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Police Training Lacks Scientific Input

An anonymous reader writes: Police have been under a microscope over the past year for their involvement in some high-profile shootings. We've heard over and over that police need more and better training to keep these incidents from happening, but the truth is that there's no good framework within law enforcement to base their training on actual science. Officers tend to teach from their own experience, and research into techniques for dealing with unpredictable people goes widely unnoticed. "Carl Bell, a psychologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago who has done key work on de-escalation with the mentally ill, said his attempts to introduce techniques to the Chicago police never got anywhere. 'There's no systematic incorporation of research.'" Nobody expects officers to consult an academic journal when they're facing down a hostile suspect, but science needs to be part of conversation we're having.

277 comments

  1. Ya, right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Most cops have a highschool education why do you expect them to read or even cate about scientific papers?
    Why assume the average cop is even interested in deescalation?

    1. Re:Ya, right by king+neckbeard · · Score: 2

      The issue is that it's something that police NEED to do if they are going to do their job well.

      --
      This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
    2. Re:Ya, right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why assume the average cop is even interested in deescalation?

      Huh? I think it's pretty safe to assume EVERY police officer, average or not, is ALWAYS interested in de-escalating a dangerous situation.

    3. Re:Ya, right by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 2

      Why assume that government and science aren't orthogonal? Go to free market solutions if you want people competing for the best position based on the available evidence (comparative advantage favors reality). If you want a bunch of idiots with guns insisting on their bigoted way, then you want a one-size-fits-all monopoly, which is what the modern police state looks like.

      Heck, the Supreme Court just ruled that K9 alerts are "probable cause" even if they're only as accurate as a coin toss. Because, they say so (and "fuck you and your science if you say otherwise").

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    4. Re:Ya, right by jellomizer · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It isn't about the Cops reading the papers, it is about the training staff to be reading the papers, and taking measurements.

      The issue I feel, most of the training is more about the physical use of force, on how to make you more powerful than the badguy. However less training on figuring out who is the bad guy and the good guy in a bad situation.

      Many incidents happen because the cops threaten someone, they get in Fight or Flight mode... So chances are they will fight (and get hurt/killed by the police) or Run (and get hurt/killed by the police).

      Police work isn't safe, however if someone feels like there is an army against them, they may not react rationally.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    5. Re:Ya, right by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      Most cops have a highschool education

      All federal law enforcement agencies, and most state police departments, require at least an associates degree. Many local police departments also require at least an associates degree, and even those departments that don't require it, will give preference to those that have it.

    6. Re:Ya, right by PitaBred · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That's an assumption that'll get you killed.

      Lots of cops playing army without as much danger of being actually shot at. Lots of forces operating as for-profit gangs that do whatever they want. They'll shout "stop resisting" as they de-escalate the situation with violence.

      I'm not saying that there aren't any, or not even that most cops aren't good. But it doesn't take very many to poison a whole department, only a few in the higher ranks to run out the good cops.

    7. Re:Ya, right by blue9steel · · Score: 1

      I'm pretty free market, but I'm not sure policing is an area I really wanted to see taken over by competing corporations. Sure, the current problems are bad but imagine what they'd be like with a profit this quarter short sighted-ness and a focus on cost-cutting. Yes, in theory you could write a contract to give them the correct incentives, but in practice I think the process would be so corrupt that it would not work well.

    8. Re:Ya, right by fustakrakich · · Score: 2

      The issue should be that it's something that police WILL to do if they are going to keep their jobs at all. We the citizens are far too submissive in our confrontations with adversarial (is there another kind?) authority. The cops will always abuse it as long as we let them. That's just the nature of things.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    9. Re:Ya, right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      WTF is any of this supposed to mean? Expressing yourself clearly in writing isn't you're strong suit, is it?

    10. Re:Ya, right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's an assumption that'll get you killed.

      Lots of cops playing army without as much danger of being actually shot at. Lots of forces operating as for-profit gangs that do whatever they want. They'll shout "stop resisting" as they de-escalate the situation with violence.

      I'm not saying that there aren't any, or not even that most cops aren't good. But it doesn't take very many to poison a whole department, only a few in the higher ranks to run out the good cops.

      All it takes is one bad cop to ruin a precinct's reputation among the concerned citizens. Add more bad cops, especially those targeting minorities, and you end up with riots like Baltimore and Ferguson especially as social media makes it much harder for them to sweep such incidents under the rug.

    11. Re:Ya, right by aaronb1138 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Years back there was a spat of hidden cam whistle blowers going through the police academies. There is a huge emphasis on how to escalate a situation. The rationale is that too many perps get off on technicalities and such, but stuff like assaulting / threatening an officer and resisting arrest charges stick and make the DA reluctant to work out plea deals.

      You would also need good cops running the training program, and you are more likely to get the opposite. The men and women I have known in law enforcement who are good people either get out of the field within a handful of years, or change post to constable / sheriff work because they get ostracized in municipal police forces for calling out bad cops.

    12. Re:Ya, right by Calydor · · Score: 2

      your*

      Oh, the irony. ;-)

      --
      -=This sig has nothing to do with my comment. Move along now=-
    13. Re:Ya, right by Firethorn · · Score: 5, Interesting

      They'll shout "stop resisting" as they de-escalate the situation with violence.

      Indeed. They've been caught, on video, tasering a non-responsive person in a diabetic coma for 'resisting', yelling all the while. Note, it's not just about 'resistance' today, it's about 'compliance'. IE you not only have to avoid resisting an officer, you have to be following their orders, sometimes beyond the best of your ability.

      Another officer, female in this case, tasered a person into being a corpse, then shocked the corpse over a hundred times by the estimate of the coroner. When her training was examined, it was discovered that she had ZERO deescalation techniques, and no techniques OTHER than the taser to seek 'compliance'.

      She was on video - "Put your hands behind your back" - Pause - SHOCK - "Put your hands behind your back".

      Keep in mind that after about the third shock he wasn't resisting, he was non-responsive. He wasn't capable of complying.

      --
      I don't read AC A human right
    14. Re:Ya, right by Firethorn · · Score: 1

      Add in the enormous number of 'legacy' police, that federal law enforcement is a tiny percentage of the total, and generally considered a higher status posting.

      I can easily see it being that *most* police officers entering the force today have at least an associate's, but *most* police officers IN the force only have a high school diploma, perhaps with a non-degree police academy certificate.

      That being said, you can have the same problem with police officers as you can with social workers. As odd as it may sound, by requiring a specific degree, they only get a specific sort of applicant, who's spent(in the case of the social worker) 4-6 years in what can amount to an echo chamber.

      You can get graduates that take certain assumptions as gospel, and in either case, 'when all you have is a hammer, every problem starts looking like a nail'. They get stuck in a box when it comes to thinking about issues.

      --
      I don't read AC A human right
    15. Re:Ya, right by Tailhook · · Score: 1

      but in practice I think the process would be so corrupt that it would not work well.

      The irony is that some neighborhoods in the US have gone to private contractors to escape their own corrupt governments. Their tax dollars vanish into burgeoning public worker retirement systems and the bloated salaries of 220k/year bureaucrats and their streets go unpatrolled, so they hire private cops to cover their neighborhoods. This is happening across the US, typically in `enclave' neighborhoods; areas that aren't desperately poor, but are governed by failed municipalities and counties that have allowed their public budgets to be bled dry.

      --
      Maw! Fire up the karma burner!
    16. Re:Ya, right by gfxguy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Except 99% of the time it's not the cop that starts off being confrontational, it's some idiot wailing about their right to speed, or don't you have a "real" criminal to catch, or don't you know I pay your salary?!?! Complying when asked for your ID is not being "submissive." I'm not saying there aren't idiot cops who go on power trips, but if you're willing to see the forest for the trees, I'd like you to name a single occupation with millions of employees who must confront the public on a daily basis that doesn't have a idiots.

      --
      Stupid sexy Flanders.
    17. Re:Ya, right by fustakrakich · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yes, it goes both ways, but we are supposed to expect better from the cops. Right or wrong their example will be noted and followed. And no cop has any right to compel anything from me, nothing at all, not even ID without just cause, which better be the first words coming out of his mouth. The people who don't see the forest for the trees are those who write off their bad behavior as just an 'isolated incident'. It is not isolated, it permeates all authoritarian systems where there is limited oversight. The so-called 'good cops' who remain silent are no damn good at all. It's a tough job, but nobody forces them to take it. Maybe we should change that, start conscripting people so we can get some good ones who know how to accept authority reluctantly and use it wisely. Right now we are just rewarding bullies.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    18. Re:Ya, right by crbowman · · Score: 2

      Not every state requires you to present an ID any time an officer asks you to. Providing it when not necessary is absolutely submissive and I'm not being an asshat for pointing that out and not doing it when asked. Police ask you all the time to do things you don't have to that put you in a worse position legally then if you hadn't. I don't blame them for that, but when I say no, I'm not being an asshat either.

    19. Re:Ya, right by digitalPhant0m · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Intimidation is a purposeful and deliberate tactic to gain compliance through fear of violence.
      Everything about police is intimidating: the uniform, the car, driving tactics, visible weapons, approach and demeanor.
      Here is an article delving into some of the psychology.

      When the police approach you or pull you over there is always that fight or flight instinct that kicks in, even when you've done nothing wrong. Why? Because police are intimidating as hell and they have the power to either kill you or imprison you.
      It is also contrary to the nature of the human male to submit: when you get pushed, you push back. This is why you see the backlash or attitudes from ordinary people against cops.

      There is no profession without idiots; however in this profession someone is going to pay a heavy price for a mistake.

    20. Re:Ya, right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Wow, you're not from the real world, are you? Cops are idiots, end of story.

    21. Re:Ya, right by VonSkippy · · Score: 1

      Name one other occupation that arm's their "idiots" with weapons. Cops should be held to a much higher standard - at one time not all that long ago, they were, and they were respected and truested- now they've burnt thru all that respect and are feared and hated. The few good cops are vastly outnumbered by the assholes. I was raised to trust cops if I was in trouble - now I wouldn't call a cop if my life depended on it, since the cop could (would?) be just a dangerous. The system needs a complete overhaul with a independent oversight committee - it will never happen (or at least not until the back and forth killings escalate up a notch or three).

    22. Re:Ya, right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Nope. Far too often, the officers are interested in *one* thing, and one thing *only*. Making sure *they* make it home at the end of the night.
      If that means shooting a man in Walmart as he chats on his phone, so be it.
      If that means shooting a motorist as he reaches into his car for his license and registration *as instructed by the officer*, so be it.
      If that means shooting a fleeing man in the back, and then *planting* the cop's gun next to the corpse, so be it.

      'Better the civilian, than the cop.' is a widespread and pervasive mind-set in police departments across the US these days.

    23. Re:Ya, right by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      Not every state requires you to present an ID any time an officer asks you to

      What state requires that? I don't think any do, unless you are driving.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    24. Re:Ya, right by narcc · · Score: 2

      There is no profession without idiots; however in this profession someone is going to pay a heavy price for a mistake.

      Far too often, it's not the officer who pays that price, it's the victims of their abuse. Things need to change dramatically. Dismissing or excusing the police, like the OP, is only going to make the situation worse.

    25. Re:Ya, right by KGIII · · Score: 2

      I was hanging out on Voat - picking at the low hanging fruit as I am wont to do. Hopefully this will not be a novella but I have to give some background and I think you will find it interesting.

      So, I am hanging out on Voat and I have discovered there is a board about protecting and serving and that it is populated by cops. I do not care. I read a thread or two and move alone. It is not my place to hang out. I do not mind cops and they do not want anti-cop people there anyhow and, while I am not a hater of police I am also not a boot licking suck up and have dealt with the cops way too often to have any respect for them as a group - they're people, judge them on their merits.

      Anyhow, so later that same day there rises a new thread. This thread was about a police officer in Mississippi (I think? Alabama maybe?) who was shot and the perpetrator was still on the run. I believe the officer had killed.

      At this point I think it prudent to remind the audience that I am, indeed, an asshole. I own it.

      So, primed and ready with my witty reposte (I have yet to find one single decent international keyboard layout in any Linux distro), I enter the fray. I seek my target - I know exactly what I am going to type and the type of reply that I am aiming to thread it under. I find a gem... Carefully I lay my mine. "So, given the past few weeks and all of the negative police interactions, I am willing to give this alleged cop killer the benefit of the doubt - it may have been self defense."

      This is, of course, an instant success with the howler monkeys that visit the site. It also is the truth.

      Now, I do not leave mines unattended. That would be irresponsible of me. You could say I was trolling and I would disagree - entirely. I knew what was coming but I did not expect quite this level of perfection. Also, note, these are not exact quotes. They are probably pretty close.

      So in pops a user who says, "The filthy violent perp killed a cop." I recognize the username - it is one of the mods and a police officer (ostensibly) in a large metropolitan area.

      I reply with, "Isn't a cop supposed to do that whole innocent until proven guilty thing???" I felt the line tighten and it was reeling out fast.

      "It doesn't matter. He killed a cop. Can't you see the difference?" He replied... He liked ellipsis too, or he did in my head.

      "Is it not still innocent until proven guilty?" I asked again. "Could you show me where the law makes this any different?"

      "You just don't kill cops. This guy is a scum sucking low life." He quipped.

      "Do you not see how you, personally, are to blame for the reaction that caused this officer to die? You, your attitude, has an impact and that impact spreads. You should be ashamed of yourself!" I slapped my drag lock off and pulled back with a good, hard, and steady force.

      He went ape shit. It was absolutely beautiful. I would not call it trolling but, well, if it is to be defined as trolling then let's say it was at least artful and productive. Much karma was had (and lost). Sadly, I do not think anything in the above is biased or misrepresents what happened. I tried to recall it as best as I could and I am far too lazy to look for it and then type it all out again.

      As an aside, I was watching a video of a Southern gentleman refusing to allow the police access to his home because they did not have a warrant. They said he looked nervous and he replied with the greatest YouTube line ever. "Y'all got a whole toolbelt designed to kill me, of course's I'm scared!" (Said in a drawl.)

      TL;DR: The cops are the problem. Their whole attitude. I could go on for hours about the difference between cops today and yesterday AND I grew up in the Civil Rights Era. I am not saying fuck cops. I am saying fuck THAT cop.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    26. Re:Ya, right by KGIII · · Score: 1

      If a cop is asking you then chances are you do not need to do it (or answer - in fact, don't answer if you can avoid it). If the cop didn't need to ask then, well, they would not be asking.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    27. Re:Ya, right by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Name one other occupation that arm's their "idiots" with weapons.

      The military. The smart ones don't end up carrying the guns, you know.

      *was, literally, 0311 for most of his first stint* (It was actually what I had requested.)

      I can fill in on that but I will spare you the novella.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    28. Re:Ya, right by Montezumaa · · Score: 4, Insightful

      As an ex-law enforcement officer myself, I would like to post two points:

      First, on the "Use of Force Continuum", the mere presence of a law enforcement officer(either in uniform, or in "plain", "street" clothes, which includes essentially everything from t-shit and blue jeans, to issued polo shirt(usually with an embroidered badge, agency name, and officer's name) and approved pants(khaki, darker, or black pants or cargo pants), and including business casual(yes, polo shirts fit that definition in some working environments, but such terms are rather ambiguous) to business formal(suit and ties, and similar)) is the first level of said "Continuum". I can say, from my own experience, that many people feel intimidated by simply seeing law enforcement nearby that they have acted rather ridiculously, even when they were committing no acts that gave me authority to engage said people in an "official capacity".

      I also witnessed quite a few people that, while attempting to effect a vehicle stop(after witnessing a moving violation upon a public roadway), people would attempt to "flee and elude"(part of the title of the Title 40 law(O.C.G.A 40-6-395) that covers people attempting to run from a legal stop, in the O.C.G.A., or Official Code of Georgia Annotated), "rabbit", or "run" from me, and after I finally got them stopped, or they stopped of their own desire(I am talking about people that were aware that I had been attempting to stop them, not people who didn't notice, but stopped the moment they did notice...situational awareness people!), I discovered they had no previous convictions, many times no previous citations, no warrants, etc. Said stops were for relatively minor issues, that ballooned into potentially major legal trouble(depending on the circumstances).

      Secondly, law enforcement, at least in the United States, has no extra power to "kill or imprison" others compared to each individual citizen. One of the very few differences is that law enforcement can arrest on, and execute warrants(arrest and/or search), and, at least in the State of Georgia, and many other states, can act on traffic violations(up to and including arrests, depending), where citizen's witnessing traffic violations doesn't give law enforcement authority to initiate a traffic stop, or effect an arrest, unless a violation occurs in the presence of a certified and sworn(i.e. employed) law enforcement officer. Law enforcement officers are allowed to use deadly force to defend themselves or a third-party from greatly bodily harm and/or death(imminent death isn't necessary for deadly force, which it shouldn't be), or to stop a "forcible felony"(rape, armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, etc), and to also to stop an escaping, or escaped inmate that has been charged, tried, and convicted(though, reasonably, if lesser force will cease an escapee, or attempted escapee, that force should be used); a fleeing felon(not-yet-convicted, mind you) that doesn't pose a real and obvious danger to another people doesn't provide authority to use "deadly force". Nevertheless, law enforcement, regardless of the public view(which is wrong), doesn't actually have a "monopoly on violence". Citizens have the right to use force to defend themselves and others, where a law enforcement officer takes his or her right to use said force, as just another citizen, and applies to in the course of his or her official duties.

      Remember, citizens are the only ones that have rights(...and rights aren't given by government, right are inherent; though, some explicit rights are protect, not created, by certain documents, such as the US Constitution, and/or the various state constitutions, and in through other avenues). Governments, the representatives of said governments, and the employees of said governments, only have limited authority to act in certain circumstances(in their official capacity; as fellow citizens, they have the rights that the rest of the citizen of the United States, and the various states, possess). The citizenry(I am talking about the Unit

    29. Re:Ya, right by nbauman · · Score: 1

      Here's that NYT article that the Wired story linked to. Lewinski is the guy who testifies that a cop had reasonable fear of his life when he shot a suspect in the back. And the juries pretend to believe him.

      http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08...
      Training Officers to Shoot First, and He Will Answer Questions Later
      When police officers shoot people under questionable circumstances, William J. Lewinski often appears as an expert witness who says they had no choice but to fire.
      By MATT APUZZO
      AUG. 1, 2015

      A black motorist, pulled to the side of the road for a turn-signal violation, had stuffed his hand into his pocket. The white officer yelled for him to take it out. When the driver started to comply, the officer shot him dead. The driver was unarmed.

      (“In simple terms, if I see the gun, I’m dead?”)

      (Testified or consulted in nearly 200 cases.)

      His conclusions are consistent: The officer acted appropriately, even when shooting an unarmed person.
      Even when shooting someone in the back. Even when witness testimony, forensic evidence or video footage contradicts the officer’s story.

      before grand juries, where such testimony is given in secret and goes unchallenged. In addition, his company, the Force Science Institute, has trained tens of thousands of police officers
      his research has been roundly criticized by experts. An editor for The American Journal of Psychology called his work “pseudoscience.” The Justice Department denounced his findings as “lacking in both foundation and reliability.”

    30. Re:Ya, right by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      The going rule seems to be, there is no such thing as self defense against a cop, or probably any other agent of the government. I don't blame the cops. Like everybody else they do what they can get away with. And that is our problem. Only we can fix it.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    31. Re:Ya, right by Rockoon · · Score: 1

      I'm pretty free market, but I'm not sure policing is an area I really wanted to see taken over by competing corporations.

      I think that maybe people should learn the history of policing.

      This is an institution that started out "privatized." It was over 200 years before public money began to be used for the purpose when King George the 2nd began paying watchmen with public money. This move to using public money led directly to The Macdaniel Affair.

      Private policing works. Public policing works. In both cases, government influence can ruin it.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    32. Re:Ya, right by kwbauer · · Score: 4, Informative

      I am willing to agree that what you say about LEOs having no extra power should be the law every but it is not. No state has a problem issuing LEOs with very effective tools for inflicting deadly force. Only 32 of those states are willing to allow all non-felons to exercise that same right. Two of them (including DC) are unwilling to allow any non-LEO the ability to lawfully exercise that right. So, no, in practice, there is a huge divide between LEO and non-LEO in regards to the use of deadly force.

    33. Re:Ya, right by blue9steel · · Score: 1

      What you're leaving out is that in those times much of what we describe as police work was actually performed by the military. There is a good reason we separated those functions.

    34. Re:Ya, right by Rockoon · · Score: 1

      ..and the current police force isnt basically a military?

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    35. Re:Ya, right by HiThere · · Score: 1

      In cases where the police use deadly force and it is determined to be unwarranted, how often are they charged with murder? Or even homicide?

      Based on the new that I have encountered I expect the answer to be somewhere between never and extremely rarely, but I'll admit I don't have a decent basis for this opinion, as the news tends to be slanted to agitate the viewers.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    36. Re:Ya, right by digitalPhant0m · · Score: 1

      It appears we agree on the intimidation factor.
      We can disagree if it's purely the perception on the part of the civilian or a tactic of law enforcement.

      Either way: it remains a fact. Otherwise normal people do dumb things out of fear, which can cause a situation to escalate very quickly.

      Secondly, law enforcement, at least in the United States, has no extra power to "kill or imprison" others compared to each individual citizen.

      False.
      They may have no extra "rights" to do so; If a cop shoots someone, it's next to impossible to prove malice or incompetence on the part of the officer.
      See Blue wall of silence.

      You can also be detained/imprisoned/jailed/kidnapped based solely on Probable Cause. At minimum a nice way to ruin someones day.
      Sounds like a lot of power to me.

      I will add that I have been rather unhappy with the way it seem law enforcement has changed just over the past 5 to 7 years alone.

      I'm also very sad to see this.
      Think about it this way: What have we missed before cellphones became powerful and ubiquitous evidence collecting machines. I think that the only thing that has changed is that the public is able to police the police much better now.

      Here are some fun numbers

    37. Re:Ya, right by KGIII · · Score: 1

      We will just end up with the Wal*Mart of police. :(

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    38. Re:Ya, right by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I have led an interesting life and I am grateful for it - do not get me wrong. I have had countless run-ins with police - I have spent a number of nights giggling in a jail cell, waiting to bail out at 6:00 in the morning when they let the drunks go if they can say their name and birthday. So, I have some history here. History in multiple countries even.

      I can say that I know, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that cops are intentionally riling things up. They WANT aggression, it seems. Do not give it to them. One of the worst was I was being told to get on my knees, don't move, put my hands up, and to lay down on the ground at the same time. I'd refused a search of my vehicle and there was no probable cause. I was released a few hours later after the dog showed and never showed anything. The funny part is that I had a bunch of coke hidden under my dashboard.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    39. Re:Ya, right by reboot246 · · Score: 1

      Actually, fucking cops can be a lot of fun. My late wife was a cop and we used to have a lot of fun. And, no, we didn't use the handcuffs!

      Remember: Dial 911 and make a cop come!

    40. Re:Ya, right by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I find it best to treat them, mostly, like big dumb animals. I am not openly condescending but I am slow in my movements, I speak clearly and loud enough to be heard, I make eye contact, I watch for sudden movement, I recognize the danger, and I act accordingly. This does not preclude screwing with them. I recounted an incident with an Atlanta cop further down the thread.

      It really irks them when you can pay the fine and just don't care. What is a civil offense in today's society? Nothing. Nothing at all. I have DOZENS and did very well for myself.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    41. Re:Ya, right by Firethorn · · Score: 1

      Except 99% of the time it's not the cop that starts off being confrontational, it's some idiot wailing about their right to speed, or don't you have a "real" criminal to catch, or don't you know I pay your salary?!?!

      True, most 'newsworthy' incidents happen when an asshole meets another asshole. However, while we can't do much about random assholes on the streets, we can keep the body count down by making sure the police officers sent to corral them up aren't assholes as well.

      That, and you still have the incidents where asshole cops do things like break into a sleeping person's house in the middle of the night. And while it's certainly possible, it's much harder to still be an asshole while asleep than awake.

      --
      I don't read AC A human right
    42. Re:Ya, right by Agent0013 · · Score: 1

      Don't forget that ignorance of the law, on the part of the officer, is a justified excuse. (recent court finding, possible Supreme Court) They can arrest or even shoot you because they thought there was a law against whatever it is you were doing. When they find out later that there is nothing illegal you are still jailed or dead and the cop gets an extra bonus for outstanding service.

      --

      -- ssoorrrryy,, dduupplleexx sswwiittcchh oonn.. -Quote found on actual fortune cookie.
    43. Re:Ya, right by Agent0013 · · Score: 1

      I think we need instant death penalty for any cop that shoots someone who turns out to be unarmed. In fact, they should have 10 years prison time for even pulling out their gun before bullets from the other person fly past their head. Only then is it justified for them to "defend" themselves. Perhaps we need more people sniping cops from a distance and taking them all out. Reading about a DC style sniper that takes out cops day after day would certainly make me happier. Perhaps we need to go the route of England and take their firearms away from them. They can still be deadly with the tasers, but it will give them the idea that they are not being responsible with the power given to them.

      --

      -- ssoorrrryy,, dduupplleexx sswwiittcchh oonn.. -Quote found on actual fortune cookie.
    44. Re:Ya, right by blue9steel · · Score: 1

      No. Though they have certainly been "militarized" over the last forty years or so, they're no where near to being a military force. I guarantee you that if the Marine Corps replaced the Policed Department in your area you'd know the difference right away, both in methods and objectives. Separation of those two functions is vital for any society that believes in individual liberty and representative government.

    45. Re:Ya, right by king+neckbeard · · Score: 1

      Public/private is too broad a dichotomy. If the private company still has all of the same profit incentives as a public department, then it's going to be worse, just like private prisons.

      --
      This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
    46. Re:Ya, right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > I guarantee you that if the Marine Corps replaced the Policed Department in your area you'd know the difference right away, both in methods and objectives.

      Agreed. Marines know what "protect and serve" actually means.

    47. Re:Ya, right by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      The cop is giving you the choice of the easy way or the hard way. The easy way is they shoot you. The hard way is they arrest you. There are no rules against them shooting you, so long as they follow the proper procedure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    48. Re:Ya, right by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      Secondly, law enforcement, at least in the United States, has no extra power to "kill or imprison" others compared to each individual citizen.

      Only in theory. A cop who makes a wrongful arrest is not liable for it. A mistaken identity arrest is brushed off as a "count yourself lucky" incident. But a citizen placing a citizens arrest could face any number of very serious criminal and civil charges for the same act. Sure, the cop could get fired (at worst), but a non-cop doing the same thing is in much more trouble.

      Doing the same thing, but with different practical results would be the same as insisting that parachuting without a chute is the same as with one. After all, it really only matters that last few feet, and in both cases free fall is the same. In practice, people consider them wildly different, and act that way. Making minor errors subject to huge penalties against the cop personally, would make a massive difference.

    49. Re:Ya, right by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      Except 99% of the time it's not the cop that starts off being confrontational,

      Really? So Sandra Bland was confrontational by asking why she needed to extinguish her cigarette? Not the cop for pulling her over, giving an unlawful order, and wrongfully arresting her?

      Based on my experience with cops, that's how it generally goes. I've watched someone beat down because it was cold out, and he had a warm thermos under his jacket keeping him and it warm. The cop thought it was a bulge, so dealt with that by assaulting him, threatening him with death, and then quickly fleeing when he realized he was wrong, before anyone could get his name or ID.

      The cops need to watch more Andy Griffith Show to see how a cop should deal with people. If cops want polite responses, they need to be polite first.

    50. Re:Ya, right by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      Nope. More are like the Sanda Bland stop. That one only got noticed because she died. Had she not died, nobody would have ever known. She was pulled over. She was ticketed. The ticket was written, and about to be handed to her when the cop escallated the situation. He gave an unlawful order (an illegal escalation), and when Sandra replied in kind, he went insane.

      And that's normal for cops. He probably thought she breathed on him wrong, and took offense at her smoke or something. Like the girl who was ordered to take her shoes off, did so, but when kicking the shoe off, one of them hit the cop, so the cuffed teen was beaten by the cop. https://www.youtube.com/watch?... That's all normal for cops these days. Anyone who says otherwise is lying or insane.

    51. Re:Ya, right by gfxguy · · Score: 1

      So Sandra Bland represents 100% of the cases now? Good to know. How many traffic stops DON'T end up with a physical confrontation?

      --
      Stupid sexy Flanders.
    52. Re:Ya, right by Montezumaa · · Score: 1

      Look up 18 USC Section 242, and 18 USC Section 243. USC is the acronym for United States Code. Of course, there is also "Violation of Oath of Office"(O.C.G.A., though, I know many, and probably all states have similar statues, though probably under different headings/titles. The issue is that people have to be willing to do their part to hold law enforcement responsible, because no one is going to do it for "you", or anyone but themselves. I wish that wasn't generally true for citizens treated in such a way, but that isn't the world we live in, nor have ever lived in, and one we will never live in.

      I would like to add that, I would like to see the whole "ignorance of the law is no excuse" judicial blathering(s) die and quick and painful death, save for those that are acting in an official capacity(law enforcement, government attorneys, and all other government-employed individuals). There are far too many damned law, just on the state or federal level(in the United States, and "international law" doesn't exist, unless there is a treaty, where the treaty is treated as a criminal offense, and said treaty doesn't violate the US Constitution, which treaties are subservient to, like all other laws), and so many of these said laws(the aforementioned laws actual legality a whole other conversation) are malum prohibitum laws(laws which are tailored to "social norms", which is opposite of malum in se laws/violations, in which are wrong on its face, such as murder, rape, theft, etc), which are almost never morally or ethically wrong on its face, and which are, at best, ambiguous in nature, as to why they even exist.

    53. Re:Ya, right by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      Federal laws against police are rare. Rodney King was the last one I'd heard of, and it was called an unusual case. I don't remember the specifics well enough, but I have the impression it was the first time that a federal law was used against a cop since the '60s. And it wasn't any of the laws you mention, based on my recollection.

      In practice cops are immune to any sanctions at all, unless caught on video shooting an unarmed person posing no danger.

    54. Re:Ya, right by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      No, it's just a really good example that everyone knows about. The actions were not atypical. With all the coverage of Sandra at the moment, I can't find the one a few years back where the cop pulled a woman out through her seatbelt. She was 100% compliant when he assaulted her. It got notice because he was so insane and agitated, he couldn't even get his gun put back right. She was also a black woman stopped in the south, treated poorly by a white cop. She didn't die, so nobody cared. The problem continued until Sandra died before anyone cared.

      But that stop was not atypical. The police cause the confrontation. The police charge in and make it worse much much more than they make it better.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkkLUP-gm4Q The cops waited until after that guy was subdued before tasing him, as punishment for not shutting up. They didn't try to talk him down, or escort him out. They argued with him, then attacked. He didn't touch anyone, he was just being loud. Arrested, then tased in custody. Or this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

      I could go on for hours. Police attack people who are no threat and no danger to them. All the time.

    55. Re:Ya, right by gfxguy · · Score: 1

      I'm not disagreeing with the fact there are cops that are clearly wrong, I'm saying 95% or more of police confrontations don't lead to physical violence, and I've just as often - if not more often, seen the "citizen" being the instigator. I really think you have a selective memory, some real confirmation bias going on.

      --
      Stupid sexy Flanders.
    56. Re:Ya, right by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      I'm saying 95% or more of police confrontations don't lead to physical violence,

      Agreed. Cops don't beat everyone they talk to, or we'd run out of citizens.

      and I've just as often - if not more often, seen the "citizen" being the instigator.

      The cops assert 100%, the citizens assert 0%. The truth is (likely) somewhere in the middle.

    57. Re:Ya, right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've been looking for a post from you for a few years now, just so I could reply to it to say this.

      You, Sir, are an asshole.

      By your own admission, in the first post I've ever seen from you, you openly admitted to taking part in the arrest and formal charges of DUI for a person (apparently intoxicated) sleeping in the back of their vehicle. That was an abortion of justice and you damn well know it.

      You are, or, since you've apparently left the law enforcement business, were, part of the problem.

    58. Re:Ya, right by Montezumaa · · Score: 1

      Very mature post...asshole. At the very least, post a link to the comment, so that other don't have to find the information you claim exists. Of course, this is not even considering that you don't have any first-hand, factual information on the situation which, allegedly, drove you to post such an asinine comment in the first place. Oh, yes, please, continue commenting on how I "[am]"(or, according to you, "[was]") a part of "the problem".

  2. it's a money thing by turkeydance · · Score: 0

    training costs more than the taxpayers are willing to be taxed.

    1. Re:it's a money thing by circletimessquare · · Score: 1

      they're more willing to pay huge lawsuits?

      --
      intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  3. Who says America doesn't have a death penalty? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Having a missing front license plate, a broken tail light, being deaf, or being mentally ill have all become death penalty offenses.

    1. Re:Who says America doesn't have a death penalty? by JackieBrown · · Score: 1

      I don't know anyone that says that.
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
      Not as many people are executed as most people think, though (35 last year.)

    2. Re:Who says America doesn't have a death penalty? by Firethorn · · Score: 1

      I don't know anyone that says that.

      You do now, at least one AC has said it. I've seen it on a number of other threads.

      Of course, I'm not saying they're correct, but a lot of people also mix up self defense and punishment.

      Still, when we've had unarmed people killed by officers for things like:
      Mentally ill, deaf(shot in back for not stopping walking away), wearing headphones(couldn't hear officer), diabetic shock*/coma, following police directives(show me your wallet!), putting their hands down, threatening to kill themselves with a knife**, etc...

      *Effectively a subclass of mentally ill, they aren't processing inputs correctly anymore due to low blood sugar
      **woman called because boyfriend was threatening to kill himself with a knife, officers showed up and kicked her out, then pretty much immediately shot the man with their patrol rifles.

      --
      I don't read AC A human right
    3. Re:Who says America doesn't have a death penalty? by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 1

      You can add "being in your house" to that list because of botched "no knock" warrants.

      And standing on the sidewalk. And of course just being upset.

      The glib conservative meme that says "don't break the law" doesn't quite cut it.

    4. Re:Who says America doesn't have a death penalty? by Firethorn · · Score: 1

      Don't forget "Don't happen to live on the route of a crooked UPS/USPS/Fedex driver" - fortunately only the dogs were killed in this one. But the raided Maryland Mayor is still rather pissed.

      Storyline - package full of drugs found addressed to Mayor's house. They 'allowed it to be delivered*'. Mayor, seeing package addressed to wife on stoop, brings it inside and sticks it on the kitchen table for her. SWAT subsequently busts in and kills their dogs.

      Turns out that it was the package delivery service driver that was crooked. They'd address packages for people along his route, mail them, but he'd intercept them before delivery.

      Political shitstorm ensues as the Mayor actually knows how to make things painful for the department for raiding him and shooting his dogs. Even with this shitstorm, Sheriff refuses to apologize for raid, killing his dogs, illegal no-knock warrant, etc...

      *Actually outside of normal shipping, an undercover officer placed it at the door.

      --
      I don't read AC A human right
  4. Oh Boy; Now Common Core for Police ... by BoRegardless · · Score: 0

    Set up by Obama's Justice Dept. of course!

    1. Re:Oh Boy; Now Common Core for Police ... by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      So knowing how you compare to the rest of the country is bad? Why not learn from other State's experiences and data? Is being independent so important that you accept being independently stupid? I'd call that War on Civilization. Cavemen were quite free; no regulations; but died young.

    2. Re:Oh Boy; Now Common Core for Police ... by JackieBrown · · Score: 1

      Everything is a "War on" something now, right?

      Sometimes it seems like the problem people have with No Child Left Behind is that a Republican suggested it.

    3. Re:Oh Boy; Now Common Core for Police ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You don't understand! Just like Romneycare it was going great until democrats came and fucked it all up!

    4. Re:Oh Boy; Now Common Core for Police ... by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      If that were true, GOP is perfectly welcome to suggest morphing ACA into Romneycare instead of spending all that effort to kill it outright. (If I remember correctly, they bashed Romneycare as a nation-wide solution also.)

      The differences are relatively minor, anyhow.

      GOP has suggested allowing people shop for care "out of state", but that's impinging on state's rights, something GOP is usually for.

      States can and often do allow outside HC firms now, but usually with contingencies.

    5. Re:Oh Boy; Now Common Core for Police ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      More googling needed, but there was company in Florida, I think, who had all sorts of things School Districts could buy to meet the No Child Left Behind standards.
      I seem to remember the owner of this company was cozy with the Bush family.
      Passing a law with someone waiting in the wings to make a ton of money off it? Not unique at all. Sometimes very legit.

  5. A kinder, gentler machine gun hand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Clearly the problem is more training, not, y'know the APCs or the military hardware or the flagrant disregard for life with current operational procedure (which seems to change depending on the wealth / demographic makeup of the neighborhood.)

    I don't understand how your system works in the US but from an outsiders view through your media it seems like not much has changed since the 1960s (well, other than small town police seem to be better armed than the national guard was back then)

    1. Re:A kinder, gentler machine gun hand by tompaulco · · Score: 1

      flagrant disregard for life with current operational procedure

      This statement and others like it on the internet and news media are irresponsible and meant to incite further violence and hatred towards the epeople who protect us from harm on a daily basis.
      Each year, in the United States, there are over 50 million citations, arrests and other interactions with law enforcement, and fewer than 1,000 of those involve the death of a suspect. This is less than .002%.
      Meanwhile, over 14,000 people are murdered every year by criminals, and over 1.4 million violent crimes are committed. Shouldn't we focus our anger and angst on these people?
      By demonizing the police, all we ensure is that fewer people will want to have the job, and that criminals will feel safer in their pursuit of crime.

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
  6. It's a union thing by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 4, Insightful

    >> training costs more than the taxpayers are willing to be taxed

    I doubt it. In fact, many local universities and other institutions are happy to donate this training. Furthermore, grants from our current federal justice department exist for exactly this kind of thing (under "community policing" etc.)

    However, many of the tactics used to "deescalate" situations or reduce the amount of force police use also put police officers at higher risk for harm. (e.g., pausing to wait for the suspect to do something may allow them to draw or use a weapon, wrestling with a suspect instead of using a taser gives the suspect a chance to bite, stab, punch at close contact, etc.) These measures aren't popular with unions concerned first and foremost with their members' health and well-being.

    e.g., http://www.policeforum.org/ass...

    1. Re:It's a union thing by Nidi62 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      >> training costs more than the taxpayers are willing to be taxed

      I doubt it. In fact, many local universities and other institutions are happy to donate this training. Furthermore, grants from our current federal justice department exist for exactly this kind of thing (under "community policing" etc.)

      However, many of the tactics used to "deescalate" situations or reduce the amount of force police use also put police officers at higher risk for harm. (e.g., pausing to wait for the suspect to do something may allow them to draw or use a weapon, wrestling with a suspect instead of using a taser gives the suspect a chance to bite, stab, punch at close contact, etc.) These measures aren't popular with unions concerned first and foremost with their members' health and well-being.

      e.g., http://www.policeforum.org/ass...

      I always get concerned whenever a police captains/spokemen/union reps says something to the effect of "our first priority is going home safely at night". Police's first priority should always making sure members of the public go home safely at the end of the day. There is a problem when soldiers on patrol in an active combat zone have more restrictive rules of engagement than police officers cruising down a city street. Stop being law enforcement officers. GO back to being peace officers.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    2. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      pausing to wait for the suspect to do something may allow them to draw or use a weapon,

      and if that weapon is aimed at someone else, it's the police who will face the majority of the backlash for allowing a violent criminal to injure/kill a bystander during a confrontation

      wrestling with a suspect instead of using a taser gives the suspect a chance to bite, stab, punch at close contact,

      Wasn't there a big batch of outrage that one suspect who was wrestled to the ground while resisting arrest for what would've been a trivial fine ended up being strangled in the mayhem? A quick taze and cuff would've avoided that entirely.

      Maybe regular beat cops need more modern training, but I'm not as concerned with the police reacting to tense situations like humans as I am with the accepted SWAT tactics. Break down the front door, shoot the dachshund, break all the fragile things, threaten and often injure the surprised family who was just trying to eat dinner, and then walk away without so much as an apology when someone finally realizes they have the wrong address? That offends me much more than any shoplifters shot when reaching for something inside their jackets.

    3. Re:It's a union thing by erapert · · Score: 1

      >>training costs more than the taxpayers are willing to be taxed

      many local universities and other institutions...

      Where the fuck do you think they get their money from?!

      grants from our current federal justice department...

      WHERE THE FUCK DO YOU THINK THAT MONEY COMES FROM?!

      However, many of the tactics used to "deescalate" situations or reduce the amount of force police use also put police officers at higher risk for harm. (e.g., pausing to wait for the suspect to do something may allow them to draw or use a weapon, wrestling with a suspect instead of using a taser gives the suspect a chance to bite, stab, punch at close contact, etc.) These measures aren't popular with unions concerned first and foremost with their members' health and well-being.

      I agree. And y'know what? Each and every one of you would absolutely do the same things as the cops if it was your life on the line.

    4. Re:It's a union thing by quantaman · · Score: 1

      However, many of the tactics used to "deescalate" situations or reduce the amount of force police use also put police officers at higher risk for harm. (e.g., pausing to wait for the suspect to do something may allow them to draw or use a weapon, wrestling with a suspect instead of using a taser gives the suspect a chance to bite, stab, punch at close contact, etc.) These measures aren't popular with unions concerned first and foremost with their members' health and well-being.

      e.g., http://www.policeforum.org/ass...

      Some techniques for sure but I'm not sure that's generally true. A proper de-escalation technique is going to reduce the risk of a suspect turning hostile and thus protect the officer. Rather I think it's just a mixture of organizational inertia and pride, they don't want to change because that's how things have always been done, and even if they would change they won't do it on the advice of a University researcher who's never done a patrol.

      --
      I stole this Sig
    5. Re:It's a union thing by swillden · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I always get concerned whenever a police captains/spokemen/union reps says something to the effect of "our first priority is going home safely at night". Police's first priority should always making sure members of the public go home safely at the end of the day.

      I don't think this is realistic. You really can't blame people for wanting to protect their own lives. People who choose to sacrifice themselves for others are lauded because what they've done is extraordinary, heroic, above and beyond what can reasonably be expected. You're saying that we should expect extraordinary heroism. That's not just unreasonable and unrealistic, it's unsustainable. Heroes die. If you demand that police de-prioritize their own safety, they won't last long because their job does regularly place them in dangerous situations. I'm not making that fatuous old claim that being a police officer is an extraordinarily dangerous job -- but the only reason it isn't extraordinarily dangerous is because officers are allowed to put their own safety first.

      Stop being law enforcement officers. GO back to being peace officers.

      This I agree with, though in some cases that means not enforcing some of the laws -- which means the laws are wrong.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    6. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      However, many of the tactics used to "deescalate" situations or reduce the amount of force police use also put police officers at higher risk for harm. (e.g., pausing to wait for the suspect to do something may allow them to draw or use a weapon, wrestling with a suspect instead of using a taser gives the suspect a chance to bite, stab, punch at close contact, etc.) These measures aren't popular with unions concerned first and foremost with their members' health and well-being.

      The British police seem to be able to handle threatening crazies without resorting to shooting them:
      * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cznNf2LUk74
      * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX5CPx4RKWw

      Are bobbies not concerned with their health and well-being.

    7. Re:It's a union thing by gnasher719 · · Score: 1

      I always get concerned whenever a police captains/spokemen/union reps says something to the effect of "our first priority is going home safely at night". Police's first priority should always making sure members of the public go home safely at the end of the day. There is a problem when soldiers on patrol in an active combat zone have more restrictive rules of engagement than police officers cruising down a city street. Stop being law enforcement officers. GO back to being peace officers.

      Many years ago, I took an advanced first aid course. Eight hours training. Q. You are driving along a road. You see a car wrapped around a tree and a person outside of that car heavily bleeding. What is the first thing you do? A. The first thing you do is to take the warning triangle out of the boot of your car, open it up, and put it up 100 meters away from the accident, clearly visible, to avoid some idiot killing you while you give first aid. The bleeding victim doesn't come first. The safety of the helper comes first.

      Safety of police officers must come first, or you run out of police officers rather quickly.

    8. Re:It's a union thing by StikyPad · · Score: 1

      People who choose to sacrifice themselves for others are lauded because what they've done is extraordinary, heroic, above and beyond what can reasonably be expected.

      See: the military.

      If you're not prepared to die in the course of your job, don't join the force. Other people will.

    9. Re:It's a union thing by iCEBaLM · · Score: 1

      I always get concerned whenever a police captains/spokemen/union reps says something to the effect of "our first priority is going home safely at night". Police's first priority should always making sure members of the public go home safely at the end of the day.

      Except police have no legal duty to protect the general public. The only time they must provide protection is if a person is in their custody, or they create the dangerous situation.

    10. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Where the fuck do you think they get their money from?!

      From taxes already collected and spent specifically for police training? Honestly, the refutation proves the point that taxpayers are willing to pay for the training.

      Each and every one of you would absolutely do the same things as the cops if it was your life on the line.

      Nope. Honestly, as much as I doubt I'd ever choose to become a cop, my biggest concern is precisely other peoples life and well-being. Most people don't have a loaded firearm at the ready and heavy immunity to "it looked like a weapon" to excuse lethal force. It's one of the biggest reason why I'm weary to become a cop--it's too easy to think it okay to abuse the power under the excuse that it's a necessary use of power. The whole point of deescalation is precisely to (1) give cops the feeling of power and control over a situation while (2) simultaneously not needlessly shooting or tasering people. Considering how many stories there are of cop killings vs the cop killers, perhaps we should be less accepting of your blanket statement.

      With great power comes great responsibility*. So, perhaps we shouldn't use the average person as a standard for what's acceptable for a cop.

      * On an unrelated note, the story of Spider-Man's beginnings are BS. Spider-Man would reasonable have to treat every jay walker as a mass murder just because, you know, he might have ended up killing his Uncle Ben. Meanwhile, plenty of other people die every day and Peter Park did nothing to help any of them. At that point, it's clear he was selfishly concerned with his own family and so the only real concern on his part would be protecting his Aunt and his love interest. And in such a shitty city where a murder seemed to so readily occurred, that'd mean moving away. :) Ie, it's all very contrived. Just like your statement is.

    11. Re:It's a union thing by Chas · · Score: 1

      I always get concerned whenever a police captains/spokemen/union reps says something to the effect of "our first priority is going home safely at night". Police's first priority should always making sure members of the public go home safely at the end of the day. There is a problem when soldiers on patrol in an active combat zone have more restrictive rules of engagement than police officers cruising down a city street. Stop being law enforcement officers. GO back to being peace officers.

      This is The Lifesaver's Dilemma.

      How many people can a dead cop protect?

      ZERO.

      A police officer's FIRST duty is to keep themselves alive so they can uphold the law and protect as many people as feasible.

      --


      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
    12. Re:It's a union thing by Firethorn · · Score: 1

      Stop being law enforcement officers. GO back to being peace officers.

      I think the major change for this would be ending the war on drugs. Seriously, it's the number one reason for officers to be sticking their noses into people's business, because it's the biggest category of 'consensual crime', where all parties involved are consenting, and thus unlikely to report that a crime is in progress to the police. Thus, in order to enforce said laws, they have to intrude on people's lives, into our privacy.

      After that you have prostitution and gambling.

      Get rid of consensual crime(at least most forms of it), and you'll see officers doing a lot more towards the peace than enforcement.

      --
      I don't read AC A human right
    13. Re:It's a union thing by Nidi62 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I always get concerned whenever a police captains/spokemen/union reps says something to the effect of "our first priority is going home safely at night". Police's first priority should always making sure members of the public go home safely at the end of the day.

      I don't think this is realistic. You really can't blame people for wanting to protect their own lives. People who choose to sacrifice themselves for others are lauded because what they've done is extraordinary, heroic, above and beyond what can reasonably be expected. You're saying that we should expect extraordinary heroism. That's not just unreasonable and unrealistic, it's unsustainable. Heroes die. If you demand that police de-prioritize their own safety, they won't last long because their job does regularly place them in dangerous situations. I'm not making that fatuous old claim that being a police officer is an extraordinarily dangerous job -- but the only reason it isn't extraordinarily dangerous is because officers are allowed to put their own safety first.

      “Citizenship is an attitude, a state of mind, an emotional conviction that the whole is greater than the part...and that the part should be humbly proud to sacrifice itself that the whole may live.”

      If you value your life to the point where your safety comes above those you are trying to protect, then you have not fully committed yourself to your duty. You are correct, we shouldn't expect extraordinary heroism from everyone. We should expect ordinary heroism. The fireman that runs into a burning building to save a child, the police officer who covers a civilian with his body when facing a shooter, the soldier who braves gunfire to drag a wounded comrade to safety: these are all things that get people lauded as heroes, but they are things that anyone who has chosen to put themselves in that position should do. That is why being a soldier, or a cop, or a firefighter has always commanded respect: because they have chosen to do things that many people cannot do or aren't expected to do. It doesn't lessen the heroism of their sacrifice, they are heroes everyday because they have chosen to risk everything to protect those that cannot protect themselves. Every day a police officer puts on a badge, he should be asking himself if he is willing to die to make sure that an innocent person does not die. If the answer is "no", he should not be wearing that badge. And there is nothing wrong with admitting you are unwilling to do that, it takes a certain kind of person.

      Going back to old terminology: it's civil service and that's exactly what it should be. Service. It denotes a measure of sacrifice and devotion to a greater cause than oneself. If you are just a cop because you were a bully in high school (or got bullied in high school and want revenge), or just in it for a paycheck, you are in it for the wrong reasons. If you are in it to protect others and make your community safer, then you should be willing to risk bodily harm or death in the pursuit of that goal. It doesn't mean you go blindly to your death, smiling all the while. But it does mean that, if death does come knocking, you can meet it knowing that your death, and more importantly your life, had meaning because it means that someone else who would have been going to the morgue now gets to go home. And anyone who is willing to do that is already a hero.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    14. Re:It's a union thing by ScentCone · · Score: 1

      I always get concerned whenever a police captains/spokemen/union reps says something to the effect of "our first priority is going home safely at night".

      No, you should be concerned about how few police would ever be hired to do that dangerous work if the city/county/state's official policy was their safety wasn't a priority. You won't have cops willing to "make sure members of the public go home safely" if they are told to back off on their own self defense even more than they are now. A cop got nearly beaten to death just the other day because, in the interests of not appearing willing and able to defend himself as he dealt with a dangerous situation, he was an easy victim instead of in control of the situation.

      Police aren't roaming around looking to defend you. They enforce the laws - which means that most of the time that's after the fact of someone doing something bad to someone else. When the "someone else" is actually the cop, they are especially well suited to preventing that event, because in most cases they are armed and trained and granted the license to use force as needed.

      Stop being law enforcement officers. GO back to being peace officers.

      The labels you use have nothing to do with the actions that have to be taken. There is no peace without laws that actually have consequence. And someone in the field has to actually be responsible for bringing law violators to an intersection with those consequences. If that's some vague bit of white-collar-style crime where one guy in a tie arrests another guy in a tie, that's much different than somebody who's tasked with walking up to a car with tinted windows during a traffic stop, having no idea if the person inside would rather kill him than face an open warrant and go back to jail.

      The term "peace officer" is an old one. It refers to a civil position with the responsibility for keeping the peace as defined by law. People who break the law and thus the peace, are handled by such peace officers in their capacity to enforce the law ... as opposed to a member of the military. That's the contrast: one armed person is military, and the other is civil. Think "war" vs. "peace" - military vs. civilian affairs. The fact that one of those labels has the word "peace" in it, dating way back, doesn't for a second mean that it's not a law enforcement position. That's its very nature.

      --
      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    15. Re:It's a union thing by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      Many years ago, I took an advanced first aid course. Eight hours training. Q. You are driving along a road. You see a car wrapped around a tree and a person outside of that car heavily bleeding. What is the first thing you do? A. The first thing you do is to take the warning triangle out of the boot of your car, open it up, and put it up 100 meters away from the accident, clearly visible, to avoid some idiot killing you while you give first aid. The bleeding victim doesn't come first. The safety of the helper comes first. Safety of police officers must come first, or you run out of police officers rather quickly.

      There is a difference between necessary caution and an overabundance. To take your example: it is perfectly reasonable to take the time to set out a reflective triangle: this provides a certain amount of safety to both you and the victim in a reasonable amount of time. But these days, it seems cops are doing the equivalent of waiting until spotlights arrive to light up the road for half a mile: sure, people will be able to see you so you won't get hit, but meanwhile the accident victim bled out an hour ago. Every action we do has some amount of risk. Being a cop comes with a much greater level of risk, and to be a cop you have to accept that.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    16. Re:It's a union thing by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      We do need unions to give employees a voice and some degree of influence. If deescalation creates more injuries and deaths, obviously the "cop unions" should be concerned. Perhaps they need more hazard pay if they take on more risk. It's a dangerous job, and making it yet more dangerous seems to trigger the fair question of compensation for risk.

    17. Re:It's a union thing by cellocgw · · Score: 1

      Stop being law enforcement officers. GO back to being peace officers.

      I would agree if it weren't for the many scifi stories in which the term "peace officer" is pretty much synonymous with "CIA smarts and KGB thuggery combined."

      --
      https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw
    18. Re:It's a union thing by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      No, you should be concerned about how few police would ever be hired to do that dangerous work if the city/county/state's official policy was their safety wasn't a priority.

      I never said it shouldn't be a priority, I said it shouldn't be their first priority. And we have plenty of people willing to be soldiers who have done precisely this, for worse pay, worse working conditions, and worse living conditions than police have. People are concerned both about the quality(too poor) and quantity(too many) of police these days, and a move back to this mentality would fix that. There are plenty of people out there who believe it is the right thing to do, or want to give back to their community, or are willing to put themselves at risk to protect their community. If we had more people like that in the police the hostility between the police and the public, the militarization of police, so many of the problem we have been having the last decade, would disappear.

      The term "peace officer" is an old one. It refers to a civil position with the responsibility for keeping the peace as defined by law. People who break the law and thus the peace, are handled by such peace officers in their capacity to enforce the law ... as opposed to a member of the military. That's the contrast: one armed person is military, and the other is civil. Think "war" vs. "peace" - military vs. civilian affairs. The fact that one of those labels has the word "peace" in it, dating way back, doesn't for a second mean that it's not a law enforcement position. That's its very nature.

      Keeping the peace involves enforcing laws. Law enforcement does not have to involve keeping the peace. Yes, laws need to be enforced, but they should be enforced justly. Charging someone with drunk driving for walking out of a bar holding car keys is enforcing the laws, but it also causes tension. Stopping him and calling a cab for him enforces the law of no drunk driving, but also keeps the peace by helping him out and getting him home safely instead of taking him to jail and possibly causing him to lose his job. And labels have everything to do with how actions are taken, because certain mindsets very often come along with that label. LEO implies their duty is to arrest people who break laws. Peace Officer implies their duty is to prevent those laws from being broken in the first place.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    19. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, aren't we an entitled princess. Just once, try putting the shoe on the other foot, and stop being an armchair expert.

    20. Re:It's a union thing by Chas · · Score: 1

      Yeah. But most of their threatening crazies aren't packing heat either.

      --


      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
    21. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When taking an EMT-Intermediate course the first question we would always ask was "Is the scene safe?"

      Dead heroes save no lives.

      We need to make sure we're not about to do something stupid (like touch a body lying on a live electric wire) that will increase the number of victims.

    22. Re:It's a union thing by nbauman · · Score: 1

      I always get concerned whenever a police captains/spokemen/union reps says something to the effect of "our first priority is going home safely at night". Police's first priority should always making sure members of the public go home safely at the end of the day.

      I don't think this is realistic. You really can't blame people for wanting to protect their own lives. People who choose to sacrifice themselves for others are lauded because what they've done is extraordinary, heroic, above and beyond what can reasonably be expected. You're saying that we should expect extraordinary heroism. That's not just unreasonable and unrealistic, it's unsustainable. Heroes die.

      What if you had a fireman who said, "I'm not going into that building. I could get killed."

      Or if you had a soldier who said, "I'm not going to fight at the front. I could get killed."

      Cops voluntarily join the force. They know that there are going to be risks. We pay them a lot of money to take those risks. That's the job. They can't just shoot anybody who might be a danger (or might be an innocent person making a call on his cell phone). If you're not willing to take that risk, don't take the job. The unemployment rate is high and there's a long line of better-qualified people who are willing to take those risks.

    23. Re:It's a union thing by erapert · · Score: 1

      Honestly, as much as I doubt I'd ever choose to become a cop, my biggest concern is precisely other peoples life and well-being.

      That's quite the self-righteous lie.

      On an unrelated note, the story of Spider-Man's beginnings are BS. Spider-Man would reasonable have to treat every jay walker as a mass murder just because, you know, he might have ended up killing his Uncle Ben. Meanwhile, plenty of other people die every day and Peter Park did nothing to help any of them. At that point, it's clear he was selfishly concerned with his own family and so the only real concern on his part would be protecting his Aunt and his love interest. And in such a shitty city where a murder seemed to so readily occurred, that'd mean moving away. :) Ie, it's all very contrived. Just like your statement is.

      And right there you just proved your sanctimonious assertion was hypocritical.

      So, perhaps we shouldn't use the average person as a standard for what's acceptable for a cop.

      And where, pray tell, are we to find these supermen who are perfect in every way and can enforce our laws objectively and without use of force?

    24. Re:It's a union thing by nbauman · · Score: 1

      Many years ago, I took an advanced first aid course. Eight hours training. Q. You are driving along a road. You see a car wrapped around a tree and a person outside of that car heavily bleeding. What is the first thing you do? A. The first thing you do is to take the warning triangle out of the boot of your car, open it up, and put it up 100 meters away from the accident, clearly visible, to avoid some idiot killing you while you give first aid. The bleeding victim doesn't come first. The safety of the helper comes first.

      In that case, you set up the warning triangle to protect not only yourself but the bleeding person. That's not the kind of situation we're talking about -- where a cop kills an unarmed person because, the cop claims later, he thought his life was in danger, and when you look at the facts, it's bullshit.

      (There were a couple of recent cases in which a black driver was in an auto accident, went looking for help, and was shot and killed by the cops.)

      Besides, you're describing the situation of a volunteer, not a professional. I read a case of a doctor who was treating an infant who suddenly stopped breathing. She gave the infant mouth-to-mouth respiration, but the infant died. It turned out that the infant had hepatitis C, the doctor got infected with hepatitis C too, and also died. There were many situations like that during the AIDS crisis, and in Canada and China during the SARS epidemic. It happened again during the Ebola epidemic. The Lancet had a whole section of African doctors and nurses who died while staying at their post and caring for their patients. If you want to go to medical school, those are the risks you accept.

      I don't know a good reason why cops can't accept the same risks.

    25. Re:It's a union thing by nbauman · · Score: 1

      I always get concerned whenever a police captains/spokemen/union reps says something to the effect of "our first priority is going home safely at night". Police's first priority should always making sure members of the public go home safely at the end of the day.

      Except police have no legal duty to protect the general public. The only time they must provide protection is if a person is in their custody, or they create the dangerous situation.

      That's a different situation. We're talking about the criminal law that says that a cop can't kill someone unless he has a reasonable fear that the cop's life is at risk.

      The problem is that cops can give some bullshit excuse about how their life was in danger, and the (white) juries pretend to believe it. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08... Training Officers to Shoot First, and He Will Answer Questions Later. When police officers shoot people under questionable circumstances, William J. Lewinski often appears as an expert witness who says they had no choice but to fire.

      Beyond the law, when my city hires a cop, I and my elected officials have a right to tell him that his first priority is to make sure that I, an innocent civilian, get home at night. I don't want him to shoot me because that's the way he deals with people. If he doesn't want to take the job under those terms, there are plenty of other more-qualified people who will.

      We don't let firemen say, "I don't want to go into a burning building. I could get hurt."

      (I'm not even sure that Warren v. District of Columbia is current law, because a lot of jurisdictions have settled cases like that for big bucks since then.)

    26. Re:It's a union thing by Oligonicella · · Score: 1

      "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country."

      Attributed to General George Patton Jr

    27. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >are we to find these supermen who are perfect in every way

      With the right wing's favorite approach: a market based solution. Let's pay cops $500,000 a year. We'd only get the best of the best!

      But the right-wing rich might have to start paying taxes to support the cost, so it will never happen...it's SO much cheaper to retreat to inside your walled enclave and hire ex-cops to be private security.

    28. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In fact, many local universities and other institutions are happy to donate this training.

      Such training must be integrated to the basic lessons of using force for the cadets, as a part of the continuum of managing difficult situations. Also the management level has to be made to see the light by examples. Otherwise it will not be taken seriously. Outcome based policing, that's the next step.

    29. Re:It's a union thing by Oligonicella · · Score: 1

      So you want to give the police the authority to morally judge someone's state of mind prior to any illegal actions and then "guide" them (with the authority of law), even though they are currently breaking no laws?

      Piss off to that.

      "Peace Officer implies their duty is to prevent those laws from being broken in the first place."

      That is not and has never been the implication other than by their simple presence doing so. Please provide some support for your supposition.

    30. Re:It's a union thing by narcc · · Score: 1

      How many people can a dead cop protect?

      That depends on the cop, but I'd say about three lives.

      A murderous little gang of thugs they are...

    31. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I always get concerned whenever a police captains/spokemen/union reps says something to the effect of "our first priority is going home safely at night". Police's first priority should always making sure members of the public go home safely at the end of the day. There is a problem when soldiers on patrol in an active combat zone have more restrictive rules of engagement than police officers cruising down a city street. Stop being law enforcement officers. GO back to being peace officers.

      This is The Lifesaver's Dilemma.

      How many people can a dead cop protect?

      ZERO.

      A police officer's FIRST duty is to keep themselves alive so they can uphold the law and protect as many people as feasible.

      That's not a dilemma. The first thing they teach you in a lifesaving course is "don't make another victim"

      That means exercising caution with your own life, yes. But it also means not shooting people, or intentionally handling them roughly to "sow them who's boss". The intended lesson is that it' better to do nothing than to make the job of whoever responds next harder.

      Applied to police they should run away rather than shoot at civilians, if they intend to live to police another day.

    32. Re:It's a union thing by umghhh · · Score: 1

      you mean firemen are to jump into fire because you say so? Wow. I thought it is rather so that they mitigate the risk by training, equipment and company of other firemen and if that is not enough they just get out. Read for instance what firedep during PEPCON accident did - they stopped as soon as they were informed about what is burning and did not enter the fire zone which is good because they survived the following explosion.
      They are supposed to take a risk they can mitigate. Accidents happen, firemen die and police officers get shot but that is neither a requirement nor it is expected of them to go into situation where their death is almost certain. This said if you want to avoid police force shooting people because they take precautions then go and think hard about need of firearms everywhere and this well organized militia that is supposed to protect you from tyranny. There does not seem to be any relationship between how well a population is armed and how they can avoid tyranny or do you think say Syria (what is left of it) is well of because anybody can and mostly has some weapons?
      Alternatively get your army to patrol the streets - seems that you like the idea. I am sure people all around the world would applaud if US military stopped helping them to achieve democracy and prosperity as it usually involved heavy blood toll and mayhem. They did quite well In Fallujah too or?

    33. Re:It's a union thing by Chas · · Score: 1

      No, the issue itself is actually referred to as the Lifesavers' (or Life Savers') Dilemma.

      --


      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
    34. Re:It's a union thing by umghhh · · Score: 1

      Ach this 'proper' deescalation technique - you mean this one. I see. That reminds me about many other things which if done 'properly' work well.
      You know what the difference between practice and theory is? I think there was a guy here with a proper sig for that, IIRC it went like: in theory, practice is like theory, in practice.... well think about that.
      What I think the actual problem of police violence in US is (besides what the other police forces in say Europe have) is war on drugs combined with well armed population. You get rid of both and I am pretty certain that a need for swat teams, heavily armed police officers and general readiness for violence will decrease. Alas that is not what is going to happen, is it? I mean you need your well organized militia and all this other nonsense because it allows you to err - well what exactly does that do besides increasing murder rates and general level of violence in your country? Not sure really. But it is good to hold an assault rifle and shoot something with it- I admit it myself, I liked the feeling. Still I do not need a gun at home and I hope times of failing states in Europe are not imminent.

    35. Re:It's a union thing by swillden · · Score: 1

      I always get concerned whenever a police captains/spokemen/union reps says something to the effect of "our first priority is going home safely at night". Police's first priority should always making sure members of the public go home safely at the end of the day.

      I don't think this is realistic. You really can't blame people for wanting to protect their own lives. People who choose to sacrifice themselves for others are lauded because what they've done is extraordinary, heroic, above and beyond what can reasonably be expected. You're saying that we should expect extraordinary heroism. That's not just unreasonable and unrealistic, it's unsustainable. Heroes die.

      What if you had a fireman who said, "I'm not going into that building. I could get killed."

      Firemen do that all the time. They also prioritize their safety.

      Or if you had a soldier who said, "I'm not going to fight at the front. I could get killed."

      That one we solve by saying "If you don't go fight at the front, we'll shoot you for disobeying a direct order." I suppose you could try the same with cops.

      They can't just shoot anybody who might be a danger (or might be an innocent person making a call on his cell phone).

      Of course not. There is a threshold. Where that line falls is the subject for valid debate. Expecting police to prioritize their own lives below those of others is not.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    36. Re:It's a union thing by KGIII · · Score: 1

      It is really not that high a risk level to be a police officer. Most are never ever in harm's way for their entire career as I understand it. A tiny percentage fire their weapon. Very few die, per capita.

      However, I was enlisted for eight years. I understand the need to use caution - you are willing to die but you are not willing to do so frivolously. This does not mean that cowardice is acceptable to me, however.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    37. Re:It's a union thing by gweihir · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If you are not willing to run a certain risk in order to protect those you are sworn to protect (and yes, that includes violent citizens), then you are unfit to work as a police officer and should seek other employment. There are quite a few jobs that require certain character traits of those doing them, this is one.

      --
      Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    38. Re:It's a union thing by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I would START with making them leave their deadly weapons (a baton counts as a deadly weapon, especially if you know how to use your P-21) in the vehicle - in the trunk. They can only remove weapons from the trunk as is justified by the situation - each being different. The default is non-lethal weapons. Every time the trunk is opened there will be a mound of paperwork and video.

      Then put adequate weapons in the trunk. Equip them with long-arms and shotguns. Give them wooden block, bean bag, shot, and slug weapons. Give them every tool they need to kill a bad guy but make them justify even bringing it out. Give them two different sidearms. Train them to use them all, when to make use of them, and ensure they maintain their training. Hell, give them smoke and concussion grenades. Again, make sure they justify each and every single use - no exceptions.

      Maybe we can start there?

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    39. Re:It's a union thing by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Keep themselves alive AND keep the suspect alive. In a confrontation, if one person is must be shot I hope it is the policeman and not the innocent kid on the way home from school. However I refuse to accept that scenario where one person must be shot, it is better if no one is shot. The job of the police in that situation is to make sure no one is shot, to make sure that innocent people are not shot, AND to make sure that guilty people are also not shot.

      What we have now is untenable. They've created a war zone but without rules. The "locals" are being treated as all being potentially hostile, and the "locals" no longer trust the police. The situation will not improve as long as that mentality exists.

      If routine traffic stops are so dangerous that you have to shoot first, then send out two cops in each car to do traffic enforcement and/or provide body armor. Sure it's expensive, but human lives are priceless. Shooting deaths by cops should never become a daily news item, and yet that is what has happened.

    40. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Q. You are driving along a road. You see a car wrapped around a tree and a person outside of that car heavily bleeding. What is the first thing you do?

      Oh, oh, I know this one. You draw your weapon and demand that the suspect lie face down on the ground with his hands behind his head. If he does not comply immediately, call for backup and repeat the demand, adding "or else" to the end. If he approaches you, shoot to kill.

      A. The first thing you do is to take the warning triangle out of the boot of your car, open it up, and put it up 100 meters away from the accident, clearly visible, to avoid some idiot killing you while you give first aid.

      Congratulations, you have died. You turned your back to the suspect, so if he had a weapon, you're dead. If he ran up behind you and grabbed your service weapon, you're dead. You were responding to a report of a suspicious individual covered in blood attempting to force passing motorists to stop. In that situation, you don't know if you're dealing with an accident or a deranged individual at a crime scene. Since your safety comes first, you should assume the latter and use deadly force if not greeted with absolute compliance. You can't protect anyone if you're dead.

    41. Re:It's a union thing by Chas · · Score: 1

      Keep themselves alive AND keep the suspect alive. In a confrontation, if one person is must be shot I hope it is the policeman and not the innocent kid on the way home from school.

      I'm sure most police personnel would rather it be this as well.
      But it's not their job to play superhero and take the bullet for a civilian. IF they do, it's simply their choice as individuals. And is counter to their first duty.

      The job of the police in that situation is to make sure no one is shot, to make sure that innocent people are not shot, AND to make sure that guilty people are also not shot.

      WRONG.

      It is the job of a police officer to keep themselves alive and to enforce the law.
      If enforcing the law means "nobody gets shot"? Great!
      If enforcing the law means that "someone got shot"? It sucks, but that's life.
      The use of lethal force should be kept to a minimum.
      The use of force should be kept to a minimum.
      But, above all else, the officer should strive to come out of this alive, as they can't do their job if they're dead. Which makes the situation much, MUCH worse.

      What we have now is untenable. They've created a war zone but without rules.

      Okay, "they" isn't just misguided police officers. The public, mostly the self-entitled thugs and assorted lowlifes have done their parts to turn it into a war zone as well. Don't try to just foist the blame all on the cops.

      Sure it's expensive, but human lives are priceless. Shooting deaths by cops should never become a daily news item, and yet that is what has happened.

      We're also a far more globalized society now with 24x7 "news" coverage reporting everything that happens minutes after it happens. You think thugs and social justice elitists aren't copycatting things and provoking police?

      Crazy thug pulls a gun on a group of cops and gets shot down. Oh, and happens to be black.

      30 years ago, they were statistics.

      Now, they're news.

      And social justice causes!

      Fuck that noise.

      --


      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
    42. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's quite the self-righteous lie.

      It's not a self-righteous lie, but it may be some level of self-contrived delusion. Honestly, though, I think it's a fair assertion.

      And right there you just proved your sanctimonious assertion was hypocritical.

      How? Because Peter Parker's motives and actions are orthogonal to the quote or even the circumstance that was the supposed catalyst to his producing the Spider-Man mantle? If Peter Parker had believed the quote, he would have acted the second he realized he had the power. He wouldn't have simple let "karma" let the robber steal from the guy who "deserved" it, who would later be coincidentally the murder of his Uncle. That's just BS comic book karma, not real life and really nothing to do with power or responsibility (unless one believes that only super men should stop robbers or that only super men are responsible for such civic duties as being heroic).

      And where, pray tell, are we to find these supermen who are perfect in every way and can enforce our laws objectively and without use of force?

      Nice strawman. The point is that we need supermen or perfect beings or ones who always enforce the law objective or never use force. The point is that we shouldn't EXCUSE police who fail because "well, they're just doing what the average man would do". We don't use that same logic to let criminals go free. Why should we allow police who abuse their power or otherwise make mistakes? They should be punished accordingly. And if in our warped culture we have ridiculous sentences for most crimes and we fear cops will be punished overly harshly, perhaps we shouldn't just give them a blank pass; perhaps it should be the start of fixing the idea of minimal sentences and considering a more just punishment when police do fail.

    43. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I personally wouldn't suggest they depriortise thier own safety..

      I think that once you become a peace officer rather than a law enforcement officer... the rest falls right in line.

      Top priority public peace.
      Second personal safety. (ie in a hostile situation back away and call for reinforcemnts to deal with the sitiantion in a forceful but peaceful manner.)
      Thirdly law enfocement. If it contradicts 1 or 2 then it isn't worthwhile to persue.

      To keep all that from falling appart you have to reduce your police force, which is easy once you decriminalize a buch of benign stuff, and eliminate quotas on tickets and other monetary kickbacks... officers should be paied directly by the taxpayer.

      I mean that is why Barney Fife was so funny... he was a peace officer trying to be a law enforcement officer but noone took him seriously... because pure law enforcement without a human element was worth ridiculing.

    44. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And you should be concerned because you're an ignoramus. I was a police officer before a software engineer. I suspect you're involved more in the high tech world than law enforcement, therefore I don't expect you to understand, but if you have a strong disagreement with something that you know very little about, as I suspect you do, then perhaps you should learn a bit more before popping off. 5 for insightful!? More like 5 for pompous arrogance and ignorane.

    45. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You guys have no idea what you're talking about. I bet your ideas of personal heroism is letting a pretty girl cut in front of you at Starbucks.

    46. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem with that is that it is short-sighted, it misses the bigger picture. The methods that are supposedly increasing their safety short-term lead to an increasing cycle of violence. Some police have always abused their power, inflicting violence upon the people they are supposed to serve. Now that we live in an age of cameras everywhere we keep catching cops shooting unarmed people. Then there are the people being tazed to death.

      People see that, and when you back people into a corner they are more likely to lash out. If they expect violence from a cop they are more likely to shoot first to protect themselves. That is why violence de-escalation should be the focus. If they want to be safer they shouldn't terrorize the people.

      Of course, that goes against the agenda of the militarization of the police forces, so won't happen.

    47. Re:It's a union thing by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      The problem in the US is, far too many training facilities, far to many management systems, far too many sets of policy. This all generates a huge lack of consistency and possibility of corruption. The US desperately needs to drop county based police forces and just go with a state based police force. This way the local cities and counties and far more receptive and supportive of complaints because the state pays the cost, also corrupt counties who want to turn police into law enforcement revenue generating junk yard dogs, simply will lack the opportunity to do so. County policing can go from good, to bad, to good, to 100% corrupt from election cycle to election but with much larger state based policing it is far harder enable corruption.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    48. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe you just have shitty laws? Around here EVERYONE, including cops, has the legal duty to help and protect others. No, you don't have to take bullet for anyone, but you can't legally just leave someone to bleed to death without trying to help. If you can help with a reasonable risk you must.

    49. Re:It's a union thing by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      And you should be concerned because you're an ignoramus. I was a police officer before a software engineer. I suspect you're involved more in the high tech world than law enforcement, therefore I don't expect you to understand, but if you have a strong disagreement with something that you know very little about, as I suspect you do, then perhaps you should learn a bit more before popping off. 5 for insightful!? More like 5 for pompous arrogance and ignorane.

      BA in History (almost a minor in Psychology, would have gotten it but my university added Arabic my senior year so I took that instead on the last 2 psych classes needed for the minor), MA in Political Science with a focus on national security and conflict. Not in tech at all. Kind of wish the whole militarization of the police had come into the public eye earlier, it would have made a really nice case study for one of my proposed thesis topics. Actually applied and got through the testing to join a major metropolitan police force, but a chronic injury from college sports kept me out, also prevented me from joining the military (herniated disks in your back are not fun). You see, I was perfectly willing to practice exactly what I have preached, and I have a much better understanding of the effect of police interaction on society than the normal person off the street.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    50. Re:It's a union thing by Agent0013 · · Score: 1

      This said if you want to avoid police force shooting people because they take precautions then go and think hard about need of firearms everywhere and this well organized militia that is supposed to protect you from tyranny

      You mean, the police shooting the kid because he was holding a candy bar. Yeah, they gotta protect themselves from that!

      Even a squirt gun does not mean the kid deserves to die. The cop can wait until there are bullets flying at him. Then he knows it is a real gun and can fire back. Killing innocent civilians so you can save your own skin does not make you a good person, or even a good cop.

      --

      -- ssoorrrryy,, dduupplleexx sswwiittcchh oonn.. -Quote found on actual fortune cookie.
    51. Re:It's a union thing by Agent0013 · · Score: 1

      This is exactly the thought that the police have. It is probably straight out of the training manual. I read an article recently where the shooting training had a bunch of little kids to shoot at. They didn't want the police to hesitate when shooting at a little kid. And I mean a real kid, not some 18 year old that the media calls a kid, more like 7-12 year olds. You have to be ready to kill the kid first then search the body for the weapon, or plant one if he only had a phone on him.

      --

      -- ssoorrrryy,, dduupplleexx sswwiittcchh oonn.. -Quote found on actual fortune cookie.
    52. Re:It's a union thing by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      What if you had a fireman who said, "I'm not going into that building. I could get killed."

      Firemen do that all the time. They also prioritize their safety.

      Nope. If the Fire Chief is there and says "Go in that building, go to the second floor, look for the Mona Lisa painting, grab it, and come back out" and you don't. You'll be fired if you don't comply. Firemen don't fail to comply with orders. Those that do are ex-firemen.

      Where that line falls is the subject for valid debate. Expecting police to prioritize their own lives below those of others is not.

      Nope. I think it's quite reasonable to expect cops to value their lives below others. They should never shoot somone because the "might" have a gun. It should be proven that they do, even if that delay costs the cop their life. If they don't like it, they should find a different job. It is that simple. They volunteered to "serve". If they are unwilling to do so, they should be fired. There isn't much room for debate on whether cops should be able to say "I thought he had a gun" to get out of murder,

    53. Re:It's a union thing by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      Nope. The cop answer to that is the first thing you do is shoot the bleeder, he may have a disease, and the blood could pass it to you, so kill him so he isn't walking around while you assess the situation.

      Yes, in real service positions, the service person comes first. I'm S&R certified. The first rule is don't ever get in over your head. If you aren't sure, better to wait for backup than have your backup show up with one more person to rescue.

      But that's not the issue. I'm also tower/heights rescue certified. I don't like heights, but I worked on communications towers, and it was a job requirement. So if a person certified in tower rescue were a paid S&R for the police/fire (here it's the fire department for land rescue, and police for water, so both have semi-overlapping S&R) and told to climb the tower and perform a rescue, and refused because they could fall and hurt themselves, would that be OK?

      No. Someone taking a S&R job should be able to do that job, or should find a different one. It takes risk. Climbing a tower has risk. But not any more than someone should accept taking the job.

      Safety of the helper comes first, but not only. The cop should wait to see if the hand in the pocket is a gun before executing the unarmed person for the crime of having cold hands. Even if that means higher risk for the cop. Like climbing a tower is a higher risk rescue than a ground rescue. If you can't do your job, find a new one.

    54. Re:It's a union thing by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      How many people can a dead cop protect?

      ZERO

      That's still better than the bad cop. He not only protects zero, but kills 10 and protects 0. His score is -10, your dead cop is 0. Dead cop wins.

      A police officer's FIRST duty is to keep themselves alive so they can uphold the law and protect as many people as feasible.

      I don't know what the applications are like where you are, but in Anchorage, last I checked, there were something like 100+ applicants for every empty position. Your dead cop will still protect people. They'll hire someone else. There's not a finite number of cops. When one retires, another is hired. No problem. If all the bad cops were to quit (or be killed), we'd be much better off, and not have any gaps in police coverage.

    55. Re:It's a union thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > The cop can wait until there are bullets flying at him.

      A cop who waits until he's killed does no good to anyone.

      Cops are under no obligation to not shoot first, if there is a real or perceived danger to them or others.

  7. Lacking IQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's no secret the police are a bunch of idiots that are barely able to write a sentence by themselves. Now you expect them to actually use their brains? C'mon...
    Why deescalate when you can just kill with impunity? After all dead people are pretty deescalted, right?

    1. Re:Lacking IQ by blue9steel · · Score: 1

      It's no secret the police are a bunch of idiots that are barely able to write a sentence by themselves.

      I think that's overly harsh. Sure, they're not rocket scientists, but honestly that's not what the job requires. Mostly they're a group of blue & white collar guys with good intentions that get put in some pretty terrible situations. Yes, there are a couple of groups within the force that cause issues to be worse (corrupt cops, racists, power mongers, etc.) but that's going to be true of any large organization. The police became over-militarized in response to the chaos of the 1990s and now the needle probably needs to move back the other direction.

    2. Re:Lacking IQ by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 1

      A certain psychological profile are drawn to law enforcement. I don't think that needs to be enumerated as its common sense. Unfortunately this is the exact group that should be weeded out during the hiring process.

      Of course in the US we're seeing that the person that should have been weeded out are making it up to the top of departments, and are managing to bring in a lot of people just like them. Digital cameras aren't showing a rise in police brutality, they are simply making it clear what has been there for years and years.

    3. Re:Lacking IQ by Rockoon · · Score: 1

      Many folks will think that you are making up this lack of IQ claim.

      So here it a citation. Hiring discrimination as a matter of policy.

      The police forces do not want people with "high" IQs (125 in he case cited) they only want people that are about average IQ. They claim that this is "to reduce turnover."

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    4. Re:Lacking IQ by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      All public sector jobs should have very high turnover. It shouldn't be a career, it's a service. We have to treat it that way. And probably it should be a mandatory service, so it's not just lowlifes who take the job. Just do it and get the hell out! Make room for the next guy.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  8. Send then to train in Norway and the UK by fustakrakich · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The cops there are a bit more civilized. They can take down people without killing them. If you want 'science', look closely at the kind of people who want to be cops. Try to find some that don't relish the power so much. The rest are just a bunch a classroom bullies. We should not be rewarding this behavior. And we need to disallow all the secrecy. We have to force open the books to ensure compliance. The cops here are problem because we treat them with excessive deference in an appeal to their authority. We need to remind them and the politicians that they are public servants.

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    1. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Funny enough Japanese cops dont seem to be recruited on the basis of a authoritarian desire for pwoer over others.
      You have to watch British cops - they have a few odd quirks that arent immediately obvious like shooting dead Brazilian plumbers.

    2. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      Well, if they're already dead, what difference does it make?

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    3. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The cops there are a bit more civilized. They can take down people without killing them. If you want 'science', look closely at the kind of people who want to be cops. Try to find some that don't relish the power so much. The rest are just a bunch a classroom bullies. We should not be rewarding this behavior. And we need to disallow all the secrecy. We have to force open the books to ensure compliance. The cops here are problem because we treat them with excessive deference in an appeal to their authority. We need to remind them and the politicians that they are public servants.

      I've never known anyone who expressed the desire to be a cop whom I didn't feel was the last person who should have a badge and a gun.

    4. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Probably because part of the problem is those who would have the right mindset are put off by ever worsening publicity by those who are the wrong kind of archetype. If you're smart enough to be a good cop you're also likely to think twice before wanting to be a cop at all.

      Luckily not every person capable of being a good cop caves to this kind of thinking.

    5. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "We have to force open the books to ensure compliance."
      You also need to protect them.
      Problem is, in a society where guns are easily accessible and the culture permits and encourages their use to the point of trivialization (people taking their kids to shooting ranges, shooting drones for target practice etc), the equation changes dramatically.

    6. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 1

      As I mentioned in another post on this thread... the people who really need to become cops in the U.S. are the ones that end up becoming social workers.

    7. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't even start that idiotic anti-gun bullshit. The people who take their children to the range and teach proper handling and shooting are not the people committing crimes with firearms that the police must deal with. Give me a fucking break.

    8. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by fustakrakich · · Score: 2

      I am becoming more convinced that the only way to possibly get good cops who will speak up is through conscription, a three year *tour of duty*, then a small severance check and a goodbye kiss on the cheek.. I mean, if we are going to militarize them, we may as well do it right.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    9. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      The people who take their children to the range and teach proper handling and shooting are not the people committing crimes with firearms that the police must deal with.

      Right?

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    10. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Give them the option to say on, though.

      I can see this resulting in a large number of people who don't care and don't want to do the job, but also finding some who would be excellent police officers.

      Maybe we should have mandatory service right after high school like many countries have, with one option being police instead of military, especially if you can stay in your own area.

    11. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      Nope, no careers. That's where half the problem is. It has to be a public service. In and out, nobody gets hurt... Doesn't mean we can't consult them for advice.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    12. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by Oligonicella · · Score: 1

      Not a crime. What's your point?

    13. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by Kjella · · Score: 1

      Send then to train in Norway and the UK

      Actually I've heard complaints about total disregard of scientific reasoning in Norway too, in that particular case it was about a youth program they made for criminal juveniles. They wanted to know the effect, well the person I talked to said you needed a control group. No way said the police, we believe it's doing good so we're doing it for all of them. Now in healthcare there's no way you'd get anything done without a clinical trial showing that yes, this actually works and to what degree. In police work, the standard is "it sounds like a good idea".

      Like we just armed our police force, because it sounds like in some cases that's a good idea. What are the odds the police will get shot because they're armed? What's the odds of a shootout between police and bad guys harming civilians? What's the chance of suspects being shot because the cops won't let them get in reach of their gun? What's the odds of someone grabbing or stealing the officer's gun? What's the odds of accidental shooting? In our last terror attack (Breivik, killed 69 youths) the regular police had guns in the car but waited for our version of the SWAT team anyway.

      Half the problem with weapons is that if you choose not to use them they become a huge liability. And in most cases, we do want our cops to solve things in a more peaceful manner than shooting the troublemakers. They might have to deal with people who are simply drunk or unruly or agitated, which is probably handled better without a gun on their hip. It's not that one officer's gun that is the escalation, it's being able to call upon a whole police force to mount a massive response. You pull a gun on a police officer, the police post a manhunt on you. Not even policemen are likely to survive an assassination.

      --
      Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
    14. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by khallow · · Score: 1

      In and out, nobody gets hurt...

      Police work is the very last place I want a sea of inexperienced people. A lot of people will get hurt.

    15. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Doesn't Japan insist that their cops have an ADDITIONAL four year degree in something besides being a police officer - like art of history? Don't they still have some districts where they use a barely knotted rope instead of handcuffs because the detainees are already broken mentally and the whole knot and rope thing is a sign of trust?

      They will be eaten for lunch in the 'hood.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    16. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Your link indicates that was an accident. How is that a crime and disproving what they said?

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    17. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Norway is a lot more homogenous though. If the cops are killing people who look like you and from your neighborhood then you tend to get upset. If the cops are killing people who don't look like you and from the wrong side of town then a lot of poeple don't get nearly so upset in that situation. Especially when there's this attitude going around that "it's a war zone" in that part of the town.

    18. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      Then start them with military boot camp and three years in the Corp. That's plenty of time to learn when not to shoot. This twenty year stuff in public service has to go. It just gets too corrupt.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    19. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      Well, the American cops are just going to learn how to treat everybody the same regardless how 'different' people are. I don't want bigots on the force, or in any other official position. We have to rout them out post haste.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    20. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      Oh lordy! Everybody's a critic. I was really just saying that some parents are lousy teachers... Please, officer, don't shoot!

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    21. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by khallow · · Score: 1

      Then start them with military boot camp and three years in the Corp.

      How is that supposed to help? Let us keep in mind that a lot of the problem cops have military training too. The rules and environment of a civilian cop is far more complex than the simple one of a Marine grunt.

      And what happens when the police routinely bungle cases to the point that no one can be prosecuted? Keep in mind that inability to provide public safety is a frequent contributor to tyranny.

    22. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      Oh nothing...

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    23. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      And what happens when the police routinely bungle cases to the point that no one can be prosecuted?

      Already happens far too frequently. And in many cases, they are nothing more than a regularly scheduled shakedown, not meant to go to court. Sorry, I believe the overall cost/benefit ratio favors only short term employment in this business. The aspirations of a career are just too corrupting. And if other countries can require three to four years of training and a college education for cops, we should to. Hell, you need eight years to be a doctor. Let's put the cops through the same rigors, stronger ones considering the nature of the job. And still throw them out after their tour is up. Maybe that might help weed out the bullying riffraff the job attracts. This should not be desirable work. It has already been said a thousand times, the people who want the job are the least qualified.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    24. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No this is not right, they'll get their asses beat and/or shot off. Cops are a last resort, after the parents, the teachers,the social workers, etc. have failed.You call in the cops because they are who are needed. I don't want some mealy mouthed pussy showing up when some asshole is about to commit or has commited some heinous crime. I want an ass-kicking tough son-of-a-bitch who can handle the situation, not someone who's going sit down and try to climb inside the perp's skin so he can 'understand' him.

    25. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Excellent. You found two. Out of how many? Those are really small odds. Do you know how many rounds are fired at a range that do not go into innocent women and children? No, I admit, it is a tragic thing when it does happen. It is hardly the norm.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    26. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by khallow · · Score: 1

      Already happens far too frequently.

      So it'll be better if it happens even more frequently than far too frequently?

      And if other countries can require three to four years of training and a college education for cops, we should to.

      For a job that only lasts three years? That's not even worth arguing for the sake of sophistry.

    27. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      You are speculating. Conscientious people are less likely to bungle anything up compared to the grumpy old farts who just want to go home. I say let's take the chance of trying a young honest force that hasn't been jaded against the old corrupt one that is definitely throwing a lot of innocent people into prison and letting a lot of guilty ones go free.

      For a job that only lasts three years? That's not even worth arguing for the sake of sophistry.

      Gotta do whatever is necessary to keep the idiots away. And I want to make sure they know they are there to serve. Right now the job attracts too many flies. It should damn near be volunteer work. And if we can't get enough 'volunteers', we ought to start drafting them into service. Now, of course nobody has to do any of this, but if they are seriously concerned at all about corruption, they need to consider it. Most of the so-called 'reforms' people talk about are extremely superficial, you could even say it's just *lipstick on a pig*.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    28. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by khallow · · Score: 1

      You are speculating.

      No. We already know that it is very easy to mess up police work. It's a complex, difficult, dangerous job. You already admit that and that it requires a lot of training to even start to do such work. It's not a noob job.

      Gotta do whatever is necessary to keep the idiots away.

      That means good hiring practices, rewarding honest officers, and a willingness to punish police officers when they do wrong. If you aren't willing to do that, then it doesn't matter if your officers have 20 years of experience or two years of experience. You will get the same outcome, a corrupt police force with "idiots".
      And three years of training for three years of service is a waste of society's resources. You are making the police considerably more expensive for worse results.

    29. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      It's not a noob job.

      Better a noob than a crook, I say. And fast turnaround reduces corruption also. But to each his own. I'm outnumbered anyway, just gonna have to let it slide.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    30. Re:Send then to train in Norway and the UK by khallow · · Score: 1

      Better a noob than a crook, I say.

      Because gangs and organized crime won't be able to get their people into this police force? I don't buy that at all. I believe it'll be ridden with moles, plants, and people you can turn with a little cash. And the worst and smartest of these will be the cleanest of them all.

      A 20 year veteran on the other hand, has considerable incentives not to do that. They have stuff they'll lose, if they get caught. Their reputation will be destroyed. They will have betrayed people they have known their entire adult life. The three year guy who's out in six months is just betraying some strangers he doesn't care about.

      Further, who will train and manage these people? After a couple of generations,there won't be anyone in society with more than three years of police experience.

  9. Science and human behavior by davidwr · · Score: 1

    Be careful not to over-optimize for the general case, or you'll lose intuition and you'll lose the benefit of police who are more successful doing things "their own way" than "the way that works for most police officers."

    If Joe Officer is an excellent officer but he's not quite "normal" (maybe he's a bit autism-spectrum or way more able to pick up on facial cues than the average cop) telling him "do it the way the scientists tell us is the best way for the average cop or you'll be fired [because if we don't fire you and something goes wrong we'll be sued into bankruptcy]" means turning an excellent cop into an average cop or worse, losing him altogether if he quits in frustration.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
    1. Re:Science and human behavior by blue9steel · · Score: 1

      Actually policing would be better off with competent mediocrity and low outcome variance. You want consistent policing not a mix of good and bad.

    2. Re:Science and human behavior by spacepimp · · Score: 1

      Most police departments won't hire people with IQ's above the range of their "safe zone". They don't want intelligent, think about what you're being asked to do types in the department. It is legal for them to do this because they argue the high turnover rate of intelligent policeman makes training too expensive to waste. All in all I wouldn't expect high levels of scrutiny or complex thought to be put off by this measure. that's already in on the institutional level.

    3. Re:Science and human behavior by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If Joe-Autism quits in frustration, but a dozen other terrible cops are brought up to mediocre levels ... does that balance out?

  10. actually there is a manual. by nimbius · · Score: 1, Troll

    As a valued member of the law enforcement community it pains me to see the lack of independent investigation into our scientific process. Several books have been published in the past 30 years including such titles as 'fundamentals of systemic mass incarceration' and 'scientific process for falsifying evidence during a confrontation in which an overwhelming disproportionate level of force was applied.' These titles are all extremely technical...quite academic you see. So perhaps I shall refer the layman to such titles as 'metal batons, the musical!' and 'chokeholds, the happy urban handshake.' My personal favourite is 'civil forfeiture and the vacation to maui'

    --
    Good people go to bed earlier.
    1. Re:actually there is a manual. by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 1

      ...of course Slashdot picks THIS time to make sure I don't have mod points.

  11. When designing training, think it through by willoughby · · Score: 2

    Police Officers will react exactly as they have been trained.

    Some decades ago, a police agency in the south came up with "better" firearms training. They installed moving targets. The Officer would wait until the target began moving right to left, or vice-versa, and only then were they allowed to fire. Months of this "improved" training.

    An Officer responded to a armed robbery call and, per training, parked not near the door, but some distance away. As the bad guy ran out the door of the business, the Officer fired at the moving target. As the store manager ran out the door chasing the bad guy, the Officer fired at the moving target.

    I'm just saying that the training must be carefully thought through because that's how officers will respond. In fast situations Police don't evaluate and respond, they react.

    1. Re:When designing training, think it through by ScentCone · · Score: 1

      In fast situations Police don't evaluate and respond, they react.

      In fast situations, humans react. It's that, or stand paralyzed with indecision while the other person's actions dictate the outcome. But describing cops - as a whole - as unthinking in the face of dangerous, quickly-evolving situations is absurd. You obviously don't know any.

      --
      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    2. Re:When designing training, think it through by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      No, he's absolutely right.

      The FBI firearm instruction used to always insist agents picked up their brass on the range. Until several agents got shot during actual fire fights because after unloading they stopped and bent over to pick up their brass before reloading and continuing *exactly as they had done during training*. They have since changed their training to completely ignore their expended brass--just reload and keep shooting.

      A similar thing happened in the military. The US military discovered years ago (by counting enemy casualties and ammo expended) that soldiers weren't firing at enemies--because they had trained to shoot at bullseye targets. After changing to train to shoot against silhouettes both their engagement and accuracy during combat increased. This was simply a psychological aspect to their training that needed to be adjusted.

      When adrenaline hits, higher thought processes shut down and the only thing left is motor memory. This is why training is so important to not only do a *lot*, but to also do *right*. When in such situations you only do what you've trained to do--and if you haven't trained at all, the only thing left is either flight or freeze, fail, and lose which may mean death.

  12. Don't be a jerk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Walter Peck: "If he does that again, you can shoot him."
    Police Captain: "You do your job, pencil neck. Don't tell me how to do mine!"

  13. No negative feedback by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Over the decades they have learned that they are right 1% of the time and 99% of the time there is no negative feedback for being wrong.

  14. Re: A conservative bias perpetuating dysfunction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We liberals want to fix the reasons why said person felt necessary to commit that crime in the first place.
    Usually it's drug addiction and in our Puritanical society that considers such things as the exclusive result of poor character (ignoring the European research that shows it is quite more complex than that; although, developing character is a component to recovery: see Focus 12's plan for an example of different approaches), our attitude is just lock them up - even though it has been shown in England that for every pPound spent on recovery , over three is saved by the economy in general. But we uptight Americans can't stomach that in our law and order society.

  15. Re:A conservative bias perpetuating dysfunction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes. If you've taken food because you're hungry you should not go to jail.

  16. 6 months training by tommeke100 · · Score: 1

    Most Police Academies in the US take 6 months or less to complete. How in earth can you expect policemen to learn to act accordingly in all circumstances and know the law as well in that short amount of time. They need to be physically fit, know how to operate their weapons, know the law, have the psychological insight to act accordingly in any situation, know how to file any type of police report, get driving classes, know a bit about the different sciences involved in drugs, crime scenes etc... It's just impossible really and usually comes down to having good old fashioned common sense to be a good cop.

    1. Re:6 months training by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      Most Police Academies in the US take 6 months or less to complete. How in earth can you expect policemen to learn to act accordingly in all circumstances and know the law as well in that short amount of time.

      Generally after the academy comes at least several more months of on the job training, paired with an experienced officer to continue their training. It takes a while before a new cop is going to be out on patrol all alone.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    2. Re:6 months training by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They need to be physically fit ...

      Until they've got the job. Then they're allowed to turn into big fat slobs who couldn't run down a one-legged man.

    3. Re:6 months training by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      And I really don't think we want cops patrolling alone in any case. That is going to lead to problems. If the person pulled over for a traffic stop is going to shoot then it's much less likely with two cops than with the solo cop.

    4. Re:6 months training by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Our Cops are trained for 3 years. The officers are trained another two I think. After they have been regular cops for a couple of years. Also, all our cops have "real" jobs also. It's a requirement to have another job besides being a cop. That way if they behave badly it's ok to kick them out of the force. It also gives them perspective on things. They are also somewhat well paid. They don't have too much special protections against missconduct. They will pay their own fines out of their own salaries, they will go to prison, and, they basically get bigger sentences because they'll lose their job really easy if they commit a crime.

  17. Re:A conservative bias perpetuating dysfunction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What I want is for cops to be psychic and know exactly what the person they're confronting will do so that they can use force exactly commensurate with the requirements of the situation.

    Of course we both know that's not going to happen, so I'll settle for second best choices like not confronting people when no crime has been committed (eg arresting people for "resisting arrest" when no crime is being committed and no warrant for arrest exists therefore no arrest should be being made in order to be resisted), or ordering people to cease lawful activity (lacking a law against smoking in your own car, there is no grounds to order someone to stop smoking or threaten to light them up for not throwing away their cigarette).

  18. No science needed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Here are some simple steps to fixing the problem, no science needed.

    • Stop hiring idiots.
    • Stop beating people until they can't move.
    • Stop shooting who aren't armed; if he isn't pointing a gun at you, he's not armed.
    • Stop hiring cowards who thing everybody is armed.
    • Body cameras 100% of the time.
    • Sincerely prosecute bad cops.
    • And most importantly; stop hiring assholes.
    1. Re:No science needed by Speck'sBacon · · Score: 1

      • Stop shooting who aren't armed; if he isn't pointing a gun at you, he's not armed.

      Because only guns are deadly weapons, right? Not knives, machetes, baseball bats, etc. Get a clue. You also make the mistake of insisting cops shoot only when their *own* life is in danger ("if he isn't pointing a gun at YOU" emphasis mine).

    2. Re:No science needed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      • Stop shooting who aren't armed; if he isn't pointing a gun at you, he's not armed.

      Because only guns are deadly weapons, right? Not knives, machetes, baseball bats, etc. Get a clue.

      You also make the mistake of insisting cops shoot only when their *own* life is in danger ("if he isn't pointing a gun at YOU" emphasis mine).

      Cops have tasers, batons, pepper spray if someone pulls a knife, machete or similar. And if he's pointed a gun at somebody else, the cop had better focus on diffusing the situation and calling for backup instead of playing Dirty Harry.

  19. Different agenda by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Cops could care less about an individuals rights, health or safety.

    They basically look at some nut job or perp as a problem that will reoccur.

    If they just kill the person then the problem is permanently solved.

  20. RESPECT MY AUTHORITY by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is such a non-issue. Basic de-escalation techniques are well known and easy to teach, and more importantly, easy to use. It doesn't take rocket-science to know that profiling, loud order barking and throwing people down and asking questions later ISN'T the way to go. The real problem seems to be that the hiring process is letting people with personalities who shouldn't be cops become cops. This isn't a profession that should except muscles over brains people who's ego will be built upon the power of the position. We don't need muscle-bourd Eric Cartman-types yelling RESPECT MY AUTHORITY.

    1. Re:RESPECT MY AUTHORITY by tompaulco · · Score: 1

      This is such a non-issue. Basic de-escalation techniques are well known and easy to teach, and more importantly, easy to use. It doesn't take rocket-science to know that profiling, loud order barking and throwing people down and asking questions later ISN'T the way to go. The real problem seems to be that the hiring process is letting people with personalities who shouldn't be cops become cops. This isn't a profession that should except muscles over brains people who's ego will be built upon the power of the position. We don't need muscle-bourd Eric Cartman-types yelling RESPECT MY AUTHORITY.

      De-escalation techniques don't work in the face of media frenzies which encourage people to actively disrespect authority figures, to riot and rampage, and to see everything as a race issue.

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
  21. Hire cops with the right education by duckintheface · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think part of the problem is that police forces hire "criminal justice" majors. These are folks who were attracted to police work BEFORE they went to college. I think they tend to be those to whom authority over others is attractive. They don't necessarily like people but they do like power over people. And they think that a badge will guarantee them respect. The low salary should be a clue that this is not true. But they demand respect from citizens they interact with. Look at the Sandra Bland cop who decided to arrest her because she would not put out her cigarette in her own car. Something she was under no obligation to do. But he did not like her "tone" because she was not respecting him.

    So instead, hire cops from among graduates in sociology and anthropology. These are folks who want to understand behavior. And that's the most important training there is for a cop. Training in "law enforcement" and weapons can happen after they are hired. First get the right people in the job.

    The best cop is a sociologist who knows the law and how to use a gun. Not a gun slinger who may or may not understand people and the law.

    --
    "He took a duck in the face at 250 knots." -- William Gibson, Pattern Recognition
    1. Re:Hire cops with the right education by gfxguy · · Score: 1

      Well, I'm not going to look up statistics on it, but I really don't think you are correct - most criminal justice majors don't go on to be uniformed cops. In fact, I don't think most cops even have college degrees at all. Criminal justice majors often go on to be social workers, and parole and probation officers.

      --
      Stupid sexy Flanders.
    2. Re:Hire cops with the right education by duckintheface · · Score: 1

      Well, criminal justice majors should not be parole or probation officers either. :) For the same reasons. My point is that we need police officers better trained in human behavior. And that is not going to happen inside a police station. Get folks who understand and care about people. Then worry about job specific training. That job specific training is better done at the local level anyway because of differences in the law in different jurisdictions. And I think a college education is a good idea for the police because it exposes them to a wider view of the world and a wider variety of citizens. College is not really about job training and never has been.

      --
      "He took a duck in the face at 250 knots." -- William Gibson, Pattern Recognition
    3. Re:Hire cops with the right education by KGIII · · Score: 2

      I believe all cops must get a justice degree in my state. I know that they are allowed to work on the force AND carry a firearm while they are getting that degree but only after a certain amount of hours training as a ride-along. They all go off to a fairly long police academy which should, by rights, be good enough and generally is in my state but we really don't have much crime here.

      Alaska is pretty tough for State Troopers. They go to two years of school and are as much forest and wildlife rangers as they are cops. They take their animals seriously and they take their jobs as Troopers seriously. They seem to be, for the most part, very adept and reasonable from an outsider's view. They are similar to what the RCMP was a decade ago. The RCMP has, in my experience, become a haughty and uninformed prick.

      Anyhow, they go to the Justice Academy and I think they may even need to get two years of additional education but that may be for sheriffs only or for the State Police? I have a few police officers that are welcome in my home (which often smells like weed and has any one of a number of drugs hanging around in it historically) and can ask for more details but I doubt I will see any of them before the thread is gone from memory.

      I live in Maine so the information may be online? It may just be my county and the local forces around me. I believe some were grandfathered and I am pretty sure you can have enough experience to transfer in. I mean, yeah, Maine. I chose to retire here for a reason. Water/energy, crime, taxes, price of land, and my ability to fit in with the natives were my primary concerns - in that order.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    4. Re:Hire cops with the right education by silas_moeckel · · Score: 2

      Police work does not attract those that should be doing it, much like politicians. The people you least want to do the job are the majority of those that do it.

      Thus all are laws etc should stem from that basic premise coupled with they volunteered to put their life on the line. They need to have the least amount of privileges and the most amount of oversight compared to an average person. In broad strokes they should be required to be go to a grand jury when they kill someone, they should not be able to bring into evidence that they are a police officer and the DA's office needs to be barred from the farce of playing the prosecutor.

      --
      No sir I dont like it.
    5. Re:Hire cops with the right education by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I have often wondered what would happen if we let reformed criminals work in the criminal justice arena... They might make excellent probation officers or even great policemen. They'd have to be well vetted and I have no idea how to accomplish that. I think their insight might actually make, some of them - obviously not all - potentially good candidates for evenly and fairly enforcing the law while allowing them to be subjective.

      I have been wondering this since I was tasked to work at a detention facility while I was enlisted. A motto, on a hand painted sign (or woodburned), stood over the exit from our barracks. It said, "There but by the grace of God, go I." Had any one of us been caught then there was a chance we could have been on the opposite side of the gate. This, and very much this, was the difference between a civilian and military detention facility. It was also very disciplined but the inmates were much more willingly disciplined.

      Another interesting thing is that times had changed not much before I entered that area. Not too many years before, I was a chaser and a transport officer - though not an actual officer, where if I had lost my prisoner and had failed to capture them then I was obligated to serve the remainder of their sentence. That time was past when I got there. However, I had zero issues with any inmate ever. Fair but firm, there but by the grace of God, go I.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    6. Re:Hire cops with the right education by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So instead, hire cops from among graduates in sociology and anthropology.

      The wanna-be cops will just major in sociology or anthropology. I hope you don't pay for interenet access.

  22. Re:A conservative bias perpetuating dysfunction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I am hungry. Please post you home address so I can raid your fridge. Thanks.

  23. Re:Common Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    doesn't exist. Only wisdom actually taught to everyone can - sadly that's rare.

  24. we should copy europe by circletimessquare · · Score: 3, Insightful

    europe has better training. being a police officer in europe is a much more highly professional attitude with much more rigorous training

    http://www.quora.com/How-do-UK...

    Tim Dees, Retired cop and criminal justice professor, Reno Police Department, Reno Muni...

    Upvoted by Quora User, I live in the UK. Graeme Shimmin, I am British. Marc Bodnick, 15 years transactions experience

    Tim has 12 endorsements in Police and Law Enforcement.

    Speaking from the perspective of a U.S. cop, there are several areas with significant differences. I should point out that I've never been to the UK, but have read a lot about this issue and discussed it with cops and non-cops in the UK.

    I believe the most critical difference is the amount of training required of UK police. New hires attend a "police college" course of several months before going into the field to work for another few months under close supervision (sorry, I don't have the precise durations here, but it's considerably more training than most U.S. police receive). They then return to the police college for several more weeks until they are assigned to their duty stations. From here, on-the-job training is similar to that in the U.S., where the new constable works with a senior partner for several months before he is given a solo assignment. He is still closely supervised and his performance reviewed frequently for his first year to two years of service.

    also, like europe, and i'll try not to completely derail the conversation, but no one should get a gun in the usa without rigorous training first, including testing and ongoing inspections. exactly like we do with getting a drivers license and a car. same level of responsibility, same standards, right?

    without so many easy guns in he hands of idiots, cops are less jumpy

    "if guns are outlawed, only outlaws..." actually, when guns are harder to get, the kind of casual hothead that causes all the mayhem with guns simply doesn't get a gun and reaches for a knife instead. *casual* hotheads are not trying hard in life, they will not try hard to get a gun, ti takes too much effort in a serious society. and a knife is far less lethal, so homicide rates drop

    https://www.washingtonpost.com...

    so the "if guns are outlawed, only outlaws..." is a propaganda lie

    besides, we're not even talking about "outlawing" guns. we're talking about rigorous training which every responsible gun owner already agrees with and complies with. so what is the problem exactly? why is this country held hostage by a paranoid schizophrenic fringe on the issue of guns? most gun *owners* agree with what i am saying

    yes, the criminal masterminds will still get illegal guns. and use them wisely and surgically: criminal *masterminds*. so again, no ridiculous mayhem. we're talking about the casual hothead that is thwe problem here. he should not get a gun easily, like he currently does in the usa

    a responsible gun owner knows the seriousness of a gun and really has no problem insisting everyone get good training

    anyway, with less easy guns getting easily in the hands of hot heads cops have less reason to be so jumpy with their own guns. the change won't be immediate, it will take awhile to drain the swamp of easy guns

    as if that is somehow an argument not to drain the swamp, because the right thing is hard to do and will take time is never an argument against doing the right thing

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
    1. Re:we should copy europe by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      we should copy europe...

      Gee! Ya think? Happy to see you're so on the ball there, my dearest friend :-)

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    2. Re:we should copy europe by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      I remember when the NRA was all about promoting gun safety instead of being a political advocacy group.

    3. Re:we should copy europe by Orgasmatron · · Score: 1

      It isn't a lie, it is a definition.

      The real problem with training requirements is that we've seen how it works out in practice. We know from long and painful experience that it is far easier to defend the line before the first toe crosses than to try to shove the whole creeping body back.

      I encourage people to get at least basic training before they buy their first gun, and to get real training (far in excess of the mandatory minimum here) before they think about carrying it on them. But any call to make those legal requirements will always be met with same full political opposition as any other gun grabbing scheme.

      Read your own post again. You step quickly and easily from "we're not even talking about 'outlawing' guns." to "it will take awhile to drain the swamp of easy guns". I think it is pretty clear that your goal with the call for training is to "drain the swamp" of people that take the 2nd amendment personally, making them a political minority, and thus easier to stomp on later.

      Perhaps that isn't a calculated move on your part. It is entirely possible that you are merely a useful idiot. (That is a technical term, by the way, and not a personal insult. Google it.)

      Lately the supreme court has been on a tear, with ruling after ruling indicating that the 2nd really means what it obviously and clearly says it means. Do you see Chicago, NYC and Washington, D.C. meekly submitting? Hell no. Now it is technically legal to get licensed in those cities, but the process is as onerous as possible in an attempt to circumvent the rulings. You are calling for the rest of the nation to get closer to our murder capitals, while the supreme court is calling for them to get more like the rest of the nation.

      And this is why the NRA is a political organization. They can't accomplish any of their other goals if they lose the political fight.

      Oh, and the notion of draining the swamp of guns is a bit silly. 3D printers, desktop mills, hobby lathes, etc are rapidly making it much easier to build your own guns at home. That genie seems unlikely to go back into the bottle any time soon.

      --
      See that "Preview" button?
    4. Re:we should copy europe by strikethree · · Score: 1

      Look, I respect your dedication to non-violence and your utter trust in the authorities who do carry guns; however, you need to move to a country that has the environment that you want. The USA is NOT it. Gun ownership is embedded in the Constitution. You will not get rid of it and by trying, you are giving a big "fuck you" to all of those who do love the ideals USA were founded upon. So really, go move to another country that has the ideals that you prefer embedded in their constitution or whatever bedrock piece of paper that country is founded upon.

      --
      "Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen
  25. Why Is There Any Outrage at All? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seems to me that the current actions of the Police are a direct response to the social sentiments of the last 30 years, starting with the "Tough on Crime" political drum beat throughout the 80s, the constant barrage of Cop shows that depict "loose cannon above the law shoot through the red tape good guy cop not afraid to violate some civil liberties and pass death sentences to save us all" and the constant online postings of "Good -- save us the cost of a trial and jail".

    Considering how we glorify murdering maniacs with badges in this country and love to see extra-judicial justice meted out -- why the fuck is anyone shocked at all?
    In fact why aren't you celebrating this?? Isn't this what you wanted?

    1. Re:Why Is There Any Outrage at All? by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      the constant barrage of Cop shows that depict "loose cannon above the law shoot through the red tape good guy cop not afraid to violate some civil liberties and pass death sentences to save us all"

      Hey, we have learned some very important lessons from these shows. Such as always let a guy who's about to retire take a month of vacation beforehand, because if they are on duty they will always day right before retirement.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
  26. Define your goals first by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As noted in the article cited, a definition of community policing is hard to come by. Can you have "scientific research" on community policing without defined goal(s)? Whose goals? Government? Union? Citizens?
    I suggest that no training that teaches officers to fear, and to rapidly use up their supplies, is worth any taxpayer funding. Is "research" needed for this?

  27. Who's to say the science is good? by brianerst · · Score: 1

    Given that social science studies are notoriously bad, why do we think things would be any better if we used "science" in police training?

    We'd probably be better off if we made some structural changes, like limiting qualified immunity and requiring all interactions with the public and accused to be videotaped.

    1. Re:Who's to say the science is good? by iMadeGhostzilla · · Score: 1

      Because we are a journalist for Wired. Wired is only relevant in the area of technology, mostly when it comes to strictly news, and the opinion of a journalist with an ideological bias picking stories and sources to confirm it in a non-tech domain is only relevant nowhere.

  28. Two-way street by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The quickest way to better police officers is to have better civilians.

    These interactions are between one side that is supposed to follow a set of rules, and another that doesn't. That second side also knows this and will exploit it.

  29. training is a red herring by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "better training to keep these incidents from happening,"

    depends--all I hear about is training to prevent officers in "proper use of their weapons" instead of training officers "to handle a situation appropriately (de-escalation)". Big difference. Former is aggressive behavioural training, the latter is more passive. And we know what officers are bias towards.

  30. You can't teach the unteachable. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I have an aquaintance that is a master of martial arts. He's worked as a bouncer for decades in some very tough bars. He's also worked within the criminal system in various capacities dealing with some of the most violent offenders. He also happens to have multiple degrees in psychology and counselling. His attitude towards martial arts and training is very scientific: screw tradition--use what works, change or discard what doesn't. After hundreds of altercations spanning across decades he is extremely capable of both reading crowds, people, diffusing situations with mere conversation, and applying physical resolutions when no alternatives remain.

    Over the years he's worked with many LEOs, spec ops. and other "highly trained" men. He's taught only a few of them a thing or two--only the ones that were willing to admit that they didn't know everything and actually *wanted* to improve their trade craft. Over the years he's been asked to consult with various policed departments, and in his experience, most officers are so egotistical, thinking "what could I possibly learn from a civilian" that they just don't care to even try. To his dismay, most don't even *want* to learn better martial arts--despite the fact that their chosen line of work will put them into situations where it very well could save their life. In his experience most of them, including their trainers, think that they have it all figured out and there is nothing more to learn, and that what they teach is the best information and training possible--and yet he has repeatedly demonstrated to them how easily he can overpower them and how useless many of their training ideas are.

    Current practices in many respects of their training is actually teaching them to do things that put them into positions of greater risk.

    A simple example is how officers currently wear their guns canted forwards. Have you ever asked why? It makes drawing the gun much, *much* slower requiring difficult mechanics in the shoulder. The answer is simple--they want to be able to also draw their gun while seated in their car. So, for the off chance that they may need to draw from seated in their car, say a 0.5% chance of need, they severely weaken their 99.5% need to draw quickly in any other scenario. To handle the seated case, they could just use a cross draw or have a weapon mounted for easy reach on their dash or console.

    Clearly we don't have the best minds at work here.

    1. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by tompaulco · · Score: 1

      Funny how all of the police officers that all of the Anonymous Cowards know are all mean bullies that won't listen to nobody nohow. Sounds like the Anonymous Cowards needs to get some better friends. All of the Police Officers I know or have interacted with have been courteous, kindly and understanding.

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
    2. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That says *nothing* about their willingness to learn new skills that would better equip them to do their job safer and better.

    3. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Challenge any cop's abilities or knowledge and see how their attitude changes--that would be a truer test of their character.

    4. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by jmcvetta · · Score: 1

      Personally, I've never interacted with a cop who wasn't a lazy, cowardly, meat-headed bully scumbag with little concern for the law and open contempt for his fellow citizens. Villains and thugs every last one.

      Have you really had such radically different experiences? I'm a big nerd, totally non-violent. The kind of person who when I was younger and stupider thought the pigs were obviously on my side. Then I lived in nasty filthy violent American big cities for a while, and saw what contemptible gangsters the cops really are.

      Are you speaking from lived experience, or from what the bigmedia told you to think about the pigs?

    5. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by Foobar+of+Borg · · Score: 1

      Funny how all of the police officers that all of the Anonymous Cowards know are all mean bullies that won't listen to nobody nohow. Sounds like the Anonymous Cowards needs to get some better friends. All of the Police Officers I know or have interacted with have been courteous, kindly and understanding.

      Where I live now, I would agree with you. Atlanta cops on the other hand (as well as a few other cities) are the scum of the earth.

    6. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, you seem to have learned how to call people names... how much better would the conversation about police behavior be if the words "thug", "villian", "pig", and the like were all removed from people's vocabulary?

    7. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      A simple example is how officers currently wear their guns canted forwards. Have you ever asked why? It makes drawing the gun much, *much* slower requiring difficult mechanics in the shoulder. The answer is simple--they want to be able to also draw their gun while seated in their car. So, for the off chance that they may need to draw from seated in their car, say a 0.5% chance of need, they severely weaken their 99.5% need to draw quickly in any other scenario. To handle the seated case, they could just use a cross draw or have a weapon mounted for easy reach on their dash or console.

      Clearly we don't have the best minds at work here.

      Pretty sure they are canted forward to make it difficult to sneak up behind a cop and draw their weapon.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    8. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are two unfortunate things at play here:
      1) People with certain psychological profiles are drawn to the LEO professions.
      2) Once in an LEO profession they tend to deal with the scum of society on a regular basis--thus further biasing and conditioning their attitude towards citizens. It is blatantly *obvious* why they don't trust citizens and think very poorly of them once you consider this--they deal all day long with punks, gang bangers, violent people, and crooks. They are trained to assume the worst for the sake of caution--unfortunately this yields suboptimal results in some cases--which become the high profile "accidents" we see in the news. What we don't see are the thousands of cases where this caution bore fruit and saved the officers, bystanders, or otherwise helped actually result in a safer city.

      Million dollar question: how to break the cycle?

    9. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am quite curious about your experiences. Call you give us examples?

      I don't know how many interactions I've had with the police, but in my almost 70 years of life I'd say about 20, most of which were speeding and racing, with a suspected breaking and entering, and another of vandalism. This was all in various places in the deep south.

      Only twice have I been subjected to the cops behaving badly.
      I was actually afraid one time - but I was guilty and a teenager then. One the other hand, he let me go an hour in the back of his car and a lengthy lecture on behavior.

      More typically, I was speeding or had run a stop sign. The cops gets my license and registration, (which in my state the cop is required by law to always ask for), tells me to stop doing that, and usually gives me a ticket, but not always.

      Here is the most extreme interaction I ever had with the police.
      One night (pitch black, no streetlights) I ran outside with my gun because I though a woman was being sexually assaulted in the street near my house.
      I fired two shots into the ground and yelled "I'm calling the police". A policeman comes up from the dark and says "we're already here"
      It was two cops trying to take away a screaming woman who was freaking out on drugs. I know for sure what had happened because I later found out who it was from my neighbor who was already on the scene.
      You know what they did to me? Told me to stop shooting because they were trying to get things under control and I wasn't helping. I went back inside.
      I ran into the cop that was on the scene a few weeks later. I apologized about that night and he said to forget it, it happens.

      I have not enumerated all my interactions with the police, but overall I can say that my experiences with the police have not been as bad as a certain megalomaniac boss I once had.

      One thing, though, that I am absolutely positive about, is that the word "cowardly" only applies to a tiny minority of policeman.
      I once came upon a wreck where a car had overturned and was engulfed in flames.
      I saw a cop race up to a burning car and dart into the flames to stick his head into the window to see if anyone was in there.
      That is what kind of people most cops are like.

    10. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Discharging your firearm as you approach an unknown situation??

      **STUPID**

      He was absolutely right--all you were doing was potentially putting gas on a fire.

    11. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Pretty sure they are canted forward to make it difficult to sneak up behind a cop and draw their weapon.

      Umm, no. Go try it both ways and see what difference it makes. This is what makes the difference--not theory but actual practical experience--what *really* tends to happen during situations, not hypotheticals.

      I associate with the fast draw crowd (one former world champion even), and they have shown me on several occasions the superior draw speeds gained by better mechanics. The angle of the holster and how you draw *matters*. Improving it could save a cop's life. Beats me why so many just don't care--they think they know enough already--that simply having a gun at all is sufficient to save them.

      Ever see the video that inspired the 21-foot rule for cops engaging someone armed with a knife? A fast draw could prevent that. So could *good* martial training to handle knife opponents. (Not hypotheticals--but from someone that's been there, done that, many times and mastered it and knows what does and does not *actually* work in real situations.)

    12. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by tompaulco · · Score: 1

      Are you speaking from lived experience, or from what the bigmedia told you to think about the pigs?

      How can I possibly NOT be speaking from experience? How can my only experience with cops possibly be from what I see on Tv (Which, BTW, TV at least lately paints cops as being far worse than criminals. Remorseless killing machines who kill people, especially minorities with wanton abandon)? If I was less than 5 years old, there might be some chance I had never encountered a cop.
      But, in fact I am 45 years old, have interacted with perhaps 100 cops, and my WORST experience with a cop was one in which I was pulled over in a bad side of town due to suspicious behavior. That being, when I passed a poorly marked freeway entrance to get the heck out of where I was (late at night after a concert, and unfamiliar with the area), I backed up on an otherwise empty street, and got the heck out of there. The cop thought I saw him down at the next interchange and was trying to flee. Only an idiot or somebody extremely guilty would do back up and get on a freeway after seeing a cop, but I explained that I was nervous about the area, did not see him at all and was extremely interested in getting out of there. He gave me a warning, which was nice, because I was definitely worked up about where I was and trying to get out of there, and I was kind of short with him. I also may have had a slight odor of marijuana, although I have never smoked so much as a cigarette. I probably had enough residue on me to qualify as being arrestable, although I did not partake (never have, never will). The people sitting next to us at the concert were smoking pot.
      Other interactions have included when I accidentally set the alarm on the band room at the junior high instead of turning it off when I opened the room up so that the band could practice (being entrusted by the director to do so on that occasion), multiple times when I was reporting robberies, one time when some robbers used my yard as a getaway path, one time when a person who was renting a separate suite that is part of my house died mysteriously, four or five times when I was younger I got speeding tickets, and was occasionally short with the officers, especially when I thought I WAS going the speed limit, but it was in fact artificially lower to increase revenue for the city, and some people I know are police officers, so I know them socially. All of them are good honest, and teachable people.

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
    13. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by Oligonicella · · Score: 1

      Have you really had such radically different experiences?

      I certainly have. I've worked in numerous cities and I have never once come across the atmosphere you describe. I have met and been friends with a number of officers and none of them match that description.

      Your description of "every last" cop is so antithetical to my experience (and blatantly biased) that I have to assume that you're the common denominator, not the police.

    14. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Discharging your firearm as you approach an unknown situation??

      **STUPID**

      He was absolutely right--all you were doing was potentially putting gas on a fire.

      The point is they didn't act like cowards or bullies. They didn't empty their guns at me, tase me, or arrest me, but simply told me the situation was under control.

    15. Re:You can't teach the unteachable. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Funny how all of the police officers that all of the Anonymous Cowards know are all mean bullies that won't listen to nobody nohow. Sounds like the Anonymous Cowards needs to get some better friends. All of the Police Officers I know or have interacted with have been courteous, kindly and understanding.

      Where I live now, I would agree with you. Atlanta cops on the other hand (as well as a few other cities) are the scum of the earth.

      I live in DeKalb county south of Ponce (adjacent to Atlanta) for about 20 years now. I've been stopped for traffic three times and got one ticket. All were done professionally and with no bad cop BS. The fourth time, I was being chased by a marked-car cop with his lights on after I ran a red light in front of him. I outran him and he gave up. There was no shooting at me or high-speed (by the cop) chase through a relatively busy area.
      Twice I asked "what's going on here" during some activity that I walked up on. I got an answer without any tough-guy BS.

      It makes me wonder what could be so different between Atlanta and the adjacent county that your experiences were so bad.
      On the other hand NOT ONE POSTER has related a bad experience that they actually had themselves. It's all vague name-calling.

  31. As Designed by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 1

    The fact that there is still no official, nationwide, legally-required (upon pain of zero Fed cash for anything) system to record and disseminate statistics of all LEO-involved violence up to and including deaths (or more accurately: murder by cop of minorities) by every method is not just a casual mistake.

    This is also why social (mobile) media is so despised by the LEO crowd: it exposes their abuses to world, where in the 'good old days', well who *wouldn't* believe Officer Bob's statements that he 'had no choice' and 'felt threatened' by that no good Nig^h^h^h thug.

    1. Re:As Designed by tompaulco · · Score: 1

      murder by cop of minorities

      That's racist. Why is it wrong for a copy to kill a minority but okay for them to kill a white male? Why do we have rioting and looting when a minority hoodlum is killed, but when a white hoodlum is killed, it is not even news? This society is racist.

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
    2. Re:As Designed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shhhhhh, you're not supposed to mention that. Shut up, we've got self-contradictory narrative to sell to the peasants, and we can't have you fucking it up.

  32. A telling factor... by Firethorn · · Score: 1

    they're more willing to pay huge lawsuits?

    You know, this reminds me that there are police departments with, at any given time, a dozen or so improper use of force lawsuits against them, tens of millions in payouts a year, the department essentially treating said lawsuits like a cost of doing business(costs the city money, not them, not even their budget). Then there are neighboring cities/precincts that actually do their job correctly, DON'T kill a half a dozen or so people improperly every year, where ONE such lawsuit would be unusual.

    We don't so much have a bad officer problem in the USA, we have a bad police department problem. The 10% worst departments are responsible for a lot more than 90% of our problems with police.

    Responsible departments get rid of or reform 'bad egg' officers rather rapidly. Bad departments encourage them. See Sheriff Arpaio.

    --
    I don't read AC A human right
    1. Re:A telling factor... by circletimessquare · · Score: 1

      well said

      training (including weeding out people who try to become cops for the wrong reasons) and effective management are 1/10th-1/1,000th the price of the status quo and the lawsuits

      --
      intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
    2. Re:A telling factor... by Foobar+of+Borg · · Score: 1

      See Sheriff Arpaio.

      See also, the Atlanta Police Department. "De-escalation" is obviously not in their vocabulary, and they frequently pull shit while in plain clothes and not identifying themselves as police officers.

    3. Re:A telling factor... by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      I was about to moderate this discussion, but saw your post and decided to reply instead. Could you cite some examples of this? I live in Atlanta and have some activist acquaintances who would be interested in such things.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    4. Re:A telling factor... by Foobar+of+Borg · · Score: 1

      I was about to moderate this discussion, but saw your post and decided to reply instead. Could you cite some examples of this? I live in Atlanta and have some activist acquaintances who would be interested in such things.

      Just stuff I remember from years ago. I (thankfully!) haven't lived in Atlanta in a couple of decades, but I would be surprised if it changed. There was an off-duty cop on a bike who pointed a gun at a friend and shouted "FREEZE!" even though it's not certain what he was doing that was illegal. Then, there was the time I went through a red light that hadn't changed in about 10 minutes at 5 am (I assume it was broken). A police officer in his own car chased me down while flashing his high-beams at me. I assumed it was some nut or drugee, since this was downtown. I was chased by this guy until a police car with flashing lights blocked my path. I called out to the officer that some nut, right behind me, was chasing me. I was then informed that the "nut" was a police officer. They did not even give me a ticket, though. But, this was after the officer said I "must have enemies" and that was why I was scared of some random car flashing lights at me, and that even in other states, I should have known that car had a police officer in it. Basically, a line of shit so they could stay out of trouble if I complained.

      I could only imagine what would have happened if me or my friend were black. We would probably both be dead now.

    5. Re:A telling factor... by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      I was about to moderate this discussion, but saw your post and decided to reply instead. Could you cite some examples of this? I live in Atlanta and have some activist acquaintances who would be interested in such things.

      Just stuff I remember from years ago. I (thankfully!) haven't lived in Atlanta in a couple of decades, but I would be surprised if it changed. There was an off-duty cop on a bike who pointed a gun at a friend and shouted "FREEZE!" even though it's not certain what he was doing that was illegal. Then, there was the time I went through a red light that hadn't changed in about 10 minutes at 5 am (I assume it was broken). A police officer in his own car chased me down while flashing his high-beams at me. I assumed it was some nut or drugee, since this was downtown. I was chased by this guy until a police car with flashing lights blocked my path. I called out to the officer that some nut, right behind me, was chasing me. I was then informed that the "nut" was a police officer. They did not even give me a ticket, though. But, this was after the officer said I "must have enemies" and that was why I was scared of some random car flashing lights at me, and that even in other states, I should have known that car had a police officer in it. Basically, a line of shit so they could stay out of trouble if I complained.

      I could only imagine what would have happened if me or my friend were black. We would probably both be dead now.

      As someone who lived in downtown Atlanta (currently live way OTP, thank god) if that happened to me I would have grabbed my gun and put it on the front seat as I drove and then called the cops to report the person flashing at me and made a beeline for the closest precinct. Pulling over would be a great way to get robbed and possibly shot.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
  33. Cops often are the ones escalating the situation by sjbe · · Score: 1

    Huh? I think it's pretty safe to assume EVERY police officer, average or not, is ALWAYS interested in de-escalating a dangerous situation.

    You're not a minority are you? There are PLENTY of police who are the ones doing the escalating. One merely has to examine the data on excessive use of force by police and you will quickly understand that cops are NOT always interested in de-escalation.

  34. Police vs. Public by nospam007 · · Score: 0

    If people would only do the scientific thing and shut the fuck up and not talk to the police, ever, they would need much better police officers.

  35. Re:A conservative bias perpetuating dysfunction by tompaulco · · Score: 1

    Yes. If you've taken food because you're hungry you should not go to jail.

    I would tend to agree with this, but we would have to think of how to financially support the businesses as they would be the ones having to pay for the service of feeding the hungry. However, the vast, vast majority of people who steal things are not doing it because they are hungry. They are doing it because they want stuff, or they need stuff to pawn so they can get drugs.

    --
    If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
  36. Protect and serve by sjbe · · Score: 2

    I don't think this is realistic. You really can't blame people for wanting to protect their own lives.

    Sure I can. They signed up voluntarily for the duty. "Protect and serve". That means it is their job to get in harms way when necessary to protect the community and enforce the laws. I'm not saying they have to be stupid about it but their job should be to protect others first.

    People who choose to sacrifice themselves for others are lauded because what they've done is extraordinary, heroic, above and beyond what can reasonably be expected. You're saying that we should expect extraordinary heroism.

    No. What we should expect police to not behave like they are in a war zone. What we should expect is for them to actually try to save the lives of others. We expect them to behave like they belong in civilized society and not brutalize the people they are supposed to protect.

    If you demand that police de-prioritize their own safety, they won't last long because their job does regularly place them in dangerous situations

    Police work is demonstrably not as dangerous as many other professions. Jobs that are more dangerous incude: Truck driver, farming, construction worker, airline pilot, taxicab drivers, timber cutters, roofers, fishermen, structural metal workers and electricians. All of those professions have higher fatality rates than police officers. Injuries? Cops don't even make the list. While nobody would argue that police work doesn't have risk, the risks are overblown and in many cases caused by the very actions of the police themselves.

    I'm not making that fatuous old claim that being a police officer is an extraordinarily dangerous job -- but the only reason it isn't extraordinarily dangerous is because officers are allowed to put their own safety first.

    It's only extraordinarily dangerous if they are stupid about it. Gearing up like they are going to war is tantamount to picking a fight with their community. Their own actions are provocative and puts them in greater danger. Nobody is asking them to jump in front of a bullet. Use of force by police in the US is WAY higher than in other parts of the world. They use force because they can, not because they have to.

  37. Re:A conservative bias perpetuating dysfunction by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 1

    Cops aren't going to be psychic, obviously, but what we see in the U.S. right now goes beyond basic mistakes into the areas of arrogance and bad training.

    Take the case of Eric Garner. I am still confused how anyone could take his actions as "resisting arrest" enough to warrant any type of force, let alone potentially deadly force. The talking heads on TV saw that as "resisting" when I, a reasonable person (I think), saw it as totally unjustified. That seems to be a training deficiency.

    What about the recent death of teenager where witnesses saw the cops "high fiveing" the corpse? That's arrogance or worse.

    I think it takes getting rid of the bad seeds that flock the law enforcement who want to be Eric Cartman and finding the right psychological profiles that fit the job. However its reactionaries that get drawn into law enforcement. The people that really want to help end up being social workers or the like.

  38. Police HAVE to accept some risk by sjbe · · Score: 1

    How many people can a dead cop protect?

    I don't think anyone's asking them to jump in front of a bullet. Though they are generally wearing body armor so they are better equipped than you or me. But their right to personal safety is not without bounds and they cannot do their job without accepting some risk. They signed up for the job and they knew it was risky. They don't have to be stupid about it but if someone is in danger I absolutely expect them to make reasonable efforts to help even if that involves some amount of risk to themselves. If they want a completely safe job they should have done something else.

    A police officer's FIRST duty is to keep themselves alive so they can uphold the law and protect as many people as feasible.

    If that were true a lot more people would have died on 9/11 than actually did. Fire fighters and cops ran TOWARDS danger and saved lives which did protect as many people as possible. A police officer's first duty is supposed to be to the people they serve. If they are not willing to accept any risk to their own well being then they should pick another profession.

    1. Re:Police HAVE to accept some risk by Chas · · Score: 1

      How many people can a dead cop protect?

      I don't think anyone's asking them to jump in front of a bullet.

      That's just the thing though, that's EXACTLY what's being asked here.
      Hell, your quip about them being in body armor shows that there's that expectation there.

      You ever been SHOT? Hurts like a motherfucker!

      You ever been shot in body armor? It hurts LESS, but isn't like you simply iron-man through getting shot. It still hurts like fuck and you can still be injured by it.

      Can they manage risk? SURE!

      But when bad shit goes down, their FIRST priority is to keep THEMSELVES alive.

      If they think they can save others while holding to that priority? GREAT!

      If they think they can't? Well, it sucks to be the other guy...

      You keep talking about "their job". You don't even know what their job IS. You have some romantic notion that a police officer's job is to play superhero to the public and put themselves in danger to rescue people.

      BZZZZT! WRONG!

      Police are LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS. Their job is to stop, apprehend, and detain lawbreakers.

      They're not rescue personnel. PERIOD.

      If they ACT like this, on occasion, more power to them! They're no different than any other citizen acting as a good samaritan. But it isn't their job.

      --


      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
    2. Re:Police HAVE to accept some risk by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Right, it hurts like a motherfucker, so you should shoot first and potentially kill an innocent life just to avoid some motherfucking pain? I don't want that cop on the street. That cop is more dangerous than the gangbanger.

    3. Re:Police HAVE to accept some risk by Chas · · Score: 1

      Oh Christ's Wounds...

      Will you at least MAKE an attempt to read the thread to see what's being talked about?

      A police officer's first duty is to keep themselves alive.
      Their second duty is to enforce the law.

      At NO point is it their duty to rescue people at the risk of their own life.

      What was being implied was that they should be putting themselves in front of people as meat shields, because they're wearing body armor...

      Which is BULLSHIT.

      Now, go back and READ the discussion before busting in with more idiocy.

      --


      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
    4. Re:Police HAVE to accept some risk by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      If a cop isn't willing to take any risk to do their job right, they should quit (or be sent to jail).

      A firefighter who refuses to go into a burning building because fire could hurt him will be quickly fired. But a cop that refuses to do his job well is promoted and protected by idiots like you.

  39. You don't need training by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You need to punish those in law WITH MORE RIGOUR and harsher judgement than you do the ordinary person who did those things.

    The cops who killed those people? Especially the chokehold death and the little kid, but anyone NOT ARMED? Do them for murder. Chair option open. EVEN IF it would be considered manslaughter or a lesser murder charge, put it at the top there.

    Oh, and you blathering on about how bad unions are, bollocks. Even if there were no union whatsoever (and their union is severely limited in what action they can take, so barely a union at all, really just group negotiation power), the cops would get away with it because prosecutors and attorney generals need the cops on their side or they will not get any help from the cops. Fuck all to do with the union. It's about the discretion police have for lying, by omission or flat out lies, with the presumption that they are telling the truth in a court of law (and, indeed, in the general public, as far as MSM is concerned).

    Kill an unarmed person? Killed by the numbers. Watch cops think before pulling a gun then.

  40. Only a few suspects are mentally ill by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just because someone is acting against the law doesn't mean they're unpredictable or mentally ill.

  41. Screw Science by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Literally, fuck science. Cops need to trust their instincts, not some beaker pusher or head shrink.

    1. Re:Screw Science by Foobar+of+Borg · · Score: 1

      Literally, fuck science. Cops need to trust their instincts, not some beaker pusher or head shrink.

      Another quality member of the Atlanta Police. Seriously. At least this one can write in complete sentences.

  42. Resign from the fucking job then. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you cant handle the job without whipping your gun out and shooting or taking your tazer or baton out and disabling people for *putting their hands up and then behind their back so you can arrest them* then fucking get out.

    Become a farmer.

    And discover what it's like in a REALLY dangerous job, but one where nobody knows about it or cares.

  43. Oink, oink by jmcvetta · · Score: 1

    Do I smell bacon?

  44. Intelligence means you can't be a cop. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    Let's not forget that having a high IQ precludes you from becoming a cop in the first place. They don't want thinkers, they want drones that toe the line.

  45. Re:A conservative bias perpetuating dysfunction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I helped set up a prison facility for exactly that problem. The only inmates in this minimum security / pre-release center were those whose only crimes were drug-related, stealing to support a substance abuse habit. The inmates were kept away from regular criminals (completely different facility, miles away from any other corrections facility) and given treatment for their substance abuse problems. We had a less than one percent repeat offense rate.

    If anyone in corrections is reading this, please contact the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Corrections and ask about the Longwood Correctional facility. It worked so well that I hope to see this success repeated in other states and countries.

  46. 3 months vs. 3 years education by jopsen · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Except 99% of the time it's not the cop that starts off being confrontational, it's some idiot wailing about their right to speed...

    I'm sure you're right about that, but officers are supposed to keep their cool and de-escalate the situation.

    Here is something to think about: US police officers typically have 3-4 months training, police officers in Norway and Denmark have ~3 years training.

    Sure, crime rates and access to guns have a major effect on police shootings, but training is a major part of what enables officers to remain calm and polite in the midst of a struggle.
    Here is a video of off-duty Swedish police officers breaking up a fight on the NY subway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    1. Re:3 months vs. 3 years education by reboot246 · · Score: 2

      I didn't see anybody breaking up a fight in that video. When the video starts, the fight is already over. All I saw were two handcuffed black men and a couple of off-duty cops waiting until the NYPD got there.

    2. Re:3 months vs. 3 years education by jopsen · · Score: 2

      I didn't see anybody breaking up a fight in that video. When the video starts, the fight is already over. All I saw were two handcuffed black men and a couple of off-duty cops waiting until the NYPD got there.

      Okay, fair enough it doesn't show the breaking up...
      But do notice how they ask the detainee if he is alright, if he is hurt... and so on...
      Notice that they don't sit on the guy, they hold him, yes, they apply force, but they do so respect and dignity (as trains professionals).

      Here is another normal day in the US: http://www.theguardian.com/us-...
      Notice how police officers sit on a guy with a prosthetic leg... And how when more arrive they seem to stand around more concern about covering for the video.

      I particularly note that when they start talking to him it's "I bet you have a gram of dope in your pocket". Rather than asking if the guy is hurt they escalate the conflict further.
      It doesn't matter if he has dope in his pocket, the officer can discover and resolve that later when you are sitting down at the station... But instead they try to intimidate him with at this stage unfounded and unnecessary accusations.

  47. mandatory drug testing by Dr.+Tom · · Score: 2

    I wonder how many cops take steroids, and whether 'roid rage is a factor in shootings. Or any other drugs for that matter. Drug testing for police is woefully lacking. http://www.quora.com/How-often...

    1. Re:mandatory drug testing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not many cops take steroids, but you can spot them if you know what to look for. Roid rage is not it. Dealing with a hostile stupid ass public is it. Alcohol is also a problem, more than drugs, but there are a few who have a drug problem (much less than the general population though). You want nicer cops? Don't be an asshole.

  48. How much training? by jopsen · · Score: 1

    >> training costs more than the taxpayers are willing to be taxed

    I doubt it. In fact, many local universities and other institutions are happy to donate this training.

    Donated training probably won't work at that scale... Police officers in Norway and Denmark (just to mention two places) have ~ 3 years training.
    How much does US police officers have? (I read that it's typically 3-4 months various places online).

    To get proper police training you probably need a police academy dedicated to the job, not a bunch of ad-hoc training sessions donated...

    Also de-escalation is often just about remaining calm, acting in a calm and orderly fashion while a crazy suspects yell at you. Or showing concern for suspects well-being once handcuffed. Largely it's about communication before things escalate to a point where you even consider applying force; reducing the risk that the officer ends up in a violent conflict. And it's about remaining calm while force is applied, reducing risk that suspects panic and suspect's willingness to fight back.

    1. Re:How much training? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One major point to consider is having overwhelming numbers if at all possible. Don't send cops out alone. Send them in pairs. That way they don't have to be all brave triggerhappy super macho men to stay alive. Most suspects are alone, instant 2 vs 1 situation encourages them to just give up without fighting. While a 1 vs 1 situation might give some suspects stupid ideas on how they overpower the cop and flee the scene. Cops need to remain calm and controlled, and NOT intimidating. Fight or flight is NOT what you want. You want to give suspects time to think. If suspects just react they are not that much different from wild animals. Give them time to think ans calm the situation. Most times they figure it's easier to give up. ( This kinda requires that the overall feeling among population is it's POSSIBLE to surrender to cops without getting shot or manhandled, so cops will actually have to behave and respect the suspects, no banging heads to car doors. Dealing punishmets is for courts, not for cops )

  49. Unmarked police cars by Firethorn · · Score: 1

    But, this was after the officer said I "must have enemies" and that was why I was scared of some random car flashing lights at me, and that even in other states, I should have known that car had a police officer in it.

    Just as a note, I've lived in 7 states. In NONE of them would I assume that a somebody flashing their high beams at me while following like police officers like to do is a cop or has good intentions.

    --
    I don't read AC A human right
  50. Re: A conservative bias perpetuating dysfunction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We liberals want to fix the reasons why said person felt necessary to commit that crime in the first place.

    "I liked his shoes. My government check wouldn't buy shoes like that. So i took his shoes. I don't know why he shot himself in the back." -Product of government handouts.

    Liberal deduction: Buy everyone nicer shoes with tax dollars and crime will reduce

    Conservative deduction: The shoes are irrelevant. Jackhole would have shot victim in the back for any reason. Jackhole needs to learn some pride in earning what he gets instead of just being a societal parasite.

    captcha: redneck. That's offensive.

  51. This is a good thing. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My understanding from the liberal media, and corporate thugs that are destroying the USA is that scientific thought is just a clever euphemism for racist white thoughts. I have also been told that I must abolish science and it's inherent unconscious white bias from my mental programming. I must replace the power of science with the power of Hip-Hop. Me must use Hip Hop to train our police forces. A nation of Hip Hop trained police officers will create a synergistic harmonious earth that will allow all peoples to flourish, while not subjugating the black man. Yes instead of police acadamies, we need to create hip hop acadamies. Hip Hop can provide the collective communal values that will rescue our cities out of the morass they have become.

  52. Re:A conservative bias perpetuating dysfunction by umghhh · · Score: 1

    I thought liberals in US are people that dispense bullets liberally?

  53. The police aren't the military. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If they are, you need to disband them: you're already paying a shitload on one army already. And you're not supposed to be at war with your own citizens.

  54. 98% wrong. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nope, nowhere near the number of 99% is not the cop. 99% of the time *the cop claims* they started it. But based on the views of cameras of police actions where they STILL claimed "he was reaching for his gun" or "she lashed out at me with her cigarette", it was shown to be complete and utter bollocks.

    It's mostly the cops fucking things up.

  55. Norway? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You mean it's easier to police a monoethnic country that lacks a permenant black welfare underclass beset by illegitimacy and failing inner city union schools?

    Do tell...

  56. Re:A conservative bias perpetuating dysfunction by KGIII · · Score: 1

    I had a cop write me up for speeding and tell me to put my cigarette out. I threw it on the ground. He told me to pick it up. I told him he could pick it up and use it as evidence for my littering ticket. He did and I did pay the fines without contesting them.

    How I did not get an OUI that night is beyond me. I really should have gone to jail. I was strung right out, almost drooling on myself and driving. Oddly, I was in Georgia at the time. I was on the circle that goes around the city, multi-lane highway - I forgot the route number, and had just shot up (while driving) not long before that.

    I never did get an OUI. I never did kill anyone or even have an accident that I was found at fault for. I have pissed off a number of cops but none has beaten me to a pulp yet. I have lots of cop stories but it would take too long to share them all.

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  57. "Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me)" by Moskit · · Score: 2

    This book by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson has a huge chapter devoted to "mistakes" done on purpose by Police.

    Policemen are typically trained that once they have a "probable cause" they push, deceive and trick people into confession, regardless if other facts may completely change the cause into improbable. They act just like in the movies where "greater good" is more important than trampling the truth, except in movies it's usually shown as fully justified, while in real life there is too many mistakes.

    "He must be guilty because he was sentenced" and other cognitive issues are aplenty.

  58. Mandatory psych evaluation, no military training by denzacar · · Score: 1

    People with mental issues should be unemployable as police or security officers.
    Timothy Loehmann, who shot Tamir Rice, simply joined police force in a different city after he resigned facing termination for "emotional instability".

    The other thing that should not be allowed to happen is the militarization of police force.
    Neither through pumping surplus military weapons and equipment through billion dollar "reutilization programs", nor through military tactics and training.

    It's Special Weapons and Tactics, not POLICE weapons and tactics.
    If all your cops act or look like SWAT teams do... That's not policing crime.
    That's a country/state/county/city trying to control its citizens through "superior force".

    And police will get BOTH military tactics and training AND mentally unstable police officers when it starts dipping into the pool of military veterans, coming home from a decade or so of war.

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    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens