Police State?

[CROSE]

While what I think the officer did was wrong, I do have to consider his motives for not wanting someone behind him. Sure, there are a lot of bad cops out there and I think the cell phone camera helps us to keep them honest, but there are a lot of good cops out there too. Just ask yourself, if you were walking down the street at night and someone comes out of their house and walks up to you pointing something at you, would you feel nervous?

The following happened in the neighborhood I grew up in and lived in for 41 years.

Officer Ronald Michael Ryan, Jr.
St. Paul Police Department, Minnesota

End of Watch: Friday, August 26, 1994

"Officer Ryan was shot and killed at 0700 hours after approaching a car with a man sleeping in it. As Officer Ryan was returning to his patrol car to check the suspect's identification he was shot from behind. The suspect then took Officer Ryan's gun and shot him several more times. He succumbed to his wounds in surgery later that day. The suspect later ambushed and killed Officer Tim Jones and his canine, Laser. The suspect pled guilty to murdering both Officer Ryan and Officer Jones was sentenced to life without parole.

Officer Ryan had been with the agency for 19 months and was survived by his wife and parents. Only five months earlier Officer Ryan was awarded the Medal of Merit for rescuing three children from a house fire."

 

[Woody]

That officers conduct is a joke. She's not standing behind them or doing anything threatening, in fact he knows exactly what she is doing because he walked up to her and checked her out. His conduct was threatening...purposely. Officer butt chew time I think.

 

[Jack F]

Charge against Emily Good in videotaping case dismissed



Burglar steals iPod Emily Good used to videotape police

 

[comsnark]

The relationship between police and the public they serve is sadly deteriorating. When I was a young the authorities were respected, gave respect, served the public, and known visible members of the community. There are several factors in this breakdown I would like to highlight.

Over regulation and the me, me, me society: we try to regulate so much of life that people now pick and choose what they will and won't follow. We now have created an environment that, take many boaters, would rather not see the CG. Why, they might find a minor violation and penalize us, even though we all want them to save us if in danger. Our children see this reaction and others, such as watching for cops while speeding, and perpetuate this feeling. Many folks see police as part of big brother out to get them and sometimes they are right.


The failed war on drugs: we have lost more civil liberties to this than most realize. We cannot even keep drugs out of prisons, how are we going to keep a substance with up to a 1700% profit margin out of our country? This fight has hardened criminals, and law enforcement, many cops feel you are guilty until you prove you are innocent.

The police as a revenue source: in many jurisdictions if it doesn't pay there is little enforcement, but if it pays look out. This creates an adversarial relationship with the very community police are to serve. Rarely do I see community work in progress, police used to direct traffic when the signals failed, no more. When I called to ask why: the bottom line, it doesn't pay.

Unionization and fraternal membership, and behavior: police used to be known by the community they served, now they ride in souped-up menacing looking Chargers and the like. Most I've met don't want to live where they work and are highly distrustful of all but family and others in law enforcement. Because the public is now afraid the officers they patronize them giving them a big ego trip, but doing nothing to foster good relations.

We are black and white on issues, no gray: we have removed discretion from many situations that allow for good community policing. Sometimes people need a break, but we've got dash cams in place of judgment.

There will be some on both sides that will not fit this pattern, but whenever you see a law enforcement officer do you slow down, start to worry about minor details that they could play gotcha with? Generally law abiding citizens shouldn't need to feel this way.

Dang. I agree with this almost to the letter.

I fully appreciate the bit about "revenue generation". How many stories do you read about "traffic cameras" where the "yellow time" is set below state minimum requirements? How many times do you read about speed cameras or red light cameras that are managed by a third party -> whose compensation is based upon a percentage of collected fines?

Policing is about policing. The police department is (and should be) an expense -> not a revenue producing department.

A lawful person should not fear the police with a camera. A police officer acting lawfully should not fear a person with a camera. I don't care if if the person holding the camera has an arrest record 20
miles long.

 

[MonacoMike]

Dang. I agree with this almost to the letter.

I fully appreciate the bit about "revenue generation". How many stories do you read about "traffic cameras" where the "yellow time" is set below state minimum requirements? How many times do you read about speed cameras or red light cameras that are managed by a third party -> whose compensation is based upon a percentage of collected fines?

Policing is about policing. The police department is (and should be) an expense -> not a revenue producing department.

A lawful person should not fear the police with a camera. A police officer acting lawfully should not fear a person with a camera. I don't care if if the person holding the camera has an arrest record 20
miles long.

Wow Com and I agree. :smt038 One further point on the revenue, it is just as bad when used as a measure of a departments worth, such as all the jurisdictions noted checking boats in the NY/NJ area trying to prove their worthiness of additional funds. MM

 

[CROSE]

I don't mean to beat a dead horse here but when I saw this video my first thought was this thread. I don't know if it's real as I haven't seen anything about it on any major news outlet and considering the availability and quality of video editing software these days it might be CGI but it sure looks like the officer raises his weapon.

[video=youtube;I0pX9LeE-g8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I0pX9LeE-g8[/video]