How sad it is that the only time a Cop is fired is when there is video of the beating!

[KansasVoter]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/us/21birmingham.html?ref=us

This story makes me sick. And if the video had not showed up, these 5 idiots would still be on the street.

You know how many cops rough up suspects and never get in trouble at all? I guarantee a lot.

And it seems the only time anyone is fired is when there is a video.

These cops deserve to go to jail for beating a unconsious suspect. If you or I beat someone who was kocked out we would go to prison for sure. Felony assault. And a cop should be held to a higher standard.

We need to pay cops more money and get people who will not treat suspect like they do.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. Hell, a cop from a nearby town here shot a boy 5 times in the back at point blank range

and he was exonerated.

They didn't notify the family until about seven hours later. He was home to see his younger brother graduate HS, too.

[Echo In Light]

2. Ex-Creston officers each get 25 years in rape case

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5697009&mesg_id=5697009

[Uben]

3. It's called the "Code of silence"

Cops don't rat each other out, which makes them criminals themselves. Most cops are good cops, but there is a contingency of them who feel they are above the law. The only way you can catch them is with absolute evidence, because judges always take their word over anyone elses's.

[Wapsie B]

6. That same code of silence exists in medicine as well.

Drs. don't rat each other out either, and there's no telling how many more people are killed at the hand of an incompetent physician as opposed to being killed by a cop.

[Uben]

17. That said, I still immensely respect both professions

My family has many law enforcement officers. From local patrolmen to state troopers to U.S Federal Deputy marshals. The only physician in the family is a pediatric cardiologist. Both professions require extreme dedication to be one of the best and there are the bad apples that tear down everything the good ones build. My family is no different than any other in America. I know that one of the local policemen is not a very good cop just by the stories he tells.

[Wapsie B]

4. There needs to be better mental health screening in that profession

in order to weed out the Wyatt Earps and nuts.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Wrong, cops get fired all the time, WITHOUT tapes

Now should they be fired more often as some folks SHOULD HAVE NEVER EVER made it to the police force? Yes, but cops are fired WITHOUT tapes all the time.

Alas they don't make it to the news either.

But there are many administrative reasons cops get fired over as well. Just don't expect the news to cover it.

Oh and right, now departments are also firing people, or encouraging them to resign due to lack of funds, which also IMHO leads to more of this crap

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

7. I wish they fired some of the cops here

This morning, during rush hour, my town's finest set up a seat belt checkpoint. They had seven cop cars there.

Fucking ridiculous. My county handed out 95,000 tickets in 3 months, and we're just not that big.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Click it or ticket it is a federal program

mandated by DOT... so departments have little choice if they are to get federal aid

And for the record, GOOD FOR THEM!

Having picked more than one "hero" who refused to wear a seat belt as a medic, I am all for strict law enforcement of seat belt laws.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

12. Yeah, but we only have like 5 cars on patrol in my town normally

Seven cars checking seatbelts seems a bit excessive.

We're also home of the cop who got fired for stealing taylor ham & cheese sandwiches. $95k a year, and he has to steal $1.50 sandwiches from the convenience store.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. As I said they have little choice

they have to do it ONCE a year.

As to the cop stealing a sandwich, why they need to be screened and not just before entering the academy... there are many reasons that might be going on... ranging from really bad things... debt to his eyeballs for being stupid... to a little kleptomania. Either case he should not have a badge.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

15. Yeah, the best part of the sandwich story is...

he was collecting money from the other cops to buy breakfast, then going and stealing the sandwiches.

It was also later revealed that he'd gone drinking at the VFW while on duty a few times, then gave DUIs to the people he had just been drinking with, when they left.

Definitely not one of our finest, but he came from a big local family, so they let it go for a long time.

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. Weren't some of the cops in the Rodney King beating fired for excessive force?

If I remember correctly, at least one was fired in someplace like Kansas City, then hired by the LAPD.

Kinda like priests who molest and get sent to a different diocese, it seems to me.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Wrong, most cops fired over administrative causes

are never, ever able to work in law enforcement again.

A good department will do what may be questionable from a legal point of view, but references are tainted, if you get me drift

Now LAPD has a reputation, and well deserved, for a reason

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Cops, teachers, and other unionized public employees are often very difficult to fire

It can be a long and expensive process.

[Evoman]

13. Cops should be video taped THE WHOLE TIME they are on duty.

They should all have a camera mounted on their shoulder and their cars. IF the camera gets shut off and someone gets shot or hurt, they immediately are fired or go to jail, no questions asked.

NOBODY should be trusted with that much power.

[KansasVoter]

16. I agree. A lot of guys in the police love the power!

[Wednesdays]

18. K&R

:kick: