds–NOT from the taxpayers.
Grand juries must be superior to the prosecutor; ALL evidence must be presented to grand jurors. Failure to do so must be considered a felony and subject prosecutors to prosecution themselves.
No police agency can be allowed to investigate itself. Internal affairs departments must be restricted to minor in-house investigations of behavior between cops. All investigations must be handled by outside agencies, preferably at the state level.
Civilian police review boards must be free of police influence. Members of civilian review boards must have NO ties to police departments. Relatives of police would be prohibited from serving…Recently, the “supreme court” threw police another “bone”. The court ruled that police are not responsible for their actions if they are “ignorant of the law”…now, let’s get this straight–honest citizens cannot use “ignorance of the law” as an excuse, but cops can??
Revolution is sorely needed…..
Here are “police” practices that deserve to be exposed:
#1. During a traffic stop, the police officer will touch the back of your car. The reason for this “touch” is that, quite often, the police officer will have a small quantity of narcotics (marijuana or cocaine) on him (in his hand) that he will rub on the car in order to help “justify a search”. When the dog is brought in, it will react to “cues” from its handler as well as the drug residue on the vehicle and help “justify a search”. This tactic is mostly used against young people. Drugs can also be “planted” on a “suspect”.
The “touch” used to be a way for police officers to “prove” that they had an interaction with a citizen, but no more . . .
#2. Most (if not all) cops possess a “throwdown” weapon. This “helper” is obtained from a criminal who is then “let go” without his weapon and is always used to justify a questionable police situation and to “sanitize” a “crime scene to absolve police on the scene of criminal police behavior.
#3. If you are in the back of a police car, LIE DOWN on the seat. Police use the concept of “screening” to abuse their unwilling “passenger”. This involves, driving at high rates of speed, violent turns and other antics to get the passenger to “hit the screen” separating the front from the back with his face. Hence the act of “screening”.
#4. If you are being handcuffed, quite often the police officer will wrench you arm behind you, forcing you to “turn around”. The officer will then add a charge of “assault” to whatever other charges they concoct against you (just for being forced to turn around). They “pile on” charges, hoping you will plead guilty to at least one.
Remember–NEVER CONSENT TO SEARCH . . . You must be polite, but firm in your refusal. You can state that “you NEVER consent to searches” as well as using these “magic” words–“am I free to go?” The police officer MUST answer your question . . . If you are being detained and an illegal search takes place, you have legal recourse.
Remember–police are not your friends . . .
That being said, not all “law enforcement” is criminal, but the “thin blue line” that they so jealously guard (and “look the other way” when rogue cops abuse their authority) does much to taint ALL “law enforcement” with having ulterior motives.
if a cop knowingly violates your rights then they get NO qualified immunity. They can be sued personally with a Title 42 1983 claim. They can and will be made to pay YOU out of their pocket. Demand change from your elected officials. Demand that these G.E.D. recipients have to wear body cameras that record any and all civilian contacts. Make it a crime if they manually turn off their camera in the car or on their person…
Nobody in their right mind wants to see anyone executed, let alone, cops. That being said, this latest incident is most likely “blow back” from the previous murders by cops that they have “gotten away with”. Brown and Trayvon were scumbags that deserved everything they got. The world is a better place, being rid of people like that.
That being said, when there is no accountability for the “thin blue line”, all bets are off. When videotaped, unjustified murders “under color of authority” are quashed by police-friendly prosecutors and “rubber stamp” grand juries, this promotes this very violent unjustified action against all “authority”. If the good cops don’t go after the “bad cops”, the good cops will themselves become targets–totally unjustified? Absolutely, YES, but those who are bent on revenge against “the thin blue line” see the uniform and not the person wearing it.
It is long overdue for those in positions of authority to “clean house”–starting with rogue cops. Failure to do so will insure that we see more tragic incidents such as this….
The primacy of “officer safety” has led to a mindset that creates police who can be as dangerous to the public as the criminals they are meant to control. Police need to be taught that their primary objective is the protection of the lives of the people they serve. Our troops in foreign lands operate under stricter “rules of engagement” (e.g., can’t fire unless fired upon, a rule that would have preserved the life of a 12 year old boy a couple of weeks ago) than do our domestic police forces.
“Blow back” has arrived with extremely unconscionable and tragic results…
No humans in their right mind want to see anyone lose their life at the hands of criminals of any sort, especially “law enforcement officers”–those who are charged with “keeping the peace”.
It seems that in today’s supercharged climate of “officer safety”, innocent civilian lives have been extinguished, with tragic results.
Part of the “problem” has to do with the elevation of “officer safety”, trumping “citizen safety”. It seems that honest citizens have been relegated to second-class “status”, being expendable whenever a “law enforcement” officer’s “safety” is threatened.
The hypocrisy is so blatant, that even with incontrovertible video and audio evidence, police-friendly prosecutors, along with “rubber stamp” grand juries STILL absolve rogue cops of wrongdoing. The public is not stupid, seeing through the double-standard that presently exists. This, in no certain terms, does not absolve anyone of perpetrating unnecessary violence against “law enforcement”…
The sad part of this whole situation is that when the SHTF, good cops will suffer, as those with “axes to grind” will see only the uniform and will be unable (or even unwilling) to differentiate between the “good” and the “bad”…
Changes in the whole system are sorely needed…non-violent, of course…
It would seem that there is more than enough “dehumanization”, both of cops and citizens, to go around…when there is irrefutable video and audio evidence of misbehavior by “law enforcement” officials against citizens, yet a prosecutor-guided “grand jury” returns a “no bill” and refuses to indict, something is terribly wrong. The general public needs to be given more credit in discerning TRUTH–much of what is “covered-up” by police friendly prosecutors and “rubber stamp” grand juries.
Police have every right to expect to go home every night…there is absolutely no excuse for indiscriminate murder of law enforcement officials.
The sad part of this whole situation is that honest cops will be caught up in any violence that occurs. You see, those with an “axe to grind” against police only see the uniform and not the “good” cop behind it…
Balance needs to be restored. No longer should cops be allowed to flout traffic laws with impunity, give each other “professional courtesies”, such as a ride home despite being drunk, instead of a DUI, (that would have an ordinary citizen thrown in jail for)
When the good cops go after the bad cops in their midst, and decide to obey the laws that the rest of us obey, things will be made right…
anachyst: How can you call Trayvon Martin a ‘scumbag’??? Even if he occasionally got in trouble in high school, he was still a teenager who got shot by cop wannabe idiot for going out for Skittles. And you started your post with ‘no one wants to see anyone executed.’???? wow. You are a piece of work.
mike gibson, he WAS a scumbag…and he was not “executed”…I’ll bet that you did not see his “thug” picture…only the picture taken of him as a twelve-year-old, that the news media was pushing…in order to inflame sentiments (such as yours) …he was NOT an “innocent kid”…if he had not attacked Zimmerman, he would be alive today, likely with an all expenses paid scholarship to the “University of Corrections”.
After reviewing the court transcripts, en which his “girlfriend” admitted that he was going to “get a cracker”, doubling back on Zimmerman as he was returning to his car.
I would suggest that you do a little research into this whole situation before you run off about “poor, innocent little trayvon”. Zimmerman did the world a favor by “taking out the trash”…