If I may be so bold
This essay has been edited by c99p administrator to remove offensive language. The OP published and then logged out before he could be asked to edit it, if the OP wishes to discuss this contact admin.
That may seem a wee bit radical to some. Ask yourself this simple question: How would you feel about cops if one of them had shot your child?
How would you feel about cops if they had shot your cousin or neighbor? Hey! Let's say the cops shot a neighbor that you wished was dead? You know, the obnoxious asshole that you wish lived on another planet? What if the cops shot your dog? Would you kinda sorta be a little bit steamed?
Let me tell you something. When I went to last years Black History Month meeting at some health food store in the hood, there were lots of black people really pissed off that they were personal friends of someone who were dead for no fucking reason.
One person read the names of black people who were publicly known, because they had been shot by cops.
After tearing their name off a list of public executions by the LAPD and tossing the name in to some kind of urn, the dude asked if anyone else wanted to testify. I stood their in total shock as another 8-10 people announced another name of someone in the hood who had been executed by cops.
Dude added those names to the list and tossed it in the urn, or jar or whatever.
Raise your hand if a personal friend or fsmily member has been shot by a cop.
Now try to imagine how you would feel if a cop shot a family pet. Which by the way, does not even merit a mention on the police blotter.
Now adter a brief reflection, how do you feel about cops?
Comments
Raise yer hand
if the only threat to your adult, disabled son is "the cops".
Our son is autistic. I'm not fucking worried about "bad guys". Our constant and realistic worry is he might be alone and have an encounter with a police officer. We've had a few close calls already.
A human has a fighting chance of survival when it comes to a chance encounter with a criminal.
You can fight off a bad guy.
You can't fight off a bad cop.
FTP
"Love One Another" ~ George Harrison
It would be ok to say, but it would be wrong.
I have no use for cops. I think the job generally attracts a specific personality type that is too brutish, pushy and narcissistic to be qualified for community policing. If applicants don't come that way, the on-the-job culture quickly turns new hires that way. Having said that, not all cops are bad. Most? I'd say yes.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Not always, and not in the past.
The difference is many, many ex-Military, hardened in battle and not a few suffering from PTSD are being recruited into local PDs.
Added that these PDs are now given free access to military weaponry, so that you have "police" [actually para-military] patrolling neighbourhoods with which they have no knowledge, it is not surprising that they might see themselves as an "occupying force" or "at war" with citizens, whom they have been conditioned to objectify as "the enemy", the results are inevitable.
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
Having said that,
it would be interesting to know the relative percentage of minority neighbourhoods vs "white" ones being patrolled by ex-Military types?
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
I live in a suburb
I live near Nike headquarters in Oregon.
Our cops have at least TWO military assault vehicles.
Why? Why do they need that? Because they are at war with us.
They are not here to "serve and protect". They are there to kill us because they are afraid or for sport... mostly because they simply can get away with it.
edited due to typo
"Love One Another" ~ George Harrison
I live in Oakland County,MI
We have military vehicles, phony cell towers, and cops that like making their quotas and getting their jollies off by picking on our kids. If the kids do anything stupid, they can't wait to slap them with a criminal record. The county's demographics are below. There is no reason in hell that the cops and prosecutors in Oakland County need military equipment or to turn kids into criminals.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Phony cell towers? What is the point of phony cell towers?
Is that a typo or am I lacking in imagination relative to the police?
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I think they aren't real cell towers
But towers that looks like them, but are used by our government and the cops to spy on people's conversations.
You know, the shit that the 4th amendment was written for?
I don't care how many secret courts make up secret laws, it's unconstitutional. Period.
Everyone in the government took an oath to uphold the constitution, and almost everyone has broken that oath.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
OK, I am lacking in imagination. Cops get up to more $#i+
than I can imagine.
Say, Snoopy's playing golf now!
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Snoopy is wishing I was playing golf
I have been searching for affordable housing that isn't a dump and will take dogs for over 10 weeks and I'm running out of time to find a place.
Off topic rant, but in Joe's EBs tonight, he has an article about how the navy doesn't want anymore unnecessary boats, but since congress has so many friends in the defense industry to make happy,so there isn't enough money for social programs and they keep cutting the funds for affordable housing.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
Can you live anywhere you want? One of my sisters found a
very affordable place for herself and her puppy when she moved in with an old lady who had made part of her house a separate apartment. I have not had good luck with private landlords, but they have tended to cost less. Just a thought. Maybe you could help out with yard work or some such for a break on the rent.
Oh yeah, our outrageous military budget is a big part of our problems. Good luck, I'll be keeping fingers crossed for you!
Please check out Pet Vet Help, consider joining us to help pets, and follow me @ElenaCarlena on Twitter! Thank you.
I can live anywhere in my country
That will allow both directions dogs to be companion animals. The amount of money I'm given is what's limiting my options.
In my area the banks have bought a lot of foreclosed homes and have jacked up rents. There are dumps for rent then are higher than me mortgage payment.
And the people at the housing authority are no help at all.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
Another duplicate post
Well, there were two a minute ago.
Anyway they are false cell towers that DHS and the cops use them to receive people's cellphone conversations.
I don't care how many secret courts make up secret laws, it's unconstitutional.
Our government officials take an oath to uphold it, and what they are doing goes against our 4th amendment. Period.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
It is a device that the cops turn on...
Here is a map of the states that have them.
https://www.aclu.org/map/stingray-tracking-devices-whos-got-them
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
I had always assumed those little video cameras
at most of the main intersections of my neighborhood were for department of transportation. You know, for showing traffic OR maybe just in case of accidents. Or at least for red light runners.
Nope.
They are not for traffic. We found out when my daughter's former boyfriend was struck down in a pedestrian zone, a crosswalk and the driver hit and ran. He was hurt badly and needed an ambulance.
The cameras were not allowed to be viewed by anyone.
They are for surveillance only.
Can't use it when a kid gets hit and ran.
One nation under surveillance.
"Love One Another" ~ George Harrison
Rural Central Oregon - Our Sheriff department has been in a
transition from normal thoughtful individuals to bulked up (I am assuming testosterone) non-thinking types who like to give orders. I have interacted fairly regularly with the department over the last 15 years, primarily with livestock issues. The ones I have been the most disgusted with were hire from urban departments.
I began looking to leave city of Bend 15 years ago because due to aggressiveness of the police department. Had a rural property that had been surrounded by subdivisions. The last year I was there the police requested 4 times to bring on dogs to try and track someone. I was worried they would come on the property when I was unaware and there would be an altercation with my stock dogs.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
I wonder if there is a way to determine for a fact if they are
using steroids? If so, that needs to be banned; maybe you could start a local petition.
I was prescribed prednisone years ago for a rash. I immediately weaned off; I was afraid I would kill someone if I stayed on the drug, literally. It made my skin crawl and made me furious for no reason. Roid rage is real. No one should be near a gun nor trying to deal with the public in any capacity while on steroids.
Please check out Pet Vet Help, consider joining us to help pets, and follow me @ElenaCarlena on Twitter! Thank you.
My cat is on pred to control his anemia
He's hyperactive as all getout, and somewhat careless (but not malicious) with his claws. He's also well over his optimal weight.
Fortunately the vet says he's stable enough now that the dose can be tapered down (and, we hope, eventually out).
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Cops speaking out.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
I know all cops
are not bad. But until those who are honorable step up and demand an end to this behavior, they all are suspect to me.
I trust no human until they have been proven to be trustworthy.
Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.
Edited by c99p admin for offensive language
I'm white and this was my experience:
My (now ex) wife, who developed an addiction to meth, blew 10k in 2 months. I packed up and went to my daughters where I started printing up paperwork to file for a divorce.
2AM.
Cops arrive. she says I strangled her. No marks on her. I'm in a wheel chair because I have a torn calf muscle. I can't walk. I can't even put weight on my right leg. Not an ounce. I need daily pain killers.
Probable cause. Off to jail I go.
6AM.
Finally get out of the holding cell. I want to call a lawyer. "phone's over there.". Can I have a phonebook? It's not like I keep lawyers phone numbers in my head. "nope."
No phone call to a lawyer. They won't give me my cell phone. Judge has already posted $100,000 bail.
$100.000.
Hasn't even spoken to me.
A cop, with a huge smile, tells me "If you're in here you're guilty." I'll never forget those words. Fuck "innocent till proven guilty." The cops believe if they haul you in, you're guilty.
I never get a lawyer. At my arraignment I demand a lawyer. The judge reads me my rights to have an attorney. Yes, I understand my rights. I want MY lawyer. Evidently, you have a right to be TOLD you have a right to a lawyer, but you don't actually have a right to, you know ACTUALLY HAVE A LAWYER.
Five weeks in jail while my drug addled wife blows our lifes savings. During that time, I am assigned a public defender who promptly tells the prosecuting attorney everything I told her. So much for attorney-client privilege. It was my 12 year old son who informed me that the PA had told my ex everything I'd told my PD.
So I decided my public defender's actual title was "assistant to the Prosecuting Attorney."
that's "justice" in America today.
Edited by c99p admin for offensive language.
You should delete this
A cop, with a gun, shot one of two dogs who attacked a wheelchair bound, elderly (Black) woman and the female neighbor who attempted to come to her rescue today in Houston.
They're not always cocksuckers.
You should delete the 'dead ones' parts of your comment. Please. I know you got the shaft, but if everyone who ever fucked me over were to drop dead because they belong to a particular occupation or group, very few people would be here. Teachers, doctors, nurses, phlebotomists (yep!), men, women. See where this is going?
The OP literally asks
And I told him my answer. I always say it. That's truth. You don't have to like it, but you are the one who should be deleting your response, not me.
You obviously have issues
You stated them. All cops, judges, and lawyers should die because you got fucked over once. And you sounded surprised that defense attorneys actually know prosecutors. Psst, they have drinks, play golf, and sometimes sleep together.
I'll never condone saying everyone in law enforcement or law (or any group) should be dead. Keep on saying it, and ruin our little peaceful site.
Have a wonderful life wallowing in your hate. I'll have none of it!
As for the OP, I hope he edits his [redacted by admin] statement too.
It is actually possible for those of us with the ability to empathize to understand why someone who's been brutalized, harassed, and lost loved ones THEIR WHOLE LIFE might wish harm on the perpetrators.
Something tells me you will refuse to see the difference.
You don't know my life
So you ASSUME that my experience was a one time experience. I have lived a lifetime, a long lifetime. My experiences go way back.
Did you get tear gassed in the 60's? I did. And shot at.
Did you see a nation in the 70's in which every single major city and most suburbs had a corrupt police force? Serpico was a true story you know. Did you see friends lives destroyed because of getting busted for possession of marijuana? Did you see the same police brutality we've been seeing today even get reported back in the 70's? Did you see how the tough on crime rhetoric got ramped up resulting in even more corruption?
Did you witness the militarization of the police starting with the Reagan War on Drugs?
have you only just noticed we have a prison for profit justice system nowadays? It's about greed, not justice.
Were you at the Battle for Seattle? I was. The 60's were one thing, this was another.
I'm guessing you have ZERO experiences.
Deja, what should be deleted?
What gives you the authority to say what should be deleted? I'm confused --- I thought this site allowed freedom of expression? I use offensive language all the time in my comments --- words like goddamit and fuck and shit.
How disappointing to find this type of censorship here. I guess I really didn't expect to see this type of muzzling at c99.
I know I don't know the whole story in this instance --- partly due to the very act of censorship.
Listen ajaradom...
this was much deeper than "words like goddamit and fuck and shit", it was a violent reference to the well being of law enforcement officers. Now that kind of language may be all right with you, but as the person with my name on the line as owner of this site, and whose ass is on the line because of that, there are limits that will not be allowed, and that is one.
The admins reserve the right to delete any content deemed inappropriate here, see the DBAA FAQ for more clarification. If that offends your concept of this site as it applies to censorship, then so be it.
So, JtC, I guess you told me all I needed to know ---
and with a defensive and condescending tone, as well. I get your message loud and clear buddy. You all but told me to fuck off, and basically you don't give a rat's ass what I think. And, I guess you're speaking for Deja, as well --- that's my conclusion because I addressed my comment to Deja, but you responded. Hell, maybe that's one of your "also know as" here at c99 --- oh lord --- lol.
Well, if you had been paying attention...
you would have noticed the essay and several comments were redacted, that was not done by Deja. You had attitude in your comment to Deja, I responded in kind.
Now, let's talk about the last sentence in your comment to me, what exactly are you saying?
Why are you addressing me in such a condescending tone?
You assume I'm "not paying attention". Wow, you and I are beginning a great relationship --- lol.
No, now, let's not talk about my last sentence.
I think we'll just leave it there. I get the sense that we'll just go in circles because we are both very strong willed --- lol
Take care and try not to let all your power get the best of you
I'm sorry for what happened to you
Still I'm glad cops are finally starting to take domestic violence seriously. I've got a few cop stories of my own, and even though I'm a 50 year old white lady, I still literally shake with fear when I get pulled over. I don't even like to be near cops.
First, my story that is the opposite of yours:
Back in 1996, I had left my abusive husband and had gotten an order of protection. He beat me severely at least once a week for 14 years, and to the point of unconsciousness on several occasions.
Anyway after several months of trying to get me back by promising he would change, he tried threatening to kill me and my grandmother if I wouldn't come back. He called my job with made up names many times a day. When they called me to the phone he'd say stuff like- I haven't decided yet if I'm going to kill you or just beat your head in and make sure you'll never walk again. He showed up at my job several times with a giant hunting knife. He would stand accross the street and play with the knife and he would run his finger accross his neck to mime slitting my throat. I was with his man from age 14, so I knew he was capable of it.
Anyway, I finally went to the police with my oop. The detective took my statement and said he'd speak to him. Well the detective never got back to me, so a week later I went back to the precinct. The detective says to me, "mrs. -----, I spoke to your husband. He's a pretty nice guy." He pauses. In a patronizing way he says, " sometimes, a man leaves a woman, and she feels angry and bitter, and she wants to get back at him, so she makes up a story...." That's all I remember. It was like more abuse on top of everything. I felt completely hopeless. After that I knew that I was completely on my own. I had to quit my job. I never renewed my oop because it was useless. Many times people called the cops and they did nothing. They saw the bruises! They saw the marks on my neck. The black eyes and bloody lips. They only asked me if everything was ok in front of him!!! I was petrified to say anything because I knew if he went to jail because of me he'd kill me. So I'm sorry for what happened to you, but I'm glad that the cops are ordered to take this shit seriously now.
Now the reason I'm afraid of cops:
I was driving home from my moms house one summer evening with my 18 month old son. I got pulled over for speeding in front of a very large graveyard. I was driving our work car (my ex and I owned an auto repair shop). The car had a dealer plate and was full of junk like tools and old alternators etc. the cop asked me if I live in the car because of all the junk.???!!! He said my license pic didn't look like me and that he'd been on the drug task force for twenty years and knows a criminal when he sees one. He asked if I had any warrants and I told him no. He told me to get out of the car. When I did he cuffed me and walked me into the graveyard. I was now far from the car parked at the curb unlocked, in the middle of nowhere. And my baby was inside unattended. I started to get a little panicky because I would never leave my baby alone like that. He ignored my pleas to get the baby or have his partner watch the baby. I took a step towards the car and he pulled his gun and said he was going to shoot me if I tried to run. I told him I wouldn't run and leave my baby! And he said how do we know it's even your baby? He pointed his gun at me and his partner pushed me face down into the dirt. He and his partner then "questioned" me. The question was what's your name!? I told him. What's your fucking name???!! I told him. "Your name is jane doe!!!! Now what's your name???" I told him. He said, " jane doe. Say it!! Jane fucking doe!!"
I think I did finally tell them my name was jane doe but the questioning went on forever. They held me face down in the graveyard for hours. The quieter cop sat in his car while the one who pulled his gun on me "searched me for weapons". Finally back up arrived and they arrested me. They found a dime bag of weed in the car. At the precinct, I was strip searched and taunted and verbally abused some more. One officer said I didn't deserve such a nice baby and that my baby was going to be sent to child services and I would never see him again. Other cops agreed- I would never see my baby again. I begged them to let me call my mother or my husband or my mother in law to get the baby. They wouldn't. They put me in a cage in a small room and my baby in the car seat on a small table in front of me but just out of my reach. He screamed and cried and they just left him there. He screamed until he threw up. I was so scared that he would knock himself off the table because he was on the edge. Hours later, they gave me a desk appearance ticket and sent me home. When I got home, my husband didn't believe my story, even though I had the ticket, and he beat me bloody. I filed a complaint with the civilian complaint review board but they found the officers actions "reasonable". I got 14 days community service and an acd for the weed.
Am I still alive because I'm white? I truly thought I was dead. I thought the cop was going to kill me. I have always felt that he acted that way because he thought I was just a nobody that no one would believe and he was pretty much correct. I was 26 and now I'm 50 but I still relive that sometimes. I still shake all over when I get pulled over. I try not to speed and i sometimes stop at yellow lights. I still feel the shame I felt as the cops taunted me and the fear that I would lose my son.
Sorry for the long post
It was meant in reply to Scott crowder but I got carried away.
And to clarify, i don't "hate" cops. Two of my three sons are half black, so this is very real to me. I want to do something to help, but I don't know what.
Omg, logrey! How horrible!
I'm so sorry that happened to you! I have my own experiences of not being believed because my ex was so likable. I was in hiding for six years. He's finally in prison with a 99 year sentence. I hope you're safe from yours finally.
I won't be responding to Scott anymore. He adds things to his posts after the fact, and his rage at an anonymous female is quite telling.
I don't know what we can do to help. To make it stop. It truly must be frightening to be Black in this country. I am at a loss. Even when we try to vote out the people who support this type of behavior, our votes are manipulated.
Stay strong!
Thank you for the support :) it helps a lot
It was a long time ago, but I still get flash-backs every now and then. He's tried to contact me a few times online, but he lives in another state now, and he doesn't know where I am. It must be a huge relief that yours is locked away for life.
I got a bad feeling about that guy's story too. I think that's what made me answer.
I'm glad that you posted it, thanks for doing so
What an absolutely horrible experience for you. I too would be still be scared of cops. And even though it happened to you years ago, I wonder how many times a day it's still happening to women now?
I have read receipt stories about how cops are demanding women perform sexual acts or are threatened with more violence?
San Francisco just had a story about a lot of cops having sex with a prostitute.
Cops are abusing their power all over our country and I have heard only a few politicians speak out against it.
Obama spoke about Martin, but he has been awol on the increase in the f cops shooting unarmed black people.
And I haven't heard him say anything about what has been happening in Chicago where so many people are taken to that building without being allowed to see a lawyer and are beaten or worse.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
Having involuntary sex with a prostitute has a name
It's called rape.
Doesn't matter that it's being done to a prostitute over any other woman or man. It's still rape. I hope every one of those cops in SF who "had sex" (um, no, cop or no cop, IT'S RAPE) to that poor sex worker does time.
Don't take 'em with you - save lives, sight, and more. Let your family and your DMV know you want to be an organ donor.
... had a few nasty run-ins with the blue pigs myself --
and I'm white as a bowl of cream, generally inoffensive, and practice a "live & let live" kind of lifestyle. OTOH, the cops don't appear to see things the same way. Have been pulled over for "looking suspicious"; "driving a clearly defective vehicle" (a restored 1932 Model A pickup truck): "being in the wrong neighborhood" (working as a handyman, to do some repairs on one of the "elites" fourth houses). etc., etc. The reality is that the cops represent the "enforcers" for the "elites" -- "Step out of line, The Man comes, and takes you away ..."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY
(Kudos to Buffalo Springfield and Neil Young, who recognized the reality many years ago --)
When Cicero had finished speaking, the people said “How well he spoke”.
When Demosthenes had finished speaking, the people said “Let us march”.
Such terrible ordeals! I'm sorry you had to go through these.
Cops have indeed made our choices very difficult. At times we need help and it would be nice if we could rely on the cops to provide it. It would even be nice if we could rely on cops to show restraint when confronting wrongdoers, since most of us don't want a former loved one shot and killed even if they threaten us. I really think the answer is to fire all current cops, do a better job of determining what we want in a police officer, and start all over again so that we can create an entirely different culture.
Please check out Pet Vet Help, consider joining us to help pets, and follow me @ElenaCarlena on Twitter! Thank you.
Wouldn't the public defender be talking with the prosecutor
to try to explain extenuating circumstances and/or your ex-wife lying, and therefore get charges dropped? It seems to me that would be a legitimate purpose and in your interests.
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Is it a few bad cops ?
Imo it is more like a few good cops.Those that wont cross the blue line and help protect these thugs that are doing this cowardly dirty shit are no better. I believe there are to many that are racist and or cowards and being a cop is not a profession they should be in. This shoot and shoot to kill mentality has got to stop!