Police brutality, how should it be handled?

[chris89300]

Hehe got some nice relevant links if anyone's interested:

http://www.theonion.com/articles/the-pros-and-cons-of-militarizing-the-police,36717/
http://thebiggestproblemintheuniverse.com/episode-15/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUdHIatS36A

Edit: the Youtube link is a John Oliver video, it's pretty funny .

 

[Qizx]

My big issue isn't that there are bad cops and good cops, you'll have that in any profession anywhere. My issue is that the bad cops often times get away with FLAGRANT abuses of power. I'll echo what other people have said: Have a lapel or somehow mounted camera at all times when the officer is on duty. This alone would solve almost all issues.

 

[Andrey Sirotin]

Sup guys.

I've just seen yet another police brutality video, as usual without provocation and I wanted to know what you guys thought about it.

More specifically, how we, as citizens, should handle it.
But, and this is the tricky part, not individually. Because as we all know, if an individual goes up against a cop in court, the citizen will pay dearly, but never the cop, even if all the evidence is against that cop.

So, as the people who PUT FOOD ON COPS' TABLES, how should we handle this? Cuz let's be honest, they're little more than garbage men. Public servants. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for garbage men, but not in the slightest for cops.

And for the smartasses: YES, I know there are good, even great cops, hell, I personally know a few, but most of them are little more than abusive little shits, so the topic is about the latter.

Well, there's your problem, you don't respect the cops. And the majority of people who get into violent confrontations with the police do not respect the badge. If the LEO stops you, follow their instructions while announcing your actions aloud (they have mics and cameras) And if you feel that your rights have been violated, talk to their super.

 

[CrystalViolet]

I used to be a police detective and worked specialist roles. I fucking hate myself for it. The truth is that I had to enforce laws that I can't honestly justify. The police have far too many powers and get away with so much abuse. Police academies are pitri dishes for ego cultures. Don't get me wrong, I worked with some wonderful people, but there's little room for question or creativity. It's like police forces are tailored to filter egoists into the higher ranks. I'm not at all proud of my time with the police. I've witnessed and reported abuses first-hand, and it was pretty much par for the course to intimidate and belittle "weaker" members of society. Do let me stress, though, that I've also witnessed some wonderful acts of kindness and self-sacrifice from some of my colleagues.

I must point out that I never worked in the US were it seems to be twenty-fold worse than where I was, and where I worked could easily be described as a police state. At least we had an at least somewhat independent ombudsman but it seems like American police can get away with series State-sanctioned abuse and violations of human rights.

As for what we can do about it, we're not really going to see a huge change without some serious overhaul of the training, recruitment, and even culture within police forces. In the meantime the best that one can do is inform yourself of your rights, exercise them, and use that knowledge when contacting organisations specifically tasked with investigating policing abuses.

 

[wildstyle96]

I'm surprised no one has even gotten onto the topic of the NYPD...
They're in another abuse related news report today, sorry its Slate.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/10/07/nypd_beating_video_teenager_surrendering_during_marijuana_arrest_is_attacked.html?wpsrc=fol_tw

And on the issue of ex-military vehicles?
No average police force needs that gear. Even SWAT have abused their use of such vehicles, look up the infamous "batteram" B-100 assault vehicle. Coming from a family with background in the military, having sat inside military trucks and vehicles I can say that even the trucks are nothing compared to something a civilian or police force should have.

In the incident of Ferguson, if the situation was so bad (which it only escalated to because of the police) then dedicated riot police such as you find in the UK or Australia, should have been called in. Not men in gear on par with the military. Did that honestly look like something that would de-escalate the situation? They looked like SWAT teams about to take down a crowd. Especially the snipers posted on roof tops.

 

[Verlander]

snip

----CUT----

It's not worth arguing with someone who is comfortable in the world they've created for themselves. Reality will deal with them in their own way.

 

[Verlander]

----CUT----

It's not worth arguing with someone who is comfortable in the world they've created for themselves. Reality will deal with them in their own way.

 

[Thaluikhain]

In the incident of Ferguson, if the situation was so bad (which it only escalated to because of the police) then dedicated riot police such as you find in the UK or Australia, should have been called in. Not men in gear on par with the military. Did that honestly look like something that would de-escalate the situation? They looked like SWAT teams about to take down a crowd. Especially the snipers posted on roof tops.

Also, notably, they were wearing woodland camouflage. You don't wear that in an urban environment unless you want to look military.