I think the pseudo-military structure of many police units exacerbates the problem, encouraging obedience to orders and lack of personal responsibility. Couple this with lack of supervision, and you have the culture which let's Derek Chauvin kneel on necks, and gun-toting officers murder a legless amputee so terrified that he tries to save himself by running away on the stumps of his legs.
I think the pseudo-military structure of many police units exacerbates the problem, encouraging obedience to orders and lack of personal responsibility. Couple this with lack of supervision, and you have the culture which let's Derek Chauvin kneel on necks, and gun-toting officers murder a legless amputee so terrified that he tries to save himself by running away on the stumps of his legs.
yes, absolutely, but we also need to remember that it's not just the STRUCTURE...it's also the GEAR. when I was a kid (admittedly, more than several historical periods ago, since I'll be 74 on Saturday), cops walked around wearing ordinary clothes (uniforms, but no different from the rest of us), usually patrolling alone. they had a gun, which they almost never used, at least not in my neighborhoods, and, possibly, a blackjack. they didn't even have bulletproof vests (I'll let 'em have the vests). now, I suppose pepper spray and tasers are better than guns, but it also seems to me that the cops are much too quick to use those non-lethal weapons. and back then, there was actual neighborhood policing. the local cops knew kids' NAMES. and they have enough protective gear you can't see their faces. that they look like football players (for the record, I have never watched a whole football game and I'm proud of it). weren't SWAT teams basically invented in the '70s? I remember a book that came out about ten years ago all about just THIS limited topic.
if you give police military gear, they're gonna FEEL military. when that happens, the folks they're supposed to be PROTECTING increasingly become seen as the ENEMY. in the military, you're supposed to DISABLE enemies. it's not that fucking complicated. and since that's the military's function, they seem to have better compliance with the rules of engagement. actually, I'm in dangerous territory here because my direct experience of anything military is, like, zero. but I've seen cops close up when they lose it (both as a witness and, once or twice, being on the receiving end as part of a large group) and it's not pretty. on top of that is the assumption that when ugly shit happens, any other cop who saw it is going to confirm whatever the "official story" happens to be.
all of this was operating with a vengeance in Memphis (as the bodycam and other footage demonstrate all too well), as it does everywhere else these fucking rogue units are encouraged to do their thing. and "rogue units" is exactly what they are.
and I forgot to mention how sensational that account of the Ramparts scandal was, Tom. it was sensational.
So, February 4, 1949? Making you a "double 1 - '2'") in numerology. "the path of the master" (you master it or it masters you). Why am I unsurprised? :-)
I think the pseudo-military structure of many police units exacerbates the problem, encouraging obedience to orders and lack of personal responsibility. Couple this with lack of supervision, and you have the culture which let's Derek Chauvin kneel on necks, and gun-toting officers murder a legless amputee so terrified that he tries to save himself by running away on the stumps of his legs.
yes, absolutely, but we also need to remember that it's not just the STRUCTURE...it's also the GEAR. when I was a kid (admittedly, more than several historical periods ago, since I'll be 74 on Saturday), cops walked around wearing ordinary clothes (uniforms, but no different from the rest of us), usually patrolling alone. they had a gun, which they almost never used, at least not in my neighborhoods, and, possibly, a blackjack. they didn't even have bulletproof vests (I'll let 'em have the vests). now, I suppose pepper spray and tasers are better than guns, but it also seems to me that the cops are much too quick to use those non-lethal weapons. and back then, there was actual neighborhood policing. the local cops knew kids' NAMES. and they have enough protective gear you can't see their faces. that they look like football players (for the record, I have never watched a whole football game and I'm proud of it). weren't SWAT teams basically invented in the '70s? I remember a book that came out about ten years ago all about just THIS limited topic.
if you give police military gear, they're gonna FEEL military. when that happens, the folks they're supposed to be PROTECTING increasingly become seen as the ENEMY. in the military, you're supposed to DISABLE enemies. it's not that fucking complicated. and since that's the military's function, they seem to have better compliance with the rules of engagement. actually, I'm in dangerous territory here because my direct experience of anything military is, like, zero. but I've seen cops close up when they lose it (both as a witness and, once or twice, being on the receiving end as part of a large group) and it's not pretty. on top of that is the assumption that when ugly shit happens, any other cop who saw it is going to confirm whatever the "official story" happens to be.
all of this was operating with a vengeance in Memphis (as the bodycam and other footage demonstrate all too well), as it does everywhere else these fucking rogue units are encouraged to do their thing. and "rogue units" is exactly what they are.
and I forgot to mention how sensational that account of the Ramparts scandal was, Tom. it was sensational.
So, February 4, 1949? Making you a "double 1 - '2'") in numerology. "the path of the master" (you master it or it masters you). Why am I unsurprised? :-)
I just Laughed Out Loud.
ЁЯТУтЩТЁЯРптЭдя╕ПтАНЁЯФеЁЯжЙЁЯШКЁЯОИЁЯУг HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID! ЁЯОЙтЬиЁЯОВЁЯНиЁЯМаЁЯМЮЁЯТЦтЭЧтЭЧтЭЧ
I have to admit...I was fishing a little. when it comes to birthdays, I'm still about five years old.
Oh I was so much older then - I'm younger than that now. :-)
I just Laughed Out Loud, again.
and actually, weren't we ALL?...which is probably one of the GOOD things about old. I was gonna type "older."
fortunately, we're NOT always mellower. at least neither of us is. thank god.
if I could give you quintuple hearts, Fern, I would.