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FBI Chief Links Video Scrutiny of Police To Rise In Violent Crime (nytimes.com)
HughPickens.com writes: This year, murders have spiked in major cities across America. According to FBI director James B. Comey the additional scrutiny and criticism of police officers that has come in the wake of highly publicized incidents of police brutality may be the main reason for the recent increase in violent crime. "I don't know whether that explains it entirely, but I do have a strong sense that some part of the explanation is a chill wind that has blown through American law enforcement over the last year," says Comey. He says he's been told by many police leaders that officers who normally would stop to question suspicious people are opting to stay in their patrol cars for fear of having their encounters recorded and become video sensations.
That hesitancy has led to missed opportunities to apprehend suspects and has decreased the police presence on the streets of the country's most violent cities. Officers tell Comey that youths surround police when they get out of their vehicles, taunting them and making videos of the spectacle with their cell phones. "In today's YouTube world, there are officers reluctant to get out of their cars and do the work that controls violent crime," says Comey. "Our officers are answering 911 calls, but avoiding the informal contact that keeps bad guys from standing around, especially with guns."
That hesitancy has led to missed opportunities to apprehend suspects and has decreased the police presence on the streets of the country's most violent cities. Officers tell Comey that youths surround police when they get out of their vehicles, taunting them and making videos of the spectacle with their cell phones. "In today's YouTube world, there are officers reluctant to get out of their cars and do the work that controls violent crime," says Comey. "Our officers are answering 911 calls, but avoiding the informal contact that keeps bad guys from standing around, especially with guns."
You try keeping your cool when surrounded by a small mob, taunting you, daring you to make a mistake. Add in the facts that anyone of them could be armed, and at least half of them will quickly be behind you. They start playing for the camera more than anything. How do you gain and keep the respect of a group of people, whose sole goal in an encounter is to show they world how little they respect you?
Sandra Bland didn't.
Martin didn't interfere with police. He was stalked down a blind alley by an aggressive man with a gun who had indicated a desire to hunt. He defended himself when he thought himself cornered, according to the Stand your Ground laws, and was executed by Zimmerman.
Learn to love Alaska
You have been told wrong. Police can detain you for many reasons, even if you have done nothing wrong.
There is no legal requirement for you to carry or show an ID. However, if you don't show an ID and police have a legitimate reason to need to establish your identity, they can detain you while they determine your identity. Although that's unpleasant, I don't see how they could do their job without that ability, but you are welcome to suggest alternative policies.
What it is with America these days is that violent crime and police violence are both down, so people are less used to it and more sensitive to it. That's good. What is also happening with America these days is that people are increasingly questioning authority. That's also a good thing. However, some people have a tendency of veering into first world problems, self-righteous indignation, and plain whining, and you're getting close to that.
You don't like how your local police handle stops? Well, it's in your hands: local police procedures are determined by your local government, probably the easiest level of government to get involved in and changed. Of course, you do need to formulate what police procedures you actually want to have in place.
Martin was cornered, down the alley he lived on. When Zimmerman blocked the exit of the alley, Martin attacked the armed aggressor.
Zimmerman stalked and threatened Martin, and Martin defended himself, so Zimmerman killed him in cold blood.
Learn to love Alaska
Sorry, the reality is that I don't put myself or my family in a situation where a cop is likely to kill us. I am at far more risk from people who do things that get themselves killed by cops than I am by the cops. Show me a video of a cop gunning down someone who is calm and following directions and then I will be worried. The reality is that cops don't appear to be just shooting people for no reason at the moment. In fact, I am about as likely to get killed in a high speed pursuit as I am to be purposefully killed by a cop. Oddly enough we are in the 'struck by lightning' sort of percentages here.
Because I can control myself I am pretty sure I am far less likely than the average to be killed by a cop (like a .0001% chance a year). If I just compare that to my chance of being murdered by a bad guy/girl (.004%) than it could be concerning (yes its a fraction but a measurable fraction) but add in other crimes and its not even close (2.9%). Now a cop on the other hand has a much higher chance of getting killed (.014%).
The 'facts' clearly show that if cops suddenly became more aggressive and killed 2x the numbers they currently do and if it reduced just the murder rate by 5% the average person would be better off. Hell, for the most law-abiding citizens even 1% or a .1% change would probably be beneficial.