skycop

The number and type of police contacts are vastly different as well. State Police normally operate in sparsely populated unincorporated areas, with traffic contacts being the most common. City police have much larger call volumes, with a much greater variety of calls for service, this is in addition to self initiated activity. In many cities, traffic enforcement is secondary, unless assigned to a traffic unit or directed patrol. I worked in the inner city the vast majority of my career, my favorite stat is I've never written a speeding ticket, NEVER. I've never been certified to run radar. The more calls you run, the higher chance an officer will be involved in a controversial incident, just because something causes controversy, doesn't mean it's wrong. The average size of an American city police department is around 10 officers, in many cases they are at-will employees and the mayor/city council hires and fires. Most are not unionized and do not work under collective bargaining. In large cities the union can be powerful, but they are in the minority as far as averages go. I will agree in certain cases they retain questionable officers, but I will also say they protect many more good officers from the prevailing political winds. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

That's incorrect, there are CALEA National Accreditation Standards, most states have accreditation standards. Most states have Police Officer Professional Standards and certification. They do vary, I will agree. Most towns want local control, and that's the way it should be. We can get into revenue neutral policing and other things regarding local control. I think we'd agree on some of these issues. Insurance carriers highly encourage at a minimum, state standards. I've worked for agencies that were state and nationally accredited. National accreditation standards are very strict, although it is an expensive process to do and maintain. The cost is normally saved through insurance rate savings. Remember, for every bad thing you see, there are MILLIONS of contacts that go right, many under very dire circumstances. Even some of the bad things you see that are ugly, but ugly doesn't mean wrong or unjustified. Policing can be a very visceral, unpleasant thing, even when things go right. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I don't "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I know you guys HATE GWB, but really, this? Inappropriate body language? That is such an incredible reach, it's actually funny and sad at the same time. His remarks were uplifting to a bunch of people who had just suffered an incredible loss, I guess I was too busy listening to the substance of the comments. The BODY LANGUAGE of the officers sitting behind the POTUS spoke the loudest during his lect.........I mean speech. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Nice substantive reply, I would expect nothing less from such an intelligent guy. The current POTUS can't ever pass up an opportunity to lecture those not as enlightened as he is. The looks and posture of the cops behind him said it all. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

The funny thing is, I disagree with him on gun control, but as far as his leadership skills, they are excellent. Just because I disagree, doesn't mean I throw the baby out with the bathwater. His comments on policing are spot on. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

SMH........... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/07/11/dallas-police-chief-were-asking-cops-to-do-too-much-in-this-country/ More true words, we have a saying, "I can't solve in 15 minutes, what took you 15 years to create". We need strong leadership, we certainly aren't getting it from Washington DC. Hopefully people will listen to this chief, and a couple of others, who have decided to take the gloves off and speak straight talk. There are some Sheriffs doing this as well. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I tried to stay out of this, but ya know............ http://www.fox4news.com/news/172844863-story I was impressed with this chief when he spoke at a fallen Dallas officers funeral a little while ago. Look into his background, he has a very unique perspective on police and the use of force. I'm not gonna argue here, it's pointless. I will point out the media and social media are filling the vacuum with disinformation just like Ferguson, even using the "injustice" of Michael Brown. It was a false narrative, but........... It is very likely the Alton Brown use of force will be justified. A convicted felon, in possession of a firearm, fighting with the police after a taser deployment, seldom has a good outcome. The truth many times causes outrage, outrage doesn't make you right, regardless of what social media says. The Minnesota shooting will very likely end in criminal charges against the officer. It's much the same as in Cincinnati, an officer apparently panicked, and uses deadly force in a criminally negligent manner. However in Cincinnati the guy he was dealing with was involved in criminal activity, gave all the warning signs to the officer. In Minnesota the officer shot a CCDW holder, a very bad decision, one that will land him in jail for a very long time. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

It's boils down to several bad choices by the prosecution. IMHO these choices were politically motivated and came back to bite them in the arse. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Highly likely to some extent. However many saw this coming and hopefully cooler heads prevail. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

This was probably the only one who had a chance of being convicted. If the prosecution actually followed the law, and charged this guy with willfully violating policy, (if he did) resulting in a negligent death, then the result could have been different. Instead she went after everyone, even though the stop and arrest were legit. I'd hate to be in Baltimore the next few days, this same thing is going to play out in Cincinnati the next few months. There is no way they are going to get a murder conviction, although a manslaughter conviction is a very real possibility. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Ok.............. Forrest, meet the trees. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Do you seriously think, if the DOJ could have found a shred of evidence, they wouldn't have charged Darren Wilson? There wasn't any evidence, so he was not charged DESPITE a team of lawyers looking at every piece of evidence. I have a bias against politically motivated prosecutions, so do most reasonable people, cops or not. The DOJ just charged the cop in South Carolina with a civil rights violation. He is already charged with MURDER, if you don't see the political motivation in that, therein lies the problem. The guy will be convicted of the murder charge and rightfully so. The outcome is likely to be much different in the Freddie Gray case. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Ok................. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

http://allmercednews.com/2016/05/13/mpd-releases-information-about-arrest-of-bicyclist-on-sidewalk/ Okay, 100% right, yet the Facebook lawyer recording this doesn't think so, it's viral, and the cops are just doing their jobs. This is just one example, there are many more. Just because you don't like something, or it doesn't look "good", doesn't mean it's wrong. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

That's not the premise of my thread, it's reducing proactive policing. This has led to dramatic increases in crime to certain areas. It's not an intentional slow down, it's more of not stopping someone when before they likely would have been. It's cause and effect, when they are not supported by their administration or by political leadership, they are staying in more of a reactive mode. No one wants to be the next viral sensation, even if what they are doing is 100% right. The crime rates reflect this. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

That's not a broad brush, those are facts. They are there to make money, that is their job. Reporting everyday facts does not sell their product. Its goes back to competing interests, I never said they were completely wrong in everything or not necessary. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Use of force means everything from verbal, empty handed, impact weapons, shows of force, up to deadly force. These account for well less than 1% of the contacts. Every use of deadly force which results in death is considered homicide. Once is too often, but things happen and police need to defend themselves and others. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

It's well less than 1%, and I never said it shouldn't be reported by the media. It should be reported factually without being sensationalized, I know that will never happen. BUT, less sensationalism and more facts would be nice. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

News outlets refer to Michael Brown in the context of police misconduct on a regular basis, there was no misconduct. The DOJ came into Ferguson with a team of lawyers, looking for Darren Wilsons head on a stick. They came away with numerous recommendations on other issues, many I'd agree with in regards to revenue neutral policing. I've addressed this in previous threads. When a bunch of ladder-climbing federal lawyers come after a cop for misconduct, and leave with no charges, that speaks volumes. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Ok (rolls eyes), you forgot to call me a poo-poo head and yell "hands up, don't shoot". "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I don't disagree, good points. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I disagree, The corporate media as a whole is not interested in the truth, they are there to turn a profit for their shareholders. The more papers they sell, clicks they get, viewers who buy advertised goods or services effect their bottom line. How often do you see a retraction printed on the front page? My grandmother was a newspaper reporter a LONG time ago. I'm not saying there are not good people involved, or that the media does not serve an important function. The 24 hour news cycle has created a profit driven beast, often very subjective, filled with agendas. Dan Rather lied in an attempt to sway an election, I've already discussed the Michael Brown fiasco and it's continued coverage, the list goes on. If you look at the self appointed youtube "media" they don't hide their agendas. Any fool with a camera can claim to be a "journalist"and engage in whatever behavior they choose, and people believe it. Social media is a whole other topic. I know some really good people who work in the media, and do a great job. But they are at the mercy of their bosses who are more worried about their business model. Print media is dying a slow death to digital media in all forms. The bottom line IMHO is accuracy suffers greatly when subjectivity increases, and it has, a lot. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I won't acknowledge that as a matter of routine, does it or has it happened? Sure it has, I will certainly acknowledge that. Competing interests, did you miss that? In the 24 hour news cycle, if information isn't immediately released, the "hiding" accusations and rumors start. Investigations don't work that way, often untimely released information can compromise an investigation. I've dealt extensively with the media, they could care less about the truth, they are there to sensationalize and create revenue. There are exceptions, and I've met some good people, but accuracy is of secondary importance. They still advance the Michael Brown thing and the "hands up, don't shoot" mantra, it's an outright lie and has been proven so. The last thing any police department or officer wants is the 24 hour beast coming to feed in their jurisdiction. The police as a whole need to learn and manage the beast better, but due to the inherit interests and conflict between the two, it will never happen to the point of completely satisfying both parties. This leaves out the self proclaimed youtube "media" types, which are sprouting up like weeds. They could really care less about anything, except whatever agenda or cause they are promoting. These are some of the reasons cops are more hesitant to get out of their cars and engage is proactive police work. It's not "throwing a temper tantrum", it's self preservation. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"