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Title: Officer Safety . . . (Why cops fear the Citizens)
Source:
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URL Source: http://ericpetersautos.com/2013/11/30/officer-safety/
Published: Dec 2, 2013
Author: Eric
Post Date: 2013-12-02 11:02:46 by James Deffenbach
Keywords: None
Views: 185
Comments: 9
If it is reasonable – justifiable – for a cop to base every interaction with a citizen on the presumption that the citizen might be a threat to his “safety,” isn’t the reverse all the more reasonable? That a citizen should assume the worst when confronted by a cop? After all, a cop is known to be armed – and not merely with a gun. He possesses the authority of the state and with it, a far more relaxed standard for using gross and disproportionate violence against a citizen. He can do things to you legally – without fear of repercussions that no ordinary citizen would dare to do – and to which, moreover, the ordinary citizen is legally obliged to submit. Is it not enough to make a citizen fear for his safety? Consider: You are driving along, on your way home. You glance up in the rearview and notice there is a big white sedan just inches off your bumper. Cops do this for a reason – to intimidate a prospect. Then all of a sudden, flashing strobe lights and loud sirens – the purpose of which is also to intimidate. To instill fear. Now you are aware that an armed stranger is demanding you stop your vehicle – God only knows why. But you do know – having read about it last week – that another armed stranger subjected another motorist who’d apparently done nothing more than commit a minor moving violation to repeated forced anal probing, forced enemas and a forced colonoscopy. You know, moreover, that this was not an isolated, one-time incident (see here) but rather, has become a fairly common practice (affirmed by the Supreme Court, which has ruled that citizens are subject to strip searches – at the discretion of the cop – after having been detained for almost any “violation,” including minor traffic offenses). Your mind rolls over the YouTube videos you saw the other day. The Tazerings, the head-kickings, the slamming of slightly built, middle aged women into concrete benches. You wonder: am I going to be next? And you are afraid. It is absolutely reasonable to be afraid of cops these days. To dread them, in fact. Far more so than for them to be afraid of us. They represent an increasingly lawless, unaccountable authority that does just what it pleases to anyone it likes. Hardly a day goes by without an absolutely appalling case of egregious over-use of force cropping up on YouTube or LiveLeak. These videos give the lie to the stories cops used to tell – and which were hard to contest – that their victims “resisted” or (lately) presented a “threat” to “officer safety.” Instead, we see the truth: Video doesn’t lie. The spectacle of a fellow citizen being cold cocked by a cop three times the victim’s size – and for no justifiable reason. Just because he can. We are powerless in the face of this authority. One need not even violate a law to become the object of law enforcement. Merely to be out in public is enough to put one in peril of any random cop’s bad mood. Or outright sadism. Of late, they openly state that “the law” doesn’t matter (as, for example, in the case of people held at gunpoint who did nothing more than openly carry a firearm in full compliance with open carry laws in their state; see here). Cops do whatever they like – and we are expected to Submit & Obey. Yet they are afraid of us! We are expected – no, legally required – to be supine and accepting. To give them the benefit of every doubt – even to the extent that it places our own lives or those of our families in extreme jeopardy. It is laughable – and pathetic- at the same time. These “heroes” – quaking in their body armor, high-capacity, military-grade semi-automatic pistols strapped to their hips – shivering with trepidation at the prospect of dealing with an argumentative soccer mom, scrawny teenager or senior citizen who refuses to “comply.” These beefy tough guys stewing in steroids – with their buzz cut hair and dark sunglasses who see “threats” everywhere. One almost feels sorry for them.* Of course, these alleged “threats” to their “safety” are really nothing more than less-than-immediate deference to their authority. That’s what arouses their ire, these sad little big men. And women, too. It ought to be the other way around, of course. Cops – those charged with enforcing the law and endowed with the legal authority to use force – should be afraid of citizens. Or rather, they ought to be afraid of the consequences of abusing their authority. They ought to be obliged to give us the benefit of every doubt. To put their “safety” at risk, if need be – for the sake of ours. Officer Safety . . . by eric • November 30, 2013 • 75 Comments Print Friendly If it is reasonable – justifiable – for a cop to base every interaction with a citizen on the presumption that the citizen might be a threat to his “safety,” isn’t the reverse all the more reasonable? That a citizen should assume the worst when confronted by a cop? officer safety pic After all, a cop is known to be armed – and not merely with a gun. He possesses the authority of the state and with it, a far more relaxed standard for using gross and disproportionate violence against a citizen. He can do things to you legally – without fear of repercussions that no ordinary citizen would dare to do – and to which, moreover, the ordinary citizen is legally obliged to submit. Is it not enough to make a citizen fear for his safety? Consider: You are driving along, on your way home. You glance up in the rearview and notice there is a big white sedan just inches off your bumper. Cops do this for a reason – to intimidate a prospect. Then all of a sudden, flashing strobe lights and loud sirens – the purpose of which is also to intimidate. To instill fear. Now you are aware that an armed stranger is demanding you stop your vehicle – god only knows why. gloved hand pic But you do know – having read about it last week – that another armed stranger subjected another motorist who’d apparently done nothing more than commit a minor moving violation to repeated forced anal probing, forced enemas and a forced colonoscopy. You know, moreover, that this was not an isolated, one-time incident (see here) but rather, has become a fairly common practice (affirmed by the Supreme Court, which has ruled that citizens are subject to strip searches – at the discretion of the cop – after having been detained for almost any “violation,” including minor traffic offenses). Your mind rolls over the YouTube videos you saw the other day. The Tazerings, the head-kickings, the slamming of slightly built, middle aged women into concrete benches. You wonder: am I going to be next? And you are afraid. beating pic It is absolutely reasonable to be afraid of cops these days. To dread them, in fact. Far more so than for them to be afraid of us. They represent an increasingly lawless, unaccountable authority that does just what it pleases to anyone it likes. Hardly a day goes by without an absolutely appalling case of egregious over-use of force cropping up on YouTube or LiveLeak. These videos give the lie to the stories cops used to tell – and which were hard to contest – that their victims “resisted” or (lately) presented a “threat” to “officer safety.” Instead, we see the truth: Video doesn’t lie. The spectacle of a fellow citizen being cold cocked by a cop three times the victim’s size – and for no justifiable reason. Just because he can. We are powerless in the face of this authority. One need not even violate a law to become the object of law enforcement. Merely to be out in public is enough to put one in peril of any random cop’s bad mood. Or outright sadism. Of late, they openly state that “the law” doesn’t matter (as, for example, in the case of people held at gunpoint who did nothing more than openly carry a firearm in full compliance with open carry laws in their state; see here). Cops do whatever they like – and we are expected to Submit & Obey.fat hero pic Yet they are afraid of us! We are expected – no, legally required – to be supine and accepting. To give them the benefit of every doubt – even to the extent that it places our own lives or those of our families in extreme jeopardy. It is laughable – and pathetic- at the same time. These “heroes” – quaking in their body armor, high-capacity, military-grade semi-automatic pistols strapped to their hips – shivering with trepidation at the prospect of dealing with an argumentative soccer mom, scrawny teenager or senior citizen who refuses to “comply.” These beefy tough guys stewing in steroids – with their buzz cut hair and dark sunglasses who see “threats” everywhere. One almost feels sorry for them. Of course, these alleged “threats” to their “safety” are really nothing more than less-than-immediate deference to their authority. That’s what arouses their ire, these sad little big men. And women, too. It ought to be the other way around, of course. Cops – those charged with enforcing the law and endowed with the legal authority to use force – should be afraid of citizens. Or rather, they ought to be afraid of the consequences of abusing their authority. They ought to be obliged to give us the benefit of every doubt. To put their “safety” at risk, if need be – for the sake of ours. Is that not, after all, what “heroes” are supposed to do? But of course, they are not heroes. They are enforcers. Members of the most violent gang in the country. It is a hard thing to come to grips with, intellectually – after a lifetime of immersion in fairy tales about serving and protecting. But our guts have long known the truth of the thing. Who among us feels safe when they see a cop car inches off their bumper? Or a cop, period? Who invites them to their home? Wants them around? Feels comfortable in their presence? Our minds are finally catching up with our guts. More and more of us are coming to realize that any interaction with a cop could be a life-changing (or even life-ending) experience. That it is in no way paranoid to harbor the fear – given what’s happening all around the country – that any of us could be next. As this dawning awareness percolates, I expect pushback. Because you can only push people so far. When someone’s scared – and for good reason – unpredictable things can happen. Cops, more than anyone, ought to understand this. Sow the wind – reap the whirlwind. . . . Poster Comment: *Damned if I feel sorry for them. If they are that scared maybe they should have looked into trying to find some honest job where they don't have to wet their pants ten times a day.
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#1. To: James Deffenbach (#0)
The other element is their desire to justify anything they do. After all cowards and thugs are always fearful that they will be brought to account for their criminality. And that is what "“Believe nothing merely because you have been told it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings - that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.” ~ Gautama Siddhartha — The Buddha I think it's possible that they like fear, that they derive some sort of thrill from it. It's their roller-coaster. If they don't find danger, they'll often make efforts to create it, or to pretend that they're in a dangerous situation so that they can conquer it and emerge victorious. "The 'uniter' has brought the entire world together - to despise and deride us." Lod
Then all of a sudden, flashing strobe lights and loud sirens – the purpose of which is also to intimidate. To instill fear. Pull over and stop. Keep your hands on the steering wheel until the cop instructs you do otherwise. Never speak unless you are being questioned. Never volunteer info. Provide the necessary license and registration and shut the hell up. Keep your hands on the steering wheel and pray you get out of this alive. I've known of worst deadly scenarios where AK-47's and M-16's have been pointed in my face in a case of wrong identity. I never was afraid but just shut the hell up, kept the hands up and fully cooperated. Then I later sued the bitch out of all of them. They could not believe I was capable of going after all of them. Their attorneys even resigned from legal representation of these peace officers after they made me a settlement offer.
I wouldn't speak then other than to say I don't answer questions. Hand them the license and registration and proof of insurance and say nothing.
Paul Craig Roberts
You don't even say that either because that may provoke a confrontation. Just don't say ANYTHING and when they command you to produce id and registration just do that. Say nothing more.
Anything MIGHT provoke a confrontation with one of Hitler's finest. Ignoring them could well also cause a confrontation.
Paul Craig Roberts
It is true that ignoring them may trigger a confrontation but even more than that is when you provoke them to react. They are not police officers but are Law enforcement officers (LEOs) and when they approach you to produce proper identification, that is not a request but an order. Failure to cooperate may provoke an undesirable incident. It's how I prevailed in my lawsuit against them. Even the attorneys representing those 60 officers actually stepped down from representing them all.
I wasn't suggesting that anyone "fail to cooperate" if by that it is meant to produce identification. I do believe that is all they can require absent some reasonable, articulable facts and not some unparticularized suspicion or hunch that you MAY have done something wrong at some point in your life. You cannot be required to answer their questions nor to acquiesce to unreasonable searches and seizures.
Paul Craig Roberts
That is true! The moment they start to asking questions unrelated to the stop is the time you ask them if you are under arrest or are you free to leave.
Police these thugs are - criminal enforcers no different than "Joey Legbreaker" working for the local Loan Shark.
Any sufficiently advanced stupidity is indistinguishable from evil. ~ Unk (Paraphrase of Clarke's 3rd Law: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.")
#2. To: James Deffenbach (#0)
*Damned if I feel sorry for them. If they are that scared maybe they should have looked into trying to find some honest job where they don't have to wet their pants ten times a day.
#3. To: James Deffenbach (#0)
You are driving along, on your way home. You glance up in the rearview and notice there is a big white sedan just inches off your bumper. Cops do this for a reason – to intimidate a prospect.
#4. To: purplerose (#3)
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
#5. To: James Deffenbach (#4)
I wouldn't speak then other than to say I don't answer questions.
#6. To: purplerose (#5)
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
#7. To: James Deffenbach (#6)
#8. To: purplerose (#7)
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
#9. To: James Deffenbach (#8)
You cannot be required to answer their questions nor to acquiesce to unreasonable searches and seizures.
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