Quote:
Originally Posted by Lazy Daze
I too work in law enforcement, have for 5 years.
Let me first start by saying.....just because we put on a badge, does NOT make us perfect! Yes, we are held to a higher standard, looked upon as "perfection", but when I go home at night, take off my duty belt, and step out of my uniform, I am just like YOU! Human!
I agree, some officers cross the line. Sadly, they are the ones who get the media, the recognition, the generalization for the rest of us...bad. I am sure there are a LOT less articles, videos, etc of officers who do above and beyond our job each and every day. And what about those officers and their families who make the ultimate sacrifice and are killed while protecting and serving??
As Bard pointed out, several videos show only the footage they Want you to see. Do you know what happened Before the camera "turned on"? Do you know the stress? Do you know if that officers life was endangered??
I would welcome Anyone to attend some of our training sessions. Learn the Use of Force continum that we model after. Be put into the dangers of the job daily..and Then pass judgement. Yes we are trained, we are suppose to live to a higher standard, but no amount of training will "take over" natural instincts when your life is being threatened.
As for Taser..when it is used properly, it is, in my opinion, one of the best defenses we have on the market. In our department, we are required to be tased in order to carry. Yes, I was tased! I carry it! I use it! It has saved my ass several times! I encourage you to look at all the continuing research that Taser has posted on their site.. www.taser.com.
I am sure if you asked my partner or Bard's, they would tell you what it is like each and everyday to kiss us good bye, and know that there is a chance we won't come back home.
Again, I by all means am NOT condoning the actions of theses officers, but I'm giving u the perspective of an officer. |
There have been quite a few cases here in CA that are examples of what you and bard are talking about- what was the full context of the incident? I don't think it is fair to show one portion of what was going on and to be honest, it isn't right for the media to blast these tapes until they have been checked out and without full details. Probably not much can be done about this and to me, it could be
media misconduct- irresponsibility in reporting. As a citizen, I want the true facts and the whole story.
Some of these situations here have led to officer's being disciplined (or even to criminal charges and fired) because the internal investigations did see that there was misconduct.
I remember seeing s program about how some police departments have had "innocent" people get hurt while they are trying to act and those people had been hurt do to the interference of someone trying to videotape what was going on and got in the way or distracted the officers and they missed things like a weapon being drawn and shots fired that hit just someone in a neighborhood who came outside to see what was going on or hit through a window, perhaps just out taking a jog or run. Or an officer is hit. Always two sides to a story.
These images bother me, but I also know that they may not be the whole story. If it is shown that an officer (s) are doing wrong, then they should be prosecuted or disciplined by their superiors. And if someone gets an innocent person (or officer) hurt or killed because they are totally focused on a video tape and have no official capacity in being part of an arrest, let's say, they ought to be held accountable. No, I would not want to be partnered or married to a cop- it is a very dangerous job.
I do see the positive side to tasers, but I hope police departments are given all of the facts by manufacturers.