Wisconsin cop shoots and kills six people.

[dan_sayers]

You see more and more cops going bad.

I was just linked to badcopnews.com a couple days ago. I clicked on Ohio and was scrolling down. I was SHOCKED at how many stories there were. Then I looked at the date: 27 September. Meaning the amount that had me shocked was just within the last week or so. I've been called anti-police for observing what I believed to be isolated incidents. If the "police lovers" knew the truth... Which of course that only represents the ones that have been caught.

I've read error's assessment as to why and I agree. When do you read about those no knock, unidentified paramilitay warrant servings? The misdemeanor, non-violent (non-crime really) possession of marijuana. Often on suspicion alone.

[Ogre]

Know what struck me most about the news photos?  There's one picture ( here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,299946,00.html ) with two cops standing around with rifles.  Reports say this is in a town of 2,000.  Do most towns with a population of 2,000 have numerous county sheriffs with what look like M-16s ready for daily use?  (Some of) Your tax dollars at work?

[J’raxis 270145]

Know what struck me most about the news photos?  There's one picture ( here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,299946,00.html ) with two cops standing around with rifles.  Reports say this is in a town of 2,000.  Do most towns with a population of 2,000 have numerous county sheriffs with what look like M-16s ready for daily use?  (Some of) Your tax dollars at work?

This is what error meant with the connection to the war on drugs. Equipment like that was probably provided to them through federal grants to fight the drug war. I wouldn't be surprised if the county has an APC lying around somewhere, too.

[EJinCT]

Why do people feel the need to twist things up to fit their personal views/agenda? It's rather saddening that some feel the need to make sweeping generalizations about a group of people based on the actions/opinions of a minority.... Actually, that sounds like something the Feds would do. 

Theres screwed up people everywhere; Potentially dangerous conditions exist everywhere and under all circumstances; IME, they are wholly independent of any factors such as the profession of an individual or the location of an incident.

I give the same amount of trust to any LEO, as I do to anyone engaged in any profession. IMO, it is impossible to judge the heart of a person solely by their profession.

IMO, the only solution is developing personal/situational awareness.

[Braddogg]

Know what struck me most about the news photos?  There's one picture ( here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,299946,00.html ) with two cops standing around with rifles.  Reports say this is in a town of 2,000.  Do most towns with a population of 2,000 have numerous county sheriffs with what look like M-16s ready for daily use?  (Some of) Your tax dollars at work?

The town has 2000 people.  My guess is that the county is significantly bigger.

[Ogre]

The town has 2000 people.  My guess is that the county is significantly bigger.

Good point, thanks.

The county has a population of 10,000 in just over 10,000 square miles of land.  It's way up north, by the place that used to be the Canadian border.  I'm still not sure why the county sheriff have need of an M-16 (or rifles that look like M-16s).

[error]

Probably to shoot those illegal immigrants crossing the border from Canada. Or perhaps to shoot moose.

[Braddogg]

Probably to shoot those illegal immigrants crossing the border from Canada.

They're not going to shoot themselves.  Lazy Mexicans Canucks.

[coffeeseven]

Why do people feel the need to twist things up to fit their personal views/agenda? It's rather saddening that some feel the need to make sweeping generalizations about a group of people based on the actions/opinions of a minority.... Actually, that sounds like something the Feds would do. 

Theres screwed up people everywhere; Potentially dangerous conditions exist everywhere and under all circumstances; IME, they are wholly independent of any factors such as the profession of an individual or the location of an incident.

I give the same amount of trust to any LEO, as I do to anyone engaged in any profession. IMO, it is impossible to judge the heart of a person solely by their profession.

IMO, the only solution is developing personal/situational awareness.

You've never had a boot on your neck.

[supperman15]

I tend to agree that it comes back to the war on drugs, and pursuing all victimless crimes.  Police officers operate with authority to terrorize people every day.  And perhaps you can judge the majority by profession have you ever heard about the Standford prison experiment?

[shyfrog]

Position of power
Carry a gun, taser, pepper spray, baton
Ability to bark commands and have them obeyed
Use hand signals to stop people and vehicles in their tracks
Nifty tools to track people's private lives
Limited oversight, work alone or in pairs
Blue steel curtain of protection against public exposure

Honestly..what "kind" of person would ever want a job like that?

I remember a kid from Junior High. He was a hall monitor...abusive little fuck with a taste for donuts.

[EJinCT]

You've never had a boot on your neck.

You don't know me or what I've experienced. 

Actually, I have had a boot on my neck; and w/o the assistance of an LEO I would have likely had a bullet in my head as well.

I have have had numerous encounters with LEO's all across the country, especially while I was homeless; and in every instance it never escalated to more than a verbal argument. I have never been arrested nor even been cited, never-mind physically assaulted.

I'm no angel mind you and I have had some very close calls to being arrested/cited, but by showing the same respect that I would want, I managed to walk away with nothing more than a warning. I have even had LEO's look the other way while I was engaged in an illegal act of smoking because of my past interactions with them.

If all LEOs' were nothing but terrorist thugs how could that even be possible?

If such stereotyping is applicable to this profession then wouldn't that also mean that every other profession is open to the same classifications?

IMO, profiling and stereotyping is either wrong or it's not; it's a double edged blade.
Sorry, but neither you, nor anyone else can convince me of otherwise.

I have no war with LEO's; my problem is with the laws they enforce and the people that enacted those laws to begin with.

I do wonder how many, that share such a grim view about all LEO's, have had civil, non-combative encounters with LEO's but choose to focus only on their negative experiences; especially since "trauma" leaves a bigger impression on ones psyche in comparison to the alternative.




There can be no unity achieved through division. 

[Raineyrocks]

Position of power
Carry a gun, taser, pepper spray, baton
Ability to bark commands and have them obeyed
Use hand signals to stop people and vehicles in their tracks
Nifty tools to track people's private lives
Limited oversight, work alone or in pairs
Blue steel curtain of protection against public exposure

Honestly..what "kind" of person would ever want a job like that?

I remember a kid from Junior High. He was a hall monitor...abusive little fuck with a taste for donuts.

I can only guess what his profession now is!  I worked in Dunkin Donuts and it's very true they love those donuts!  I was told never to charge police officers for anything they drank or ate either.

[shyfrog]

There are other reasons to become a police officer:

To protect and serve
To make a living and support a family
To continue a career after service in the military
To get cats out of trees, open cars with keys locked in 'em, help old ladies cross the street, direct traffic, and other helpful deeds (none of which require a badge).

I've met LEO's that are decent, good people. Even ones that support the FSP, libertarian ideals, liberty and freedom.
Honestly...I think I've met 2 total that would fit that description.