4 ms·

Not killing people who aren't a threat is about the best one-size-fits-all policy I can imagine.

pdonis 6y ago
Sure, if you handwave away the real problem, which is how cops make the "aren't a threat" judgment in the heat of a situation, knowing that if they judge wrong they could end up dead. Making that judgment is highly situational, and how cops should judge individual situations is highly dependent on the locality; there simply is no one-size-fits-all set of rules you can give cops that will work.
- f-securus 6y ago
  Police officer isn’t even top 10 dangerous job in this country. I hate when people use that excuse for them flagrantly shooting somebody or their pet. Police training is the first place we can improve. Changing their mentality from a warrior to a guardian also does wonders in lowering use of force. There are real world solutions to this problem but almost half the country think those who got shot by police probably deserved it. Almost the same crowd protests wearing masks as stepping on their liberties. Absolutely illogical.
  - pdonis 6y ago
    > Police officer isn’t even top 10 dangerous job in this country. Overall, no. But the overall averages conceal a huge variation in risk by locality. I agree that "it's a dangerous job" doesn't excuse shooting innocent people or their pets. But the danger of the job in particular localities should not be underestimated. > Changing their mentality from a warrior to a guardian also does wonders in lowering use of force. Can you give specific examples? I agree with the general idea but I have not seen much actual data on specific localities where this is done or what effect it has. > almost half the country think those who got shot by police probably deserved it Citation needed. > Almost the same crowd protests wearing masks as stepping on their liberties. The protest is not against wearing masks where it makes sense to do so; it's against being ordered to wear masks whether it makes sense or not, and subjecting people to criminal penalties for non-compliance. For example, according to some orders (fortunately for me, not the one currently in effect where I live), you are subject to arrest for simply walking out your front door without a mask on, even if you remain on your own property and nobody else comes anywhere near you. And don't forget that the same cops whose corruption and lack of judgment you and I both deplore will be the ones to enforce these orders. Frankly, it strikes me as illogical for people to be talking about defunding the police on the grounds of corruption on the one hand, and talking about issuing draconian orders that would have to be enforced by those same police on the other.

Sure, if you handwave away the real problem, which is how cops make the "aren't a threat" judgment in the heat of a situation, knowing that if they judge wrong they could end up dead. Making that judgment is highly situational, and how cops should judge individual situations is highly dependent on the locality; there simply is no one-size-fits-all set of rules you can give cops that will work.

f-securus 6y ago
Police officer isn’t even top 10 dangerous job in this country. I hate when people use that excuse for them flagrantly shooting somebody or their pet. Police training is the first place we can improve. Changing their mentality from a warrior to a guardian also does wonders in lowering use of force. There are real world solutions to this problem but almost half the country think those who got shot by police probably deserved it. Almost the same crowd protests wearing masks as stepping on their liberties. Absolutely illogical.
- pdonis 6y ago
  > Police officer isn’t even top 10 dangerous job in this country. Overall, no. But the overall averages conceal a huge variation in risk by locality. I agree that "it's a dangerous job" doesn't excuse shooting innocent people or their pets. But the danger of the job in particular localities should not be underestimated. > Changing their mentality from a warrior to a guardian also does wonders in lowering use of force. Can you give specific examples? I agree with the general idea but I have not seen much actual data on specific localities where this is done or what effect it has. > almost half the country think those who got shot by police probably deserved it Citation needed. > Almost the same crowd protests wearing masks as stepping on their liberties. The protest is not against wearing masks where it makes sense to do so; it's against being ordered to wear masks whether it makes sense or not, and subjecting people to criminal penalties for non-compliance. For example, according to some orders (fortunately for me, not the one currently in effect where I live), you are subject to arrest for simply walking out your front door without a mask on, even if you remain on your own property and nobody else comes anywhere near you. And don't forget that the same cops whose corruption and lack of judgment you and I both deplore will be the ones to enforce these orders. Frankly, it strikes me as illogical for people to be talking about defunding the police on the grounds of corruption on the one hand, and talking about issuing draconian orders that would have to be enforced by those same police on the other.