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"Because cops are above the law" Yes, that is what makes them cops, the police are authorized to do many things that are illegal for us ordinary citizens. they

by somat 4y ago

"Because cops are above the law" Yes, that is what makes them cops, the police are authorized to do many things that are illegal for us ordinary citizens. they can restrain people, go through stop lights, speed, threaten, sometimes even kill. We as society recognize that these things are in general bad to do, however there are special cases where it is needed. so we authorize some people to professionally break the law where needed. That being said, the quote "Who watches the watchmen?" is as always very relevant and those authorized to break the law need to be held to a very high moral standard.

Phrodo_00 4y ago
Police should not be _above_ the law. It's reasonable that they have more attributions to be able to do their jobs, but those should be very well established within the law. The problem is that qualified immunity seems to have actually put them in a position where they can ignore the law.
jakelazaroff 4y ago
There’s a difference between being given special powers and being above the law. Special powers are exceptional privileges that are limited in scope. Being “above the law” means you’re exceeding even those privileges, but no one will hold you accountable. Let’s take your red light example. Cops are allowed to go through red lights when they’re responding to an emergency and they’ve put on their lights/sirens. That’s a reasonable special power. In practice, what I see happening is either (a) police briefly turn on their lights/sirens as they cross the intersection, then immediately turn them off, or (b) police simply run the red light.
HWR_14 4y ago
> he police are authorized to do many things that are illegal for us ordinary citizens. they can restrain people, go through stop lights, speed, threaten, sometimes even kill. But not whenever they want. When needed. You could do any of those things legally in most states. The first to prevent a suicidal person from killing themselves, the next two when driving a serious case to the ER, the last two when defending yourself from an armed home intruder.

by somat 4y ago

Phrodo_00 4y ago

Police should not be _above_ the law. It's reasonable that they have more attributions to be able to do their jobs, but those should be very well established within the law. The problem is that qualified immunity seems to have actually put them in a position where they can ignore the law.

jakelazaroff 4y ago

There’s a difference between being given special powers and being above the law. Special powers are exceptional privileges that are limited in scope. Being “above the law” means you’re exceeding even those privileges, but no one will hold you accountable. Let’s take your red light example. Cops are allowed to go through red lights when they’re responding to an emergency and they’ve put on their lights/sirens. That’s a reasonable special power. In practice, what I see happening is either (a) police briefly turn on their lights/sirens as they cross the intersection, then immediately turn them off, or (b) police simply run the red light.

HWR_14 4y ago

> he police are authorized to do many things that are illegal for us ordinary citizens. they can restrain people, go through stop lights, speed, threaten, sometimes even kill. But not whenever they want. When needed. You could do any of those things legally in most states. The first to prevent a suicidal person from killing themselves, the next two when driving a serious case to the ER, the last two when defending yourself from an armed home intruder.