“We Get Up Early to Beat the Crowds”.

Not Funny.

‘Peace’ officers?

Bit of a ‘Brown-Shirt’mentality, there, chaps.

The police might well wish to consider whose ’side’ they think they are on.

Licking the boots of the powerful will only get them so far.

And when the powerful lose power, through corruption, malfeasance or even treason, then it might not be wise to be seen as unquestioningly following orders and beating on “the People”.

Amazing what a little ‘authority’ does for people.

It used to be that the best cops did not want power to hurt people.

Nowadays one wonders how many sociopaths find a home in policing and ’security’.

Of course, should these officers lose their jobs, Blackwater would hire them in an instant …

Lewis Mumford referred to such types as examples of “Oganization Man”, who blindly follow orders, and do not question even the most inhumane of acts which they are ordered to perform; nothing matters to such types but completing the ‘mission’. No other considerations are allowed. No further thought is permitted.

As to the involvement of the union?

There should be shame.

There probably is not.

When ‘power’ is synonymous with brutality and inhumanity, bad things are bound to happen …

I blame the drug war for turning cops against citizens. Just as we were starting to achieve a minor progress in civil rights, community policing, diversity on the police force we start a literal war on the underclass and militarize the police force.

Absolutely correct, Lindsay.

The “WAR on DRUGS” was the first ’salvo’ to see how much ‘they’ could get away with.

It began the now All-American process of dehumanizing others, that we now see full-blown in the ‘endless’ “WAR on TERROR”, and which will have its culmination in the use of Directive 51.

First, they came for the _______, but I was not a ________, so it did nor concern me … and then they came for the ______, but I was not a ….

excellent point.

Years ago there was a magazine for the International Police Academy (training cops for Central and South America mostly), pea brain I have, whatever it was called, that had an ad for a product called “Street Sweep,” for some kind of tear gas. Same kind of thing.

New York City, early 1980’s, the police union was fighting some oversight
of police brutality.
T-shirt of the day then: Police Brutality…The Fun Part of Police Work.

Over 90% of police work is routine service calls (sick cases, traffic problems etc). Watch the police shows on teevee and you’d think it’s bang bang, lights and sirens, chase ‘em down and lock ‘em up alla time. These shows give the wrong impression to those considering a police career.

Bad Boys, Bad Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do?

not funnee

a union joking about beating people up

Law enforcement personnel, including administrative workers, are prohibited by the IWW from joining.

The Denver PD has nothing to be proud of. Minneapolis has them beat hands down for naked thuggery, torture, and suppression of the press. If Denver wants to be known for its human rights violations, they have to bone up on their “School of the Americas” skills.

I guess they try to soften their image by calling their unions “benevolent associations.”

School of the Americas

apparently these monsters think a name change will make everything okey doke

The War on Drugs made the prison-industrial complex the monster it is.

Hasn’t fooled the hundreds who show up every year to give ‘em hell.

It’s called WHINSEC now

And one of the biggest so-called “charitable fund-raising” telephone scams going is usually either from the local “Police Benevolent Association” or “Fraternal Order of the Police.”

Nowadays one wonders how many sociopaths find a home in policing and ’security’.

Probably about the same percentage as has always been, I’d think, at least as far as police forces go. ‘Security’ however, if you’re implying Blackwater-style security - that’s sociopath heaven. Not only a breeding-ground for some truly twisted motherfuckers, but an aspirational goal for others not yet in.

Back to police forces for a moment. I think that the main difference which has evolved over the last several years is that the sociopath wing is no longer saddled with any kind of ceiling. IOW, those types used to find careers stranded at lower levels - now in some places, they’re being called “Chief”.

The Portland Oregon police department found what a great idea it was to have some Tee shirts made up back in the Seventies that said “Smoke ‘em, don’t Choke ‘em” after they killed a guy with a choke hold.

The smoke ‘em reference was that it was better to just shoot people and be done with it.
They got their ASSES sued off for that little stunt.

Seems to me that those Tee shirts above and the assholes wearing them should have history repeat itself.
With the cost of inflation factored in.

That is simply disgusting.

From “To Protect and Serve” to jackbooted thugs. I’m glad my uncle (30 years in the California Highway Patrol) didn’t live to see this.

BC

Off topic, but this is the best protest sign I’ve seen maybe … ever

http://whatreallyhappened.com/.....uckers.jpg

More

http://hubpages.com/hub/Protes.....howing-you

Du’oh, sorry, didn’t click on your link

oh sweet jesus, that is HILARIOUS!!!!

Isn’t that the truth! The sad oart about it is th epersonmaking the call is a professional fund raiser who is getting around 75% of the take for his or her services.

Oh, I’d say that the Prison System Nation has got a few unpleasant souls in their employ. Sadists, sociopaths and ‘order-following little organization types’ likely find a home there. On both sides of the bars.

And I would also say that a number of folks I’ve met who were pursuing careers in “Police Science” were not open minded, obviously loving, souls.

No, I think that there are rather more than usual numbers of thugs attracted to such work. Or maybe, there are just more who are willing to ‘go along’ with their more ‘brutal’ brothers.

But, I guess until there is a ’survey’ done. with rigorous ‘controls’ none of us can get a handle on these things.

So anecdotal ‘evidence’ suggests to me that the police have great interest in wepons for ‘crowd control’ whose primary function appears to be to frighten us into silence. I note an increasing number of fatal ‘incidents’ involving tasers, for example.

And everywhere the police are resisting civilian oversight.

This suggests that many ‘peace’ officers view the people as ‘the problem’.

I have known some excellent officers and I suspect they would also be very concerned with the ‘philosophy’ of ‘people as the problem’.

Perhaps your experience is different?

years ago I had to hire 40 - 50 security personnel for a large California bank - an effin’ parade of cretins. it got so bad, I asked my admin to please check for opposable thumbs

I have known some excellent officers

let us all remember our own most excellent Suzanne, a retired law enforcement professional

OT

Lindsay!

MSNBC is seeking Women to send in their Comments regarding “How did Sarah Palin do in the Debate?”, for possible Interview Follow-up tomorrow morning.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26995048/

Rethug women are allowed to call in before the debate.

Does anyone think McC will watch the debate tonight or will he be in a fetal position under the covers?

suggests to me that the police have great interest in wepons for ‘crowd control’ whose primary function appears to be to frighten us into silence. I note an increasing number of fatal ‘incidents’ involving tasers, for example.

intentional infliction of pain, iow.

you don’t even wanna get me started on K-9 officers here in Indianapolis.

Ok, so us v them attitide?

Then them will just have to get up early to vote for civilian traffic flaggers and any end to the ”war” on drugs.

I was recently in Berlin, Germany and went to the German Historical Museum. There was plenty of exhibits on the pre-war pre-Nazi period to illustrate how things got to be as bad as they got there. If things go the same way in this country and we survive it, in 50 years this t-shirt will be in a similar exhibit here in the U.S.