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Their point about police training seems quite valid (page 5). While there is federal assistance for police departments to buy military surplus equipment, there
by Someone1234 8y ago
Their point about police training seems quite valid (page 5).
While there is federal assistance for police departments to buy military surplus equipment, there's very little assistance (outside of anti-terrorist funding) for improved and lengthened general training (e.g. de-escalation of force, averting the need for force, etc).
This results in some states and cities having well trained professional police, whereas others receive minimum training and are then expected to learn "on the job." For example California police officers are now receiving better training on handling the mentally ill, something a rural police officer in another state is unlikely to receive.
This is both unfair to the public and police officers alike. Unfortunately getting people to pay for things can be challenging.
- x220 8y agoYes, and it becomes even more politically difficult to request more funding for police departments when activists paint all police with the same brush and sometimes want to literally abolish the police.
- Someone1234 8y agoI don't see how? Both police and police activists want better training, police to keep themselves safe, and activists to reduce the prevalence of incidents. It is a win/win politically. Now getting people to pay higher taxes to fund it? That's the real challenge.
- x220 8y agoI think that most activists want those things. Some activists are like the person in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjIEZf8Skx4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjIEZf8Skx4
- Someone1234 8y agoIt isn't reasonable to define an entire group by their biggest extremists. I've read some pretty outlandish things by upset police officers too, but just like this, I don't think it is a reflection of the majority's opinion on the topic.
- x220 8y agoThere are activists that think that more resources given to the police will be used by the police (a mechanism of oppression) to oppress minorities and underprivileged groups even more. This is not a fringe belief. Many people with these beliefs vote, are very active in social movements, organize protests, and steer the conversations around viral events. If people with these beliefs are leading a movement and having an impact, it is entirely reasonable to confront these beliefs and take them seriously.
- PavlovsCat 8y agohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6tTfoifB7Q&t=3m07s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6tTfoifB7Q&t=3m07s Why administrative leave? Why not "changed jobs because they were completely shunned by their colleagues after this incident". It wouldn't even cost a cent to achieve that, just personal integrity. Can't have "the blue shield" and "not all cops" at the same time, pick one and then own that decision.
- clarkmoody 8y agoAs you said, the money is there for weapons and not training. Not a great combination. Instead, stop spending the money on tanks and explosives and spend it on training instead.
- dsfyu404ed 8y ago>This results in some states and cities having well trained professional police, whereas others receive minimum training and are then expected to learn "on the job." For example California police officers are now receiving better training on handling the mentally ill, something a rural police officer in another state is unlikely to receive. Funny you mention that. I think that if anything the rural cops are less likely to have an "us vs them" mentality. I think the fact that there's so few cops means they are forced to extend their social circles beyond just other cops where city cops do not have to do that.