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I believe a time will come where some will take up arms against law enforcement in mass. We already see small pockets here and there. But there is a growing divide that is only getting worse. Two officers were murdered in NY. Not for just being officers but for the perceived wrongful death of someone at the hands of police. This clearly was a revenge attack. I fear this may grow in time. I have been in law enforcement in the past and by merely being a police officer you can be targeted. We have seen this time and time again. What is new is the revenge attack on police.
How did we come to this as a nation and how do we go back to a peaceful resolution? Will the military, possibly the National Guard, be affected as they may be used in a civil law enforcement capacity? Will that also hurl the military into the conflict of race with law enforcement?
How did we come to this as a nation and how do we go back to a peaceful resolution? Will the military, possibly the National Guard, be affected as they may be used in a civil law enforcement capacity? Will that also hurl the military into the conflict of race with law enforcement?
Law Enforcement
Police
Murder
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 18
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In order for the war on police to go away America needs to listen to the people that are the targets of police brutality and murder at the hands of the cops. For as long as black people have been free in this country they have clearly stated time and time again that the way the police treat us and interact with us in a completely different way. This is nothing new under the sun. It's only new to the majority population that doesn't have to worry about it, thanks to cell phone cams. I think that in this country there are groups of people that are at the bottom of the social ladder and for the most part Noone cares about the injustice they experience. This problem is bigger than the police it's in almost every aspect of our society. Predatory lending, blacks have complained about since the 80s but it wasn't until the recession, when it affected white people that the country cared. It's the same for civil forfeiture, unemployment, Healthcare, and education.
So in closing, to fix this America has to live up to what it preaches. Stop saying that we care about all our citizens and actually care about them.
So in closing, to fix this America has to live up to what it preaches. Stop saying that we care about all our citizens and actually care about them.
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CPT (Join to see)
I think community involvement in the policing of the Police is needed. Interaction with the community is a must. I was a cop for about 3 years. I saw some stuff that blew my mind.
We suffer in the same way in the military at times. We go to war and we don't view Iraqis or Afghanies as regular people. So some think we just can treat them how ever they want. That is the wrong answer.
In law enforcement, a lot of areas were there is a density of African Americans are ridden with crime. The issue is it isn't their fault at all. When crimes go reported they are setting up a climate for more lawless activity. When police notice this they will be there more. While there they may fail to trust what is being said by anyone there. They develop the "US vs THEM" mentality. This is extremely dangerous . They views citizens in these areas as a burden.
If someone was to tell me that everyone is treated the same I would say that is a dream that we have yet to arrive at. It is a complex situation but positive police interaction is what is needed. If the cops are only showing up to arrest and calls they are going to have a bad image. When I was in such areas I would really enjoy talking to people. Some cops saw thugs on the street but I saw a kid. He may have been arrested in the past but if we cast him as a problem then he is going to be one. Community Policing is supposed to address this but the results are questioned and these programs are cut. In a lot of these cities it is an issue with the department. Ferguson is an example. There were a lot of read flags there but finally erupted into all out civil disobedience. Even if the cop was in the right he will be questioned due to how the department acts. I tried to explain that the actions of the PD led up too it. It just wasn't as simple as it was made out to be.
We suffer in the same way in the military at times. We go to war and we don't view Iraqis or Afghanies as regular people. So some think we just can treat them how ever they want. That is the wrong answer.
In law enforcement, a lot of areas were there is a density of African Americans are ridden with crime. The issue is it isn't their fault at all. When crimes go reported they are setting up a climate for more lawless activity. When police notice this they will be there more. While there they may fail to trust what is being said by anyone there. They develop the "US vs THEM" mentality. This is extremely dangerous . They views citizens in these areas as a burden.
If someone was to tell me that everyone is treated the same I would say that is a dream that we have yet to arrive at. It is a complex situation but positive police interaction is what is needed. If the cops are only showing up to arrest and calls they are going to have a bad image. When I was in such areas I would really enjoy talking to people. Some cops saw thugs on the street but I saw a kid. He may have been arrested in the past but if we cast him as a problem then he is going to be one. Community Policing is supposed to address this but the results are questioned and these programs are cut. In a lot of these cities it is an issue with the department. Ferguson is an example. There were a lot of read flags there but finally erupted into all out civil disobedience. Even if the cop was in the right he will be questioned due to how the department acts. I tried to explain that the actions of the PD led up too it. It just wasn't as simple as it was made out to be.
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SSgt Randy Saulsberry
The treatment of the people at the bottom of the social ladder is America's biggest problem. When I was younger growing up in the south I thought things were the way they were because white people hated black people but when I grew up and educated myself on the issues I realized it wasn't hate it was societal norms. As a whole Americans are just blind to the pain of others. People don't understand that these problems are deep routed in the establishment and governance of this country. We have to ask the hard questions. Like, if the constitution really represents what it says, why do we need the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments? Why is it that we could go to almost any city in America and there is a black area, Latino area, Asian area, white area and so on? And why is it that the poor areas will be the black and Latino areas? Do we really think blacks and Latinos are just uneducated criminals? In our communities poverty is the culprit. Poverty drives people towards crime because u have to pay bills in any way possible. But the easiest way to fight poverty is, EDUCATION. But we live in a country that is constantly cutting education. We need education reform. We should have standardized education across all 50 states. If we properly educate our poor we will be giving them tools to escape that environment.
Like I said this is a complex problem but we have to quit turning a blind eye to it. Problems don't solve themselves.
Like I said this is a complex problem but we have to quit turning a blind eye to it. Problems don't solve themselves.
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SGT (Join to see)
Education is key to fighting poverty I will agree with you there, but if you want something bad enough you will work for it. The government does cut funding to education, healthcare and other programs but that does not mean that you give up. Cities and towns have always had neighborhoods where groups of people of similiar backgrounds have lived together, and not all of those neighborhoods are rundown. I am not saying racism is dead by any means, but it cannot be used as an excuse forever.
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I don't really support murder of anyone, barring a few exceptions on a case-by-case and intensely personal basis. So obviously I don't support the homicide of police officers for the sake of them being police officers.
However, there needs to be a shakeup in the mentality that goes on in police departments. I get that whole thin blue line thing, and closing ranks. I do. The same thing happens in many institutions, particularly one where you're called to the mat about every aspect of your job. But honestly, there needs to be a lot better job being done with regards to A.) stopping incidents that are highly questionable, highly suspect, and sometimes just downright blatantly obvious; and B.) fully investigating in a transparent matter, followed by stiff punishment. Sometimes criminal charges need to be filed.
However, there needs to be a shakeup in the mentality that goes on in police departments. I get that whole thin blue line thing, and closing ranks. I do. The same thing happens in many institutions, particularly one where you're called to the mat about every aspect of your job. But honestly, there needs to be a lot better job being done with regards to A.) stopping incidents that are highly questionable, highly suspect, and sometimes just downright blatantly obvious; and B.) fully investigating in a transparent matter, followed by stiff punishment. Sometimes criminal charges need to be filed.
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CPT (Join to see)
There is a strong "US vs THEM" mentality in many departments. They are views as criminals and not civilians. They may have committed a crime but they are still people.
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SSG Tim Everett
Which is exactly my point -- they're people, not superheroes, not politicians, not royalty. They are not above reproach nor are they above the law. So whilst I agree with you, I also say they need to be held accountable as if they were actually people. Because the victims of police brutality, overreach, and coverups are also people as are the families they leave behind.
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SCPO (Join to see)
You should read my response (addressing your valid points) that came up in my current discussion. You are right, but 'there are always two sides to every argument.' At least, that's what some old, bearded man, sitting on a mountain top, once said!!!
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