Seeing the pictures of the Walter Scott murder, I wonder if people still think I am exagerating for looking at the police in the US as being armed and dangerous.
Seeing the pictures of the Walter Scott murder, I wonder if people still think I am exagerating for looking at the police in the US as being armed and dangerous.
Congratulations America
Keep on keepin' the beat alive!
Hope is the denial of reality
I was astounded when they reported how short the training for police officers can be. Mere weeks up to half a year.
Over here it's two and a half years minimum.
When the stars threw down their spears
And watered heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the lamb make thee?
The Rules
Copper- behave toward others to elicit treatment you would like (the manipulative rule)
Gold- treat others how you would like them to treat you (the self regard rule)
Platinum - treat others the way they would like to be treated (the PC rule)
Has anyone Dutch ever killed anyone? I think you'll understand why I treat all Dutch people as being dangerous potential murderers.
Dutch police actually has one of the highest kill rates, though still comfortably lower than in the usa (~3 per year). Several possible reasons for that, it certainly helps that due to xtc production, cocaïne smuggle (transportation hub) and marihuana of course, there is relatively much organized crime. Plus the police are allowed to use their gun as a last resort, but absent of a direct threat to life, when attempting to arrest someone suspected of serious crimes. Plus I think they are AFAIK not trained to shoot at, say, legs, but torso.
Keep on keepin' the beat alive!
In every profession you have people who don't follow the rules and/or do bad things. On the whole I think the police have killed far more people with criminal records than innocent people. Exceptions will always exist for *anything* but its silly for you to worry about cops.
By his implied logic, drunk drivers sometimes run over those with criminal records - and this is a good thing.
The thing that really bothers me about Lewk's comment is that if someone has a criminal record, it means they've already been caught and punished for whatever crime they committed. It's a record of past crime and punishment. How is murdering them at some later date in line with any kind of criminal justice??? Is it that anyone with a record of a past crime is fair game for murder by the police for the rest of their lives?
The Rules
Copper- behave toward others to elicit treatment you would like (the manipulative rule)
Gold- treat others how you would like them to treat you (the self regard rule)
Platinum - treat others the way they would like to be treated (the PC rule)
Actually based on simple statics I'm fairly certain that drunk drivers kill far more people who don't have criminal records.
In addition based on the nature of police work there is always a chance someone could get killed (heck people have been killed in crossfires between police and criminals for example). However police are a requirement for society to work drunk drivers are not so there really isn't a comparison.
I think by and large the Police do a very good job in very difficult circumstances. In the USA that extends to literally putting their life on the line. One idea I heard proposed was that the Police should wear as standard cameras on themselves. I think that's an excellent idea if it can be organised right, it would end most of these controversies to have these confrontations recorded as standard - plus for the sake of the justice system the recordings could and should be admissible as evidence.
I'm far happier with the UK situation where our regular bobbies don't even carry guns. Hope that never has to change, we are really fortunate in this country not to have the dire mess the US has found itself in.
I agree officer cams is a good idea and yes it absolutely should be admitted as evidence.
Timbuk - you know that whole thing could have been prevented if the guy didn't run... We really need to make resisting arrest a far more scary thing. We have criminals who drive 100+ MPH trying to get away from police. Granted sometimes we have a wonderful happy news story where they get themselves killed by ramming their car into a wall or something however in other cases we have a terrible tragedy on our hands where an innocent bystander gets hit. I'd recommend a minimum 5 year prison sentence that must always be served *consecutively* along with whatever other prison time they have.
Man, if I were a black guy flagged down by one of your vicious racist dumbass cops I think my legs would be twitching too.
"One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."
Or if you were driving a stolen car and had outstanding warrants for your arrest.
Hope is the denial of reality