Wow, a must see video, Armed or Unarmed?

[JTROKS]

OK. I agree there are store clerks, bank tellers, and many other non LEO folks get robbed, shot and killed. I wish there's a way we can prevent all that.

Those civilians are not entrusted to protect and serve the public. Those civilians are not asked to go after an armed suspect. Those civilians are not responsible for keeping the line of scrimmage when a group of rioters threatens private businesses and buildings.

[glbtrottr]

Wow, a must see video, Armed or Unarmed?

They should have just rolled in with Crown Vics.



Sure, it would have been much more dangerous, but at least people on the internet wouldn't get offended. I wouldn't mind taking a bunch of unnecessary risks or recklessly exposing myself to gunfire if that is what it takes to preserve the delicate sensibilities of people watching the incident on TV from their couches.

The job can and does suck depending on your gig.

It can also be wonderful. Helping people out, squashing a truly bad guy, sure.

And being one of the very last jobs with a healthy lifetime pension upon retirement doesn't suck either.

That said, you choose the job you do. When I raised my hand to go sandy places where people hate me to try to protect them as a volunteer, I made the decision. When I signed the contract, I knew the consequences and possible outcomes. You live by the courage of your convictions. That didn't make me "heroic or special". It was a life choice, as LE make. And it comes with consequences.

No one disputes that cops should roll well protected against bad guys. I'll concede and encourage that if you think you want to walk in with armor, have at it if it gets you home safe.

The video is shameful; every one of those dbags deserves to be dusted into oblivion, and no one would be on the side of the bad guys. Certainly not me. Sad video. I made the conscious decision: the job is not for me.

The issue is the demanded and expected special treatment that often is comes by many of those wearing the badge. The deviation from Paelian principles. The enhanced penalties given to those committing crimes against law enforcement. The frequent "slap on the wrist" given to law enforcement when a crime or infraction is committed. The "professional courtesy". The constant management and grooming of police wrongdoing by public relations staff, the special treatment that comes along legally with being in law enforcement in California.

Peelian Principle 3 - [/B][/B]

Peelian Principle 4 -

The fact is that most law enforcement has become infinitely more aggressive as I've seen it in the recent past. It is nothing today as it was thirty forty years ago. Is it because the politicians pass bad laws? Perhaps, and law enforcement enables them. Yes my gripe does extend to politicians and the bad laws they write as well which LE have to and now frequently want to conveniently enforce. This leads to polarization in the extreme.

Staying on the gun topic: When citizens in California can carry standard size magazines, the same weapons that law enforcement can carry without a badge or department letterhead, when the roster applies to LE equally as it does to citizens, when law enforcement receives the same punishments as civilians (and not receive "special punishment" for doing something to law enforcement and many Penal Codes codify), when the militarization of police subdues, and when officers focus a lot more in community policing rather than what you see today, or in other words, genuine adherence to Robert Peel's foundational police principles as quoted by virtually anyone in police brass when convenient, then I'd have a lot less of a hard time with it. You can't utter the concept of "setting the example" and demand or expect special treatment at the same time.

I dated someone in law enforcement in recent years; I wanted to believe they were exceptional or even normal . I gave it my best and I was challenged. Instead, the double standard was demonstrated in spades and resulted in some very unfortunate stuff that made the news. Yet my faith is restored by one exceptional person in the department and not by the actions of the departments and cities which frankly were lame. Not quite a wash.

Either you believe you're one of the citizens and you are dedicated to preserving order and enforcing the law, or you believe you're special and produce the badge when it's convenient for something as convenient as whisking off the meter maid or lying to a law enforcement and expecting to be believed "because you're a cop". Your values may vary.

[AdiosKali]

No offense but a lot people I know hate law enforcement. I wouldnt be surprised if these criminals outright hated cops and were looking for opportunities to harm them.

I think I read an article somewhere where a dude in Bay Area tried to kill a cop because that was an initiation to get into a gang.

Maybe you need to find a different group of people to hang around. The birds of a feather thing... I don't have a lot of friends who hate police because they are not people I would like to be around.