The first issue as far as I am concerned is the issue of ideology. Law enforcement have their operational philosophy, which is different then our operational philosophy. Those of us who are good and decent believe that we should be treated as human beings, afforded the dignity that all human beings should be afforded, and that the state and federal constitution be followed by law enforcement types. Many in law enforcement think that they are the sole authority and can order anyone to do anything.
I heard a lot of distressing statements during the upheaval in Ferguson Missouri. Just because a police officer bellows an order, we are not under any obligation to follow that order. A police officer can serve a warrant of any kind and investigate a report of a crime. When investigating a crime the police can interact with members of the public. No one is legally obligated to talk to any law enforcement officer. The police officer needs “reasonable suspicion” in order to have “probable cause” to question and/or take a person into custody. Therefore, if a law enforcement officer believes he or she has enough information from “observation” and/or “a report” that police officer can take you into custody. We have the legal right to remain quiet and not be forced to answer any questions. The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that an officers request of our ID is not an infringement of our right against “illegal search and seizure” and “right to privacy”.
Now, there are law enforcement officers who sole reason for existing is to attack members of society. The simple definition of Anti-Social is to attack members of a society. This police officers harass people verbally, physically abuse people, and at times shoot people without having the legal justification for using deadly force.
A bigger problem are police officer who are under emotional distress in their lives and abuse members of the public because they cannot distinguish between proper police procedure and abuse. Borderline Personality disorder is perfect in describing these type of law enforcement officers. Defects in self-other individuation, distrust, impulsive and self destructive behaviors, and difficulty in controlling anger and other emotions are some of the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder.
A lot of what gets police officers in trouble is related to emotions. Police officers do not like to be ridiculed. Police officers do not like to be questioned. Police officers do not like to be disobeyed. What police officers think and feel contribute to their behaviors. When law enforcement officers encounter resistance they are easy to be enraged and quick to get angry. These symptoms are symptoms I have observed in many El Paso Texas law enforcement officers (El Paso Municipal Police, El Paso County Sheriffs, Border Patrol, Customs, I.C.E. And others).
All of us have the right to question a police officers behavior. When approached by any law enforcement officer we can ask “are you here to serve a warrant” or “ are you here to investigate a report of crime”. If they are attempting to serve a warrant, we have the right to see the warrant. If they are there to investigate a report of a crime, we have the right to ask what crime we are being suspected of having committed. Law enforcement can ask any question they want. We do not have to answer any of their questions.
We know if we have or have not committed a crime. Law enforcement can suspect anything. It is not our job to help them prosecute us, especially if we have done nothing wrong. I do not have to explain to anyone why I am walking down a public sidewalk.
The terms Law Enforcement are easy to understand. They mean to enforce the law. These terms do not mean to get in to a verbal fight over complicated philosophical questions. Does a simple “traffic stop” have to turn in to a barrage of questions?
Now, do not get me wrong law enforcement officers do have an important role in society. They contribute to law and order, peace and security, and other social stabilizing factors. I will even state there has to be some good, professional, and respectful law enforcement officers.
The bad behaviors from law enforcement in Ferguson,Missouri were not all do to law enforcement. We members of the public are also good at having a head full of bad attitude and volatile emotions.
I use the term “Afro-American Ghetto Culture not to offend any one. This term signifies members of the Afro-American poor culture who spend their time looking down at everyone and putting themselves above everyone else. They use this attitude to get their “government check” while they destroy everything they put their hands on in life.
It is a sad view. However such people do exist. In El Paso, Texas this culture would be the Hispanic Ghetto Culture.
No unarmed person peacefully defending his or he rights should be shot by any law enforcement officer. Members of the genera public should not assume the worst and take to “burning and looting”. Law enforcement officers with military hardware should not use this hardware to beat into submission people who have the Constitutional right to “redress their government...” and the “right to free speech.....”
The manner that a free society is maintained is through transparency. Law enforcement officers cannot be rounding up the press because these people through their “freedom of the press” and “freedom of speech” keep and eye on government in order that “We the people” can be aware of governmental action and keep America a free society.
I believe the solution is growth and maturity on the part of law enforcement and the public at large. Law enforcement cannot read people’s mind and should not be in the business of trying to read our minds. We also cannot read their minds. Therefore, us and them should not automatically assume the worse.
All people deserve a fair and impartial trial by a jury of their peers. No one wants mob rule.
I believe in the right to peacefully assemble. However, I saw a lot of bad people involved in chaos mixed in with those peacefully assembled in Ferguson, Missouri.
Police officers use of military force in my opinion was excessive. In America government does not arrest journalist and lob cluster grenades at people.
Now, I must state that law enforcement needs to start training like soldiers. Future circumstances will include fighting Mexican Narco-Terrorist on American soil, armed terrorist on American soil, and other dangerous groups. City, County, and State law enforcement agencies can serve as a ready group of trained and well equipped individuals that can stop any all para-military threats to American society. I believe it is a positive for these governments to train together in order to protect America.
We do not need to automatically assume that all law enforcement agencies with military type hardware will always use then improperly. We also should not assume that all law enforcement officers are bad police officers.
It greatly concerns me that there are police officers with psychological problems who enjoy attacking members of society working as police officers. The reluctance of police leadership to realize this fact and work at protecting the public is also of great concern.
I will never had any respect and/or consideration for people with a bad attitude and a destructive nature. Both police and citizens in Ferguson need to be lectured about their troublesome behaviors.
As much as human nature is degrading in our modern time, I still believe that good people will recognize what is right and work at maintaining what is good and decent in life. Being that we have the opportunity to shape our government, we should utilize this opportunity.
The psychology of poor police behavior is complex. I believe that some of problematic police behavior has to do with Cognitive errors and mental health illnesses such as Borderline Personality Disorder and Anti-Social Personality Disorder.
A predatory attitude towards other people which can be viewed as a chronic indifference to and a violation of the rights of one’s fellow human beings is principle definition of Anti-Social Personality Disorder. These people may have the following symptoms:
1. History of illegal or socially disapproved activity beginning before 15 yrs and continuing till adult hood.
2. Failure to show consistency and responsibility in work, sexual relationships, parenthood, or financial obligations,
3. Irritability and aggressiveness.
4. Reckless and impulsive behaviors.
5. Disregard for the truth.
When we are trying to understand police abusive behavior we have to look at attitude and psychological nature. It may be hard to believe, but there are law enforcement officers looking for members of the general public to harm. Many of these officers have a problem controlling their anger and rage. Their perception of the slightest resistance to their authority may result in their overreaction when dealing with members of the public.
None of us know what happened in Ferguson that led to the death of an unarmed young man. The news media has reported that the young man had engaged in a “strong arm robbery” moments before the police officer tried to take him into custody. Therefore, it appears the police officer had the right to investigate the commission of a crime and take a suspect into custody.
I do not have enough information to judge if the police officer was justified in using deadly force. However, in my life I have had to perform 5 take downs of individuals and place hand cuffs on them. A person taking someone into custody has to be prepared for anything and everything.
I do not deny any person a proper defense. Law enforcement officers have people who love them and want them to return home safe and sound. I do not want police officers to drop their guard and endanger their lives. I understand that a police officers life is always in danger. All children of police officers should enjoy the company of their law enforcement parents way into their old age.
Sometimes we members of society can be more problematic to police officers then is necessary. Our right to protect our rights should not come of as hogwash from a rude dude with a bad attitude.
Another serious problem is that many law enforcement officers have no reason to fear being disciplined. Most of us suspect and have every reason to believe that the government employee has his or her job because of their social-political affiliations (family, friends, and/or sexual partners). Most of the time the government employee is not the most qualified person for the job. He or she is just the person with proper contacts to get him or her worked into the government employee system.
In my opinion, it is dangerous to have any system populated with such closely related individuals. For one there is the problem of generating and maintaining an anti-society attitude. Second, the proper corrective measures cannot exist in such a system.
In closing, things may appear rough. However, I know we have a lot of human history yet to live. We need to start learning how to get along and respect one another.
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RESPECT EVERY ONE