Sunday, August 7, 2011

Two sides to every arrest--the suspect's, and the truth.

Being ex-law enforcement, I take a dim view of cops who blatantly abuse their authority, such as we've seen in Canton, Ohio and elsewhere.

On the other hand, I'm trying to remember the last time me or any of the agents, deputies, troopers or officers I worked with ever arrested a genuine patron saint.

At trial, even the vilest of crack-dealing gangsters became the poster child for altar boys around the world.

You'd testify about how the altar boy not only brandished his Mac-10 at you, but pulled the trigger and emptied the magazine. The assistant U.S. Attorney would enter into evidence pictures of your car riddled with bullets, but the defendant would always insist that it wasn't him--it was his "cousin."

"Why, T-Bone here," says his defense attorney, "was at church cleaning the wax off of the candle holders over where the priests light candles for fallen police officers. I'm sorry, mister police man, but you arrested the wrong person."

All you present and former cops--you know the drill, you know the story. You've seen it and been there a thousand times.

This is why I bookmarked this video.

Just as video taken by civilians has been used to weed out bad cops, this kind of video can be used to protect and defend the good cops.


Every officer, deputy, trooper and special agent in America should be issued one of these.

Video works both ways.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Although I could not hear the audio, what you are expressing is something that I very much agree with. 360 degree camera for every police car and some simliar type of camera for police not working from a car, that can not be turned off should be a primary national goal. We could pay for this withut the money we are now borrowing to send overseas for foreigm aid.

RVN11B said...

I have to agree to the above for the most part.

The 360 view on the patrol unit should have been on board years ago.

I am well aware of the amount of equipment officers have to carry now and I hesitate to think about adding any more.

But if there is an extremely lightweight camera-recorder out there I would say go for it.

Anonymous said...

What blows me away is the opposition to common sense like this. The friggin libertarians are the worst. They get absolutely bent over CCTV in public places and wail and sob their right to privacy is being violated. (Mind you, the worst of those loons also believe all cops are SS Stormtrooper wannabees too...)

And yet, during the Hongcouver Stanley Cup riots - arsonists, vandals, and other turdies got seriously trumped in court by video footage.

I'm sorry but when you are out in public there is no 'privacy'. If the prospect of video keeps morons in line I am all for it.

Divine Theatre said...

Anonymous, you speak like a true jackboot.
As a Libertarian and the wife of a peace officer I agree that officers and citizens should be allowed to video and photograph police activity. It benefits the police to do so, as shown in these clips.
However, video equipment which monitors the general population does nothing to deter crime. It is expensive and in violation of the Constitution you allege to hold so dearly.
Ironically, your love of transparency stops when you shield your identity on the internet. I guess that makes you a hypocrite, Mr. Man!

In Freedom,
Andie

Anonymous said...

Not at all. I am saying that if video can be used to protect the cops, it can be used to protect me and the general public as well. My freedom is not infringed one iota by CCTV surveillance - how about you tell me how yours is? Who's the hypocrite?

The only reason I post anonymously is that I don't twitter or tweet or do facebook or gmail or blog or any of that stuff. I will sign with my name, address and phone number when you do, Andie.