How are we as a people to respond to things like this?

[Gishin]

See how well you live without them.

 

[HollandScotts]

See how well you live without them.

I would live just fine. I can live with more freedom and less safety, especially since I consider the cops as dangerous as any criminal out there, if not more so.

 

[joebudda]

99% of cops are good, honest, working people just trying to do their job. But yeah, guys like this ruin it for them all.

I don't buy it. If there are so many "good cops" like you say then why don't we ever hear about any of them busting the bad cops?

There are countless videos online of cops abusing people who have harmed no one. Maybe it is so common today due to the ability of people to take videos, but if this is the case then this only highlights a major problem that wasn't being pointed out to this extent by the media or government, the people needed to start documenting it for their own protection.

Just last week a video was released where a cop went to arrest a young woman for riding her bike on the sidewalk. He sprayed himself in the face with pepper spray trying to use it on her, then comes over after two other cops have her held down and he punches her in the face. All because she rode her bike on the sidewalk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IHL1_CZExs&feature=related

And something new pops up pretty much every week. And who protects us from the police if it is illegal for us to protect ourselves from them?
So if as you say most of the cops are good, why are none of these "good cops" stopping the "bad cops" when we know there are many if the videos tell us anything at all. And if these "good cops" allow these "bad cops" to get away with their antics are these "good cops" really "good cops" at all?

 

[Ringo84]

I don't buy it. If there are so many "good cops" like you say then why don't we ever hear about any of them busting the bad cops?

That's the exact same argument we hear used against moderate Muslims: "Well, if they're so many moderate Muslims out there, why don't we hear from them?" Just because you don't hear from them doesn't mean they don't exist.
Ringo

 

[joebudda]

That's the exact same argument we hear used against moderate Muslims: "Well, if they're so many moderate Muslims out there, why don't we hear from them?" Just because you don't hear from them doesn't mean they don't exist.
Ringo

Is the job of police suppose to be to protect people? Wouldn't that be also from "bad cops"?

Is the job of moderate Muslims suppose to be to protect people?

The arguments are no where logically comparable. But I do understand the cognitive dissonance that might drive you to such a conclusion. Because such a conclusion is contrary to the dogma we have been indoctrinated into throughout out lives.

 

[Ringo84]

Is the job of police suppose to be to protect people? Wouldn't that be also from "bad cops"?

Is the job of moderate Muslims suppose to be to protect people?

The arguments are no where logically comparable. But I do understand the cognitive dissonance that must drive you to such a conclusion.

I'm not saying that moderate Muslims and cops are comparable. I'm saying that your argument that good cops don't exist because you supposedly never hear from them is identical to the "no moderate Muslims because we never hear from them" argument.

You missed my point completely.
Ringo

 

[joebudda]

I'm not saying that moderate Muslims and cops are comparable. I'm saying that your argument that good cops don't exist because you supposedly never hear from them is identical to the "no moderate Muslims because we never hear from them" argument.

You missed my point completely.
Ringo

Then would you care to define what a "good cop" is? Then we can take it from there.

 

[Ringo84]

What does that have to do with the point I'm trying to make?
Ringo

 

[joebudda]

What does that have to do with the point I'm trying to make?
Ringo

Clarification. Don't you think it is important for a productive discussion if we are on the same page regarding the terms we are using?

And you are making a point regrading what a "good cop" is. So I am asking for you to define what you believe a "good cop" is.

 

[Ringo84]

Fair enough. In my book, a "good cop" is someone who stays within the boundaries of the law and helps society by capturing criminals and helping those in need.
Ringo

 

[Anovah]

That's what I mean. That's a good start. When we are ignored, then what?

Assuming people are ACTUALLY doing that and that is ignored (Although if the calls are loud enough I really feel like they are almost impossible to ignore) then the citizens need to start voting people out and voting people in who are willing to fire some of these jerks like that lying scumbag Scarlata (hell, find a good DA that's willing to prosecute).

The first guy that needs to get voted out is Prince George's Sheriff Michael Jackson. A good replacement seems like Berwyn Heights police officer Pvt. Amir Johnson who was quoted as saying...

"I never imagined, when I set out to protect people from the crooks and the criminals, that I would have to protect them from my fellow police officers,"

Also I could foresee some legislation being passed here. Start a petition and put it on the ballot.

Another thing to tackle would be to take the profit out of it. From the article...

"Federal policies and funding stemming from the war on drugs gave local police financial incentives for making a high volume of drug arrests,..."

and

"The Prince George's Police budget shows that the county expects to spend at least $2.5 million this year reaped from assets seized in drug raids."

I could probably think of more things but really, spreading info around like you are doing with this post does a lot. When the voices get loud enough, elected officials cannot ignore their constituency without getting fired (i.e. voted out) I myself plan on writing a letter to the local and state representatives.

Who's with me?

 

[joebudda]

Fair enough. In my book, a "good cop" is someone who stays within the boundaries of the law and helps society by capturing criminals and helping those in need.
Ringo

So then would that mean a "good cop" that looks the other way regarding the actions of a "bad cop" still maintains their "good cop" status? Or is a cop that looks the other way just as guilty by allowing these actions to continue without busting these "bad cops"?

And if a "good cop" is obligated to bust a "bad cop" and we never hear about "good cops" busting "bad cops", how many "good cops" are there really if it is apparent we have an issue regarding "bad cops". If we were only to use the many videos of police abuse to point out "bad cops"? And the problem only gets bigger if we were to also take into account complaints as well.

 

[Ringo84]

So then would that mean a "good cop" that looks the other way regarding the actions of a "bad cop" still maintains their "good cop" status? Or is a cop that looks the other way just as guilty by allowing these actions to continue without busting these "bad cops"?

Just as guilty.

And if a "good cop" is obligated to bust a "bad cop" and we never hear about "good cops" busting "bad cops", how many "good cops" are there really if it is apparent we have an issue regarding "bad cops". If we were only to use the many videos of police abuse to point out "bad cops"? And the problem only gets bigger if we were to also take into account complaints as well.

There may simply not be that many "bad cops" out there. I imagine that "bad cops" are the exception - not the rule.
Ringo

 

[joebudda]

Just as guilty.

There may simply not be that many "bad cops" out there. I imagine that "bad cops" are the exception - not the rule.
Ringo

Or maybe the "good cops" are the exception to the rule now days.

http://stopthedrugwar.org/taxonomy/term/27

 

[JCFantasy23]

I have been reading news stories like this for the past two years and it's just scary stuff to me. They should be SUED and I'm glad they are trying, and the public awareness needs to be made known. The autopsies showing the dogs shot from behind should say something. This is outrageous and it's a shame it's happening more and more to people. These people at least had some power in the community, it's just as sad when it happens to ordinary people who stand no chance.

 

[S53]

I would live just fine. I can live with more freedom and less safety, especially since I consider the cops as dangerous as any criminal out there, if not more so.

I don't buy it. If there are so many "good cops" like you say then why don't we ever hear about any of them busting the bad cops?

Wow. You people really hate cops don't you? I can't even begin to understand how you could hate the people who protect us. Sure, there are a few bad apples. But you can't judge all of them based on the actions of a few.

And Holland, that's nonsense and you know it. Live with more freedom and less safety? Wow.

 

[HollandScotts]

There may simply not be that many "bad cops" out there. I imagine that "bad cops" are the exception - not the rule.

Nearly every cop that participated in this travesty is a bad cop. Why aren't the "good cops" coming out and siding with the victims in this and exposing the corruption of their counterparts?

Wow. You people really hate cops don't you? I can't even begin to understand how you could hate the people who protect us. Sure, there are a few bad apples. But you can't judge all of them based on the actions of a few.

By and large, they're not out there to protect us. Not these kinda cops. Detectives that solve crime, that's one things, these SWAT guys, and patrol officers, and troopers, they just want run people's lives, and have the power they never had growing up.

And Holland, that's nonsense and you know it. Live with more freedom and less safety? Wow.

It's not nonsense at all. We've been living with the opposite for so long, and look what we have, the government conducting paramilitary raids on innocent people, and covering it up.

Hell, these people are lucky. Not everyone that has one of these unfortunate encounters with cops lives to tell their side of the story.

 

[joebudda]

Wow. You people really hate cops don't you? I can't even begin to understand how you could hate the people who protect us. Sure, there are a few bad apples. But you can't judge all of them based on the actions of a few.

Clearly the police are not protecting us from the police. And I am sure cops know the "bad cops" in their department, wouldn't you think? And if they just look the other way regarding these "bad apples" then that tells me the whole barrel has gone rotten.

And did you know that the police have no legal obligation or duty to protect anyone? And if they are not there to provide protection to the people who pay their salaries, what are they there for? Hunting "lawbreakers"?

"...fundamental principle of American law that a government and its agents are under no general duty to provide public services, such as police protection, to any individual citizen." Warren v. District of Columbia, 444 A.2d 1 (D.C. Ct. of Ap., 1981)

See also the decisions in:

* Riss v. City of New York, 22 N.Y.2d 579, 293 NYS2d 897, 240 N.E.2d 860 (N.Y. Ct. of Ap. 1958)
* Keane v. City of Chicago, 98 Ill. App.2d 460, 240 N.E.2d 321 (1968)
* Morgan v. District of Columbia, 468 A.2d 1306 (D.C. Ct. of Ap. 1983)
* Calogrides v. City of Mobile, 475 So.2d 560 (S.Ct. A;a. 1985)
* Morris v. Musser, 478 A.2d 937 (1984)
* Davidson v. City of Westminster, 32 C.3d 197, 185 Cal.Rptr. 252, 649 P.2d 894 (S.Ct. Cal. 1982)
* Chapman v. City of Philadelphia, 434 A.2d 753 (Sup.Ct. Penn. 1981)
* Weutrich v. Delia, 155 N.J. Super 324, 326, 382 A.2d 929, 930 (1978)
* Sapp v. City of Tallahassee, 348 So.2d 363 (Fla.Ct. of Ap. 1977)
* Simpson's Food Fair v. Evansville, 272 N.E. 2d 871 (Ind.Ct. of Ap.)
* Silver v. City of Minneapolis, 170 N.W.2d 206 (S.Ct. Minn. 1969) and
* Bowers v. DeVito, 686 F.2d 61 (7th Cir. 1982).

 

[Anovah]

Nearly every cop that participated in this travesty is a bad cop. Why aren't the "good cops" coming out and siding with the victims in this and exposing the corruption of their counterparts?

well...there is this...

Berwyn Heights police officer Pvt. Amir Johnson who was quoted as saying...

"I never imagined, when I set out to protect people from the crooks and the criminals, that I would have to protect them from my fellow police officers,"

By and large, they're not out there to protect us. Not these kinda cops. Detectives that solve crime, that's one things, these SWAT guys, and patrol officers, and troopers, they just want run people's lives, and have the power they never had growing up.

I'm compelled to agree since that does seem to be the case here. Wish I could believe different but the facts are facts.

 

[Ringo84]

Or maybe the "good cops" are the exception to the rule now days.

http://stopthedrugwar.org/taxonomy/term/27

I don't believe that. I'm just not that cynical.

Nearly every cop that participated in this travesty is a bad cop. Why aren't the "good cops" coming out and siding with the victims in this and exposing the corruption of their counterparts?

I don't know, but just because we don't hear from them doesn't mean they don't exist.
Ringo