'We used to have informal contests for who could cite or arrest someone for the weirdest law. DUI on a bicycle, non-regulation number of brooms on your tow truck (27700(a)(1) of the California Vehicle Code)… shit like that. For me, police work was a logic puzzle for arresting people, regardless of their actual threat to the community. As ashamed as I am to admit it, it needs to be said: stripping people of their freedom felt like a game to me for many years.'
'In fact, let me tell you about an extremely formative experience: in my police academy class, we had a clique of around six trainees who routinely bullied and harassed other students: intentionally scuffing another trainee’s shoes to get them in trouble during inspection, sexually harassing female trainees, cracking racist jokes, and so on. Every quarter, we were to write anonymous evaluations of our squadmates. I wrote scathing accounts of their behavior, thinking I was helping keep bad apples out of law enforcement and believing I would be protected. Instead, the academy staff read my complaints to them out loud and outed me to them and never punished them, causing me to get harassed for the rest of my academy class. That’s how I learned that even police leadership hates rats. That’s why no one is “changing things from the inside.” They can’t, the structure won’t allow it.'
> I remember bullying when I was a kid. It can be intoxicating. Seems like many or most American police forces are just “being a bully as a profession.”
It was clear for anyone who has had to deal with LEO to see that they openly vett for those qualities seen in grade-school bullies in their hiring: low IQ, poor academic performance, often troubled and broken home life, possible mental defects that lead to violent tendencies and a propensity for intimidation.
I'd say that's quite accurate, most people here have had a very skewed perception of Police as some sort of misrepresented entity and only are now starting to see just how systemic it is. Seeing them shot journalists, tear gas peaceful people, and use excessive force with compliant citizens is nothing but the norm.
But, we've been here before and the pressure needs to be applied to PDs all over the US that this will not be tolerated any longer. Some did give into protesters, but that is not enough in my opinion.
> I find the post hard to believe. There's zero evidence any of this is real.
Police budgets need to be slashed until they comply, which means they lose their pensions without meeting very clear defined benchmarks and officers who have records for misconduct need to be tried for their crimes as any civilian would, instead of just using the same tired 'bad apple' apologist narrative like the one above.
The fact that we allowed them to be Militarized should be seen for the stark and immense folly of what happens to a Society that becomes apathetic and desensitized to perpetual erosion on Civil Liberties and Law itself; I still can't fathom who the hell anyone thought Civil Asset Forfeiture was anything but a State Sanctioned shake-down/extortion racket on the populace, because even if you are proven to be innocent the State doesn't have to return the stolen property, and as some exposes revealed [1] they often used it for their own personal largess.
And this is typically seen if you have ever gone to court, or jury duty, there will be a litany of cases you'll hear about dismissed cases needing to appeal for the money or property taken from them upon detainment or arrest. Its sickening, because even if it is dismissed you still have to pay them for the duration of your arrest, and then to have the records of the arrest/detainment be removed, as well as have any DNA records expunged from the records.
This entire system has to be rebuilt, it simply doesn't serve the People who fund it. And most will never realize that until its too late and they found themselves marred by the very system they condoned.
Although the quality of the author’s writing is surprising, we need to ask good questions about what was written. If the claims are false, they should be easy to disprove. Just because this story sounds hard to believe doesnt relieve us of the duty to ensure its not true. Eg big company. Controller suspected of fraud. Company investigates even though they cant believe it would be true.
> We used to have informal contests for who could cite or arrest someone for the weirdest law.
There are books and websites written about the dumbest laws still on the books, which give police lots of flexibility to shop for a charge if they really want to get you.
> NEW JERSEY - All motorists must honk before passing another car, bicyclist, skater, and even a skateboarder.[1]
I've tried to figure out how to incentivize my representatives to drop useless laws, but I don't know how. I can't imagine basic old shame works these days when thousands of US voters send social media death threats to "the other team" on a daily basis.
Other comments go through them but I'll surface some here:
- Single-post, anonymous account
- Weird characterizations and worded with a lot of political ideology
- "Officer A. Cab" -> ACAB
It would be incredibly easy to write a fake post exactly like this, and it just reads as very fake and unrealistic. There is zero reason to believe it's real. Let us (myself included) not indulge our preconceived notions without a critical eye.
Can you offer any evidence about the truth or falsity of the specific claims in the article? Or does it just "smell fishy"? The former is enlightening; the latter is based solely on circumstantial evidence and suggests bias.
I'm not saying he's telling the truth about every claim made, but as a trained attorney who worked for a Federal district judge for some time, I know enough about the law and have met enough LEOs in person not to completely discount everything said here.
I can compare the value of incorporating this into my worldview if it is true, against the harm of incorporating it if it isn't true. If it's true, it doesn't tell me anything new or inform my opinions in any helpful way. If it's false, it needlessly entrenches my already strong feelings on the matter and gives me a charged, bad data point.
I'm automatically suspicious of anything that plays too perfectly into whatever my emotions want me to believe. I don't see any downside to discarding this one, suspect data point among many other, less-suspect ones.
I read the article with the same skepticism. That’s why I quoted it. I did not mean my quote to imply agreement.
The article seemed like police fan fiction, or social science fiction. It describes events that may have happened for reasons of causality and reality; they just as likely happened for narrative impact and viral effect. I try to assume good faith but the context is so unverifiable as to be satirical.
It’s not beyond the pale, however, and that is worrying. This could have happened, and even worse things have been done by law enforcement in America, things which haven’t had as much airtime as this post. That is the true tragedy, and that is the kernel of truth in the post, regardless of its veracity.
If you cannot accept contrition when it comes, even if too late for your tastes, you're just as bad as those you detest, and complicit in perpetuating the same cycle of sin.
If you want to lay claim to the moral high ground, you still have to actually act as one that must that inhabits it. Not merely abstain from the extrema of behavior of those you deem lessers through their actions.
It's refreshing to at least have one admit it, and you should be thrilled to see that even now, sentiment amongst those you consider guilty is turning them toward the path of redemption.
Unless, again, you're just as bad as they are, and you're just looking to change the subjects of suffering in the world instead of reducing the overall amount.
It isn't exactly an uncommon personality trait. So at least you're in good company if that is the case.
My critique is mostly tactical, as in, I am literally saying ‘we don’t need you in this discussion anymore, even to provide insight’.
This is something that can happen after egregious patterns over time. It is a valid consequence.
There’s almost nothing they have to lend to the debate anymore, those opportunities existed for ages.
We’ll fix this without them. My stance on this is as valid as their need to have a say.
If this stance is a problem that ails the world, that’s fine, it a better problem than what comes with whatever police have to express at this point.
It’s a better problem.
Edit: I just want to add, the cop is also admitting to crimes. Is the modern blog post ornamentation? Where you can dress yourself up in absolution? Wonderful you put it in blog form. We have no time for it, plus your guilty of crimes. How poetic.
Tactically, I disagree with you. You are not the target demographic. When you speak of "we," you do not speak for me, and I'd argue that you don't speak for many people who may find value in this post.
Ethically, I also disagree with you. There must be a path back from misconduct in order for us to incentivize change. If people who turn in their badges because of a change of heart, who leave their clan only to be told that they're not welcome, why should they?
>we don’t need you in this discussion anymore, even to provide insight
I strongly disagree. This article has given me more insight into the process by which a cop "becomes evil" than literally any other piece I can recall. I hope it's authentic but who knows.
>If this stance is a problem that ails the world, that’s fine, it a better problem than what comes with whatever police have to express at this point.
I feel like I read an entirely different piece than you did... the author is not a police officer. He's a former police officer who seems to have genuinely come to hate the profession as much as anybody.
Edit: To clarify, I agree with the notion that the system is broken. Which is why we absolutely should be listening to (former) cops who acknowledge its failures.
That is, assuming this post is legit of course. I'm inclined to think it is, but in this day and age who knows.
> I strongly disagree. This article has given me more insight into the process by which a cop "becomes evil" than literally any other piece I can recall. I hope it's authentic but who knows.
Then its clear you have been the fortunate few who have never had to be subjected to the perverse legal system in the US, or spent any time in low income areas where those tactics are 'business as usual' in what is referred to as policing. This is the norm, shows like The Wire or even Treme (both made by the same director) are just as much documentaries and exposes as they are entertainment. The latter skewing into some sort of misery porn.
And to be honest, given this is Hacker News, that doesn't surprise me. I just wonder if it ever occurred to you what the plight of those immense amount of homeless people is, and what happens to them when they're no longer in sight?
> I feel like I read an entirely different piece than you did... the author is not a police officer. He's a former police officer who seems to have genuinely come to hate the profession as much as anybody.
Again, proving the point that this is not something that has only just occurred out of no-where, but is seemingly systemic in the very system we're discussing. Again, no one involved with any activism is surprised by what just occurred with Police, we've all seen it up close and been subject to it, its what you understand going into them.
What was remarkable was how surprised the rest of you were towards them, and how often people are still quick to rationalize their behaviour. This is what authoritarian regimes do, they bolster the police to enforce political decree, not Law. Look at Hong Kong, its way more pervasive than you think and it stems from the same thing.
Whoa. I've never had a comment of mine so wildly misread. You even managed to throw in a personal attack and a diatribe against all of HN. Incredible.
We're in total agreement that the entire system is corrupt. I can't for the life of my understand why you interpreted my comment to mean anything else.
> Whoa. I've never had a comment of mine so wildly misread. You even managed to throw in a personal attack and a diatribe against all of HN. Incredible.
You disagreed with a post that suggests that this wasn't the case. As for the personal 'diatribe,' I've argued this POV here before these recent events to a great deal of opposition as if it was a non-issue. Its in my post History of you care to find it.
I even quoted a person in the thread denying the validity of these claims, as if they're even really needed to discern the obvious.
> We're in total agreement that the entire system is corrupt. I can't for the life of my understand why you interpreted my comment to mean anything else.
Your post doesn't seem to suggest that, but if that's the case then I apologize if you think I was vilifying you.
But understand this is visceral for some of us that have been in the same position and have had our Lives thrown into disrepute for no other reason than 'pissing off' someone with a badge and a gun and saw no recourse for their violent behaviour.
I'm ultimately glad this happened, if only it allows the country to see what kind of despotism has creeped its way under the guise of Security since 9/11 that is normally kept out of sight from most People.
I mean did you see this recent article of the Pentagon targeting GenZ 'terrorists' in some perverse simulation in 2018:
Have a look at the quotes I was specifically replying to. I was simply disagreeing with the idea that we should ignore everything and anything that former or current police have to say about what's wrong with the system.
I think that's true especially in the context of this blog post. That is, someone who has (allegedly) served "the system" and now sees how pervasively evil it is.
Of course, I'm not suggesting we should give their input undue weight or that we shouldn't take it with a huge grain of salt. In fact — we may ultimately decide to ignore it altogether but.... the more information we have the better.
Your apology is accepted, thanks. I'll attempt to clarify what I wrote.
And wow, the link you posted is positively terrifying. I hadn't seen it, but I'm a big fan of what The Intercept does. Cheers.
I really, really want to read and hear candid views from California police officers. But I can't take this in and let it play out on my biases in this form. I definitely can't use it to persuade anyone else, so I don't want to be persuaded by it, consciously or otherwise.
Perhaps it's entirely true and the author found it cathartic to read and publish.
Michael Wood Jr.[1] was a former marine, who later became an LEO in Baltimore, then later quit and told his story around 2015. He has written a book, done tons of interviews (including a Joe Rogan), and spoken up about how corrupt he believes his former department to be.
Of course Baltimore might be an outlier (very urban and high crime), but it's a data point from the perspective of an articulate person.
I am a law abiding citizen and only had a handful of situations when I had to deal with police and all of them were absolutely awful:
1) found a wallet with some documents,cards,etc. Went to the police station just to be told they don't have facilities to store such items and suggested to destroy the cards,as the person would have changed them all anyway. When I visited the same station second time, I noticed an entire safe with a massive label saying 'lost items'..
2) My bag got stolen just outside an office building. Went to the police to report it just to be told that maybe the street cleaner swept it away. Told him that it all happened in front of a CCTV,so it'd be quite easy to figure out who did it.Came up with zillions of excuses. Ended up going to the office building and talking to the security guy myself.Turns out they have a dummy camera outside,even showed the internal coverage on his screens.
3) Customer went bananas and threatened (over the phone) to kill everybody in the office, put bombs,etc. Had to report to the police. The whole thing lasted two hours.The policewoman was like: you know, people make jokes, sometimes they say things they don't mean,etc. So why do you want to report it,etc.. Eventually she took all the details and said: well,you know,if he tries this again, or if he shows up at the office, here's the case reference, call on this number,give the case ref and we'll update the case with new info.Yes,sure,I was thinking, a guy shows up with a gun at my office,I try to escape and call police while I run: 'oh hi officer,I have an update on a case.Yes,I do have a case reference..
The experiences of some friends are usually much worse.
I learned similar lessons about police when I was a kid. We would get burglarized almost every year by the same house down the street. Every time we called the police they would show up a day later and spend most of their time doing nothing and trying to blame us for getting robbed. They cared so little about actual crime.
At the same time some cop from the same department wrote up my brother for "Riding a motorcycle on the sidewalk while not wearing a helmet on his bicycle, crossing a street (Pedestrian) without a walk sign, and running a red left turn in a car. He got 200 hours of community service because the judge (Not really a judge but some ticket approver clerk) decided he didn't care if it made sense. He was doing community service next to a guy that beat and robbed an elderly woman who got 40 hours instead...
Then we moved to a different city and the sheriffs there were GREAT. You would meet them out and about and they would say hi and hang out. They actually cared about their jobs and spent their time keeping the community safe. Report a car stereo stolen to them and they would set up stings and bait cars! For a car stereo!
The first city was leasing their cops from a notoriously bad city next door. The second city funded their own Sheriff, spent tons of money on them to keep them well trained, and was super politically active (Mostly retirees). Both cities were within 50 miles of each other.
Consistency of police in the USA is all over the place. I think the ACAB movement is missing something. They are alienating the groups that can actually make a difference with policing. The LEOs who are actually good at their jobs and the people who honestly cherish them. At the same time I know what kind of cop they are really after!
>It’s a time that I acted as a violent agent of capitalism and white supremacy.
With this he lost me a bit on trustworthiness. What the hell does capitalism have to do with thuggish policing? Many European states with generally decent cops are quite capitalist (not to mention Canada just to the north of the U.S) and many socialist/communist states were famous for the brutality of their police, just as are some essentially "capitalist" countries. The narrative of capitalism somehow being the cause of police brutality needs to be split up as the ideological nonsense that it is.
I don't even think white supremacy so specifically defined is a major issue here. Racism definitely exists in the police forces of the U.S but it's also often black or Latino or Asian cops who are just as heavy handed as their white companions.
Capitalism is not binary - the countries you mentioned are predominantly capitalist but have more robust social safety nets for people in need. They also (generally) don't have things like civil forfeiture, for-profit prisons, "cash" bail and corporate control of politicians by "donation". All are aspects of capitalism taken to the extreme (IMHO).
I agree it was suspect wording though. It would have served the author better to focus on the vast income equality that exists in the US "version" of capitalism.
I think this is the biggest problem with political discourse right now. We don't really have the vocabulary to accurately describe the status quo or a desired end state we should aim for.
> I don’t want to center the conversation on myself and my big salty boo-hoo feelings about my bad choices. It’s a toxic white impulse to see atrocities and think “How can I make this about me?”
I just don’t buy this. I think this is not written by a cop at all. Such weird characterizations and worded with a of political ideology. It goes on and on. I can’t tell if it’s trolling or if someone used a bunch of stories and known tactics to create a composite character. Especially an account with little else contributed. Especially on Medium which is an extremely progressive haven. I just think this is bullshit but would probably be accurate to some cops lived experience.
Yeah, without even reading it this set off a number of red flags for me. If this person is real, they should submit their story to a journalist at a major publication who can verify their identity without making it public.
That’s how I learned that even police leadership hates rats.
That’s why no one is “changing things from the inside.”
They can’t, the structure won’t allow it.
37 comments
[ 4.6 ms ] story [ 55.3 ms ] thread'In fact, let me tell you about an extremely formative experience: in my police academy class, we had a clique of around six trainees who routinely bullied and harassed other students: intentionally scuffing another trainee’s shoes to get them in trouble during inspection, sexually harassing female trainees, cracking racist jokes, and so on. Every quarter, we were to write anonymous evaluations of our squadmates. I wrote scathing accounts of their behavior, thinking I was helping keep bad apples out of law enforcement and believing I would be protected. Instead, the academy staff read my complaints to them out loud and outed me to them and never punished them, causing me to get harassed for the rest of my academy class. That’s how I learned that even police leadership hates rats. That’s why no one is “changing things from the inside.” They can’t, the structure won’t allow it.'
It was clear for anyone who has had to deal with LEO to see that they openly vett for those qualities seen in grade-school bullies in their hiring: low IQ, poor academic performance, often troubled and broken home life, possible mental defects that lead to violent tendencies and a propensity for intimidation.
I'd say that's quite accurate, most people here have had a very skewed perception of Police as some sort of misrepresented entity and only are now starting to see just how systemic it is. Seeing them shot journalists, tear gas peaceful people, and use excessive force with compliant citizens is nothing but the norm.
But, we've been here before and the pressure needs to be applied to PDs all over the US that this will not be tolerated any longer. Some did give into protesters, but that is not enough in my opinion.
> I find the post hard to believe. There's zero evidence any of this is real.
Police budgets need to be slashed until they comply, which means they lose their pensions without meeting very clear defined benchmarks and officers who have records for misconduct need to be tried for their crimes as any civilian would, instead of just using the same tired 'bad apple' apologist narrative like the one above.
The fact that we allowed them to be Militarized should be seen for the stark and immense folly of what happens to a Society that becomes apathetic and desensitized to perpetual erosion on Civil Liberties and Law itself; I still can't fathom who the hell anyone thought Civil Asset Forfeiture was anything but a State Sanctioned shake-down/extortion racket on the populace, because even if you are proven to be innocent the State doesn't have to return the stolen property, and as some exposes revealed [1] they often used it for their own personal largess.
And this is typically seen if you have ever gone to court, or jury duty, there will be a litany of cases you'll hear about dismissed cases needing to appeal for the money or property taken from them upon detainment or arrest. Its sickening, because even if it is dismissed you still have to pay them for the duration of your arrest, and then to have the records of the arrest/detainment be removed, as well as have any DNA records expunged from the records.
This entire system has to be rebuilt, it simply doesn't serve the People who fund it. And most will never realize that until its too late and they found themselves marred by the very system they condoned.
1: https://www.forbes.com/sites/instituteforjustice/2014/06/05/...
There are books and websites written about the dumbest laws still on the books, which give police lots of flexibility to shop for a charge if they really want to get you.
> NEW JERSEY - All motorists must honk before passing another car, bicyclist, skater, and even a skateboarder.[1]
I've tried to figure out how to incentivize my representatives to drop useless laws, but I don't know how. I can't imagine basic old shame works these days when thousands of US voters send social media death threats to "the other team" on a daily basis.
[1] http://www.dumblaws.com/law/1293
- Single-post, anonymous account
- Weird characterizations and worded with a lot of political ideology
- "Officer A. Cab" -> ACAB
It would be incredibly easy to write a fake post exactly like this, and it just reads as very fake and unrealistic. There is zero reason to believe it's real. Let us (myself included) not indulge our preconceived notions without a critical eye.
I'm not saying he's telling the truth about every claim made, but as a trained attorney who worked for a Federal district judge for some time, I know enough about the law and have met enough LEOs in person not to completely discount everything said here.
I'm automatically suspicious of anything that plays too perfectly into whatever my emotions want me to believe. I don't see any downside to discarding this one, suspect data point among many other, less-suspect ones.
The article seemed like police fan fiction, or social science fiction. It describes events that may have happened for reasons of causality and reality; they just as likely happened for narrative impact and viral effect. I try to assume good faith but the context is so unverifiable as to be satirical.
It’s not beyond the pale, however, and that is worrying. This could have happened, and even worse things have been done by law enforcement in America, things which haven’t had as much airtime as this post. That is the true tragedy, and that is the kernel of truth in the post, regardless of its veracity.
Save it.
If you want to lay claim to the moral high ground, you still have to actually act as one that must that inhabits it. Not merely abstain from the extrema of behavior of those you deem lessers through their actions.
It's refreshing to at least have one admit it, and you should be thrilled to see that even now, sentiment amongst those you consider guilty is turning them toward the path of redemption.
Unless, again, you're just as bad as they are, and you're just looking to change the subjects of suffering in the world instead of reducing the overall amount.
It isn't exactly an uncommon personality trait. So at least you're in good company if that is the case.
This is something that can happen after egregious patterns over time. It is a valid consequence.
There’s almost nothing they have to lend to the debate anymore, those opportunities existed for ages.
We’ll fix this without them. My stance on this is as valid as their need to have a say.
If this stance is a problem that ails the world, that’s fine, it a better problem than what comes with whatever police have to express at this point.
It’s a better problem.
Edit: I just want to add, the cop is also admitting to crimes. Is the modern blog post ornamentation? Where you can dress yourself up in absolution? Wonderful you put it in blog form. We have no time for it, plus your guilty of crimes. How poetic.
Ethically, I also disagree with you. There must be a path back from misconduct in order for us to incentivize change. If people who turn in their badges because of a change of heart, who leave their clan only to be told that they're not welcome, why should they?
I strongly disagree. This article has given me more insight into the process by which a cop "becomes evil" than literally any other piece I can recall. I hope it's authentic but who knows.
>If this stance is a problem that ails the world, that’s fine, it a better problem than what comes with whatever police have to express at this point.
I feel like I read an entirely different piece than you did... the author is not a police officer. He's a former police officer who seems to have genuinely come to hate the profession as much as anybody.
Edit: To clarify, I agree with the notion that the system is broken. Which is why we absolutely should be listening to (former) cops who acknowledge its failures.
That is, assuming this post is legit of course. I'm inclined to think it is, but in this day and age who knows.
Then its clear you have been the fortunate few who have never had to be subjected to the perverse legal system in the US, or spent any time in low income areas where those tactics are 'business as usual' in what is referred to as policing. This is the norm, shows like The Wire or even Treme (both made by the same director) are just as much documentaries and exposes as they are entertainment. The latter skewing into some sort of misery porn.
And to be honest, given this is Hacker News, that doesn't surprise me. I just wonder if it ever occurred to you what the plight of those immense amount of homeless people is, and what happens to them when they're no longer in sight?
> I feel like I read an entirely different piece than you did... the author is not a police officer. He's a former police officer who seems to have genuinely come to hate the profession as much as anybody.
Again, proving the point that this is not something that has only just occurred out of no-where, but is seemingly systemic in the very system we're discussing. Again, no one involved with any activism is surprised by what just occurred with Police, we've all seen it up close and been subject to it, its what you understand going into them.
What was remarkable was how surprised the rest of you were towards them, and how often people are still quick to rationalize their behaviour. This is what authoritarian regimes do, they bolster the police to enforce political decree, not Law. Look at Hong Kong, its way more pervasive than you think and it stems from the same thing.
We're in total agreement that the entire system is corrupt. I can't for the life of my understand why you interpreted my comment to mean anything else.
You disagreed with a post that suggests that this wasn't the case. As for the personal 'diatribe,' I've argued this POV here before these recent events to a great deal of opposition as if it was a non-issue. Its in my post History of you care to find it.
I even quoted a person in the thread denying the validity of these claims, as if they're even really needed to discern the obvious.
> We're in total agreement that the entire system is corrupt. I can't for the life of my understand why you interpreted my comment to mean anything else.
Your post doesn't seem to suggest that, but if that's the case then I apologize if you think I was vilifying you.
But understand this is visceral for some of us that have been in the same position and have had our Lives thrown into disrepute for no other reason than 'pissing off' someone with a badge and a gun and saw no recourse for their violent behaviour.
I'm ultimately glad this happened, if only it allows the country to see what kind of despotism has creeped its way under the guise of Security since 9/11 that is normally kept out of sight from most People.
I mean did you see this recent article of the Pentagon targeting GenZ 'terrorists' in some perverse simulation in 2018:
https://theintercept.com/2020/06/05/pentagon-war-game-gen-z/
I think that's true especially in the context of this blog post. That is, someone who has (allegedly) served "the system" and now sees how pervasively evil it is.
Of course, I'm not suggesting we should give their input undue weight or that we shouldn't take it with a huge grain of salt. In fact — we may ultimately decide to ignore it altogether but.... the more information we have the better.
Your apology is accepted, thanks. I'll attempt to clarify what I wrote.
And wow, the link you posted is positively terrifying. I hadn't seen it, but I'm a big fan of what The Intercept does. Cheers.
I don't even care if they were "good" ACABs.
That's both to know if it is possible, and if it is what are the practicalities in making it work.
I really, really want to read and hear candid views from California police officers. But I can't take this in and let it play out on my biases in this form. I definitely can't use it to persuade anyone else, so I don't want to be persuaded by it, consciously or otherwise.
Perhaps it's entirely true and the author found it cathartic to read and publish.
Of course Baltimore might be an outlier (very urban and high crime), but it's a data point from the perspective of an articulate person.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33293421
At the same time some cop from the same department wrote up my brother for "Riding a motorcycle on the sidewalk while not wearing a helmet on his bicycle, crossing a street (Pedestrian) without a walk sign, and running a red left turn in a car. He got 200 hours of community service because the judge (Not really a judge but some ticket approver clerk) decided he didn't care if it made sense. He was doing community service next to a guy that beat and robbed an elderly woman who got 40 hours instead...
Then we moved to a different city and the sheriffs there were GREAT. You would meet them out and about and they would say hi and hang out. They actually cared about their jobs and spent their time keeping the community safe. Report a car stereo stolen to them and they would set up stings and bait cars! For a car stereo!
The first city was leasing their cops from a notoriously bad city next door. The second city funded their own Sheriff, spent tons of money on them to keep them well trained, and was super politically active (Mostly retirees). Both cities were within 50 miles of each other.
Consistency of police in the USA is all over the place. I think the ACAB movement is missing something. They are alienating the groups that can actually make a difference with policing. The LEOs who are actually good at their jobs and the people who honestly cherish them. At the same time I know what kind of cop they are really after!
With this he lost me a bit on trustworthiness. What the hell does capitalism have to do with thuggish policing? Many European states with generally decent cops are quite capitalist (not to mention Canada just to the north of the U.S) and many socialist/communist states were famous for the brutality of their police, just as are some essentially "capitalist" countries. The narrative of capitalism somehow being the cause of police brutality needs to be split up as the ideological nonsense that it is.
I don't even think white supremacy so specifically defined is a major issue here. Racism definitely exists in the police forces of the U.S but it's also often black or Latino or Asian cops who are just as heavy handed as their white companions.
I agree it was suspect wording though. It would have served the author better to focus on the vast income equality that exists in the US "version" of capitalism.
I think this is the biggest problem with political discourse right now. We don't really have the vocabulary to accurately describe the status quo or a desired end state we should aim for.
I just don’t buy this. I think this is not written by a cop at all. Such weird characterizations and worded with a of political ideology. It goes on and on. I can’t tell if it’s trolling or if someone used a bunch of stories and known tactics to create a composite character. Especially an account with little else contributed. Especially on Medium which is an extremely progressive haven. I just think this is bullshit but would probably be accurate to some cops lived experience.
ACAB = "All Cops Are Bad/Bastards"