skycop

It's called reality.......... There are THOUSANDS of police contacts daily in the US, some under very difficult, trying, and dangerous circumstances. Of those less than 1% end in controversy. Are there bad cops? Hell yes there are, just like any other profession. They represent a fraction of the rest of us. My whole point of discussing things here is there are a lot more guys like me than "bad cops". I've been punched, kicked, bitten, spit on, had bones broken, been shot at, called every name you can possibly image. But that represents a very small part of the job, it happens, it sucks, you press on. Good cops sometimes have bad days, good people sometimes do bad and very stupid shit. I'm on here because people post stuff that simply isn't true, it is like pissing in the wind, but for whatever reason I'm in the mood to debate. The funny thing is the most vocal here don't debate, they accuse and use hyperbole. I've also traveled the world quite a bit, if you think we live in a police state, try some other places, we don't even compare. This is why I jumped for many years, I enjoyed hanging out with a divergent group of people along with the rush. I haven't jumped in a while, I miss it and the people at the DZ, even the hippie guy riding a unicycle, juggling, while wearing a gorilla suit.............;) "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

What a surprise............ Ya think, I mean people never call me because I'm so awesome, people call 911 and they send me because I'm working.......... And I can't help you with divorce, wills, criminal defense, etc. Good people sometimes do bad and stupid things. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Yep, Knew that would get a response............... Most of the defense attorney's around here are pretty good guys. I'm on good terms with most of them, the ones I'm not on good terms with are ambulance chasing losers. On several misdemeanor cases some of the best ones will tell me, "this guy is paying me a lot of money, so it's nothing personal". So during court he'll rant and rave so Joe DUI thinks he's getting his monies worth. After I'd just give him credit for a good show and we'd both laugh about it. He knows and I know the guy is guilty as hell, but we both have a job to do. This comes from years of building up a reputation and not taking garbage cases to court. I have a short list of attorney's I'd go to if I needed one If you think cops are clannish and cover for each other, lawyers take that to a whole new level.................... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Different terms, same lack of depth. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Yes, Because defense attorneys are pillars of virtue........ On a lighter note, One of the funniest things I've ever seen; An old crusty cop, at the end of his career, taking the oath in a felony case. The guy on trial was a career criminal, these guys paths had crossed numerous times over the years. The oath was read "do you promise to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?" His response, "I will if he will" as he pointed at the defendant. The look on everyone's face was priceless. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Wow, You really got me with logic and reason, but you forgot the obligatory Hitler reference. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I never said you were unqualified, never said I was an expert in the technology. I've used the technology for several years and it has limitations, it's not the cure all the anti-police crowd thinks it is. I use one, I like it. There are lapel cam videos of shootings, one was used recently to clear an officer in a lawsuit. BUT, people will see what they want to see. There is a video of a kid with a knife, the officer tells the kid to drop it several times, he doesn't and it's easy to figure out the result. The "activist" crowd still calls the officer a murderer etc....... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

You do realize that most agencies don't have armored cars right? "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I just point out facts and call people when they are factually incorrect. Doesn't mean I don't value their opinion. Just because you make a lot of noise, doesn't make you right. There was a rule I learned a long time ago: 20% of the population doesn't care much for the police or authority in general. That's an American thing, and I'm good with that. A small portion of this group is very vocal. 20% of the population will pretty much back up the police not matter what. This is the law and order crowd, I'm good with them too. 60% of the population are decent people who will make a reasonable informed decision given a set of facts regarding authority and law. The 60% are the majority of the jury pool, those are the people I think of most when I take action, even if that action may be controversial. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

No I have it on during most calls, it comes down to practicality and using the recording space wisely. I know it drives the foil hat and OWS crowd nuts, but I have to realistically set expectations for it's use. I've been doing this since FAX machines were new, the technology will catch up to make the process easier and more cost effective. I'm human, it recorded me getting pissed off after a drunk, high, off her medication 200lb lesbian kicked me in the nuts. Sooo............once it's recorded, it is what it is. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Were you wearing your Guy Fawkes mask when you typed that? It's scathing commentary............ "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I wear a camera (when it works) for my protection. A couple times when people wanted to complain, all I had to do was say "well, let's go look at the video". The tone changed and so did their story. But then again, I'm no expert, I defer to the keyboard warriors and armchair generals of the message boards....... Oh, and Facebook. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

If having 25+ years of experience, all on the operational side of the house, doesn't qualify me to comment on issues involving things I deal with on a daily basis. Well........... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

A well thought out response............. Coming from a BASE jumper, what a surprise. I watched the Spanish Guardia Civil beat a man unconscious in a train station in Madrid, stand by gas stations with sub-machine guns during a gas strike, and watched the Danish Police kick the shit out of a guy at a jazz festival. In those places there is no such thing as police brutality, you resist in any way and it's your fault. Every time I've been to Italy, there were plenty of cops, I talked to them and traded patches. We all know the Carabinieri in Sicily have a stellar record with corruption. The worlds a little bigger than your BASE trip...... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Then by all means Bill, please design a system that works all the time, in all conditions, and is durable enough to stand up to repeated and lengthy use. I hope you do and make lots of money doing it. Cost, practicality, and durability are limiting factors in the technology Bill. Again, the internet has made everyone an expert........... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I wish, At least I could have enjoyed crashing the system, instead of the just hearing the IT guys bitch........ "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Technology is a dual edged sword. In a perfect world it would work, all the time, without issues. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. I've used the technology, have you? I've seen it's benefits and limitations. There are lapel vids out there of incidents, people still see what they want to see. The ones we use are fairly simple, but not very durable. One hard rainstorm and it doesn't work properly for a period of time. I've also broken several clips that hold the camera. Ruggedized systems can be very expensive, require software that is expensive, and most small police departments don't have that type of infrastructure. These are realities, I live this stuff everyday. The internet has made everyone an expert. Please, if you think you have what it takes, apply, take the test, put on the funny outfit, and have at it..... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

It's not that easy, the officer should have the ability to control the video. Privacy concerns, confidentiality issues, etc. The practical technology issues as they related to departments networks. I once crashed an entire large network by storing too many video files on it. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

You are very right. I'm sure you would like a high stakes gambling operation, complete with the hookers and dope, next to your house. Really, that's the best you can do? Why don't you just call me a pig and go oink, oink, seems all the rage from the "activist" crowd......... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

True, I could actually care less, but it's the peripheral activity that goes with it that concerns the surrounding neighborhood. This game was in a residential area.......... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

The last high stakes game I raided (not a SWAT raid) had prostitutes and cocaine. It was a long time ago but the anecdotal can go both ways............... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I wear one, it's a great investment. Complaints drop because many suspect's behavior changes dramatically when they see the camera. I've had several who were getting ready to fight, once they saw the camera they knew they were had. Kinda like running from a helicopter..........;) "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

A broad generalization that simply isn't true Again wrong, google active shooter incidents and school shooting incidents. The list is many and varied........ Hyperbole............... You mean videos of guys trolling around antagonizing cops while they are doing their jobs. This is all the rage in the anti-police community. If anything it proves we don't live in a "police state". In some countries I've visited the cops would just smack you over the head and drag you to jail. Don't get me wrong, some cops fall right into the trap of these guys. I've always policed as if I was being videoed. I've had some of these guys try to provoke me, I normally just laugh and ignore them. I've taken the Oath to the Constitution more than 99.9% of the population, on both the police and military side. Many of these "activists" lack the fortitude or demeanor to do either. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Salon.com, Radley Balko, and the Huffington Post are hardly objective sources. Cherry picking raids, actions, or whatever you want to call them proves nothing. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

We got called out 1-2 a month when I was a SWAT guy back in the late 80's to late 90's. The team is seldom called out anymore, mainly due to budget constraints and manpower issues. The internet has made everyone a tactical expert, I can debunk about 99% of the drivel both extremes put out. The link I put in the original post expresses better than I can. "Militarization" is something everyone should be concerned about in their communities. What is being put out post-Ferguson is mainly hype to attract attention and to sell ad space. I've also been involved with the 1033 program since the mid-90's. The vast majority of information put out by the media about this program is mis-information or factually incorrect. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"