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So I just saw this video being discussed on a YouTube channel and decided to bring it to the Forum.
Now listen to the interplay.
Notice how the citizen is speaking to the Officer?
Did you catch the outrageous claims that he was "threatening to kill me and my son." That he was trying to steal her car because he's "jealous?" That he is a "Mexican racist" who "really wants to be White?"
Notice how the Officer is responding? Reasonably, professionally, not taking any of the "bait?"
I point this out because the general narrative is that Police Officers are "out to get" certain members of our society. That there is (almost?) NEVER any kind of justification for certain attitudes. and/or responses attributed to police in general.
Now this is a relatively tame example of some of the kinds of things police may find themselves dealing with on a regular basis.
But I could supply plenty of video evidence (as I believe has been presented in the Forum over the years) showing that many (albeit not all) incidents of police "violence" starts with the actions of the citizen being encountered. Resisting arrest, using weapons to harm in an attempt to evade arrest, fighting, pretending to be ill, or in pain, then fleeing, etc..
This not limited to any one race.
However, in recent years IMO the most open and notorious (i.e. reported) events seem to be perpetrated by members of my (Black) community. All encouraged (again IMO) by the idea we are being systematically victimized and thus may be justified in acting out against being arrested. Hell, one might become a martyr, more famous and honored in death, as opposed to being reviled by even one's own community for the criminal life one leads.
There are bad cops, just like there are bad people in every profession, as well as the criminal element. There are ways to help repair the situation too. Bodycams a requirement, with police review boards requiring them for review. Easy access to citizen complaint processes. Etc..
But this effort to "defund the police" based on the presumption all police are represented by the few bad apples is not the way to go IMHO.
Now listen to the interplay.
Notice how the citizen is speaking to the Officer?
Did you catch the outrageous claims that he was "threatening to kill me and my son." That he was trying to steal her car because he's "jealous?" That he is a "Mexican racist" who "really wants to be White?"
Notice how the Officer is responding? Reasonably, professionally, not taking any of the "bait?"
I point this out because the general narrative is that Police Officers are "out to get" certain members of our society. That there is (almost?) NEVER any kind of justification for certain attitudes. and/or responses attributed to police in general.
Now this is a relatively tame example of some of the kinds of things police may find themselves dealing with on a regular basis.
But I could supply plenty of video evidence (as I believe has been presented in the Forum over the years) showing that many (albeit not all) incidents of police "violence" starts with the actions of the citizen being encountered. Resisting arrest, using weapons to harm in an attempt to evade arrest, fighting, pretending to be ill, or in pain, then fleeing, etc..
This not limited to any one race.
However, in recent years IMO the most open and notorious (i.e. reported) events seem to be perpetrated by members of my (Black) community. All encouraged (again IMO) by the idea we are being systematically victimized and thus may be justified in acting out against being arrested. Hell, one might become a martyr, more famous and honored in death, as opposed to being reviled by even one's own community for the criminal life one leads.
There are bad cops, just like there are bad people in every profession, as well as the criminal element. There are ways to help repair the situation too. Bodycams a requirement, with police review boards requiring them for review. Easy access to citizen complaint processes. Etc..
But this effort to "defund the police" based on the presumption all police are represented by the few bad apples is not the way to go IMHO.
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