Police feel animosity towards politicians – welcome to the club
The Washington Post writes that police are becoming disillusioned with elected officials as they find themselves alone on the front lines of law and order;
As the nation continues to grapple with the thorny issues of race and policing, some officers have been bruised by comments made by some local and national officials and have accused them of showing more support for the protesters, some of whom have violently clashed with police, than for their police departments. Law enforcement officials say morale is flagging among the rank-and-file, who they say feel “betrayed” by President Obama and Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. in their calls for tough reforms of policing tactics.
“We might be reaching a tipping point with the mind-set of officers, who are beginning to wonder if the risks they take to keep communities safe are even worth it anymore,” Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke said. “In New York and other places, we’re seeing a natural recoil from law enforcement officers who don’t feel like certain people who need to have their backs have their backs.”
I understand that police officers have a tougher job than the military – they have to try and protect all life until their own life is in jeopardy.
But, imagine if you will, that you’re carry 150 pounds of people-killing crap on your back and your job is to kill as many people as you can find – that everyone in front of you wants you dead, but every time you kill someone, you’ll read about what a monster you are. Even if you don’t ever kill anyone, you’re still a monster because the government loads you down with shithead killing material and you sally forth and then the very people who sent you forth disavow your every action. Demand investigations. The more you accomplish, the more resources they take from you – and then blame you for your failures, no matter how slight.
And then, every time those very same people present themselves in front of you, you must shake their hand, you must cheer for them on command, you must salute them, because if you don’t, it’s mutiny.
Folks in the military are used to that treatment, at least for the last fifty years or so. The police shouldn’t be surprised that they’re abandoned by the politicians when it’s convenient. But then, we don’t do it for the accolades, we don’t do it to endear ourselves to the perfumed princes. We do it for the folks who can’t protect themselves, we do it for the folks on our left and right who are depending on us to do it. We do it because no one else will and someone damn well needs to do it.
Category: Police
“But then, we don’t do it for the accolades, we don’t do it to endear ourselves to the perfumed princes. We do it for the folks who can’t protect themselves, we do it for the folks on our left and right who are depending on us to do it. We do it because no one else will and someone damn well needs to do it.”
Jonn, thank you and better said than I ever could. While I sympathize with LEOs and their new found realization that the underside of the “bus” is big enough for everyone the politicians and pro criminal elements choose to throw under it. As well as the harsh realization that…they are not immune. While I have the highest and utmost respect for law Enforcement in our country and especially my small community, their unions, pay scales and retirement plans make the military shamefully pale in comparison. This does not mean to diminish from what I believe they deserve, it speaks far more to what I believe the military “truly” deserves in the same pay, retirement, ,medical care and so forth. Were the recent military pay cuts, retirement realignments and diminishing health care tried on any Law Enforcement agency in this nation, their unions would be up in arms and they always have the power to strike if need be. The military has no such protections or rights to protest or strike for better treatment. I have never believed a union would ever work in the military. They would be oil and water of the worst sort. But absent any protections, the military must take it as given to them or taken from the, ruck up, move out and do their job. Period. As you wrote, Police Officers…welcome to a very small taste of the military’s daily existence.
Actually, police unions cannot vote to strike – it is prevented by law. Having said that, I have 12 years of law enforcement experience. I have been puzzled, chagrined, frustrated, and most frequently, incredibly pissed off at the politicians (down to the lowest level) and the stupid things they say and the inane decisions they make that make my job harder and make the citizens less safe. I have come into a shift wishing that I was anywhere else (especially somewhere with a beer and fishing pole) rather than work. But I have never, ever, refused a call for service, refused to take enforcement action when prudent, or refused to make a traffic stop that should be made. That is part of the oath. I have seen very few bad police officers in my career, and have always been vocal about getting them out and into a new career. But I have never been ashamed of my brothers and sisters – and now I am starting to. Yes, the powers that be make life tougher, the support that the protesters and shitheads of every stripe are getting and the admonitions of the talking heads against police officers is tired, counter-productive, and infuriating. But we never signed up to make them happy, and giving them the power to affect law enforcement duties in this way is shameful. You do the job because it is a calling – because you want to help, in some small way, your little corner of the world. None of that has changed. Refusing to do your job fully and to the best of your ability because a politician gets a case of the ass looks for all the world the same as the tantrum my 4 year old throws when he can’t have a cookie. As my drill sergeant used to say – Change your socks. Drink water. Drive on.
That is all.
Well said and thank you for your efforts. Much appreciate the honest response to a difficult situation.
nonsubhomine…”Actually, police unions cannot vote to strike – it is prevented by law.”
Thank you for correcting me sir. I did not know that. I thank you for your service as I do all LEO. I do hope you caught the main point in my post. That being that I hole LE in the highest of regard and esteem. I hope I did not offend and if I did, please allow me your forgiveness.
No offense taken at all. Historically, instead of striking, PDs would get a severe case of the “blue flu” to make a point. Of course, that screws the guys who do report for a shift more than anything.
In the ’70s in Lawrence KS th police came up with a unique approach to bargaining – after being warned by the County Attorney that ‘blue flu’ was illegal and would result in firings – they did the opposite, and enforced the laws. All of ’em. 32 in a 30, parking less than 12″ or more than 18″ from the curb, you name it – over 3000 tickets in 24 hours. Contract negotiations unstalled forthwith.
Not sure if it’s still true, but that ability to strike or not used to depend upon in which state one lived. Some had the right to strike, some did not. Some had the right to bargain collectively, some did not. Some gave up the right to strike if they gained the right to bargain collectively while others had it, or not, without regard to having the right to bargain collectively. It used to vary widely among the states.
It would appear you are correct, OWB. Police and firefighter strikes appear to be legal in at least some jurisdictions.
http://www.cepr.net/documents/state-public-cb-2014-03.pdf
“But then, we don’t do it for the accolades, we don’t do it to endear ourselves to the perfumed princes. We do it for the folks who can’t protect themselves, we do it for the folks on our left and right who are depending on us to do it. We do it because no one else will and someone damn well needs to do it.”
Jonn, thank you and better said than I ever could. While I sympathize with LEOs and their new found realization that the underside of the “bus” is big enough for everyone the politicians and pro criminal elements choose to throw under it. As well as the harsh realization that…they are not immune. While I have the highest and utmost respect for law Enforcement in our country and especially my small community, their unions, pay scales and retirement plans make the military shamefully pale in comparison. This does not mean to diminish from what I believe they deserve, it speaks far more to what I believe the military “truly” deserves in the same pay, retirement, ,medical care and so forth. Were the recent military pay cuts, retirement realignments and diminishing health care tried on any Law Enforcement agency in this nation, their unions would be up in arms and they always have the power to strike if need be. The military has no such protections or rights to protest or strike for better treatment. I have never believed a union would ever work in the military. They would be oil and water of the worst sort. But absent any protections, the military must take it as given to them or taken from the, ruck up, move out and do their job. Period. As you wrote, Police Officers…welcome to a very small taste of the military’s daily existence.
Sorry for the double post.
I’m offended…
Me too, I hope Kristina is still reading this…
The difference between the police and the military, where politicians are concerned, is that the police are very capable of making their displeasure felt. The military doesn’t provide protection for politicians — the police do. If they get to the point of refusing to provide that protection, leaving the politicians to fend for themselves on the streets….that might just provide a sorely needed wake-up call to all of our assorted perfumed princes.
Truly, truly, welcome to the club.
I don’t really know how much damage this administration has done to so-called Race Relations, but I suspect it’s a bunch.
There’s plenty of great folks in America who happen to be black, and the rest of us still seem to be able to filter the difference between them and those just out for themselves. I have no clue how much longer that will continue, or at least to be effective.
Two more years …
We can solve all this just by bringing back the Bill Of Rights. Remember those? Like the right to privacy from warrantless searches. The right to keep and bear arms. The right to freedom of assembly. That means no more DUI roadblocks, no more stop-and-frisk, no more drug prohibition.
Most of all, it’s accountability. No more testi-lying would go a long way. This means no more quotas, no more racial profiling. It’s ultimately the only way to get trust back.
The Bill of Rights?? Oh, you mean that thing that got killed dead by the Patriot Act…
Yep, that’s the one!!
We can solve all this just by bringing back the Bill Of Rights.
Careful with that kind of crazy radical talk, you’ll have the IRS investigating you in a heartbeat.
We are preposterously “over-lawed” though and our political class can’t seem to grasp the concept of second and third order effects. Giving the various law enforcement agencies, federal, state and local a lot less to do-so that they can focus on acts of fraud or violence committed against individuals would be a huge step in the right direction.
“We are preposterously “over-lawed” though and our political class can’t seem to grasp the concept of second and third order effects.”
They can’t grasp it because most of the laws are only applied to us lowly peasant class. If politicians followed all the laws that we have to, there wouldn’t be as many laws.
What pisses me off is police can have a voice unlike the military and so far they’ve been very quiet when the exact opposite needs to happen.
The police were not created to protect and serve the general public they were created by the wealthy upper class of capitalists to control the working class component of our society that had started getting uppity with their demands for decent, livable wages and safer working conditions. The police were used to put down strikes through overwhelming violence inflicted against those daring to strike against their corporate masters. Failure to recognize the origins of the police in this country is a failure to understand the need for oversight and restraint of these organizations across the nation. There is one major difference between a police officer and a military member, if the police officer doesn’t like the ROEs or work procedures they can hit the bricks and take any other job more appropriate to their abilities. They are not contractually prevented from walking away. They don’t like the rules, they should quit. Society will alway find more cops, the desire to wear a gun and a badge and control their fellow man never seems to lack for volunteers in any society. A great many wonderful officers work hard in their communities to keep the bad guys from harming the public, but those same officers hide the shitbags in their ranks and cover the misdeeds of their fellow officers in a misplaced loyalty to the lawbreakers among their own while actively pursuing the lawbreakers in society. That simple reality keeps the public from ever fully trusting the cops, you never know really which one is stopping you, is it the honest Frank Serpico who is considered a rat for exposing the liars and criminals among his brethren or the likes of the perjurers and those covering for the perjurers found in Ferguson? The cops are not the same as the military, not now, not ever. Pretending they are does a disservice to members of the military who volunteer to serve under whatever ROEs and regulations the nation requires without dissent, without the ability to turn their backs on the chief of the civilian government. Turn your back during a formation to your… Read more »
Nobody violated anything and that fat chronic health mess called Eric Gardern died an hour later at the hospital due to medical complications, not because some office choked him to death on the sidewalk.
Good grief you’re so misinformed and clueless.
It’s why the officer wasn’t charged with a crime and why nobody else there including the black supervisor stopped his actions which didn’t violate any internal rules.
You bloviate way too much.
We the citizens have the right to determine how we want the police to act while police we the citizens. The mayor has the right to offer his opinions and comments on the actions of the PD in his city.
You are most welcome to hold a contrary opinion, I realize that my words are not for everyone. I would offer that accepting the official version of events doesn’t make you more informed it just means you chose to accept an alternate take on events. The number of times a grand jury in NYC has found an officer guilty of misconduct in the death of someone being detained can be counted on the fingers of one hand after a chain saw accident.
While that is of little concern to you I prefer a police force that doesn’t kill citizens during the arrest procedure. Take five minutes and review some you tube videos of white men being arrested after directly punching the cops in the face without being killed, you can find many videos. Explain why 300 white Bundy supporters can point guns at BLM deputies without incident but a 12 year old with a toy is shot dead within seconds of a white officer arriving on scene.
I will take your last comment as a compliment, the talking heads who like that phrase to discredit contrary opinions are lazy, fact challenged populists with little to offer society at large.
then why did the medical examiner list it as a homicide?
Because it met the definition of “homicide”. However, “homicide” does not equal “crime”.
“Homicide” is defined as the killing of one human by another human. Not all homicides are crimes.
In some cases, the killing is legally justified by the circumstances (self defense, defense of others). In other cases death occurs due to circumstances unforeseeable at the time and which do not meet the legal definition of any crime.
My guess is the latter regarding the death in NYC – e.g., it was ruled to be an unforeseeable occurrence resulting from actions on the part of the police deemed by the grand jury to have been reasonable at the time. That would precisely explain why the grand jury elected not to return an indictment.
Medical complications brought on by the choke-hold.
That said, the whiney f#@&s who complain about the cops shouldn’t be pushing all the f#@&tard laws they have the cops enforcing. Because there is ALWAYS the potential for lethal force in that.
And on the gripping hand, the police could stand up and say they won’t enforce the f#@&tardery…. but they never seem to do that….
So it’s one big circle-jerk of f#@&tardery all around.
When do we break the cycle?
You’re entitled to your opinion, VOV. But here, I personally think you’re way off base.
Police owe obedience to their elected leadership. But unlike the military, they have no duty to respect those same political leaders. That respect must be earned, and is generally given by default – initially. But it doesn’t take much to lose it, either.
De Blasio is doing a piss-poor job of showing anyone he has a clue – or much gives a damn about anyone other than himself or his leftist agenda. Just look at who he’s reappointing as judges these days in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of two cops:
http://nypost.com/2014/12/31/de-blasio-re-appoints-set-em-free-brooklyn-judge/
From my perspective, it appears that the NYPD may have a point in asserting that De Blasio doesn’t give a sh!t about enforcing the law in NYC. He certainly seems to be going out of his way to thumb his nose at the concept.
Again the cops are pissed off at a judge who followed the law in releasing the individual in question are pissed off at the mayor who reappointed a judge who followed the law.
If the law surrounding bail is problematic the fix is the legislature last time I checked. The mayor is entitled to his opinion as are the officers who should voice their opinions appropriately while not on official duty.
If kissing their asses at every turn is required to keep the cops happy it’s easy to see why they would have a problem with the current mayor who seems intent on discussing his thoughts regarding inappropriate police conduct in a public forum.
Thank you for the counterpoint, I will consider your words carefully as I always do…
Following the law? Hardly. More like exercising poor judicial discretion.
Pretty sure granting and setting bail is purely discretionary and up to the presiding judge in such cases as the one in question, VOV. I don’t believe bail is mandatory in any case involving death threats – particularly when those threats occur days after the assassination of 2 police, and involve a direct threat of more police killings.
Yes, the judge was acting within the letter of the law to do what she did. But a judge is paid to exercise, well, good judgment. This one didn’t.
Hell, the article I cited even said that De Blasio himself had questions about her judgment in other cases. Given the timing and the circumstances, reappointing this lady as a NYC judge for another term is hard to see as anything but either (1) a demonstration of monumental cluelessness on De Blasio’s part, or (2) his deliberately giving the finger to the NYPD.
You choose which you want to believe to be the case. I have my own opinion.
VOV, I only take issue with one thing you said, and that was your last paragraph. The police didn’t turn their backs on the mayor because of his position on Gardern’s case, they turned their backs because the mayor appeared to support the riots that followed; which led, in the cops’ opinion, to the assassination of two police officers.
PN it was my understanding on the day of the Grand Jury result the mayor released the following statement:
http://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/540-14/statement-mayor-bill-de-blasio#/0
And that after that first round of police arrests during the protest the mayor dared to use the word “alleged” when referring to those arrested for “allegedly” assaulting police. The cops took the word “allegedly” as a sign he thought they were fabricating…again the news uses the word “alleged” until someone is convicted as a protection mechanism from litigation. I suspect the mayor did the same, but others are welcome to see that response differently.
And the Democrats established the KKK and fought for Slavery in the Civil War.
So that means all black people and this country should abolish the democratic party…Oh, wait. That didn’t happen. Black people LOVE the democratic party and any Black conservative is considered an “Uncle Tom” for not being a democrat.
There are thousands of police that do protect and serve in poor areas, who don’t just work for “The Man” as you seem to put it.
Just because something was allegedly established for a certain reason centuries ago, doesn’t mean its the same way now.
I could also add that even as high as the president and Eric Holder (The wealthy upper class types) have shown a lack of support for law enforcement. (“The Cambridge Police, acted Stupidly” – When his buddy professor gates was being a “Disorderly Richard” to cops.)
Deblasio as the Mayor of New York City is counted among that same wealthy upper class. He’s not a billionaire like nanny bloomberg, but he’s rich, he hangs out with King Barry, etc.
Many Congressional members also threw down against cops, who are also a part of that upper class. So, again, where is this “continued” use of the police to help “The Man” keep the poor folk down?
I’m just curious, how many bags of pot have you smoked today?
Just because I’m feeling nostalgic:
“There’s a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people.” – Commander Bill Adama (BSG)
Jonn,
You need to place at the top of this post the picture frame of Bruce Willis as John McClain, from “Die Hard”, with the caption “Welcome to the party, pal”.
I think the sentiment from the movie fits this situation to a tee.
Yippee Kai Yay Mother Fucker!
I think the mayor of New York City needs to resign, or be removed from office as temperamentally unfit for the position, and faster than Mayor Bob Filner of San Diego.
New York police officers, at the behest of local black business owners and under the supervision of a black, female officer, were required to arrest a repeat misdemeanor offender, who was very large and became obstreperous. This is probably not something they wanted to do in the first place, and in the ensuing struggle, the guy dies, probably due to an underlying physical ailment, but still dead. In the ensuing sh!tstorm, the mayor makes a statement that this death was due to racism, and that, in his imagination, white people do not have to tell their kids how to behave around police.
Then two police officers get assassinated. At best, the Mayor exacerbated a tense situation, when he should have at least attempted to calm it. He has no place in public authority. At least Bob Filner did not contribute to any deaths. Putting his hands where he shouldn’t, and putting women in headlocks simply does not compare to slandering police officer and stoking racial conflict.
Well, as I see it, the NYPD’s normal course of business is conducted within well defined geographical boundaries. In other words, its NY’s issue. If you think policing in Bedford-Stuyvesant is the same as policing in, oh, Plainview, Long Island or Martinsburg, WV, you are wrong. On paper, you may argue that there is no difference but the reality doesn’t give a shit about that paper. One of the great threats I see growing from certain local issues involving police is the ‘remedy’ of a nationalized police force. The very suggestion makes me cringe and recoil. NY has a problem. I wish it well in solving it.
On the subject of perceived police racism, I came up with an elegant solution in my mind. Why don’t we just make the entire law enforcement profession open only to black persons. I would think Obama could use the power of his pen to accomplish that. Sharpton and Jackson would have to stand behind it. The action could be justified in the same way that Affirmative Action has been justified all these many years. A white guy says “Hey I want to be a police officer” and a federal bureaucrat says “Yeah, well I want a pony. Tough shit.” BAM. Problem solved.
I don’t think I’ll jump into this fray except to say that I was at one time military, plus a retired police officer and could not be more proud to say that I was pretty good at both.
Same here, Right.
And I’ll make that 3. I think that a lot of the public perception of law enforcement is horribly tainted by TV and the movies. There are 100’s of thousands of interactions between the public and police officers every day. 10’s of thousands of arrests. And no one is hurt. The media likes to focus on that 1 time when things go sideways. When was the last movie you’ve seen where the cops were the good guys? Not corrupt (training day) not overbearing (NYPD Blue) etc. Most officers just want to do the very best job they can.
I know I was a damn fine officer. Did I make mistakes? Yep, I’m human. But I sure gave it my best every day.
@RM3(SS)
I may have to copy/paste your comment, print it and put it on my refrigerator…..especially the last three sentences.
Stay healthy.
You too brother. The best revenge is living well. My goal is to collect more in retirement than I made while working. 🙂
I was commenting on another post and remembered this posting and figured it was fitting for this story as well:
http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=42963
How many police chiefs are siding with the protestors and politicians vs their own officers? Not anywhere like this kind of shit we have to deal with.
It sucks, but hopefully it’ll pass for them AND for us.
Well, I think if the police forces in the US left the Tactical gear, the Kevlars and ACH’s, the ACUS, BDUS, and multicams, the Up Armored HMMVs, the MRAPS, the Tactical Command Posts, the M4s and HK94s in storage and went back to actually looking and acting like street cops, the general American public might be more inclined to side with you
There’s no reason to “SWAT the fuck up” for every single warrant arrestand anonymous tip. You’re creating your own bad PR.
As it is, you are starting to lose the bedrock of your support, the middle class. When you lose us, you’ve lost.