If anyone doubts that cops shouldn't be treated like prima donnas, this site is an informative read

[MrScorpio]

Enjoy

http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. This trooper picked the wrong driver to rough up.. picked on a judge

http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/07/trooper-eric-schonfarber-arrested-for.html

Schonfarber asked for Sams’ identification and he complied. The trooper informed him of the violation and Sams admitted he was not wearing a seat belt. Sams told the trooper to write the ticket.

During the discussion, Sams identified himself as a district judge and Schonfarber asked to see a badge that was in Sams’ wallet. Sams refused, saying he wasn’t going to use his position to get out of a ticket.

That’s when the confrontation allegedly became physical. Schonfarber pulled out his Taser and threatened the judge, and also threw him onto the hood of his patrol car. A Red River Parish constable and occupants of the courthouse witnessed the events.

[JonLP24]

4. That is to funny

A judge is someone well aware of his rights and exercised them. It's too bad many average folk isn't aware of some of them.

[BunkerHill24]

2. Frankly, am tired of folks here telling me that they know more about racism than, I

...equally Officer Jim Crow who gets off scott free because Obama said something on the issue.

I think this issue should stand, and should be talked about it, and often...and MUST be brought to light.

[EFerrari]

3. The right wing, racists and authoritarians always don't want to talk about race

because their own views don't bear inspection.

[BunkerHill24]

6. Of course, Rethugs would rather talk about "concealed weapon"

...than Health Care.

:hi:


BTW, I enjoy reading your posts

[JonLP24]

8. When it comes to the Bill of Rights right wingers can only count to two

When it comes to the first amendment it is conditional such us liberals can't criticize a republican President in time of war. When it comes to unreasonable search and seizure issues it's always "I'm not committing a crime, I have nothing to worry about." or some other excuse for torture or warrantless wiretapping, etc.

[stewartcolbert08]

5. Lets be honest.

Anyone can compile a website of bad stories to make it seem worse than it really is. Have you ever tried looking up HEROIC cop tales? There are quite a few of those also. Nobody likes to here about the good stuff, they all like the drama so they talk more about the negative than the positive. Interesting website though. :hi:

[EFerrari]

7. Worse than it really is? The Innocence Project is springing guys

who have been in prison for decades for crimes they didn't commit.

Worse is being unwilling to confront the fact that we have judicial apartheid in this country. From the fact that black citizens are stopped more often all the way up to disproportionate impact during sentencing.

[BunkerHill24]

9. ...forget about just being stopped as DWB,

The fact of the matter is that many African Americans were told to lie against their own, in order to lessen their own said "crime".....


Frankly, if you are Black, the system jails you, period.

[stewartcolbert08]

24. I disagree

Maybe if you gave me a specific CURRENT case I could see your point of view. We have people in my city black, white, and hispanic who are violent, habitual offenders. They have weapons history, drug history, and many have a history of violent tendancies w/ officers and resisting arrest. What happens to these people when they get in trouble? NOTHING! The DA dismisses the charges, the DA talks them into taking a plea for a lighter sentence. We have a black male here who used to hit me up for money outside my apartment all the time stating that he was a single father from new orleans and he had to get back home to his babies. I gave him money then when I got this job I found out who he was and found out that he was addicted to crack cocaine and that he had a violent history with officers. A hispanic girl in our community stabbed and killed her boyfriend 2 years ago and got off on self defense. Okay. It very well could have been. Last week she stabbed 2 people at a birthday party IN THE BACK none the less and has already bonded out of jail as of tonight. Last year I took a call with a female screaming for help in the back ground while her white boyfriend beat her w/ a tire iron in the middle of the street. She started to run from him and he shot her three times in the back, killed her, then killed himself. The point I am trying to make is that its not a race thing. Its the individual who does this! There is still racism, yes! The system sucks and needs reform, yes! But the burden of proof lies with the lawyer also. Think about what they must have pertaining to burden of proof before you start playing the race card. Its a case by case basis, its not always a race issue like some claim.

[BunkerHill24]

29. You wrote;

"There is still racism, yes! The system sucks and needs reform, yes.."

I would leave it at that!

[stewartcolbert08]

42. I also wrote

that is not ALWAYS about race. That its a case by case basis and on an individual basis. I also said that the burden of proof lies with the prosecuter, oh yeah and did i mention its NOT always about race!!

[stewartcolbert08]

14. I am on the same page w/ you

But discrimination will not solve discrimination. Just because this cop got carried away (if thats what happened) doesn't mean that all of them are racist or even that THIS particular incident was about racism! There are good cops out there that risk harm to themselves to protect others, they damn sure don't do it for the money. Does racism still exist, YES! Should we assume that all cops are racists asses, sure, why not? But what does the generalization and stereo typing accomplish? Nothing! Everyone wants to sit around and point out the problem but nobody has any ideas how to fix it. The judicial system is in need of some reform, however attacking each other isn't going to get the job done! and good for the innocence project, that is a major reason why I do not support capitol punishment.

[EFerrari]

19. I was happy to see that actual cop hating posts here have been removed

by the moderators. Of course, those posts where made by trolls with a handful of posts.

The Cambridge Police Department has a problem. Crowley was one of their trainers.



And it's objectively true that our judicial system has a problem. But observing those two things is a far cry from stereotyping anyone.

[BunkerHill24]

22. I would agree that your thinking is far from mine

...and that you placed under the carper of pointing out that racism exists, here in America.


However, I do agree on this: "good for the innocence project, that is a major reason why I do not support capitol punishment"

[stewartcolbert08]

27. Agree to disagree I suppose

Do you mind if I ask what you do for a living?

[BunkerHill24]

34. what I do for a living?

....graduated from Boston university; currently working as a Sales & Marketing manager for Seaman's Group...

would that suffice your curiosity?

[stewartcolbert08]

38. Why are you being so confrontational?

I just wanted to point out that everyone has people in their profession who make them look bad as a whole. It doesnt mean that there arent honest, hard working people out there who want to do the right thing and try to change things for the better.

[MrScorpio]

23. Think about this for a second...

The police are engaged in a profession in which we are all taught as proper citizens that the default position when interacting with them is one of respect and deference.

Like the judge in his courtroom and the doctor in his surgery, we are all expected to defer to the cop staring down at us in the street.

However, when should a powerless ordinary citizen know that the cop he or she is facing in not merely an upstanding public servant, faithfully performing their duty, but is in fact a criminal or worse yet, a power drunk armed asshole with a chip on their shoulder?

What recourse does this hypothetical citizen have on the spot when dealing with a cop who isn't doing what they're supposed to be doing?

The right to remain silent, so that they won't incriminate themselves? The right to legal counsel (eventually)? Pissing in one's pants?

Who the fuck knows?

My point being that in all circumstances when dealing with cops, the default position should be to look out for one's best interests first.

That's because you'll never know if you've come across either a law-abiding public servant or an asshole with a gun and badge, until they show their true colors.

Assholes are the last people who will defuse a situation rather than arresting an irate 59 year old black professor for "disorderly conduct".

Assholes are the first people who will perform illegal non consensual searches without probable cause.

First to shoot a black man 41 times in his own doorway with his nothing but his wallet in his hand.

Or sodomize an immigrant in the station's bathroom with a toilet plunger.

Or a host of all other things.

In all cases, even when they aren't criminals themselves, the police are not your friends, your buddies, pals or dudes. They are the first people to tell you that. In a lot of cases, while looking at you (or any other citizen) their minds are buzzing trying to figure out what they can arrest you for.

Because that's what cops do, they arrest people. And a lot of times, it ain't pretty.

In my eyes, deeds not the uniform is the best way of determining when a cop deserves respect and deference.

Besides, talking about good cops around here is pretty boring, n'est ce pas?

[Echo In Light]

32. Two-fisted post! Good points

I know I was much braver in my dealings w/redneck cops when I was younger than I am nowadays ...of course, when I was running around, getting into the typical trouble some teenagers do, it was the 1980s, and cops in our neck o the woods were far more inclined to let you go over something like speeding, or finding amounts of weed on you in keeping w/casual/recreational use, etc

[stewartcolbert08]

35. LOL it IS boring!

and for the record I don't think that the officer should have taken him in for disorderly conduct, it sounds like a contempt of cop arrest but Gates himself was also in the wrong. Instead of laughing off the misunderstanding and providing his ID when asked he got snotty and wanted his name and badge number and the police are racists. There is no reason for an established, educated 59 year old adult, I don't care what color you are, to act like that! With out the ID how else was the officer to know that it was his house. He was just doing his job by asking for the ID. Both were in the wrong and I don't think it was an issue of race, I think it was an issue of stupidity on BOTH there parts. But you are right, deeds earn respect, not the uniform. and I truly do believe that.

[MrScorpio]

40. You could argue that both men were in the wrong

However, Officer Crowley was the one with arrest power.

He could have either de-escalated the situation by handing Professor Gates the business card he's supposed to give to citizens when asked and walked out the door, or arrest an irate black man for contempt of cop.

Clearly, he chose the latter

[stewartcolbert08]

43. Indeed.

Still doesn't necessarily make it a race issue though.

[MrScorpio]

44. Let me make it clear. I'm not arguring a race issue

Although, race is clearly a factor. I'm arguing an asshole cop issue.

It's something that can be applied to anyone regardless of race.

[stewartcolbert08]

46. Okay

I misunderstood. You are right. I also think this cop was out of line. Its a classic case of contempt of cop.

[Gormy Cuss]

47. Gates was tired and cranky, neither of which is against the law.

Picture spending the better part of the last 24 hours on airplanes then arriving home to find that your front door won't open, hauling your tired ass around to the back door to dump your luggage and then trying to address the stuck door with your able-bodied assistant. Next thing you know a cop is asking you to step outside and treating you like a criminal in your own damn house while all you want to do is sit down and relax after an exhausting trip.

Gates stated his name and Harvard affiliation (the house is owned by Harvard, so that's relevant here) and showed his Harvard ID and driver's license. It's irrelevant that Gates was accusing him of racial profiling at that point, but Gates was not overreacting by suggesting it.

As for Crowley, all he needed to do was leave the house and end the call. Instead he let his ego get in the way.

[1]

10. i hope none of y'all never get attacked or raped. never need a cop. i do hope this...

[EFerrari]

11. To paraphrase Bill Maher, I will feel safe when I have to cross the bad part

of Skip Gates' livingroom.

[1]

12. i hope that for you too, beth. may it never be that you actually need a cop to assist you...

may it never be...

[EFerrari]

13. Passive aggressive bs. Try it on someone else.

[1]

17. a wish and a hope for you, beth? are you that cynical at this point?

[EFerrari]

20. You don't have to be cynical to recognize passive aggressive bullshit.

You only have to be conscious. And I'm so sorry, but not in the least impressed or troubled. :)

[1]

21. ok. i'll not wish well on your life, do what you do.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TexasObserver]

15. What makes you think a cop will stop those crimes?

Your entire approach is a fantasy, a rationalization.

If you can't discuss cop misconduct without resorting to those rightwing memes, better to remain silent.

[1]

25. wow. ok. i guess all rape should just be excused...

a fantasy, a rationalization on my part.

all cops are bad. all crime is good. is that your point?

[TexasObserver]

31. No, not excused, but your statement is fraudulent.

If you want to pretend that cops spend their time stopping rapes and murders, that's your delusion.

[BunkerHill24]

16. We do get raped and attacked....Indeed we are all americans

....and we all pay taxes for protection. What do you have in mind...exclusion?

[MrScorpio]

26. I just hope that it isn't the cops himself who's attacking and raping me

I hear that they're armed as well!

[armyowalgreens]

28. Sorry, I don't profile.

unrec.

[MrScorpio]

30. It's not profiling by pointing out that some cops are bad eggs

It's self preservation for when you come across any cop in the street.

[armyowalgreens]

33. It is profiling when you believe cops (in the general sense)...

should be treated a certain way.

That's called profiling. Assuming a certain group of people with a similar characteristic is guilty of some common factor.

It's BS.

[MrScorpio]

37. Well, up thread I posted my motivation for posting the site

So, if you're thinking it "profiling" for my arguing that one's default position should be to look out for one's best interests first and foremost whenever dealing with the police, because of the distinct possibility that one might be dealing with a bad egg...

So be it.

[armyowalgreens]

39. Sounds very similar to racial profiling that has been occuring for a very long time.

The "bad egg" argument. It's a very poor one indeed.

[MrScorpio]

41. At first meet you may never know, right?

Which is why not staring at the cop with stars in one's eyes is not a good idea.

[armyowalgreens]

49. I don't glorify police officers. I simply treat them like any other person I don't know...

I'm cautious at first, but I treat them with respect.

[charlie]

36. Yep

My BiL is a cop, 20 years, recently retired. Swell guy. Always funny, easy, and relaxed. Almost imperturbable. I don't know how he's managed to stay the same all these years.

I've also known and had encounters with enough psycho meatsacks to be wary and low key around cops. You're playing roulette and if you set off the live one, he'll fuck up your day, or life, or kill you. It's unfair to cops like my BiL, but that has shit to do with what it takes to not get your head caved in.

[superduperfarleft]

45. Comparing racial profiling and the abuse of minorities by the police

with some people on the internet saying mean things about poor wittle police officers is disgusting. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you're just not that bright, as opposed to you just being an insensitive dickhead.

[armyowalgreens]

48. lol Don't be a condescending shithead because you have no argument.

I'm not a cop hater like a lot of people on this forum.

Deal with it.

[superduperfarleft]

50. Of course I have an argument, that being that you're comparing apples and oranges.

Comparing the systematic abuse of people of color by those in power is a bit different than saying mean things on an internet forum, wouldn't you agree?

And dismissing people's legitimate concerns by calling them "cop-haters" isn't much of an argument, you insensitive dickhead.

[L0oniX]

51. K & R