Police fear 'war on cops'

[liberal N proud]

msnbc.com
In just 24 hours, at least 11 officers were shot. The shootings included Sunday attacks at traffic stops in Indiana and Oregon, a Detroit police station shooting that wounded four officers, and a shootout at a Port Orchard, Wash., Wal-Mart that injured two deputies. On Monday morning, two officers were shot dead and a U.S. Marshal was wounded by a gunman in St. Petersburg, Fla.

On Thursday, two Miami-Dade, Fla., detectives were killed by a murder suspect they were trying to arrest.

"It's not a fluke," said Richard Roberts, spokesman for the International Union of Police Associations. "There's a perception among officers in the field that there’s a war on cops going on."

With the Florida deaths, the nation is on track in 2011 to match the 162 police officers killed in the line of duty in 2010, said Steve Groeninger, spokesman for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that tracks police casualties. In January this year there have been 14 deaths, the same number as in January 2010, the fund posted on its web site.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41235743/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

[crim son]

1. In no way do I support

anything that resembles a "war" on cops but it isn't terribly surprising that people are reacting with anger and violence against police authority when we have been seeing so much abuse of that authority over the last decade and more. Police violence isn't new but suddenly it's very much on the record and I know it's changed my perception of law enforcement professionals.

[virgogal]

2. All the police should retire or resign. Why be a target ?

[mike_c]

3. cops have perpetrated a war on poor people, colored people, and social dissenters...

...for decades. Relatively few segments of the population actually feel like the police serve their interests rather than victimizing them. The perception that push back from persecuted populations is a "war on cops" doesn't surprise me at all.

[Catherina]

17. But they've helped us too. I was never happier to see anyone in my life

than the cops I called when someone was trying to break in my back door.

I'll feel bad for the good ones.

[RegieRocker]

22. Get a gun yourself instead of having to rely on someone

else. An alarm with a loud siren would be good also. They might not get there in time plus some here believe police aren't required to protect you, so if that is true your faith is ill founded.

[cali]

18. this isn't a push back. just criminals killing.

[rgbecker]

4. When we all have our guns, we won't need cops anymore.

[Cerridwen]

5. Cops have guns. They get killed anyway.

What does that mean?

[liberal N proud]

6. Yeah, that is the answer

Modern version of Shootout at OK Corral is Shootout at the local WalMart.

The idea that if everyone had a gun, we would be safer is bullshit. But there sure would be far fewer physical assaults. Don't agree with someone just shoot them.

[NuclearDem]

9. Missed the sarcasm tag in there

Oh...

[conspirator]

7. Cops should stop whining like crybabies. Cops are one of the professions

with less mortality rate. Criminals are afraid of shooting cops because:
1) They know other cops will kill him out of vendetta, even if he surrenders
2) There are easier targets

[Cerridwen]

8. US "standards" of importance.

11 cops die in 24 hour period equals a "war on cops"

123 people die in 24 hour period equals "business as usual"

162 cops die in one year equals "war on cops"

45,000 people die in one year equals "business as usual"

Hierarchy of values systems do NOT favor We, the People.

eom

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/harvard-medical-study-links-lack-of-insurance-to-45000-us-deaths-a-year/

In memoriam: I miss you, Danny.
..............I miss you, Julie. (The first "boy named" Julie I ever knew)
..............Stay safe, Chad.
..............Stay safe, Matt

[WingDinger]

10. That is the testimony I gave at a trial. That having cops doing corrupt practices, at the same locat

location, every day, could lead to tragedy. Judge was floored, asked for recess, after me. Then, I appealed the kangaroo conviction, and the AG got after their asses.

[Kennah]

11. I think one needs a little perspective

"Preliminary data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund show that for the 13th year in a row, traffic fatalities were the leading cause of officer fatalities, with 73 officers killed in the line of duty—an increase of 43 percent from 2009."

"Firearm fatalities increased 24 percent, from 49 deaths in 2009 to 61 in 2010."

61 firearm fatalities matches the number from 2001, thus I think it's hard to say it's far outside of the norm.

An increase in traffic fatalites seems it should be of far greater concern.

I'm not making light of this, only trying to point out the firearm fatalities are within the range of historical norms.

http://www.nleomf.org/assets/pdfs/reports/2010_Law_Enforcement_Fatalities_Report.pdf
http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/killed/2009/data/table_27.html
http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/killed/2009/data/table_61.html

[notesdev]

12. Maybe the good cops ought to get rid of the bad cops

I know it's a radical idea, but being enforcers for a corrupt regime and shielding each other's misbehavior behind a code of silence isn't a formula for gaining cooperation and trust.

Also I wouldn't be terribly surprised if all these cop shows are having an influence as well. Watching the playoffs this weekend I was taken aback at how many ads for cop shows there were.

[Courtesy Flush]

13. I worry this will make cops even more violent

Citing an "abundance of caution."

[Courtesy Flush]

14. Alternate title: Police "war on citizens" suffers setback.

[Obamanaut]

15. Inasmuch as many people suggested Sarah Palin incited/incites violence

with her rhetoric, should we not also condemn the anti police themes, often advocating violence against police, in many of the 'rap' type lyrics?

[liberal N proud]

19. I was thinking the same

But from looking at some of these responses, I wonder.

[Prometheus Bound]

20. Feel free to condemn anyone or any song you want.

No need to ask for anyone's permission.

[Obamanaut]

21. OK. Thanks. nt

[hatrack]

16. "There's a perception among officers in the field . . . " Therefore, that perception is TRUE!!!!

OMFG!!! Call Congress RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!

[olegramps]

23. Only a few bad apples....

Three Denver cops were given a slap on the hand for beating the crap out of a young man whose father happened to be on the police force in Southern Colorado. He was talking to his father at the time since they were arresting his friend who he claimed hadn't done anything wrong. When his father pursued it and it became public this gross miscarriage of justice lead to the investigation being reopened. The Denver police force who are sworn to serve and protect retaliated by refusing to pro-actively investigate criminal activity leading to a dramatic reduction in arrests. When this became public the police spokesman said that it was out of fear that they would be erroneously charged with abuse. If they saw a crime, perhaps some old lady being robbed, they just drove on. They only responded to request for police assistance. Just a few bad apples?

[leeroysphitz]

24. Good. n/t