Do You Trust the Police to Honor Your Rights?

59 Comments

  • pete - 14 years ago

    Until the police of any community stop believing they are above the people they serve and protect, I will fear them.
    Police have no legal obligation to answer a distress call. They are best used against the subjects by the rulers.
    I don't want to live in a police state.
    A Free people should not require their streets to be occupied by criminals in uniform.
    Take the profit from enforcing unjust laws against morality and society and focus on violent crime.
    Lets level the playing field. require the police to take off their bullet proof vests and walk our streets the way we do. let them be subject to the same laws that they force upon the people.

  • Defender - 14 years ago

    I've trained with those who train police and the military. The mission can beome everything. The scene in "The Fugitive" in which Dr. Kimball shouts to the federal marshal "I didn't kill my wife!" and the marshal shouts back "I don't care!" says it. I remember Waco. A 51-day seige the government was determined to conclude at any cost. Pregnant women and toddlers were reduced to burned garbage. Mission accomplished.
    A relative is joining the military. Such is the state of her education in civics and history that, when asked about the possibility of illegal orders, she said "Obey 'em anyway. Following orders is MY JOB."
    Our Founders thoughtfully provided us with the ability to try in court not only defendants but the LAWS under which they're charged. But now judges tell juries not to reference the Constitution and Bill of Rights in proceedings. It's possible that this abuse could go all the way to the Supreme Court, with tyranny being validated at every level. So it's more imporant than ever that the front-line arbiters of who and what is prosecuted be above reproach. If they must err, it should be on the side of liberty. The bad apples are the ones we hear about, but the "good apples" MUST shun and report those bad ones. No more code of silence, if the people are to respect "___'s finest." .

  • livefree1 - 14 years ago

    The mentality of the new generation of Lawenforcement is not one of protecting or serving. It is "Us against Them". It shows everytime "Us" as citizens have contact with"Them". We are to keep quite,not guestion them or their authority, and do exatly as they say. Even if their actions are officiously against the oath they swore to uphold. They pound, plunder, and persecute under color of law. They demand you surrender your rights and total submisson to their authority. You must comply!!!!! For"Us" not to means resisting arrest. Which then leads to fabricated charges. History, in the not so distant past, has shown "Us" what happens when this mentality of "Them" is allowed to gain strength and take control.

  • livefree1 - 14 years ago

    The mentality of the new generation of Lawenforcement is not one of protecting or serving. It is "Us against Them". It shows everytime "Us" as citizens have contact with"Them". We are to keep quite,not guestion them or their authority, and do exatly as they say. Even if their actions are officiously against the oath they swore to uphold. They pound, plunder, and persecute under color of law. They demand you surrender your rights and total submisson to their authority. You must comply!!!!! For"Us" not to means resisting arrest. Which then leads to fabricated charges. History, in the not so distant past, has shown "Us" what happens when this mentality of "Them" is allowed to gain strength and take control.

  • SteveInSD - 14 years ago

    Like most polls, this is much too simplistic. I voted Yes, because that was the closest. I don't just passively trust or distrust LEOs, I work to create trust both ways. The more communication, the better. That's why there is usually such a difference between small towns and cities. If they become abusive, it's because we let them, in more ways than one.

  • Drew Dickey - 14 years ago

    Mesa County Colorado has a 'sheriff' with a S.W.A.T. in place for "emergency situations".

    So far, this 'team has assaulted numerous CITIZENS on trumped up offenses with very few arrests made or charges filed.
    One young male Citizen was attacked by this 'team' for simply " being seen" with a handgun in his possession in a rural area of the county.
    No threats were made, and there were no other persons in the area UNTIL this 'paramilitary bunch' showed up with the intent to kill if he did not comply.

    No charges were filed, no arrest was made, but if the man had touched his weapon, he would have been murdered by the 'law enforcement' officer on scene.

    Do I FEAR this bunch of morons and fools? YES!!!!

    They have no concept of the RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS, only in the power of legislated law.

    Legislated law can never supersede CONSTITUTIONAL LAW. regardless of what a judge will tell you in a 'court of law'.

  • JPFOLIfeMember - 14 years ago

    About 2 weeks ago, in Jacksonville, Florida, 5 Jacksonville Sheriffs Officers opened fire on a car containing: 1 armed bank robber/carjacker & 3 innocent victims-including a 2 year old boy.
    The police opened fire on that vehicle , killing the suspect, but in the process also shooting 2 of the 3 innocent victims. The 5 cops fired 42 rounds combined.
    The mother was hit in the foot- the little boy wasn't so fortunate: he was shot twice by the police & spent over a week in critical condition; As a result of the shooting, the boy has had to have a large part of one lung removed, and sustained an unknown amount of nerve damage to one arm.
    His older sister wasn't hurt, by only the grace of G-d.
    At this time, 3 of the cops have been returned to street patrol duties. The other 2 have been assigned to desk duty- for now, anyway.
    Our Sheriffs department has a history of shooting innocent citizens, and of not receiving proper punishment.

    To sum this up, I can't help but believe that the Police are NOT going to side with us(the Citizens); They will,
    instead, follow whatever orders they are given.

  • Lee Philadelphia, PA - 14 years ago

    The last time I called the police, they hassled me and ripped me off.

  • Everett - 14 years ago

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35565441/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

    "NEW ORLEANS - A former police lieutenant pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to obstruct justice after federal officials say he helped cover for officers who killed two people in the chaos following Hurricane Katrina".

    "Federal investigators say former Lt. Michael Lohman knew two people shot to death as they crossed the Danziger Bridge had no weapons, but he and others filed false reports to make the shootings seem justified. Four other people were wounded".

  • Officer to be - 14 years ago

    From the time I was a child, I have wanted to be a police officer because my parents taught me that, no matter what... I could always trust the police to help me. I want to be THAT cop. The guy that everyone can trust to do the right thing, even when no one is looking, the guy that runs into danger to keep others from it and from them being harmed by it. I want to be the hero that I imagined every cop was in my mind as a child.

    During and after watching that video, I literally cried. I assure you...Not an easy thing to accomplish with guys like me that have been scarred and hardened by the world we live in.
    I don’t want to end up being one of these cops. I cried at the thought that my morals, values, principles and ethics could be eroded over time to become what these cops have become. As a future officer of the peace, as an American, as a man... I am genuinely, tearfully sorry for the things some police officers have done and I promise that I will not become one of these thugs. I have a "brother" that will (hopefully) be entering the academy with me and I have asked him and his wife to hold me accountable to that. I've asked the same of my family and my pastor. I don't want to be a bully.

    As a child, I wanted to have my parents' approval and be accepted in their home. As a man, I want to hear from my superiors, future spouse and children “Job well done.” and someday provide a home for them, where they will be always be accepted. As a Christian, I want to be able to stand before my God, and hear “Well done, boy. Welcome Home.” Not look into His face and see tears streaming from His eyes because of what I had done in life.

    Ut meus terra
    Ut meus frater
    Ut meus Senior
    Ego sum semper fidelis

  • cowgirl - 14 years ago

    I did not really need to see the video to know how I felt. I personally have twice been the victim of a crime, and twice I was treated like the criminal. I have actually been taken to the jailhouse and what I was exposed to was horrifying. I was only 23 at the time and was scared out of my wits. I even had a dectective call me a liar and refuse to further investigate the case. I have not trusted the police since. When you go looking for justice, what you find is "just us".
    On the outside of our door you will find a sign a sign on which hang two empty shotgun shells, and the sign says "We Don't Call 911"!

  • Dr. K - 14 years ago

    I have known many police officers some of whom are friends or relatives. As a group, police are the biggest criminals in the entire city. They rely on their "special" status to completely disregard law and order. I would not trust a police officer as far as I could through the cruiser he drove to commit more crimes. The "brotherhood" and vows of silence plus coverups for their crimes of violance is overwheming. These derranged humans who have sworn to "serve and protect" just server themselves and protect their own selfish interests. We need to take back this country from the elitists and their ilk.

  • Richard - 14 years ago

    I feel so alone voting the "yes" option. Obviously there are cops that can not be trusted, are incompetent. But for the most part, if there is a serious incident going down where armed robbery or armed assault is taking place, I DO trust the police.

    If someone in your family goes missing or is killed, you will call 911 because in many situations, you probably trust them a lot more than you think.

    If the question was broader to include Border Patrol, Homeland Security, and those agencies, I would have changed my option to "actually fear them". Those guys are out of control and they all need to be completely removed from the budget and all the employees fired.

  • robert - 14 years ago

    As far as to trust the police, NO not until they prove themselfs. There are many that would not go against the people but there are the ones that would follow unconstitutional laws because they were ordered to. And as for the military there are alot of them that do not understand the oath they took and would follow the orders without question. Take a look at katrina the military and police went in and confiscated the peoples guns. Some of them were destroyed on the spot and many were put into storage and the people still have not gotten there guns back or have they been compensated for them.

    No i do not trust the government because they have been taken over by the so called rulling class of this world and they believe they have the right to run every aspect of peoples lives even down to whether people live or die. This is not the days of robin hood where the normans rule over the saxons.

  • hbbill - 14 years ago

    Key phase at the end of the video; "it can only be their turf if you let them have it"

    Just remember that "we the people" at this point still (sort of ) have our Second Amendment rights and we grossly outnumber them.

    To the LEO's, for the bulk of you are not peace officers anymore, the time may arrive when you will have to decide to "preserve, protect and defend the CONSTITUTION against all enemies foreign and domestic", or obey the unconstitutional edicts of the powers that be. I believe that Mike V. said in his letter that we the law abiding citizens of this country can be your staunchest ally or your worst enemy. The choice will be yours.

  • JPFO Webmaster - 14 years ago

    There is a broad spread of opinion, predictably but - sad to say these days there is definitely less trust. The ''local'' cop, township type is usually a good guy and the type to help folks and not get heavy. However, there has seemingly been a trend within state cops for a degree of heavy handedness, for instance the treatment of folks with traffic stops and the impression that any extra citation is more money for the department!

    To be fair, the traffic stop is fraught with potential danger but - there is a mid way balance point where excesses are not justified. Excesses only alienate the good guys.

    The most worrisome side of things is the trend we tend to see with inner city cops where - despite for sure their job being unenviable often - a tendency to act with excessive force, to the extent that things adopt a "SWAT" approach even when not comprising true "probable cause".

    The trend to see the oath of office disregarded is perhaps the symptom most often seen by some - where the "color of law" is applied to the exclusion of fairness and constitutional fair play. There is little doubt that militarization of LE is a growing trend and that perhaps in and of itself is a major reason for distrust. Too much feeling of police state.

  • With the people - 14 years ago

    Law Enforcer??? Just what law in enforced? Is it our law - or is it "their" law?
    Let us take a very brief look at the answers.

    Our law says that we may exercise our inherent, inalienable rights without interference from the governments we create. This means the people are sovereign to all government and must abide primarily by one law and that is that we may do as we wish so long as we do not intentionally interfere with the rights of others.

    Their law says that we must get licenses to do business, to travel, licenses to operate our cars/trucks/other motorized conveyances. It says we must buy insurance. It says we must get permission from them to get married, and that we must vaccinate our children before thay can attend government indoctrination centers (formerly known as schools).

    Their law also say we must pay rent to them on homes and other private property we own. they call it property tax but it is in every sense of the word a direct tax that is a rent and unlawful (unconstitutional) and, if one reads statutes - illegal.

    Their laws say we cannot defend ourselves without their permission (licensed concealed carry and the like) that they may invade our private and personal property so long as "within policy", whatever the hell that is. They sat we can be questioned and if we do not respond as some dumbass cop wants, we can be assaulted, arrested, kidnapped, tortured, and - yes - killed since some traitorous brutal cop cult says so. And, then court systems (every state and local court system is actually a military/Admiralty chancery in which you have no rights) support the under color authority of cops, no matter what they do it seems.

    Speaking of "arrested", the law is we may not even be approached unless there is a 5th Amendment indictment issued by a Grand Jury that determined probable cause based on a human beings testimony (except in a murder case and then tghe complaint is by the people).

    So what are enforcers enforcing? That's right - laws that do not apply to the people. Why do they not apply? Because government as artificial entities may only regulate other artificial entities (such as the corporations created by them). They cannot regulate us because we are sovereing to them, and because their laws do not apply to us.

    Thus, all enforcers are traitors, aiding and abetting the enemies of America.

    What we have witnessed - at least those of us who grew up in the 50s and 60s - is the conversion of peace officers (about a 1/4 of the number of enforcers necessary to enforce statutes unconstitutionally upon the people) to the American Gestapo, a cult of brutal psychopathic anti-American, anti-human freedom thugs that should not be allowed to carry weapons except in very specified situations.

    For those that are not aware of it, freedom and private both mean "not under government control."

    Person in statutes means only artificial entities, not human beings.

    Law enforcers operating amonst us are unconstitutional entities acting as a standing army of enforcers living amongst us, enforcing rules and regulations that are not law upon us. They create unlawful revenues for the government that hired them to break our Law while enforcing theirs.

    That is the sad truth and any cop worth a good healthy crap will tell you the same thing. They will also tell you that they like doing what they do to people, because they do like it and could care less about we people. Those that did not like it, of course, quit or were fired for being vocal or attempting to uphold OUR LAW.

    Every citation or ticket or whatever issued to a private man or woman is an unconstitutional expression of control over the people and a revenue creator, including into the retirements of those paid to enforce unlawful rules on us.

    Of course, the intent of training of the thugs is to create an "us and them"
    mentality, where we people are thought of as second-class citizens.

    Never in my earlier years d

  • D.R. - 14 years ago

    After watching the video "The Largest Street Gang in America" did you say to yourself, "This isn't the way it should be. This is disgusting." Now, say you watched a video about a known criminal gang committing similar or worse crimes. Would you say the same or, more likely, "I've heard they do this sort of thing, now I know they do." Forgive the G rated language, but you know what I mean. The reason for this is that the activity shown has, in past, not been the norm, but the exception for law enforcement. There is still, I believe a majority of officers who actually do respect citizen's rights and are not out to harm others. This may not always be the case in the future with the escalation of violent crime and a general mistrust from and of the public (police do fear the public, also). If I could have my way, every law enforcement officer would watch this video during training to see that they are not immune from corruption and that people do keep records of their actions. I can't speak for what may happen in the future, but at this time I do still feel that with all the checks and balances, most law enforcement is still trustworthy. My one caveat, however, is that if you ever hear the words, "You have the right..." the first thing you should do is shut your mouth and invoke your right to silence until your attorney is sitting next to you. Remember, anything you say "will be used AGAINST you." The police are not on your side, they are public servants and IF you are deemed to be a threat to the public, they will be your enemy.

  • Daryl - 14 years ago

    "Just following orders" was the excuse used by the Nazis at the Nuremberg trials.
    Most LEOs now are former gang members (some even brought in from other countries) & other foreigners (maybe even ALL illegals!) Same goes for many of our military (being recruited in Mexico & the Philipines in exchange for U.S. citizenship!)

  • Gary - 14 years ago

    Dr Steven I Skurow
    2010-02-19 01:46:23 ET
    "I trust the police to do the best job that they can under the limitations that society puts on them. Most people who do not trust police have reason to fear police."

    Your statement is both insulting to those of us who have experienced police abuse, and ignorant. You apparently have lived a pleasant, sheltered life. I am glad for you. I hope you never have to face the reality that many, if not most police are abusive, arrogant, animals. Did you happen to notice the former police who have posted here; who do not trust the police themselves? You may not wish to face the harsh realities of real life, but sticking your head in the sand does not make them go away; and thinking it could not happen to you because you are “a good person”, or that you obey the law and are thus “safe” is total foolishness.

  • james e. goss - 14 years ago

    I have lived long enough to be truly afraid of police power. They are (just like military personnel) being paid to follow orders ........... good or bad!
    And I watch as many different "law enforcement academies," run, or funded, by the federal government, are turning out well-trained enforcers.

  • Russell - 14 years ago

    It's not any better on this side of the Atlantic. After Dunblane the trust was gone. After Stockwell Tube Station the fear began. If you think privately held handguns are driving the decent just look at the NuLiberal experiment here in Britain. We outlawed armed self-defense in 1946, handguns in 1997 and murdered an innocent man in 2005.

  • alan - 14 years ago

    Dr Steven I Skurow
    2010-02-19 01:46:23 ET
    I trust the police to do the best job that they can under the limitations that society puts on them. Most people who do not trust police have reason to fear police.

    I wonder if the good doctor (medical or phd) would be so kind as to clarify. I for one, would be interested in hearing/reading more from the gentleman, especially re his last.

    Could someone at JPFO perhaps forward my request?

  • Alan - 14 years ago

    Interested parties might also try the following. It's also longish.

    http://www.davekopel.com/2A/LawRev/SlipperySlope.htm

  • Alan - 14 years ago

    http://www.davekopel.com/Waco/LawRev/CanSoldiersBePeaceOfficers.htm

    If the above doesn't show as a direct link, try typinng or copying it into your browser. An interesting read re this discussion, though longish.

  • Bladerunner - 14 years ago

    I was a police officer for 21 years in the suburban Baltimore area, and I saw some officers who should not have been wearing a badge. But I saw many more who were good, hardworking, honest folks trying to do a dirty, dangerous and thankless job. Unfortunately, over the years many departments have lowered their hiring standards, and as much as it pains me to say it, I don't trust the police any more.

  • Paul H. - 14 years ago

    I am 60 years old. In my entire life there has only been a single time where a cop ever helped me (and I could have dealt with the issue myself anyway). All other contacts with them have been negative, or at best, neutral. "Serve and protect", what bullshit! I have no use for cops; they are worse than useless - tax-eaters, bullies and thugs. I won't put up with crap like the victims in that video did. I certainly will never call any cop. Just like Brendan Behan said, "There is no human situation so miserable that it cannot be made worse by the presence of a policeman."

    By the way, there is a reason cops are as rotten as they are. When someone becomes your protector, you are inevitably placed in a subservient position to him. There's no getting around it. That protection then without fail morphs into predation. Moral of the story: don't depend on others for your protection. Unless you can fire them at will...

  • Old Man - 14 years ago

    Dr Stephen, "I trust the police to do the best job that they can under the limitations that society puts on them. Most people who do not trust police have reason to fear police."
    That is a very naive statement and it ensures bad cop behavior will continue. When you become a victim I'm sure your tune will change.

  • Old Man - 14 years ago

    I live in a rural area and although the officers are not as well trained they are well behaved for the most part. If they started abusing citizens action would probably be taken. We are very fortunate to have as good as we have. I'm very thankful I don't live in a city. I agree with Arklight as many have an aura of what I call the Gestapo about them. G A Brooks has a very interesting take, I had never thought of it that way. I am older and I can remember when officers were part of the community. The only realistic answer to bad cops is that they must clean out the garbage from their own ranks. Good cops remark that they detest working with bad cops. If so then get rid of them.

  • Dr Steven I Skurow - 14 years ago

    I trust the police to do the best job that they can under the limitations that society puts on them. Most people who do not trust police have reason to fear police.

  • Arklight - 14 years ago

    The sheriff and police chief used to be the chief custodian of the peace in their jurisdictions; now, unfortunately, a disgustingly high percentage of them are just running dogs for the feds, have become slaves to the feds, and will kiss anything the feds want kissed in exchange for a few radios, cars or some other thing such as military hardware - - - I've nothing but contempt for any one who betrays the trust of the public, breaks his/her oath or sells his/her office. Yes, there are 'good' cops, but in increasingly fewer numbers as they seize upon the opportunity to get out while they still have their honor.

    No, I don't trust the police. I live in a metro area, so don't have an opportunity to get to know any cops as individuals, but I do know that too many of the ones I see have a darkness around them, and some whom I pass by at the coffee shop or 7/11 have a scent of Death on them; I was the last person, I think, in Nevada to 'wave at The Highway Man', but no more - - -I don't want a cop anywhere near me or mine, and here I am a guy whose best friend 40 years ago was a motor officer, and who enjoyed the company of several police officers who were upright and honorable men whom I miss very much and cannot be replaced as agreeable acquaintances from the current generation of federal attack dogs - - - I rally miss the Peace Officer, and want nothing to do with 'law enforcemtn' personnel. I'm so sorry to see the Peace Officer fade into a fondly remembered past.

  • George Peabody - 14 years ago

    Wake up People, we must put a stop to this LEO TREASON. Enforce the restrictions imposed by the Constitution for the United States of America on all those employed as servants who are supposed to assist American Citizens to enforce the Law of the Land against all enemies....ALL ENEMIES including those enemies who dress up with badges and blue suits and call themselves LEO.
    http://www.MolokaiAdvertiserNews.com
    email: MolokaiMAN@basicisp.net
    Anybody know how I can obtain a copy of this video to air on community TV?

  • Gary - 14 years ago

    I have had several experiences with cops over the past 35 years. They have been bad experiences. I am a 56 year old professional, involved in the court system. When I have called the police, for help, or to report a crime, I have been treated with distain, intimidated, and insulted; including one scary experience involving the suggestion of violence against me. They have no fear and no sense of duty to the public. Serve and protect is a fantasy; instead, they are, in fact, the worst of organized criminals. I will never call them again, for anything. You make yourself a mark if you do call them. I now see clearly that the cops are not your friends, they are actually an adversary. You MUST prepare to take care of yourself and your family.

  • Dutch Shultis - 14 years ago

    There are many great comments here, but Allen Lough and Straightarrow best spoke my personal feelings.

    Be well

  • Donnie Brison - 14 years ago

    I live in an area where the cops are really for the most part a decent bunch of folks. I have a cousin serving on the county sheriffs department and I know several officers around the area, both city and county so I don't have an overt fear of them... yet; at least not until they give me a reason

  • Gabriel A. Brooks - 14 years ago

    I think 90 to 99 percent of Police officers are good guys,
    However:
    If you never speed you won't be pulled over by the good guys.
    If you don't steal, If you don't drink and drive, If you don't pick fights, If you don't commit any crime, then you won't have any problems with the good guys.

    So if you are a good person, you will likely only meet a bad cop...

  • Daniel Pierce - 14 years ago

    This article is right on the mark. I do not trust the LEOs of any stripe. The alphabet soup of the Fed agencies are the most distasteful. I recall when Peace Officers were the norm - they kept the peace and did not intrude into our lives. There have now come to be myrid of "laws" with Enforcers. The "laws" have been a steady encroachment upon our freedoms. Law Enforcement is a "growth industry" - more bodies on the payroll, more power, more payroll...
    I don't feel any safer with typical LEOs. I have seen many "badge heavy" types who want to throw their weight around. There are more accidental shootings by LEOs than by law-abiding, gun-carrying, average citizens. Yes, there are Constitution-conscious and Oath-keeping LEOs; they are, sadly, in a minority.

  • Kevin Starrett - 14 years ago

    While we have had the great pleasure to deal with some fantastic police, like Sheriff Palmer of Grant County OR, all too often we have seen police abusing their power. The video you linked to is powerful and disturbing,

  • Warthog - 14 years ago

    I definitely do not trust the police and the militarization of the police across the country makes me nervous. My conflict is in deciding if my level of mis-trust has crossed the line into active fear or not. I guess I'm on the bubble on that issue for right now, but NO, I do not trust them

  • straightarrow - 14 years ago

    I checked "do not trust" rather than "fear" simply because if I ever must defend myself against a criminal cop I know I will die, but until they can arrange that I will go to war with them and use them as my logistical supply source.

    At the point a cop abuses you so that you must defend yourself against him, you become a dead man walking. That is so because of the cover the other cops will provide his dead ass, and the fact that courts routinely exonerate the most heinous behavior committed by cops. At that point there is no justification for not being as expensive to them as you can. It isn't just vengeance, but duty.

  • GunRights4US - 14 years ago

    Yes, there is indeed a standing “army” in this country that does the bidding of the political class in a sort of parasitic or symbiotic way. And yet the sheep, in their slack-jawed willingness to trade liberty for security, are ever-clamoring for additional police on the streets. And the politicians make ample use of the excuse that any hint of budget cutbacks will scale back essential services like fire and police. And thus are the budgets preserved and even grown at the mere threat of a reduction in police forces. The thoroughly cowed public has been groomed from birth to outsource all the major life decisions in deference to the overarching Nanny State…and most especially the right of self defense.

    We've reached a point in our society where we applaud heavily armed, masked men, who kick down doors at night while conducting warrant-less raids where many times the results are innocent people getting killed!

    Is this the America we want for ourselves and our children?

    http://gunrights4usall.blogspot.com/2009/08/regarding-police.html

  • George - 14 years ago

    I voted that I actually fear the police. I live in the vast Phoenix, AZ metro area and the police here shoot and kill innocent people on a regular basis. NOTHING is ever done to these cops. We were even accidentally treated to viewing one of their murders live on the evening news a couple of years back. The media was following a police car chase from a helicopter when the pursued car pulled over and the guy bailed out and started to run. Three cops bailed out behind him and proceeded to empty their clips into the guy. The newscasters were horrified and apologized to the public for a week, but the cops were declared justified. The cops are out of control in this country and believe they have absolute authority over us - and it is supported by the powers that be!

  • ROBERT H. - 14 years ago

    Cannot trust police at all anymore no matter if they are in rual are urban areas. Crime by off duty police is on the rise and these people are dangerous to the publice and especcialy yhe law abiding citizens.

  • Freedomwatch - 14 years ago

    It seems that those who seek employment in law enforcement tend to fall into two broad categories:
    The First are those who have a deep seated desire to render service to their fellow citizens. They are the ones who go out of their way to be genuinely concerned with the well being of those they are tasked with protecting and serving however their number may well be only 50% or less regrettably.

    The Second are those who have an equally deep seated desire to exert control over others and thus seek means to acquire position and authority to do so. Unfortunately is seems that their number is growing, especially on the federal level but the tend seems to be growing in the state, county and city level as well, much as with politicians who are elected to serve the good of those they represent but who seem to forget - if they ever did consider - that trust.

    Those of us who grew up in small towns back in the 40s and 50s where each of the peace officers - which is what they were thought of back then - were known individually to citizens of their communities and thus any transgression was common knowledge and thus known to the members of that community and prompt addressing of the problem was demanded of the city or county government.

    Now the individual officer, inclined to wear their dark shades 'mask', is generally an unknown and thus protected by an extra layer of anonymity.
    They are generally aware, unlike the individual citizen, that courts have reportedly repeated held over the years that the police authorities own protect to ONLY the community as a whole and NOT to the individual citizen and thus they can be lax in their duty in that regard with out exposure to redress through litigation.

    They serve an important purpose, that without questions; it is however just a matter of degrees which vary to the extremes . . . as is always the case with government entities.

  • John B. - 14 years ago

    Around here, the cop cars have something stupid on their cars like"To Serve and Protect". The only thing I can see that they do is to self serve and self protect. The whole system is set up to protect the system and to hell with any kind of common sense of especially justice for the citizens.

  • Michael Moran - 14 years ago

    I believe that in any society which claims to be more than just a framework for organized thuggery, there are two essential principles pertaining to those who voluntarily accept the duty of enforcing the law. They must be held:
    (1) In the highest of respect, and
    (2) To the highest of standards.

    If law enforcement declines to meet the second principle, it has no moral or practical right to demand the first.

  • Ira - 14 years ago

    I am 60 years old, and have only had the police actually help me one time, and that was when I called them to come to my house.

    The police are not your friends, and they are not there to help you.

    Their primary job is to raise revenue for the town or the state, and not to protect anyone. If you are in a traffic accident, they will take the report, and block traffic till the cars are hauled away... maybe call an ambulance if one is needed. That's as good as it gets, as far as I can see.

  • Dwain - 14 years ago

    I remember all to well how those sworn to protect citizens fell right in to aiding Jackboots and Red Armbands with broken crosses. The police will go as the Powered elite demands.

  • james III - 14 years ago

    Individually most officers are probably ok, but collectively I am not so sure! I have read "Patriots, Surviving The Coming Collapse" & "Molon-Labe". I hope for "Molon-Labe" but believe it will be more like "Patriots, Surviving the Coming Collapse" if the current cast of characters do not change their ways, and it may be too late anyway at least financially. I pray that I have the strenght of spirt, mind, and time, to prepare for what may come. God help us all!

  • Allen Lough - 14 years ago

    I am far more afraid of the police than I am of the common criminal. I have the ability and the means to defend myself against the criminals. Citizens are powerless to sucessfully defend against rogue cops. Do we need more examples than Ruby Ridge, Waco, and Katrina? Oh, sure, years after the fact, a civil settlement may be awarded to the victims (if they survive) of police misconduct. But that is small comfort, and even smaller justice. I am old enough to remember when the police were the citizens' friend. I had several close friends who were police officers and deputies. I had a passing acquaintance with lots of state and local police thirty to 40 years ago. They were "Peace Officers," and I respected every one of them. The not so subtle shift from "Peace Officer" to "Law ENFORCEMENT Officer" has created an adversarial relationship of distrust and, yes, downright fear of our current crop of police officers. I believe that most police officers, even the good ones, will behave exactly like the ones in New Orleans behaved. If they are ordered by local, state, or federal "authorities" to kick down doors and forcibly disarm citizens, they will do it, under the guise of "just following orders" and/or "just enforcing the law." And, unlike the relatively benign aftermath of a righteous self-defense shooting of a conventional criminal, shooting a rogue cop will precipitate an all out attack by fellow "law enforcement officers" which can have only one ultimate outcome: no matter how many of them you "take with you," you will be killed.

  • Steve Sllinker - 14 years ago

    I was a police officer for many years, saw many abuses of power, was terminated from two jobs for refusal to be quiet. I do not fear police, will not turn my back on any I do not know personally and not some of them.

  • Steven Hulet - 14 years ago

    Remember Katrina!!! The police came in and took the guns from citizens. Than the gangs came and took what they wanted.

  • Blaine - 14 years ago

    Every military service member, every law enforcement officer, every congressman, every governor, every president, and every attorney all swore an oath to support and defend the US Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic. But, based on their behavior, it seems that far too many of these people actually owe their allegiance to a political party or to an individual such as the mayor or the president or the Speaker of the House. That must change! www.oathkeepers.org

  • James - 14 years ago

    Encountered considerable problems in job related necessary contact with the Cicero, IL authorities when with our Chicago office in the early '60s. Considerably less problems encountered with the Chicago PD. No significant problems were encountered in working files in LA, MS - my home state, AL, GA, N Carolina and TN with the exception years ago with the then Polk County, TN sheriff and recently with a Bradley County, TN Sheriff's Deputy.

  • alan - 14 years ago

    It would depend on which police were involved, in some cases probably/possibly yes, in other cases certainly not.

  • Bob Mac - 14 years ago

    In our rural area, the cops are poorly trained and poorly equpped. Reasonably close observation suggests that most of them are frightened when on duty and, therefore, will behave unpredictably.

  • James C - 14 years ago

    I think the alert at JPFO http://www.jpfo.org/alerts2010/alert20100217.htm said it all. Sure, there are some who can still be trusted, individually.

    Do you want to bet your freedom while enduring an "LE Encounter" (note I didn't say Peace Officer) on meeting one who still honors the U.S. Constitution?

    Mighty big stakes to be gambling on, in my book.

  • icetrout - 14 years ago

    The cops here in the Balt/Wash area aren't worth spit.

  • Jay - 14 years ago

    I live in a small town so the cops are pretty decent here.

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