Guest Post by Southern Sage
As TBP’er’s know all too well, anger with the police among ordinary middle class Americans has been growing for years, and rightly so. Allow me to address the law enforcement people out there. I advise you to read what I have to say very carefully.
Over the past three decades American law enforcement has been deformed beyond recognition. From friendly neighborhood cop you have gone to bully boys, cowards, and thugs. Not all of you, of course. There remain many good, decent cops out there. But the number of bad ones has risen at a tremendous rate and that is a very bad thing.
One error has been to turn local police into ersatz soldiers, often wearing military garb and carrying equipment and weapons meant for the armed forces. If this was mere play acting it would be distasteful but it is more than that. The Us vs. Them mentality that has been drummed into the police has had a disastrous effect on community relations. Without a trusting and cooperative relationship with the community the police become not peace officers but an occupying force, and the American people will simply not stand for this indefinitely.
If you keep it up you will become what Eamon De Valera said the Royal Irish Constabulary became during the Irish War for Independence, an unclean element in the nation. You will be hated, feared, and despised, outcasts in your own community. I served in the Marines and I was proud to do so. But when I put away my uniform, though I will always remain a Marine in my heart, I became an ordinary citizen again. Thank God for that. Remember, you are an integral part of your community, not an alien force or a military organization intended to fight foreign enemies.
I might add that the huge mistake of allowing Israeli “security experts” to operate in our country and “advise” police departments has been one of the reasons that many cops have been taught to bark orders at citizens and shove them around, just as the Israelis do the hapless Palestinians. Well, I am no Palestinian and neither are most Americans. As much as I hate to hear of a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty I can’t help but wonder if this training in aggression and a lack of ordinary courtesy and common sense has led to some of these incidents.
Unfortunately, there are men who will not allow anybody to push them around for the hell of it. I was once shouted at with extreme rudeness by a cop for simply asking a question and the same happened to my wife shortly thereafter. A more hot-headed man with poor impulse control might have decided to redress the insult to his wife right there and then.
One of the worst manifestations of this attitude towards the citizens is the using the term “civilians” to describe citizens, with the implication being that the police are not civilians. News flash. You are also civilians and should be proud of that. Having lived in countries with true militarized police forces I can assure you that your civilian status is a badge of honor you should jealously guard. You are are friends, neighbors, fellow citizens. Placing yourself into a caste apart is a deadly error. Should we ever have massive civil unrest in this country – and it seems more likely with every passing month – you will regret losing the affection of your fellow citizens.
The increase in the number of female street cops is another reason for the decline of the police. To be sure, women have a role to play in police work but beat cop is generally not one of them. Women are smaller and weaker than most men. That is a fact. So what happens? Many criminals are on drugs or are high testosterone assholes, violent and disdainful of authority. Confronted by a woman cop they will test her and she often fails the test, getting her ass beat or worse. Too often, the female cops uses deadly force when a man would be able to defuse the situation with a night stick. They also get their male partners in a jam. Sorry, ladies. Work the rape squad or file papers. You do not belong on the street.
Let me now address a somewhat unpleasant subject, the true function of the police force. This may offend some but sometimes the truth hurts. The police, local, county or state, were never intended to have any but the most passing contact with the solid middle class, to say nothing of the wealthy and powerful. Of course, from time to time those people may get a ticket or, if they really go off the rails, the police might have to intervene and enforce the law, but in general it was assumed that “respectable” people (and not just the rich) would be treated with, well, respect. In turn, the police were respected members of the community, trusted, and usually admired.
In the past it was understood the police existed to keep the criminal and disorderly elements of society in line, period. That is why people turned a blind eye to the cops giving habitual criminals a good thrashing before locking them up. It kept things down to a dull roar in the streets. A law-abiding citizen had little reason to even notice the police most of the time. They occupied themselves with the hoodlums and left John Q. Citizen well alone. In those rare instances when the police abused an upright citizen there was usually hell to pay, and the police knew it.
Not now. SWAT teams routinely invade homes, police seize the property of citizens with only the most flimsy excuse, and, much more dangerous, the police seem to have actually swallowed the leftist “diversity” nonsense and treat the law-abiding as if they were on par with the most useless elements in society. This has nothing to do with equal justice for all. English Common Law is based on common sense, not Talmudic tea leaf reading. A person with a rap sheet a mile long has no right to the same treatment as a decent man or woman of any race or background. A respectable black man has the same right to fair and respectful treatment as anybody else, but a gangbanger does not.
Friends in law enforcement, it is up to you to turn the tide. If you find a Robocop in your ranks, give him a tough talking to. If he or she persists, turn them in. That is not snitching. It may save a life. if you are given an order by some pompous horse’s ass of a governor, mayor or city councilman, smile, nod, and ignore it. When you talk to a fellow citizen, remember that is what they are. Nobody is suggesting you drop your guard> The streets are mean. That said, use your common sense.
We need and want the police to become what they once were in this country. Know who your friends are. If you lose the respect and support of ordinary Americans it is all over for the force.
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As much as I hate to hear of a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty I can’t help but wonder if this training in aggression and a lack of ordinary courtesy and common sense has led to some of these incidents.
Why? When a thug goes to ambient temperature, I think it’s a good outcome.
Cops have two problems: 1. They don’t get to choose “nice” neighborhoods. They get neighborhoods run by gangs. 2. When trouble erupts cops get no support from the white shirts.
Cops have two problems: 1. They went through school and came out dumb as a stump. 2. They sold their dignity to the gov’t to follow stupid orders that abuse the public for a paycheck.
I noticed this was taking place over 30 years ago in MI. I saw a group of state troopers with bloused pants, boots and ball caps as a uniform out on patrol. The neatly dressed and squared away law enforcement officer was not present. Then about 5 years later you saw the swat teams and armored cars start to appear. I told my wife at that time that no good would come from this. Now it is everywhere and it is a shame.
My suburban town, with a normal, (not big city) amount of crime, has an MWRAP painted baby blue. I was shocked when they had it on display at the local farmers market.
Cram,easily made thermite will make a oil tanker anchor out of it.
Oil based paints will hinder operator viewing.
You need new rubber for the little critter,costs 1000’s.
Eh,meant Craw!
Styrofoam, diesel, and a bit of liquid soap is sticky and burns a loooooong time.
Liquid cooled engines with A/C won’t run very long or stay cool in hot temps with a punched radiator core. After watching a 60mm mortar attack near me one day an armored Hummer took a hit to the passenger side mirror and a near miss by the front right tire. Coolant everywhere.
I used to do work with BearCats and armored GM SUVs in another life. The armored GM SUVs were equipped with 1/2″ tempered steel plate and lined with kevlar mats. They’d stop .50’s and small arms, but not RPGs or formed penetrators.
…and fire … well, fire always works.
The goat humpers learned to deal with them. The crew will survive a mine blast from below which is good, but those who believed they were in a wheeled impregnable fortress found out otherwise the hard way. After the blast disables the vehicle the crew is left dazed and immobile to deal with whatever lurks outside.
My town, 14,000, has one. And, a “mobile command center” super modified rv.
I remember when SWAT wore navy or black BDU’s to specifically not look like the military. I have never felt right seeing cops parading in OD’s looking like they are in a war zone. It just makes them look out of place.
The police are not your friends and never have been.
Bingo.
You fuckwits downvoting old white guy really do need to get up and personal with some cops. You would perhaps change your minds.
There is a pretty famous video out there by a trial lawyer that basically says do not talk to cops – ever. He even recommends carrying a card that says “I do not talk to cops, call my lawyer”. And he says that the only words that should ever leave your mouth, if you must speak, are “am I being detained? Am I free to go? I want a lawyer!” And nothing else.
Llpoh,
I have this laminated in my wallet behind my Concealed Carry permit if I am ever forced to shoot someone, almost had to in a parking lot in a Walmart in Philly one night but they both backed down at the last seond of a potential mugging, to hand to the Police after it is over:
“If I have given this to you, it has been necessary to take action to defend innocent life. I am willing to sign a criminal complaint against the perpetrator(s). I will point out witnesses and evidence. As you have experiences yourself this is a stressful and traumatic experience for me. Therefore, I wish to make no further statements until I have contacted an attorney and composed myself. I also do not consent to any searches. I will cooperate fully once I have consulted with an attorney and calmed down. As a lawfully armed citizen, I asked for the same curtsey you would show a fellow officer who was involved in a similar situation. Thank you for your understanding.”
Now, I have a nephew (who is like a son to me) and a good friend who are cops. Two of the finest men on the planet. I have talked long and deep with both of them on the Constitution. Both have told me they and their close friends on both forces have already vowed together never to violate the Constitution with citzens through illegal orders.
But on balance the card above is an excellent idea to have and use if ever needed.
Not only that, if you are involved in a self-defense situation, when the police arrive always request to go to the hospital (with chest pains). This will delay the cops from talking to you although they will still probably make an attempt to do so. Not only that, it will delay your possible incarceration. Say nothing to cops. They are not your friends.
Retired LEO of 28 years. The card is a great thing to have. Most police union rules involving police shootings do not allow the involved officers to be questioned for 24 hours after a shooting. I didn’t carry a baton, taser or spray the majority of my small town career. If I couldn’t reasonably talk to a person/suspect, I had no business doing the job. I am so glad I am out as I would not be able to enforce these unconstitutional laws.
Dustin – same question to you – did you enforce victimless crimes? Bet you did – it is what your job required.
I bet you had a six or eight cell Maglite? Who needs a baton when you have one of those?
Mark – here is a question about “two of the finest men on the planet”: do the enforce victimless crimes?
In other words, do they issue speeding tickets? Bet they do. Do they hassle prostitutes? Jaywalkers? Do they collect fine revenue? I bet they do.
And that is what cops are – all of them: they are prepared and willing to hassle and screw the public, even for victimless crimes.
No way that cops are “fine men” Fine men simply would not be able to tolerate screwing the public over victimless crimes. Yes, fine men might go into the field thinking they were doing a public service. But fine men would never remain given they do not actually do much policing, but rather are tax collectors and arms of Big Brother.
And study after study shows that individuals put into police roles change, and become dictatorial towards their “subjects”.
LLPOH. Are you saying that NSW Police are rotten to the core. Well hush my mouth. BTW, how long do you reckon before our “revenue raisers” become replicas of American cops? Never been stateside (the thought of being treated like a criminal to be a tourist pisses me off, so I vote with my feet and go elsewhere) so I have no first hand experience of American cops, just go by what I read.
Fatman – all cops are the same, everywhere. It just depends on the where they are on the spectrum. Oz has revenue raising down to a science with speed and red light cameras. Cops do a good job too.
Malcolm X called the police an occupying force. They are. Do we need them at all? Government ‘officials’ think so. What does that tell you?
Police should be private operators and work for customers like all other moral occupations not enforcers.
Malcolm was a criminal who found Islam in prison.
Got himself killed by Farrakhan’s boys soon after converting to Sunni Islam because he didn’t toe the Brotherhood’s line as he had before. In my opinion, he wouldn’t be one of the more rational authorities to quote about cops.
Ron Paul, maybe?
It’s more complicated I think. He did commit a crime and did do time. My opinion of him changed when I read his writing. It was amazingly vivid. I have many problems with the majority of blacks but in his day white men got away with raping black women, even children and lynching black men. It took people like him to stop that shit. At the end of his life he had shifted his views to be much more tolerant. He was quite an individual. Murdered by Muslims? Probably but maybe by ‘our’ government who was Murder Incorporated of that day.
“To be sure, women have a role to play in police work but beat cop is generally not one of them.”
Affirmative Action in action.
Where I grew up there were some cool cops who weren’t like that. They’d catch us in the act of doing a donut in a parking lot and laugh about it. These guys were all older, and would say something like “yeah, i don’t give a shit since you’re not hurting anybody but don’t let one of the younger guys catch you doing this.” I’d like to think there are still some cops out there like that, but I don’t know any.
I don’t either. Back in the day the cops in my town-both of them for 20,000 (white) people had a neat trick. If they stopped a drunk driver they’d have him pull over to a safe spot and take away the car keys and toss them under the car. The drunk would have no choice but to sleep it off. Isn’t that better than wrecking someone’s life?
Seriously, I do not know where youse all grew up, but where I came from cops were always bastards, even more so than they are today given today they are scared shitless of ending up on YouTube.
I have seen them beat shit out of kids, steal money from out of toweners, and generally be corrupt assholes.
This is what cops have always been. Mayberry was fake. Cops have always sucked.
I generally like your posts and like what you have to say Llpoh. Your experience with cops is noted but, it is not the same everywhere yet I pray. I try to not paint them all with the same brush any more than I want to be painted by them with the same broad brush. I lived in a small community with only two fellas that did all the watch doggin. They most often applied common sense to the situation unless it was so over the line they could not. Today I have found this is changing and not for the better. It is becoming more of what you experienced. It is disturbing to say the least.
That said, today it is difficult to find that law enforcement individual that sees a situation through the eyes of common sense and value of educating young folks in the concept of right and wrong. It is more black and white, if you will, and totalitarian in nature. It is the latter approach to enforcement that I take exception with and find disturbing. As an older individual now, I am witnessing a lack of respect from all professions especially those that have implied power. It has created a divide between the two sides. This I feel will not serve anyone well.
Most of my negative interactions have been with “law enforcement” of the “officer Airborne 101” variety. I’ve had plenty of positive interactions with “peace officers” of the Andy Taylor variety. It is a pity that sheriffs nationwide have not been able to do more to prevent the militarization of the cops. Did cops tend to dick with you because you’re native?
Yep. 1980. I was 15. Staying over the night at my friend’s house, parents out of town. His older brother threw a back yard keg party, the cops showed up to break up the party. Cops told everyone to leave. As I was staying the night, I just stayed put, not worried about anything at this point. Cop storms up to me, gets in my face “I told you to leave” I replied “I’m staying here” well, cause I was. Cop slammed me face down, breaking my glasses, cuffed and stuffed me. When my parents showed up at the county jail, they decided not press whatever bs charges. Years later, my Mom said “If I knew then what I know now, we would of sued those bastards.
The only law enforcement needed for local communities is the elected position of Sheriff !
The Sheriff then appoints deputies .
Most police forces in the US are not directly accountable to the people in the community they are allegedly there to serve !
Thanks to the patriot act and homeland security , asset forfeiture on the rise , video surveillance everywhere yet all to often the video is edited so you the Citizen is in the wrong and everybody knows it !
I cleared an intersection (right turn on red ) no I did not stop because there was an ambulance lights and siren coming hard and fast . The turn was made safely the ambulance made a hard left just before the intersection something I had no way of knowing would happen . No way to appeal got a $75 dollar fine ! I called and was told the camera don’t lie ! In this case the camera is not lying it just needed a rear view from my perspective . No points but I got fucked on video out of $75 bucks
Then we all see these Intercontinental Ballistic Winnebago Mobil Crisis Command Center’s and Armored combat vehicles no Andy and Barney do not need any of this equipment but we must be safe , uh huh ya ok ….
Watch first amendment audits on YouTube , you will see the techniques verbally used to escalate an encounter by police against a citizen not violating anything . The excuse of your making people feel uncomfortable and we got a call .
The auditor will ask who called you the LEO never knows and the auditor will respond I did not call you so you need to speak to the person who called in ! Now it gets fun the LEO wants the auditors ID though there is no reason for the LEO to even be making contact this is where it get fun and we discover either there is a good LEO or a tyrannical POS with a badge
People need to realize how much power an elected Sherrif can hold over enforcement of unjust laws from the Feds.
Here is a guest article that deserves the light of day:
No One Cares If You Go Home Safe At The End Of Your Shift
Jan 02, 201812:50AM
Category: Politics
Posted by: Michael Z. Williamson
Here at the house, I have a couple of decades plus of military experience. I have tools to dig in or out of natural disasters. I have extinguishers and hoses. I have a field trauma kit and bandages. I have weapons both melee and firearm. I know how to use them. I know how to trench, support and revet. I understand the fire triangle and appropriate approaches. I understand breathing, bleeding and shock. I know how to detain, restrain and control. I have done all of these at least occasionally, professionally. I’ve stood on top of a collapsing levee in a flood. I’ve fought a structure fire from inside so we could get everyone out before the fire department showed up, which only took two minutes, but people can die that fast. I’ve had structures collapse while I was working on them. I’ve been in an aircraft that had a “mechanical” on approach and had to be repaired in-flight before landing. I’ve helped control a brush fire. I’ve hauled disabled vehicles out of ditches in sub-zero weather.
My ex wife has over a decade of service and some of the same training.
We have trained our young adult children.
My wife is a rancher who knows her way around a shotgun, livestock, sutures and tools, hurricanes and floods, and works in investigations professionally.
Our current house guest is another veteran.
This means if anything happens at the house, and last year we had a lightning strike, a tornado and a flood within 10 days’ we’re pretty well prepared.
Now, we’re probably better off than 95% of the households out there. The level of disaster that necessitates backup varies.
If we find it necessary to call 911, it means the party is in progress and it’s bad.
You will probably not be going home safe at the end of your shift.
And you know what? If it gets to that point, I really don’t give a shit. I don’t give a shit if you get smoked. I don’t give a shit if you fall under a tree. I don’t give a shit if you get shot at.
Because at that point, I’ve done everything I can with that same circumstance, and run out of resources.
If my concern was “you going home safe,” then I’d just fucking hunker down and die. Because I wouldn’t want that poor responder to endanger himself.
Except, that’s what I pay taxes for, and that’s what you signed up for. Just like I signed up to walk into a potential nuke war in Germany and hold off the Soviets, and did walk into the Middle East and prepare to take fire while keeping expensive equipment functioning so our shooters could keep shooting.
There’s not a single set of orders I got that said my primary job was to “Come home safe.” They said it was to “support the mission” or “complete the objective.” Coming home safe was the ideal outcome, but entirely secondary to “supporting” or “completing.” Nor, once that started, did I get a choice to quit. Once in, all in.
When that 80 year old lady smells smoke or hears a noise outside her first floor bedroom in the ghetto, she doesn’t care if you go home safe, either. She’s afraid she or the kids next door won’t wake up in the morning.
If I call, I expect your ass to show up, sober, trained, professional. I expect you to wade in with me or in place of me, and drag a child out of a hole, or out from a burning room, or actually stand up and block bullets from hitting said child, because by the time you get there, I’ll have already done all that. And there will be field dressings, chainsawed trees, buckets and empty brass scattered about.
I don’t want to hear some drunk and confused guy squirming on the ground playing “Simon Says” terrified you so much you had to blow him away. I don’t want to hear that some random guy 35 yards away who you had no actual information on , may have reached toward his waist band. Or that “the tree might fall any moment” or that “the smoke makes it hard to see.”
Near as I can tell, I don’t hear the smokejumpers, or the firefighters, or the disaster rescue people say such things.
But it’s all I ever hear from the cops. If you and your five girlfriends in body armor, with rifles, are that terrified of actually risking your life for the theoretically dangerous job you volunteered for and can quit any time, then please do quit.
You can get a job doing pest control and go home safe every night.
Until a bunch of fucking pussies with big tattoos, small dicks, body armor and guns blow you away for minding your own business.
Because what you’re telling me with that statement is, your only concern is cashing a check. That’s fine. But if that’s your concern, don’t pretend you’re serving the public. If you wanted to help people at risk of life, you would be a firefighter, running into buildings, dragging people out, getting scorched regularly.
If you’re cool with writing tickets, then there’s jobs where you can do just that.
If you want to tangle with bad guys and blow them away, fair enough. But understand: That means they get to shoot first to prove their intent, just as happens with the military these days. Our ROE these days are usually “only if fired upon and no civilians are at risk.”
If your plan is “shoot first, shoot later, shoot some more, then if anyone is still alive try to ask questions,” and bleat, “But I was afeard fer mah lahf!” you’re absolutely no better than the thugs you claim to oppose. All you are is another combatant in a turf war I don’t care about.
Since I know your primary concern is “being safe,” then I’ll do you the favor of not calling. Cash your welfare check, and try not to shoot me at a “courtesy” sobriety checkpoint for “twitching my eye “in a way that suggested range estimation.
If you’re one of the vanishingly few cops who isn’t like that, then what the hell are you doing about it? If there’s going to be a lawsuit costing the city millions, isn’t it better that it be a labor suit from the union over the clown you fired, than a wrongful death suit over the poor bastard the clown shot? Both are expensive, but one has a dead victim you enabled. So how much do you actually care about that life?
How is the training so bad that it’s not clear who is the scene commander who gives the orders?
How is it that trigger happy bozos who, out of costume, look no different from the gangbangers you claim to oppose, get sent up front to fulfill their wish of hosing someone down because “I was afraid for my life!”?
Why does the rot exist in your department?
If you can’t do anything about it, why are you still in that department?
At some point, collective guilt is a thing.
You’ve probably not been a good cop for a long time.
And I still don’t care if you go home safe. I care that everyone you purport to “serve and protect” goes home safe.
There have been many instances of police errors, mistakes, and misconduct that have not been properly addressed. From harassing honest citizens over minor disagreements, questionable shootings of honest citizens, to SWAT teams raiding “the wrong house”, smashing everything in sight, with no apologies to the occupants for their “mistakes”, there is something seriously amiss with law enforcement in this country. Militarization, along with the “us vs. them” attitude, seeing the general public as the “enemy”, treating the public with suspicion, many of those that comprise the “thin blue line” do much to alienate themselves from their “bosses”, the law-abiding public. In addition, American “law enforcement” is being trained in Israeli military tactics. I guess, “we are all Palestinians, now”.
All one has to do is look at the case of Daniel Shaver who was murdered by Officer Philip Brailsford with videotape evidence that the shooting was unwarranted. Daniel Shaver was attempting to obey conflicting commands from multiple police officers, being ordered to crawl on his stomach with his hands behind his back-impossible to do…Of course, Officer Brailsford was absolved of “responsibility” for the murder-the “thin blue line” protecting itself once again. It was evident that Brailsford wanted to shoot someone, having the phrase “you’re f#cked” on the dust cover of his AR-15. If an ordinary civilian had that same phrase on his weapon, a prosecutor would have a “field day” with it, using it to prove “intent”, even if the shooting was justified. Brailsford will probably get a job with another police department. Addendum: Brailsford was rehired by his police department for one day so that he could get a pension. The “thin blue line does take care of their own…bastards.
“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, even “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 are being 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 responsibility for perpetrating unnecessary violence against “law enforcement”…
The sad part of this whole situation is that when the SHTF, the few 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 few “bad”…collateral damage at its worst.
Non-violent changes in the whole system are sorely needed……
I have family members including my brother who are retired LEOs. I can’t speak for them all but I know why brother would whole heartedly agree with this article. Where I grew up Police were respected good people that treated everyone justly and with the respect they deserved. I’ve seen the change in the last 30 years as Sage talks about and how the local Sheriffs Office deputies where I now live deal with me, my family, and my neighbors in a typical suburban middle class neighborhood. Wake up and smell the coffee because the people are waking up and there not going to put up with this shit.
I was 17 years old and a proud owner of a Brit car, foolish child that I was. It was a Saturday,school was out and I had the opportunity to fix a clutch problem that had started to develop. Sometimes the clutch felt like it was slipping, sometimes if would not fully disengage despite full pedal depression. Crawling around in the dirt and gravel with very limited space under the car trying to ignore the ants and other bugs while holding and old intermittent caged trouble light, only to focus my attention to the slave cylinder. After a few thousand repeats of crawling out from under, procuring another tool, crawling back under, I realized that I had no Girling fluid, none. A trip was made two towns over to get a bottle of Girling for $5. That was expensive stuff back then. Put in the new seals,bleed the system, tighten bolts and observe function, I’m sure most of you know the drill.
I was relieved to have my wheels/freedom back in operation. I wanted to put her through all the gears just to check out the job I had done.
Just past the H.S. there was a long straightaway. I stopped on the shoulder, checked my gauges and pedals and slipped into first gear. My attention was on the road and the sounds of the car. I was just about the catch 3rd. and I caught a glimpse of a cop car pulled backwards between a building and a large bush. Well, Fuck me dead.
I just put the tranny in neutral and coasted all the way to the quarry gravel lot. I got out out my license and registration and already had them in my hand hanging out the window when the cop rolled up behind me.
He asked the typical questions, “Where ya goin’?”, “Do you know how fast you were driving?”. He took the papers away and told me to wait (duh). He came back from his car to talk with me a few minutes, no lectures, no remarks about safety, no threats, just a “slow it down, Bub. You know who I am.” And finally, he said “And I know who your daddy is.”
That’s all he had to say. I did tell my dad about that event that very night. I knew he’d find out anyway. If dad had found out without me telling him first, it would not have been pretty.
But that was another time, in another galaxy, far, far away.
I had a similar experience with a state trooper and my shop teacher from high school.
There was a time, about 55yrs ago, that you could purchase a Finish 82mm mortar for the large sum of $15.00 from a place called P&S Sales. Well, when it came into the train station my younger brother and I went down to get our newly purchased toy. We quickly made up some blanks for the breach mechanism to see what kind of noise we could make. That worked really good so we then determined that a fruit or veggi can of the time would slip perfectly down the tube. Now all we had to do was fill it with something to keep it from being crushed. Well there was this cement block plant next door to our house. They would dump the excess concrete at the end of the day. Problem solved. We saved up about 10 cans filled with concrete. We loaded up an equal number of blanks. We loaded the 100 plus pound mortar onto a red wagon with the cement can ammo and pulled it about a mile out to the edge of a large lake. Our target was going to be one of the old duck blinds that had been left over from the year before. We were on our third shot and miss when this state trooper drives up with my shop teacher as a passenger. They stop and the first words out of the troopers mouth was, “what are you boys doin? What is a fellow to say but the truth. Both those men got out of the car, looked at each other and said, that looks like fun. They then proceeded to fire the balance of our ammo. They got back in the car, told us to have a good day and be careful going home. It was a different time for sure. I morn the death of common sense.
Here are suggestions that will never be implemented in today’s “law and order” society”
1. Official “immunity” should be abolished. The “double standard” in which police are treated much more leniently than the ordinary citizen for identical situations has to go. “Equal justice under law” should apply to ALL, even police. Self-investigations would be abolished. Civilian review boards would have final say over police practices.
2. Police “unions” would be abolished. Police work for the public and do not need unions.
3. Every police officer would be required to purchase a “bond” from an private insurance company. The municipality would be allowed to pay for the basic cost of the “bond”, but no more. No bond=no job. You can bet that insurance companies would be more diligent in weeding out the “bad apples” than our present “good-old-boy” system.
4. Awards paid out for misconduct or wrongful death should be paid out from the police pension funds, NOT from the taxpayers. You can bet that things would change if their retirement funds were threatened.
5. Body and dash cams must be used at all times. Failure or malfunctioning equipment is not an excuse and should result in immediate permanent dismissal. Today’s equipment is rugged enough for constant use. In addition, dash and body cam footage is public and should be uploaded to a public internet channel.
6. A “blacklist” of rogue police officers should be established. These individuals should NEVER be allowed to work for any municipality as police officers or corrections officials.
7. Mandatory periodic drug testing must be the norm and not the exception. This drug testing should also include alcohol and steroids. It is no secret that many police officers “bulk up” with steroids, which also causes mental instability, and is responsible for much police misbehavior.
8. Plainclothes operations must be severely limited. There are far too many incidents of innocents being hurt or murdered by lax plainclothes procedures. Subdued graphics on police vehicles should be prohibited. Police vehicles should always be clearly marked.
9. “Asset forfeiture” must be abolished nation wide. It is “legalized robbery under color of authority” and makes police officers no better than criminals themselves.
10. SWAT teams should be limited as well. There is absolutely NO EXCUSE to smash up a person’s house. “Dynamic entry” is an excuse for steroid-addled police officers to have “a little fun” at the hapless home dweller’s expense.
11. Police departments should be run like fire departments. Police officers do not need to be “looking for trouble” with ticket quotas (yes, they are common and do exist). They should stay in their department buildings until needed.
12. The militarization of American police departments must stop and be reversed. It is no secret that American police departments train in Israeli military tactics. I guess that “we are all Palestinians, now”.
Of course, the chance of any of these suggestions seeing the time of day is almost impossible, but one can hope for at least some change…
Attention police officers: When you are standing around and watching a fellow officer beat or abuse a suspect unnecessarily, THAT makes YOU culpable as well. When the SHTF, you opponents will see only the uniform, not the person wearing it…keep that in mind.
No more free steroids?
https://www.nj.com/news/2010/12/hundreds_of_nj_police_firefigh.html
No too long ago a Michigan State police “stakeout team” ran a stop sign and “t-boned” a vehicle that had the right-of-way. The first thing these cops did was to yank the driver out of the car that they hit and handcuff him, while discussing ways to get out of the incident. There was no concern for the health or safety of the driver. Fortunately there was videotape of the incident so the cops could not get out of it…bastards.
One “bad cop” does taint the whole barrel.
This is the totalitarian attitude that is becoming common place. It should not be tolerated under any circumstance. These individuals should be charged by local, state and federal prosecutors for as many infractions as they can come up with. In other words, HOLD THEM TO A HIGHER STANDARD AND ACCOUNTABLE. emphasis intended.
Quite some time ago a Michigan State trooper was killed in his car. He was not wearing a seat belt. Upon news of the incident, I queried on public media with one question: “Was the trooper wearing his seat belt?” The vitriolic responses I got from commenters was telling: “How dare you question the trooper not wearing a seat belt. He’s dead”, among other hateful responses directed toward my comment. The number of cop bootlickers was surprising.
Anarchyst, MI is rift with this level of corruption. Go to the thumb of mi and a few counties south and you will have to look no further. I can understand your anger.
I endorse your list. It would be a good start.
Another hero stepping up! We need more!!
As much as I despise most of the tactics of the “Black Lives Matter” movement, there is a shred of truth in their message.
White middle-class people see cops as “protectors” while blacks see cops as “occupiers”. Some of the “occupier” mentality is warranted as crime rates among blacks is much higher than that of whites, but more likely than not, blacks ARE treated differently during traffic stops.
It is more likely that a black motorist will be pulled from his vehicle, frisked and searched than that of white motorists.
If I had my way, cops would be recruited from and be required to live in the communities that they “serve and protect”.
Sage,
The video at the end is spot on. They better wake up, cuz things are getting ready to go sideways in a big hurry.
Hilarious. That dummy is probably down at the state crime lab getting DNA and fingerprint evidence.
Wear your face mask or get grabbed by the crouch and body-slammed face first?
“Sweep the leg”
Know one thing folks;
In 2020, the majority of street cops are, drum-roll please. . .
*MILLENNIALS*
As society denigrates so do the police . They are chosen from society. The law of averages dictates that there will be fewer good people wanting the job of what it is today.