More Why Cops Suck!

Readers often ask why I am so "down" on poLice. Here is just a sample of "WHY" from Radly Balko's blog The Agitator. Also, this excellent research expose Are Cops Constitutional? by Roger Root goes to the heart of the matter.
The basic problem is that cops are unaccountable financially and criminally by a system that covers up their abuses and a culture that won't hold them personally accountable by honor or blood. It will get worse until they are slapped down by an intolerant judiciary (lol) or people willing to hold abusive poLice personally responsible for their actions by vigilante justice.

Macon, Georgia man says police assaulted and choked his son after getting the wrong house on a “knock and talk” raid.

The Belleville, Illinois police officer accused of beating a man for wearing a t-shirt printed with the word “police” I posted about last week has been sued for civil rights violations four times since 1999. Two were while he was with the Belleville police department, and both resulted in settlements.

Police in D.C. caught on tape stealing from the city’s Toys for Tots program.

A police officer in Missouri is under arrest for stealing the laptop of a woman he pulled over. Problem is, the woman saw him steal it, and filed a complaint back in 2007. They ignored her. It wasn’t until the apparently not-so-bright officer brought the laptop back to the sheriff’s department to have software installed that the laptop was confirmed stolen, and the cop was arrested.

Puppycide in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Again, this comes down to training. These particular officers should have been taught (a) the difference between a charging dog and one bounding out to meet another dog, (b) how to deal with even a charging dog in a way that falls short of killing it, and (c) that it was a Great Dane, which generally a very gentle breed. What’s troubling in these cases is that the first reaction is always to shoot.

Cop drives 100 in a 45 in response to a shoplifting call. Ends up hitting and killing another cop. Now, other officers are coming to his defense, asking the DA not to press charges. Think they’d have the same reaction if a non-cop had caused the accident?

Police in New Orleans shoot man 12 times in the back. The shooting could well have been justified, but there are already some troubling discrepancies in the officers’ account of the incident.

Police in Bellaire, Texas shoot a 23-year-old man after mistaking him for a car thief.

Las Vegas cop arrested for offering to drop speeding tickets in exchange for sexual favors.

Teen (also the son of a cop) pulled over for expired inspection sticker. Cop asks to search the car. Teen says no. Drug dog then mysteriously “alerts.” Cop allows dog to search the car. No drugs. Teen drives away, and is now suing. The really sad part, though, are the comments to the story. Comments here are pretty sad, too.

Oregon officer caught buying steroids while on the job. His police department takes no action.