To Serve and Protest
What is it about the police? They're supposed to protect society, right? Against the criminal advances of the underworld, against crooked activities, against threat of personal violence, against even traffic violations. Right? Well, they do. That is, we've simply got to believe that a goodly proportion of those whom society entrusts to secure our rights and freedoms, our bodies and our belongings take their jobs seriously and perform their duties to the best of their considerable abilities.
That's the upside. And then there's the downside. Who can forget the O.J. Simpson trial; a man whom the world at large knew to be guilty of the heinous crime of murdering the mother of his children and a male friend, in a truly horrendous manner. It was the clumsy and illegal manoeuvring of a police detective brought to light that secured a release for this murderer, in a well-publicized backlash. Now the murderer just doesn't want to go away and fade into the twilight; he twinkles his guilt merrily at us; thank you officer.
There's a sensational story of a 91-year-old woman in Atlanta who brought death upon herself by firing deadly rounds at drug enforcement agents converging on her drug house in search of confiscatory materials and dealers. These old babes are really tough; only one way to deal with them, shoot 'em dead. Oh dear, the story the media reported was twisted - say it isn't so! The police lied, nothing of the sort happened; they just shot dead a frightened old woman in a botched operation. Too bad, the old lady is a long time dead.
Wait: here's another one. A young black man out with his friends to enjoy a last night of bachelorhood before his oncoming marriage scheduled for the following day. Exiting a club, some mayhem ensues. A lot of people have imbibed, there are loud voices, accusations, people trying to separate themselves from a scene of chaotic police intervention. And oh darn! there's another one dead. Good thing Mayor Bloomberg is on top of things, conducting an investigation, so rest easy.
Which brings to mind just exactly what it is that separates and differentiates law enforcement officers from that element of society that thrives on criminality, that thrills to defying society's defences against crime. Both sides, the law enforcers and the law breakers appear to respond happily to large doses of testosterone; they each love physical challenges. One operates against the law, the other with the law, and both manage to contrive similar outcomes.
Let's count the ways:
Society needs to ride herd on her malefactors and to do likewise with her defenders. There appears to be an awfully thin line between the criminal element and those engaged to uphold public safety and security; sometimes dimly perceived in practise.
That's the upside. And then there's the downside. Who can forget the O.J. Simpson trial; a man whom the world at large knew to be guilty of the heinous crime of murdering the mother of his children and a male friend, in a truly horrendous manner. It was the clumsy and illegal manoeuvring of a police detective brought to light that secured a release for this murderer, in a well-publicized backlash. Now the murderer just doesn't want to go away and fade into the twilight; he twinkles his guilt merrily at us; thank you officer.
There's a sensational story of a 91-year-old woman in Atlanta who brought death upon herself by firing deadly rounds at drug enforcement agents converging on her drug house in search of confiscatory materials and dealers. These old babes are really tough; only one way to deal with them, shoot 'em dead. Oh dear, the story the media reported was twisted - say it isn't so! The police lied, nothing of the sort happened; they just shot dead a frightened old woman in a botched operation. Too bad, the old lady is a long time dead.
Wait: here's another one. A young black man out with his friends to enjoy a last night of bachelorhood before his oncoming marriage scheduled for the following day. Exiting a club, some mayhem ensues. A lot of people have imbibed, there are loud voices, accusations, people trying to separate themselves from a scene of chaotic police intervention. And oh darn! there's another one dead. Good thing Mayor Bloomberg is on top of things, conducting an investigation, so rest easy.
Which brings to mind just exactly what it is that separates and differentiates law enforcement officers from that element of society that thrives on criminality, that thrills to defying society's defences against crime. Both sides, the law enforcers and the law breakers appear to respond happily to large doses of testosterone; they each love physical challenges. One operates against the law, the other with the law, and both manage to contrive similar outcomes.
Let's count the ways:
- Well, there's the instances of tough physical abuse on occasion when police officers are busily engaged taking suspects into custody;
- How about severely assaulting suspects while they're in the lock-up?
- Plundering confiscated items from drugs to weapons;
- Accepting "gifts" and financial rewards for turning a blind eye;
- Actively dealing in drugs, the avails of prostitution, stolen property.
Society needs to ride herd on her malefactors and to do likewise with her defenders. There appears to be an awfully thin line between the criminal element and those engaged to uphold public safety and security; sometimes dimly perceived in practise.
posted by Pieface | 5:42 PM
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