One aspect of American society that many people seem to forget is that our government officials can legally exercise only rights/powers which any individual could exercise as well. The powers of the government are those posessed by every individual, but delegated to the government in cases like national defense, law enforcement, etc. Government officials do not have super-rights or exemptions, and must abide by the same laws as everyone else.
For this post, we’re focusing on the police, which demand – – like South Park’s Eric Cartman – – that we respect their authoritah!
People’s gut level understanding of this concept hits them whenever they are filled with outrage seeing a cop casually disregarding traffic laws, lying to protect their law-breaking peers, shooting Granny with a Taser, or brutally beating an unarmed citizen.
I used to believe these types of instances were rare, but personal experience and research has led me to believe the opposite. As noted in the title, the list below is the proverbially ‘tip of the iceberg’ for links to videos/stories of police abuse – –
Police murder a 92 year old woman, then plant drugs in her home
Cop kills teen on bike with his car
Cops beat man after he finds his son dead of suicide
Cop breaks traffic laws, killing woman. Then arrests her grieving father
Orlando cop breaks 84 year old WW2 Vet’s neck for touching him
Kelly Thomas beaten to death (recap), raw video footage
Police brutalize special education kid
Teen arrested for asking a cop about unwarranted raids
Couple arrested for asking directions from a cop
Cops shoot restrained dog in the head
Cop: I shot your dog because it barked
Brave, heroic cop kills 5 pound dog
Police shoot and kill a US Marine Iraqi war veteran Jose Guerena while conducting a No Knock raid.
Cops beat to death a homeless man in California
Chivalrous veteran confronts abusive Austin police – – gets assaulted and arrested
Police execution of Todd Blair in Utah
I still have faith that a good portion of police are honorable, law abiding individuals with a sincere desire to protect their fellow man against those trying to violate their rights. It isn’t exactly clear what percentage of police are bullies and criminals as noted in the above examples. However, there are a few things which are very clear.
- Most of the crimes committed by cops either goes completely unpunished, or they get the standard ‘slap on the wrist’ compared to what you or I would receive if we were guilty of the same crime.
- The “blue wall of silence” is alive and well in most police forces around the country
- As subjects under the government’s gun-enforced monopoly on “protection” and lethal force, we have essentialy zero ability to fire the bums or find alternative private/competitive law enforcement solutions.
Always the optimist, I’m hoping Americans will stop making excuses for police brutality, demand justice and rule of law for all persons, and even begin to fight back as appropriate – – perhaps we can take a note from our neighbors to the south…Cops brutalize soccer fan; Soccer players and fans go after the cops
And for your moment(s) of nostalgia…
Andy Griffith’s Barney Fife is put under “Citizen’s Arrest” by Gomer.
N.W.A and Ice Cube before he started acting in horribly bad comedies.
Perhaps he did go to far, but you must admit that the driver went to far as well and he put the oicffer in a tough situation.I dare say that the super majority of them do a great job and take much more crap, abuse (including civil liberty abuse), than they dish out. Further I would say that probably over 99% of the actions of oicffers in their interaction with citizens is appropriate and not abusing civil liberties .People need to understand that the police oicffer is not the one you take up the issue with, it is the courts. Imagine the society we would live in if everyone felt that the police had no authority over them and they didn’t have to do as directed.