Sad story, is it just me or does there seem to be a lot of cop killings this year so far. Two sherriffs officers killed in the line of duty last week in SW Virginia.

Very sad, especially for the families. I worry about my brother-in-law.

whitey wrote:Sad story, is it just me or does there seem to be a lot of cop killings this year so far. Two sherriffs officers killed in the line of duty last week in SW Virginia.

I forget where I saw the data laid out in a trendline, but yeah, cop deaths are up recently.

Jesus that sucks. And this is one of the reasons that I try to avoid generalized 'cop bashing'. These people put themselves in danger all the time for very little pay, and often very little respect. People always say "thanks for your service" to army vets but no one says that to cops.

Well, I don't generally say thanks because I don't generally feel the cop has done me that much of a service.

Yes, I know, just like vaccination of a small percentage prevents large outbreaks, just like a few control rods bring a chain reaction to a halt, just like less than a quarter of people belonging to a union brings up wages for just about everybody else... just like all that, a small number of uniforms present and visible and active in society tends to keep the great majority of society's members from acting like animals.

It's the shift away from "to protect and serve", toward something more like "to investigate and enforce". And the gaze isn't outward, like the military looking beyond our borders. The cops' gaze is inward, to investigate *us* and enforce laws on *us*. Pair that with an increasing loss of the public's ability to influence the very laws that are enforced upon us, and those who enforce those laws are not going to be thanked.

Take wisconsin, for example. Laws are being passed over the strenuous objection of what is likely the commanding majority of the people (won't officially know for sure until the recalls happen). Law Enforcement Officers will be enforcing laws upon the public that the public rejects. That's diametrically opposed to being a "public servant"; and if enforcement of those laws causes the public to be disturbed, then by definition that LEO is creating a disturbance.

These types of things would not be done by a "Peace Officer" who is sworn "To Protect And Serve". But we pretty much don't have that anymore, we have Law Enforcement, which is less involved in keeping the public peace than it is involved in enforcing whatever the law is upon the public to keep public order. Sizable difference between a peaceful public and a public that is kept 'orderly'.

JayFromPA wrote:Well, I don't generally say thanks because I don't generally feel the cop has done me that much of a service.

Yes, I know, just like vaccination of a small percentage prevents large outbreaks, just like a few control rods bring a chain reaction to a halt, just like less than a quarter of people belonging to a union brings up wages for just about everybody else... just like all that, a small number of uniforms present and visible and active in society tends to keep the great majority of society's members from acting like animals.

It's the shift away from "to protect and serve", toward something more like "to investigate and enforce". And the gaze isn't outward, like the military looking beyond our borders. The cops' gaze is inward, to investigate *us* and enforce laws on *us*. Pair that with an increasing loss of the public's ability to influence the very laws that are enforced upon us, and those who enforce those laws are not going to be thanked.

Take wisconsin, for example. Laws are being passed over the strenuous objection of what is likely the commanding majority of the people (won't officially know for sure until the recalls happen). Law Enforcement Officers will be enforcing laws upon the public that the public rejects. That's diametrically opposed to being a "public servant"; and if enforcement of those laws causes the public to be disturbed, then by definition that LEO is creating a disturbance.

These types of things would not be done by a "Peace Officer" who is sworn "To Protect And Serve". But we pretty much don't have that anymore, we have Law Enforcement, which is less involved in keeping the public peace than it is involved in enforcing whatever the law is upon the public to keep public order. Sizable difference between a peaceful public and a public that is kept 'orderly'.

I can't find anything I disagree with here. But I don't think that an individual cop is making that choice, I think its a nationwide sea change coming from the top down. The next question, of course, is how can it be changed?

I look at this guy's photo and something about him, something benevolent--you can see his history in his face. Captain of the high school wrestling team. Accounting Club. Socially advanced for a teen. Plays the violin. Has clear goals he wants to accomplish during his time on earth. Two tours with the Army, one in Iraq, one in Afghanistan. IEDs, insurgents dropping bombs off viaducts, RPGs, suicide bombers. Gets home alive. His wife relieved beyond words. Joins the Fond du Lac police force. And the guy that shoots him? Also served a tour in Iraq, still in the Army Reserves and was to turn in his papers today for sergeant.

The IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) have been pushing for legislation to address more robustly the mental health issues that are plaguing a significant number of our guys. Michelle Obama was to make this one of her signature issues but I haven't heard too much from her on it lately. War is madness. But when brothers-in-arms are trading gunfire, what do you call that?

That photo of Officer Birkholz--the American flag backdrop looks right, not staged, and he looks right standing there with it so close to him--like it's got his back--a guy who is living one of those goals he set for himself in high school, it's beaming all over his face. Also on his face I see the promise of his future. And that's what tears my heart out.

http://iava.org/

mark wrote:I can't find anything I disagree with here. But I don't think that an individual cop is making that choice, I think its a nationwide sea change coming from the top down. The next question, of course, is how can it be changed?

How to change it? Well, an overhaul of the entrance benchmarks coupled with a complete replacement of the force would do good things, but it's damn nigh impossible to achieve a complete replacement when there aren't riots in the streets. A group called pa clean sweep tried complete replacement of the pa state ledge a few years ago, managed to scare the bejesus out of the harrisburg insider crowd of incumbents even though it didn't manage it's goal.

As far as individual cops vs a sea change... a drop in the bucket is relatively inconsequential, but that droplet is still in the bucket. This morning I heard a story on the radio that immediately brought this thread to mind: http://southwhitehall.patch.com/article ... nk-robbery
What the fuck! Cop does seven separate robberies of various banks, and gets a plea agreement?!?! Dude is just an individual cop, insubstantial in the ocean of blue uniforms, but one rotten apple spoils the whole pie. Plainly the 'establishment' of the system is covering this guy's ass to some extent even in the face of seven bank stickups in order for him to plea down the charges.

Then there's the example of the wisconsin state police, the only police union that is yet standing in support of governor walker. If it really comes to a bigger impasse such as a general strike, are they going to follow "Law Enforcement" orders and act like common mercenaries hired to be thuggish strikebreakers, or will they hew to the spirit of their public service? So far, they've done what they're told even when they thought it was illegal, let alone unethical or a clear violation of the oath of honor that it seems the rest of that state follows. If they aren't going to serve the public, and be accountable to the public, then why should the public tolerate the existence of a police agency that does not take that oath?

Serendipity, tomorrow there will be a red netflix envelope in my mailbox with a bit of PA labor movement history - The Molly Maguires. Will the wisconsin state patrol side with the people? Will the detective in the movie do the same? Or will the orders of the rich corporate laze-abouts be followed in both instances...