There are thousands of videos and news stories of police abuse of power and brutality. Is police abuse of power and unjustified violence against people growing - or is the advent of video cams everywhere and the massive info network of the Internet just more exposing what before was mostly kept under wraps?
There are thousands of videos and news stories of police abuse of power and brutality. Is police abuse of power and unjustified violence against people growing - or is the advent of video cams everywhere and the massive info network of the Internet just more exposing what before was mostly kept under wraps?
and maybe, just maybe, the average joe citizen who has a run in with the police is a bigger asswipe today than he was in the past and therefore physical altercations between the cops and the people are becoming more frequent.
I wish I had a dollar for every time some idiot that I was attempting to serve a warrant on or arrest thought it was a good idea to get all up in my face and attempt to get physical. Fortunately, I am pretty laid back IRL and can usually defuse the situation before it turned physical
I think it's your second option. Personally, I think coppers are probably much more professional today than they were 25 years ago. Then? They were untouchable. Today? Notsomuch.
There are thousands of videos and news stories of police abuse of power and brutality. Is police abuse of power and unjustified violence against people growing - or is the advent of video cams everywhere and the massive info network of the Internet just more exposing what before was mostly kept under wraps?
There are thousands of videos and news stories of police abuse of power and brutality. Is police abuse of power and unjustified violence against people growing - or is the advent of video cams everywhere and the massive info network of the Internet just more exposing what before was mostly kept under wraps?
The biggest and most important difference are the attitudes and equipment. It seems to me that police today tend less to believe that they work for the average Joe and take "back talk" as a personal affront to their manhood (or womanhood). Even worse, most roll around with those scary "assault" rifles and high capacity magazines that nobody seems to think are necessary for Citizen X. Add in the ballistic vests and helmets, flashbangs, APCs, and generally militaristic equipment and you have yourself an occupier rather than a justice of the peace.
I think there has always been police brutality and abuse of power - but limited to the "lower classes" of people.
I also think, though, the militarization of the police has been disasterous - and there has been a real shift in police attitudes from what I can figure. For example, now the attitude is that a police officer should never take the slightest personal risk, not just hit or shoot fast - but also just in rescues.
There was a disturbing story about a woman taken hostage in Dallas and a police SWAT team showed up outside the Apartment. It known to the SWAT team this the situation entirely. Soon they heard two shots. The woman then shouting that he shot her and then shot himself in the head - pleading for help.
Even though the SWAT team wearing full body armor, knowing it certain the man only had a handgun, having heard the man stop talking and the shots and then instead the woman saying what happened, they absolutely refused to go it, telling the woman she had to open the door and come out - to her saying she was shot and couldn't. The SWAT team absolutely would not go in for her. I think that represents a change of attitude. Yes, some scenario could be thought of for danger going it, a 1 in 100,000 scenario. In short, that woman/victim was 0% and the SWAT officers 100% in value in current typical police policy.
There are clear dividing lines increasingly between "us police" and "them people." I think the extreme military gear, the training for mass civil conflicts and terrorism even in small communities where such never has and likely never will happen, and the training in psychological domination and self-protection at-all-costs, plus how the political structure works is degrading the psychology of police officers in may departments.
So I think abuse and brutality have always been there, but that attitudes are changing for the worse. For so many reasons, I tend to think on average police care less about people than they used to.
However I think the militarization of police forces, and the doctrine of "overwhelming force and total domination" may actually be causing a disconnect between the concept of the peace officer and the people he's supposed to protect and serve.
and maybe, just maybe, the average joe citizen who has a run in with the police is a bigger asswipe today than he was in the past and therefore physical altercations between the cops and the people are becoming more frequent.
I wish I had a dollar for every time some idiot that I was attempting to serve a warrant on or arrest thought it was a good idea to get all up in my face and attempt to get physical. Fortunately, I am pretty laid back IRL and can usually defuse the situation before it turned physical
If your a decent LEO and you don't take the bait people usually chill the **** out.
In your opinion, is this relatively new added emphasis on always assuming the worst-case scenario helping or hurting?That is because modern police training leaves officers with the impression to NEVER trust their gut instincts to judge the safety of an incident, and instead to treat all contacts as if the person is a complete mass murderer... every time.
You should see what goes for "situation" training in police departments these days.... it is ALWAYS the extreme worst case scenario.... so much that it leaves officers with the impression that every contact outside of training will also be that, creating a very hostile contact between police and citizens.
Just my two cents anyways.
In your opinion, is this relatively new added emphasis on always assuming the worst-case scenario helping or hurting?
And can you tell me one place in America where standard patrol police wear this equipment daily?
The biggest and most important difference are the attitudes and equipment. It seems to me that police today tend less to believe that they work for the average Joe and take "back talk" as a personal affront to their manhood (or womanhood). Even worse, most roll around with those scary "assault" rifles and high capacity magazines that nobody seems to think are necessary for Citizen X. Add in the ballistic vests and helmets, flashbangs, APCs, and generally militaristic equipment and you have yourself an occupier rather than a justice of the peace.
Who said anything about wearing it? Haven't you ever heard of a trunk? Weapons mount in the cab?
Talk about ignoring reality...
But, we all know you never originally meant that they were "rolling around" with this stuff in the trunk.... you were just back tracking because your original point was stupid.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?