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In order to view these incidences in context, it is necessary to look at the reasons behind why law enforcement engages so often in excessive force.
First you must look at human tendencies and the effect of almost unlimited power over others.
In the Stanford Prison Experiment http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...46751780,d.cGE a study done by the Office of Naval Research for US Navy and Marine Corps as an investigation into the causes of conflict between military guards and prisoners, it was concluded that the situation, rather than their individual personalities, caused the participants' behavior. The results are compatible with the results of the Milgram experiment, and show that the very act of putting one person in a position of power and authority over another tends to enforce justification for punishment and cruelty.
Secondly we need to look carefully at the people we place in such positions. Law enforcement positions along with occupations such as military, CEO's, Clergy, and Civil Servants are attractive to people with psychopathic tendencies as they allow varying amounts of power over others.
In fact most law enforcement efforts are focused at military personnel. In addition to recruiting civilian law enforcement from an occupation that attracts sycophantic personalities, the effects of military service often induces PDSD in personnel who have engaged in combat making their reaction to high stress situations unpredictable and very often excessive and illogical.
In order to view these incidences in context, it is necessary to look at the reasons behind why law enforcement engages so often in excessive force.
First you must look at human tendencies and the effect of almost unlimited power over others.
In the Stanford Prison Experiment http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...46751780,d.cGE a study done by the Office of Naval Research for US Navy and Marine Corps as an investigation into the causes of conflict between military guards and prisoners, it was concluded that the situation, rather than their individual personalities, caused the participants' behavior. The results are compatible with the results of the Milgram experiment, and show that the very act of putting one person in a position of power and authority over another tends to enforce justification for punishment and cruelty.
Secondly we need to look carefully at the people we place in such positions. Law enforcement positions along with occupations such as military, CEO's, Clergy, and Civil Servants are attractive to people with psychopathic tendencies as they allow varying amounts of power over others.
In fact most law enforcement efforts are focused at military personnel. In addition to recruiting civilian law enforcement from an occupation that attracts sycophantic personalities, the effects of military service often induces PDSD in personnel who have engaged in combat making their reaction to high stress situations unpredictable and very often excessive and illogical.
I've personally pointed out that study on several excessive force threads before. It is one of the main reasons I push a requirement of verbal judo proficiency training for every LEO. Verbal judo teaches a different way of controlling a situation. Most lawful encounters do not need to ever get physical, much less abusive, but due to a lack of adequate training, or worse yet training that focuses upon and reinforces physical altercations, LEOs are taught to be abusive.
Good post! Turn About Is Fair Play Day should be everyday. Screw cops!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KS_Referee
These LEOs are dealing with American citizens. A person is no less human just because that person breaks the law. There are some... albeit damn few situations where LAWFUL force is justified. What we are seeing as a nation is wholesale abuse of citizens and their rights simply because some punk with a badge has had a bad day or takes something personal that they shouldn't. If it is illegal for one civilian person to commit an act upon another, it is just as illegal for a police officer to commit that act upon another.
Having a badge and a gun does NOT justify beating a person to death or even into compliance. We grant them the power of force to protect themselves in self defense and in the defense of others. We NEVER granted them the authority or power to beat someone into submission and certainly NEVER granted LEOs the authority to beat someone to death.
Having a badge and a gun does NOT justify kicking in someone's door without a warrant. Moreover, even WITH a warrant, how about trying the damn doorknob to see if the damn door is unlocked so that you don't have to needlessly destroy another person's property? WTF, are they all stupid scumbags who give a damn about someone else's property? They'd be up in arms if someone did that crap to them and their property.
Having a badge and a gun does NOT justify kicking in someone's door, slamming the father to the ground, and taking their baby simply because that family decided to seek a second medical opinion regarding their child's healthcare.
Having a badge and a gun does NOT justify murdering someone with Down's Syndrome simply because that person doesn't understand, therefore doesn't comply with orders to leave.
Having a badge, a gun and a warrant does NOT justify kicking in someone's door, slamming the ex-CIA father to the floor, with several assault rifles aimed at them where his 15 year old daughter at the top was able to see this all because the man & his ex-CIA wife bought some grow lights to start and grow indoor flowers. Zero illegal drugs. Zero pot. ZERO ANYTHING illegal. But the punk-assed criminal cops abused and manhandles these folks like they were worthless sacks of trash. They destroyed their property in the process of that raid. Then they say, too bad, so fricking sad?!!!
Having a badge and a gun does NOT justify going door to door, maybe even kicking in the door if no one answers, violating their very constitutional right to be secure in their home, even if the badge wearing punks are seeking a terrorist, then dragging all the occupants out of their home into the street, harassing them simply because a couple terrorists bombed something then killed two cops. There is a reason we pay excessive taxes to provide these worthless flat footed scum with the best body armor protection and best training around. Violating average citizen's constitutionally protected rights are not among the reasons.
Having a badge and a gun does NOT justify LEOs to have a manhunt for Chris Dorner, with plans to MURDER him on sight. WTF ever happened to due process? Huh? Each and every one of those cops should be facing 1st degree murder charges.
WTF is wrong with you people who think these things are just fine and dandy when law enforcement does it to citizens?
A little common sense and a lot of respect, both of which law enforcement all over this nation have completely disregarded for far too long, would go a long way to having us LAW ABIDING citizens start respecting LEOs instead of seeing them as the punk-assed, criminal scum that law enforcement has become.
BTW... I am NOT on the wrong side of the law unless you consider my refusal to allow myself or others to be treated like we are some kind of imminent terrorist threat to society simply because they may be suspected of committing a crime. There is ZERO justification for the abusive and downright criminal actions of almost EVERY law enforcement officer, or the officers that refuse to report these unlawful actions when they see them committed by a fellow member of that stupid, worthless thin blue line.
I'll tell you what. Since law enforcement officers get every day of every week of every month of every year to assault, batter, brutally beat, taser, run down with a vehicle, and/or out and out murder any suspect for any reason, claiming they were in fear for their life, and almost NEVER face any consequences, much less being charged criminally... How about we pass a law that sets aside a single day each year when citizens can wholesale assault, batter, brutally beat, taser, run down with a vehicle, and/or out and out murder any COP for any reason, claiming they were in fear for their life, and NOT face any consequences? We could call it the "Turn-About is Fair Play Day".
What would you say to that? I mean the LEOs would still have 364 days a year where they would be doing those very same things that you would scream your head off about if a citizen did it to a cop... but it's ok for a cop to do those things to a citizen?
WTF is wrong with you... thinking these unlawful activities performed by LEOs are acceptable?
I've personally pointed out that study on several excessive force threads before. It is one of the main reasons I push a requirement of verbal judo proficiency training for every LEO. Verbal judo teaches a different way of controlling a situation. Most lawful encounters do not need to ever get physical, much less abusive, but due to a lack of adequate training, or worse yet training that focuses upon and reinforces physical altercations, LEOs are taught to be abusive.
While they may be taught some of it, it is in many cases, their natural tendency to begin with. We hire the wrong type of people for civilian law enforcement. For a person with psychopathic tendencies, the rush of physical confrontation is a greater high than any drug. Watch any episode of Cops and you will see the officers extremely hyped after any kind of altercation. They love it.
People gravitate in the direction of jobs that allow them to act on the tendencies they already have.
We have to be extremely careful in screening the people we allow to do jobs that carry with them power over other people because of the chance of the abuse of that power and the devastating effects on their victims. People who do have these jobs have to be held to a higher standard and be scrutinized by the public who should by rights, have the final say in law enforcement is acting in their interests or not.
This requires civilian review boards with the power to terminate anyone found of wrongdoing.
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