Until we the people can hold the police accountable for killing us at will; things will not get better. But time after time they can say whatever they want and write down whatever they want. We the tax payer paid for cameras for many forces yet they can turn them on and off at will. There is a huge problem that very few courts ever hold any of them accountable. So to militarize these officers are just adding fuel to an already blazing fire. Police can say they are in fear for their life's and that term gives them permission to kill us at will.
I realize that there is a need for police, I realize there are bad people trying to do bad things. I think growing up I can remember being taught if you are in trouble find a policeman. But that does not seem to hold true these days. Now days family's teach their kids (especially if they are male and non-white) how not to get shot by the police. They are not a safe haven that for many of us grew up knowing and respecting. This is a sad thing for us all.
I do believe if you shoot at a police officer or their service animals then you are a threat to their safety. But if a mentally ill person with a kitchen knife that is waving it about: Well that does not meet the statement of "fearing for their life." They do have non lethal weapons (when used properly) at their disposal. But tazeing a person 12 times; while 6 cops are on top of a person is not o.k. That should be treated as excessive force. Or boots to the face or punches to the face while in handcuffs, because they spat at you or on you is not an excuse to beat them. In many cases with in inches of their lives. But more often than not, many sadly do not survive the massive facial damage that occur from these type police interactions.
There has to be a common sense approach for when and where these police use these military grade weapons and machinery. I think a large problem today is that we are employing our service men and women that have returned from serving our country. I am not sure that is always a good thing. I think extra training for these fine people needs to happen before they are allowed to interact with civilians. Americans are not ISIL or ISSI or Taliban, we are U.S. citizens. I think many fall back on their military training and they look at all of usas enemies of the state. Because that is what we drilled into their heads to believe so that they can carry out their missions and return alive.
On the flip side we have police that see these new decommissioned military weapons as their new "TOYS" They have little to no training on these type of tools. And when that happens we have very dangerous people with this misnomer that they have guns and badges and that some how qualifies them and gives them the right to do whatever they want. And it does not help when our courts prove time and time again that they will not be held accountable. Thus giving them this idea that they are somehow above the law.
Because of this we as Americans must police the police. We must record them. We must learn to stand together and not allow them to threaten us or intimidate us. However, finding a balance of standing up under our laws andnot coming across as disrespectful or as if we are "interfering with a police investigation" is a very fine line and a tightrope that far too many of our fellow Americans do not survive.
We are under almost constant surveillance, in almost every facet of our everyday lives. Yet when it comes to police brutality, misconduct, excessive force or even murder at the hands of police or while under their "care/control". The footage is not available or the camera was not on. Seems awfully convenient. And this just deepens the mistrust and lack of respect of the police.
I often hear people say that not all police are "bad cops" And I do believe that. The problem lies when these "good cops turn a "blind-eye" to what they see happening. Because when they do speak up, well then they have crossed that "blue-line". And In doing so then their lives ARE REALLY in peril but not by we the people: But by their own brother's and sister's in blue actions or lack there of.
In closing I am not sure there is a way to turn back to a time when the police made us feel safe. When they now look like strike-force straight out of the deserts of the mid-east. With full tactical gear and with the mind set that we are all enemies of the state because we do not have our own tin star to go along with our imaginary guns. The idea that anyone that challenges them, even in the slightest or almost any non-white male is automatically a criminal is a common first thought in far too many of their minds is not helping.
So please if you are put in the position to see police interaction. Get in a safe space and film the police. Do not yell or shout at them. Do not make it obvious you are filming because in many cases the police will try to confiscate your video. So use good sense and be safe but we the people in the privet sectors must protect our own from them and there newly demilitarized "toys". As well at their inability not to be so fearful of their lives. I think after hearing the facts of many cases I think if you are that much in fear of your life that maybe you need to looking a different line of work. Just a thought.
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Very well said. All of your points are spot on in my view. And courageous of you to share. I listened to an interview not so long ago, I wish I could remember. I think it might have been on Coast to Coast AM. Anyway, it was an interview with a retired police officer who described in his many years as an officer, he had dealt with violent encounters where his life was threatened, but he said that not once did he shoot anyone. He had been trained in several other methods and tactics and always was successful in taking down his opponent. Our police need other tactics for sure.
Yes they do in places where they are encouraged or required to get additional training to better interact with mental combatants there are fewer deaths by police. Not courageous at all. I just believe in the law enough to know that it is designed on the perception of innocent until proven guilty and that no one is above the law; not even the law it'self.