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As the parent comment says, police are tax payer funded and hold extra power over citizens. I think that trumps them being worried about "looking like the bad g

As the parent comment says, police are tax payer funded and hold extra power over citizens. I think that trumps them being worried about "looking like the bad guy".

anonunivgrad 6y ago
Say that you subdued a drug addict, who resisted arrest and was having a panic attack, according to the department prescribed method for that exact circumstance while waiting for an ambulance, and then say that the person died maybe because of a drug overdose, maybe because you used the subdual method incorrectly, and then say that the video was released, say that video incited national riots labeling your actions as murderous, and say that anyone who defended you had their entire life destroyed by cancel culture, and then say that a politically motivated state AG charged you with murder under a theory that is discredited in almost every other jurisdiction in the country (felony murder without a merger doctrine). That is an extreme example, but it could happen. To avoid that kind of thing, a rational, honest police officer, who has no other marketable skills at age 37 and doesn't want to be tried in the court of public opinion circa 2020, might resist being filmed.
- autarch 6y ago
  You might have a valid point in here, but the extra thick layer of sarcasm really doesn't help make it.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
- tshaddox 6y ago
  You’ve explained why police officers don’t want accountability. But of course, no one is confused why police officers don’t want accountability.
  - anonunivgrad 6y ago
    Many are confused. Many think that all police officers want to avoid accountability to conceal misbehavior. That is certainly true for some. But many police officers just want to avoid being unfairly judged in the court of public opinion, where they can't get a fair hearing because defending them is considered a crime against humanity.
    - happytoexplain 6y ago
      You keep using language that implies an irrational bias, rather than just an opinion. >Many are confused. Many think that all police officers want to avoid accountability to conceal misbehavior. >defending them is considered a crime against humanity. This is quite an exaggeration of reality. Ironically, you, individually, are committing the same sin that you're accusing "many" of: Harsh absolutist black-and-white statements about broad groups of people you apparently have very negative feelings for.
      - anonunivgrad 6y ago
        I said "many" people think that. Take a quick perusal through a reddit thread on the topic and you'll see that "many" do indeed think that. Often, the sentiment is accompanied by "ACAB" or other such slogans. Or, try to post on Facebook that you think a certain police officer might be innocent, that the cause of death might be an overdose, or that it's inappropriate to engage in hagiography of a drug-addicted, arrest-resisting violent criminal with a horrifying rap sheet, however he might have died. Those are all reasonable points, supported by at least some decent evidence or moral sensibility, but it would certainly be the end of any career you have in the United States.
        tmd83 6y ago
        I'm not in US and even though I read about a lot on police brutality though I don't think all even most are evil. But the problem seems to be almost all police (and govt.) are systematically protecting the bad cop as well as the good cop.
- happytoexplain 6y ago
  It is reasonable for an individual to not want to be filmed. However, it is not reasonable to broadly disallow citizens to document the police. I don't see how your tirade adds to the discussion of that conflict.

As the parent comment says, police are tax payer funded and hold extra power over citizens. I think that trumps them being worried about "looking like the bad guy".

anonunivgrad 6y ago

Say that you subdued a drug addict, who resisted arrest and was having a panic attack, according to the department prescribed method for that exact circumstance while waiting for an ambulance, and then say that the person died maybe because of a drug overdose, maybe because you used the subdual method incorrectly, and then say that the video was released, say that video incited national riots labeling your actions as murderous, and say that anyone who defended you had their entire life destroyed by cancel culture, and then say that a politically motivated state AG charged you with murder under a theory that is discredited in almost every other jurisdiction in the country (felony murder without a merger doctrine). That is an extreme example, but it could happen. To avoid that kind of thing, a rational, honest police officer, who has no other marketable skills at age 37 and doesn't want to be tried in the court of public opinion circa 2020, might resist being filmed.

autarch 6y ago
You might have a valid point in here, but the extra thick layer of sarcasm really doesn't help make it.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
tshaddox 6y ago
You’ve explained why police officers don’t want accountability. But of course, no one is confused why police officers don’t want accountability.
- anonunivgrad 6y ago
  Many are confused. Many think that all police officers want to avoid accountability to conceal misbehavior. That is certainly true for some. But many police officers just want to avoid being unfairly judged in the court of public opinion, where they can't get a fair hearing because defending them is considered a crime against humanity.
  - happytoexplain 6y ago
    You keep using language that implies an irrational bias, rather than just an opinion. >Many are confused. Many think that all police officers want to avoid accountability to conceal misbehavior. >defending them is considered a crime against humanity. This is quite an exaggeration of reality. Ironically, you, individually, are committing the same sin that you're accusing "many" of: Harsh absolutist black-and-white statements about broad groups of people you apparently have very negative feelings for.
    - anonunivgrad 6y ago
      I said "many" people think that. Take a quick perusal through a reddit thread on the topic and you'll see that "many" do indeed think that. Often, the sentiment is accompanied by "ACAB" or other such slogans. Or, try to post on Facebook that you think a certain police officer might be innocent, that the cause of death might be an overdose, or that it's inappropriate to engage in hagiography of a drug-addicted, arrest-resisting violent criminal with a horrifying rap sheet, however he might have died. Those are all reasonable points, supported by at least some decent evidence or moral sensibility, but it would certainly be the end of any career you have in the United States.
      - tmd83 6y ago
        I'm not in US and even though I read about a lot on police brutality though I don't think all even most are evil. But the problem seems to be almost all police (and govt.) are systematically protecting the bad cop as well as the good cop.
happytoexplain 6y ago
It is reasonable for an individual to not want to be filmed. However, it is not reasonable to broadly disallow citizens to document the police. I don't see how your tirade adds to the discussion of that conflict.