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We trust cops to protect the weak, to wield and use firearms, and to enforce our laws. This puts them in a tremendous position to abuse their power. The record
by grandalf 11y ago
We trust cops to protect the weak, to wield and use firearms, and to enforce our laws. This puts them in a tremendous position to abuse their power.
The recording devices were installed precisely because abuses of power and criminal activity were already a big problem. The thugs destroyed the recording devices because they want to continue abusing their power, period.
For an honest cop, the recordings offer proof of proper conduct. In the setting of lethal force, the truth is very important. If I follow protocol and shoot someone, I hope there is a video showing that I followed the playbook perfectly.
I've been bullied by cops a few times. Their job is tough, but it strikes me as odd that they bully someone like me, an obviously harmless, non-criminal.
- sosuke 11y agoYour comment brings up the old and terrible response "if you haven't done anything wrong you have nothing to hide" Is that irony? I never can tell if I use that word right.
- colanderman 11y agoThe difference between citizen and cop surveillance is that a citizen should be protected from bullying, blackmail, etc. by the government or other citizens over private actions. A cop should do his or her job exactly as prescribed.
- grandalf 11y agoAs the other person who replied points out, it's very different for a trusted government official and a private citizen. The official gives up his/her right to privacy when acting in the role of public enforcer of laws...
- sosuke 11y agoYou're both quite right and so I can only imagine that isn't impressed enough on newly minted government officials.
- ams6110 11y agoCops are trained to establish control of a situation by being unfriendly, authoritative, and uncompromising. It could come across as bullying if you don't know what's going on.
- stephencanon 11y agoMaybe we should be training them to be friendly, authoritative and reasonable instead. You don't need to be an asshole to exert control; in fact it's much easier to do so if you aren't.
- trophycase 11y agoI don't think you know anything about controlling a situation when you're in the presence of thugs and criminals. All of these people who have no idea of what it's like to be a police officer sitting here being critics and armchair psychologists is just really tiring.
- grandalf 11y agoFair point. What I do know is that I'm a lot less scary to harass than actual thugs and criminals. They should do their job and fight crime, not flex their muscles around non-criminals.