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Cops acting/arming/dressing like shitty soldiers seems to be one of those issues that pisses off Republicans and Democrats alike. It seems like an easy area to get consensus on to do something about. Is there a reason politicians aren't speaking up? Are police unions super-powerful?

The thing that gets me about cops is how fat they seem to be, around here. They should do something about the fat cops, before worrying about their uniforms.

Dr. Agkistrodon wrote:The thing that gets me about cops is how fat they seem to be, around here. They should do something about the fat cops, before worrying about their uniforms.

Depends where you go. I was surprised the first time I went to L.A. after seeing years of fat Chicago cops. Unsurprisingly, L.A. had incentives and penalties, and Chicago had a strong union.

Grandpa's Spells wrote:

Dr. Agkistrodon wrote:The thing that gets me about cops is how fat they seem to be, around here. They should do something about the fat cops, before worrying about their uniforms.

Depends where you go. I was surprised the first time I went to L.A. after seeing years of fat Chicago cops. Unsurprisingly, L.A. had incentives and penalties, and Chicago had a strong union.

The Universe is not lazy enough to hand out coincidences like that. I'd put money on a connection.

I'm with you on this one. I don't think the problem has found its crystallizing moment or leader, but the momentum is building. The crushing weight of the military-police-prison-industrial complex will soon break the camel's back.

MO City and Houston cops seem about as fat as Saginaw cops

Grandpa's Spells wrote:Cops acting/arming/dressing like shitty soldiers seems to be one of those issues that pisses off Republicans and Democrats alike. It seems like an easy area to get consensus on to do something about. Is there a reason politicians aren't speaking up? Are police unions super-powerful?

I think that this is a place where civil libertarians of Rep/Dem camps can and should find common ground. Blacks have lived this in one form or another for eons. Whites are late to the party only arriving after W laid the groundwork for a police state and O enhanced it. It may end up being O's greatest "success".

Suspect that most politicians aren't speaking up because the sheeple don't care. Democrats are taking care of police unions and Republicans are tough on crime.

Fat Cat wrote: but the momentum is building.

I agree and I think 99% of the momentum is due to Youtube. It's one area where the web has served a great purpose.

IMO, technology will solve some of it. Civilians with camera phones and cops wearing issue lapel cameras will curb some police brutality...probably already has. BUT more You Tubes of misconduct means the public will perceive that it is increasing, even if it is not.

Also, I'd love to see No Knock searches get scaled waay back. This can happen on a state-by-state basis.

In no particular order

De-unionize LEO.
Decommission most of the LEO SWAT units. Most are a solution looking for problem. That is how SWAT units ended up serving warrants for a couple ounces of pot etc.
Each Sate establish a LEO version of the UCMJ. Being an LEO entails a lot of power- place officers under a legal system like the UCMJ.
Raise standards for across the board; fire those that get off on abusing power (see UCMJ for LEO), the corrupt and the lazy fat fucks.
End the war on drugs; legalize pot entirely and legalize possession of the rest.
Stop aping the military. Actually every reference to the military- ranks, tactics etc should be stripped from everyday LEO terminology
Return to community policing, where officers are part of the community.
End no knock warrants and civil forfeiture laws
Crush the LEO vs everyone else culture. Hound, fire and imprison the dumb asses that believe they are above the law and entitle to special rights.

johno wrote:IMO, technology will solve some of it. Civilians with camera phones and cops wearing issue lapel cameras will curb some police brutality...probably already has. BUT more You Tubes of misconduct means the public will perceive that it is increasing, even if it is not.

Also, I'd love to see No Knock searches get scaled waay back. This can happen on a state-by-state basis.

Wait until the cops start shooting people who are pointing cameras at them.

California depatments are starting to have their officers wear video cameras to monitor their (and citizens) behavior. Naturally, for those departments that have started with such a program, excessive force complaints have dropped. And not just from the cops behaving better. The tapes are reviewed and shown to the citizens and they are asked if they want to reconsider their complaint since the videos will show if anything occured or not.

Many California departments also monitor their police cars. There are sensors that send out emails to all supervisors if the car goes over 100mph, has been idling for protracted periods or if seat belts are being worn.

Dan Martin wrote:California depatments are starting to have their officers wear video cameras to monitor their (and citizens) behavior. Naturally, for those departments that have started with such a program, excessive force complaints have dropped. And not just from the cops behaving better. The tapes are reviewed and shown to the citizens and they are asked if they want to reconsider their complaint since the videos will show if anything occured or not.

Many California departments also monitor their police cars. There are sensors that send out emails to all supervisors if the car goes over 100mph, has been idling for protracted periods or if seat belts are being worn.

If the cop that shot that kid in MO was wearing one, we'd know pretty quickly who was telling the truth. Maybe, we could have skipped the whole let's burn down the neighborhood game.

WildGorillaMan wrote:

johno wrote:IMO, technology will solve some of it. Civilians with camera phones and cops wearing issue lapel cameras will curb some police brutality...probably already has. BUT more You Tubes of misconduct means the public will perceive that it is increasing, even if it is not.

Also, I'd love to see No Knock searches get scaled waay back. This can happen on a state-by-state basis.

Wait until the cops start shooting people who are pointing cameras at them.

I think we should snap pictures of fat cops all over town, put them on FB and Instagram with the "#chubbycops" hashtag and watch how well it trends.

Any takers?

cops are armed courtesy of anti-terror money, aren't they?

ferguson, mo definitely needs an armored vehicle with anti-mine protection. right?

folks needs to let every fucking pol know that delivery serious to small towns and suburbs isn't the way to bring home the bacon

Dr. Agkistrodon wrote:

WildGorillaMan wrote:

johno wrote:IMO, technology will solve some of it. Civilians with camera phones and cops wearing issue lapel cameras will curb some police brutality...probably already has. BUT more You Tubes of misconduct means the public will perceive that it is increasing, even if it is not.

Also, I'd love to see No Knock searches get scaled waay back. This can happen on a state-by-state basis.

Wait until the cops start shooting people who are pointing cameras at them.

I think we should snap pictures of fat cops all over town, put them on FB and Instagram with the "#chubbycops" hashtag and watch how well it trends.

Any takers?

I'm game, but we need a better #tag. How about #BaconGreese or #PorkBellies or #FatFuckFascists

dead man walking wrote:cops are armed courtesy of anti-terror money, aren't they?

ferguson, mo definitely needs an armored vehicle with anti-mine protection. right?

folks needs to let every fucking pol know that delivery serious to small towns and suburbs isn't the way to bring home the bacon

Feds threw this money at local police departments. I seem to remember a police chief in one of the more affluent suburbs getting a Glock 18. Because you need a full-auto handgun when Al Queda takes over Whole Foods.

I get it. The federal government asks "Would you like $150k for upgraded weapons and vehicles?" "No thank you" is not a likely response. But now they have to justify having it, and that means using it.

But not training properly is another issue. A lot of military have taken to twitter saying their ROE during riots in Iraq were tighter than these clowns in Missouri have during no-riot-daylight.

buckethead wrote:

Fat Cat wrote: but the momentum is building.

I agree and I think 99% of the momentum is due to Youtube. It's one area where the web has served a great purpose.

Yup, that and cameras on every phone means officer friendly can't hide. But there's a lot more, like the Defense Department giving old equipment to police departments, ridiculous drug and sentencing laws, public surveillance, immigration fear, and good ol' fashioned racism. What this all needs to culminate in is the dissolution of the Department of Homeland Security.

check the headlines--pols are coming out against militarization of the cops--rand paul, claire mccaskill, eric holder

#AnArmyOfPigs

Works for fat or SWATted up.

Batboy2/75 wrote:If the cop that shot that kid in MO was wearing one, we'd know pretty quickly who was telling the truth. Maybe, we could have skipped the whole let's burn down the neighborhood game.

If that cop had been wearing a camera, no one outside of his department and his lawyer would have seen the footage. Cops are more equal than the rest of us.

dead man walking wrote:check the headlines--pols are coming out against militarization of the cops--rand paul, claire mccaskill, eric holder

That's understandable. Claire McCaskill frequents this forum. She goes by the psudeonymn of "Shapecharge"

FUCK! BUSTED!!

It's frustrating when a good chunk of the teabaggers are concerned with sharia law taking over the country yet warrantless wiretaps, militarized police, suppression of the media, etc etc is nothing to be worried about.

No shit. The Bible Belt has been held down, and you think fucking Halalalaalalas are going to force sharia law?