We have a real problem: If one screws up should all others be judged the same?

MSG Morgan Fiszel, CPCM, CFCM — Thu, 28 May 2015 09:52:24 -0400

Recently we have seen a few police officers screw up. Some of those police officers are from the same geographical area. This has resulted in protests and rioting. Somehow those incidents have been argued to be a race issue. I believe that the issue is much bigger than that. If a few screw up should the whole related group be labeled, blamed and accused? This is the bigger issue and there is evidence of it all over the place. If one or even a few extremists from a specific religion does something stupid should the whole religion be labeled, blamed and accused? If one or even a few people of a particular race in a major city or backwoods USA commit a heinous crime should that whole race be labeled, blamed and accused? This is exactly what happens all of the time and it has nothing to do with race or religion. What are your thoughts?

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 9:55 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 May 2015 09:55:20 -0400

Of course not. Never paint everyone with the same brush. Weak leaders do that. Strong leaders weed a garden so flowers will grow.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 9:55 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 May 2015 09:55:53 -0400

Great thought provoking question. I don't believe that all should be categorized because of a few others. They are looking for examples to be made.. Just to be angry!

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 28 at 2015 10:07 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 28 May 2015 10:07:58 -0400

It's kind of like the military. If one person screws up we all get in trouble.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 10:08 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 May 2015 10:08:18 -0400

Are we talking about police, or generalizations?

If we're talking about generalizations, than we're worried specifically about damaging stereotypes, and it would seem that most who participate in these forums already feel like stereotyping is bad more often than not.

If we're talking about the public's perception of the police, then that would seem to be a far more complicated issue. But let's cut to the chase. In my personal experience (I can't stress in my experience enough), most cops are jerks, who wield authority like a bully on a school playground. They expect complete obedience from anyone they interact with and complete amnesty when their mistakes, small or large, are observed. I've been caught with my pants down, and I've been caught with all my ducks in a row. But my experience is always the same: Cops giving orders with little explanation or reason; cops pushing their authority or eliciting consent from the unwilling (me); cops taking every opportunity they can to make money for their municipality.

These are perceptions, not accusations.

That being said, I don't see myself as anti-police. I think there's a cultural clash between myself (and presumably people that have similar experiences as me) and law-enforcement. But it does seem that I'm not the only one experiencing troubles with the police, and I'm by no means the most extreme example. But I live in a (relatively) rural area.

Short answer: Label? No. Suspect and guard against? Hell yes.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 28 at 2015 11:04 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Thu, 28 May 2015 11:04:46 -0400

Its a case by case, and it all depends on the severity of each issue, and how likely a similar issue would reappear. If it's recurring, then everyone may have to take the punishment for a few's mistakes.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 11:19 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 May 2015 11:19:13 -0400

If you want to see the real issues of Law Enforcement look at the stistical data the FBI complies each year. It is not about a single race or ethnic group. Each group has seen the uglinesss of law enforcment. Even as a former Police Officer, I have been a victim of the situation. Does it bother me? No more than any other time someone tried to take advantage of me. I did not take it as a personal issue, but rather as a situational issue. Did this officer single me out because of howe I looked, acted, or what I drove? doubtful.

I would also implore people to fight the offenders where they have a better chance of winning... in the court room. Fighting someone on the streets is a bad decision that leads to death and more violence. It has proven more effective to fight a dirty cop in the court room. When you bring to light their behavior they can no longer hide their actions. If you fight them in the streets, they can justify the outcome. Make sense? I hope so.

Now, if we all decided to judge everyone on the actions of those (thet look like them) the world would stop turning, Rally Point would die, and the only thing happening on the planet would be rats and roaches making love. Do you want Rat Roaches Living on a planet no longer rotating? I hate the thought. It keeps me up at night.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2015 2:37 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 14:37:30 -0400

ABSOLUTELY! The police should be judged together because they have all done the same thing: taken a position of power and responsibility. The bad behavior by a few only highlights the facts that apply to everyone in law enforcement. The police have a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence. It is illegal for non-police to resist ANYTHING the police do. The only thing that stands in the way is a person in black robes who says that what the police officer did x months ago was or was not legal. Prior to that ruling, any individual who stood in the way of the police will be held in custody for a crime--and will likely be convicted even if the police officer's actions were illegal.

Should each and every police officer have to prove, every second of every day, that they are worthy of being trusted with that power? Should they be subjected to scrutiny and punished severely for any breach of the public trust? Yes, they should. If they want to have room for mistakes, they should look for a line of work where mistakes are less consequential.