BigOlBear

Bill Maher makes me want to throw things at my TV but, every once in a while he's spot on. He's been right on a couple of issues: Political Correctness run amok, Israel being the good guy – and now I’ve found another, the militarization of our police forces.

Maher recently spoke out against the fact that many of our local small town police forces were turning into smaller versions of the military. With violent crime down 40% over the last 20 years and crime overall falling dramatically, it seems odd that our police forces feel the need to grow more “militaristic” in their approach.

I can't figure out how to make this into a link but just copy and paste it into your browser.

www.youtube.com/embed/Bs9LNAI0nBc?feature=player_embedded

Dummy Boy Loc: Michigan

I was pulled over by a cop, a'couple months ago and I gathered my information: insurance, registration, yada, yada. He taps on my window (like he was rapping it with a flashlight) and commenced to display the attitude of a complete maniacal asshole. He asked me, why he pulled me over and I said, "I didn't". No big grin on my face, and I wasn't insulting so he says, "really, you have no idea" and I again I replied, "nope". He explained to me that I was speeding, which I said impossible (I drive Toyota Corolla), because I haven't even traveled 200 feet. He walked away huffing and puffing. I knew this wasn't going to go down well. He came back to my car and declared that I wasn't speeding, but handed some bulls**t 2 "pointer" ticket. I studied the extensive catch-all law that I broke, which I went to court to discuss.
The judge basically made me pay the court fees and then I was offered driver's training for 40 bucks, which will save me $400 on my insurance, since they will drop the points if I complete the training.
Yea, we live in a police state, driven by the greed of the courts to justify their existence. I haven't had a ticket in 7 years and technically, the last time they reduced the ticket to a two point violation.
Guess how I'm v****g on the next millage for the police-bye bye police.

Hartbreaker

Hartbreaker

I was pulled over at 3 am while driving down a four lane road (2 lanes each way, no turn lane) in the left lane for going to slow. He turned his lights on a second after I turned on my left turn blinker. He then pulled into the oncoming traffic lane to my left so I was forced to pull over on the right side opposite of where I was planning on turning. the officer pulled behind me, got out of the car and put on his mirrored shades (and yes, I meant AM). I knew I was in trouble then. He did not give me a ticket but he held me for an hour while he "ran a check on my plates and license".

So he pulled me over for going 2 mph lower than the speed limit while I was looking for my turn off at night in the dark.

LindaLegg

LindaLegg

Funny how that fact doesn't factor into the gun control discussion.

bmac32 Loc: West Florida

Two sides to this: Would you want to be a cop today? Just watch uTube of pull overs, my first thought when pulling anyone over would be do they have a attitude. Yes cops aren't as friendly as they once were but people do damn stupid things when pulled over or violent things.

Trooper745 Loc: Carolina

Although I'm a retired police officer, I can't say much to defend the antics of many of our police officers and police departments. Just try to remember that the majority of police officers and police departments really try to honestly and courteously serve and protect the citizens who pay their salaries.

On the other hand, there are police departments, especially in very small towns, that are expected to use traffic tickets to fund the majority of the small town's budget. Also, almost all departments will have that one "badge-heavy" officer, maybe more, depending on the supervisors.

As far as the SWAT Teams and other quasi-military units of police departments, in my opinion, they are poorly trained, overly eager to expend ordinance, in a we police versus them public mindset, and usually supervised by the most aggressive member of the department. Most of these military equipped police units, in addition to being overly dangerous to the public, are totally unneeded.

I can't imagine any big-city police chief being able to explain having ten to twenty men, in full combat gear, carrying high tech weapons, riding in a heavy military type vehicle that gets six miles per gallon of fuel, knocking in someone's front door, after tossing in two "flash-bangs", at oh-dark-thirty, to confiscate about four or five ounces of weed, and charge one person with "Possession with intent to distribute." It is a waste of money and resources, and a big, unreasonable danger to the innocent bystander. As we have read, even totally innocent people have already been severely injured or k**led, ... simply because the SWAT Team hit the wrong address.

Trooper745 Loc: Carolina

In 26 years on the road, I met all kinds, but because of my training, I approached every vehicle (in a non-threatening regular traffic stop) with a smile on my face. The course of the stop and the rules of the discourse were then determined by the driver and passengers. Approaching every non-dangerous traffic stop with that attitude really reduced my stress level. As far as traffic stops today, yes they are likely to be more dangerous, or the driver is more likely to be argumentative, but the officer, if properly trained, can effectively handle it. Well trained officers are doing it every day.

In most of those u-tube videos of traffic stops that went very bad, that I've seen, I was able to see the officer's error, well before the officer had lost the ability to stop the bad outcome. Training, pr********n and attitude is the answer.

Dummy Boy Loc: Michigan

Yup and that's why I am on a personal campaign to make sure they know where their check comes from....

...I read a study, interestly (not really) that most crime occurs at night really, life isn't about parking tickets and going 2 miles an hour over the speed limit. They shakedown real taxpayers and ignore criminal behavior.

The local high school told me that he didn't that there wasn't a drug problem. I challenged him to go behind the high school and we scare up a "few drug" problems if he'd like to....

Dummy Boy Loc: Michigan

....Have you ever asked yourself if there was an easier way to do something that didn't need to be done? Like fighting real crime?

harleyusa

I drove truck over road and met cops both good and some with an attidue but for the most they were just doing their job and were civil about it

BigOlBear

You make excellent points Trooper. When I was on the city council I used to love to ride with the cops from time to time and I have a lot of respect for what they do. What got my attention though in Maher's piece was the militarization of some of these police forces. To me there is a huge difference between the purpose of the military and the function of law enforcement and this militarization is becoming very concerning.

bmac32 Loc: West Florida

Things have changed, cops get no respect today because of a few bad apples plus today people don't respect like they use to.

Dummy Boy Loc: Michigan

Agreed.

There are ways to do your job safely and ways that endanger people.

There have been numerous events in which car chases have made a bad situation worse, when a radio t***smitter could have attached to vehicle to track it's every movement. The UK uses a die in "set up" cars for car jacking. The thief gets sprayed with the die and takes days to remove. It won't be long before they can coat you in RFID chips to track you down.

...but pulling tax paying citizens over, talking down to them and acting like you're gonna spit in their face is no way to act. Find a different day job, I'll be happier and the stress will melt away.