I struggle with labeling them mistakes. They aren't 'mistakes' as in 'oopsie', they are cops prioritizing their pride and ego over their responsibilities. When

I struggle with labeling them mistakes. They aren't 'mistakes' as in 'oopsie', they are cops prioritizing their pride and ego over their responsibilities. When this happens as frequently as it does, it is not a mistake. Ignorance and fragile ego is not a mistake...they are a choice. Just as someone who is prosecuted in this country for stealing food to survive is treated as making a choice, not a 'mistake'. Where I disagree with the more recent discussion of police brutality is this idea that they should be financially responsible instead of tax payers. Taxpayers should be responsible. These are people hired by the state for purposes defined by elected officials. We, the voters/taxpayers should bear financial responsibility for their actions...we should bear the financial responsibility for any actions done by government responsibility because they are done in our name. However, financial penalties are not justice. These cops should not be financially penalized, they should be criminally charged because they are committing crimes. If it isn't a crime, that is something that should be fixed. That should be the norm not a rarity. The criminal justice system is our method of accountability for citizens, it should especially be the system of accountability for them. If that fails, the answer isn't the financial accountability. It isn't completely irrational to say 'you acted outside of the norms of the justice system as an officer entrusted with its authority, therefore you are not entitled to its protections'. As a strawman, if vigilantes handled violence committed by police officers do you think excessive violence by police would stop? It would be an ugly but interesting experiment.