[DeanFL]

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I would sincerely hope that most of us here in The Villages feel this way too.
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[bobdeb]

Well said. Well done. I'm in.

[Stu from NYC]

very well said

[billethkid]

And let us not forget that those of us who back our police are in the majority.

Contrary to the images and agendas of too many politicians, media, special interest and minority groups!!!!!

[fourjayranch]

100% agree. It’s disgraceful how they’ve been demonized by the politicians and the media.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I back the concept of a strong police department with humane, properly trained peace officers who know how to put their bias aside when it comes time for them to do their jobs. Honestly I don't care if they have a bias against the disabled, or if they're racists, or hate Jews and Muslims. As long as they leave that stuff at home and not bring it to work. But the second they step over that line, then the entire blue line disintegrates. Because of the actions of any singular officer. They rise together, and they fall together.

I'll gladly offer a thirsty-looking officer a bottle of water if I see him in the neighborhood on patrol. But if I see that same officer stop someone on the street because he's walking while black, that's when I turn on the video on my smartphone. Police are not a singular infallible entity. They are a collection of individual personalities. When we demand that they be treated as a singular unit deserving of respect that the ENTIRE collection hasn't yet earned, then we justify how any ONE member of them can commit crimes against anyone who isn't one of them.

Humans are flawed creatures. We ALL have our weaknesses. Police are not immune to that, and it's time we stop putting them up on a pedestal. I've worked with the police, I've had to call the police for help in the past, I've been pulled over for speeding by the police, I've been friends with the police, my parents' best friend was a cop and he and his wife and my parents used to go out once a week for dinner. So I have no beef against "the police." My problem is with the individual officers, and the departments that protect them even when they screw up. They are the ones that give "the police" a bad name, they are the ones who need to be held accountable, and they are the ones who need to either be rehabilitated, or removed from the force.

No one is above the law. That includes the police.

[Fredman]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I back the concept of a strong police department with humane, properly trained peace officers who know how to put their bias aside when it comes time for them to do their jobs. Honestly I don't care if they have a bias against the disabled, or if they're racists, or hate Jews and Muslims. As long as they leave that stuff at home and not bring it to work. But the second they step over that line, then the entire blue line disintegrates. Because of the actions of any singular officer. They rise together, and they fall together.

I'll gladly offer a thirsty-looking officer a bottle of water if I see him in the neighborhood on patrol. But if I see that same officer stop someone on the street because he's walking while black, that's when I turn on the video on my smartphone. Police are not a singular infallible entity. They are a collection of individual personalities. When we demand that they be treated as a singular unit deserving of respect that the ENTIRE collection hasn't yet earned, then we justify how any ONE member of them can commit crimes against anyone who isn't one of them.

Humans are flawed creatures. We ALL have our weaknesses. Police are not immune to that, and it's time we stop putting them up on a pedestal. I've worked with the police, I've had to call the police for help in the past, I've been pulled over for speeding by the police, I've been friends with the police, my parents' best friend was a cop and he and his wife and my parents used to go out once a week for dinner. So I have no beef against "the police." My problem is with the individual officers, and the departments that protect them even when they screw up. They are the ones that give "the police" a bad name, they are the ones who need to be held accountable, and they are the ones who need to either be rehabilitated, or removed from the force.

No one is above the law. That includes the police.

Why would u pull out your camera if u see an officer stop a black man. Sounds like you are painting them with a broad brush as being prejudice. You don’t know that police officer. Your prejudice is showing.

[billethkid]

Like I have for my entire life....I trust the police....The constant dialogue about the less than 2 percent bad apples being made out to be the profile of the majority of the police force is just plain wrong.

How about we focus on the 98+% that do it right....every day.

[Bucco]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I back the concept of a strong police department with humane, properly trained peace officers who know how to put their bias aside when it comes time for them to do their jobs. Honestly I don't care if they have a bias against the disabled, or if they're racists, or hate Jews and Muslims. As long as they leave that stuff at home and not bring it to work. But the second they step over that line, then the entire blue line disintegrates. Because of the actions of any singular officer. They rise together, and they fall together.

I'll gladly offer a thirsty-looking officer a bottle of water if I see him in the neighborhood on patrol. But if I see that same officer stop someone on the street because he's walking while black, that's when I turn on the video on my smartphone. Police are not a singular infallible entity. They are a collection of individual personalities. When we demand that they be treated as a singular unit deserving of respect that the ENTIRE collection hasn't yet earned, then we justify how any ONE member of them can commit crimes against anyone who isn't one of them.

Humans are flawed creatures. We ALL have our weaknesses. Police are not immune to that, and it's time we stop putting them up on a pedestal. I've worked with the police, I've had to call the police for help in the past, I've been pulled over for speeding by the police, I've been friends with the police, my parents' best friend was a cop and he and his wife and my parents used to go out once a week for dinner. So I have no beef against "the police." My problem is with the individual officers, and the departments that protect them even when they screw up. They are the ones that give "the police" a bad name, they are the ones who need to be held accountable, and they are the ones who need to either be rehabilitated, or removed from the force.

No one is above the law. That includes the police.

Well said.

I am sort of tired of the same kind of threads on here and discussions on certain national channels...

The implication of this thread and the comments are that if you want justice for all, and applaud when it is applied fairly, then you must be anti police.

Of course all support the police, but not injustice.

Thus it is not a either or, and I, for one resent being placed in the position of picking one or another.

It is new commentary the last few years.....if you do not support me 100% totally, right or wrong, then you are totally against me and my enemy. What short sighted immature childish view that is.

I think as with some national figures, these threads are pleading for some kind of adoration and pledge of loyalty no matter what.......THAT alone is un-American, but even so it is so dumb and waste so much time.

And on behalf of those you think are anti police, I can only say...you dont know them and thus you cannot judge them.

Have done much "work" in the field....as a young man and in the last few years on the streets of Tampa with young black males and females who have total and complete respect for police in general but fear for their very life when confronted by them.

I call to mind the recent event of the 2nd LT in the Army pulled over in Virginia for having temporary tags on his back window, as is the case most time when you buy a new car and await permanent tags.

Pulled over and greeted with guns drawn (he has driven to a lighted are to stop)....in his face and explained he was afraid to get out of the car....told that "he should be afraid", he was pepper sprayed. No charges filed by the police for a man in his Army uniform.

Black americans have grown up with a "fear" of police but recognize them as having a tough job. That fear is manifested differently, but starting threads like this or broadcasting things in a slanted light is not fair at all.

Hard to think of one single person I have met in my 82 years on this earth that do not respect police.

It needs no special affirmation, and these kind of threads, etc. simply imply facts that are just not in existence.

I have thanked many police officers in my life.....do not need a thread on here or some kind of talk of riots to have me do that.

[Bucco]

Originally Posted by billethkid

Like I have for my entire life....I trust the police....The constant dialogue about the less than 2 percent bad apples being made out to be the profile of the majority of the police force is just plain wrong.

How about we focus on the 98+% that do it right....every day.

While you are 100% correct in what you say, some feel very comfortable in having dialogue where the assumed facts about black americans are way way out of accuracy, but we do not dwell on that at all.

[Bogie Shooter]

This thread and others like it are posted to only stimulate political posts. And most end up being closed or deleted.

[bobdeb]

I'm going to support law enforcement as I believe they 'have my back' so to speak.

And I don't believe in throwing the baby out with the dirty bathwater.

Wow, a metaphor and an idiomatic expression.

[DeanFL]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

This thread and others like it are posted to only stimulate political posts. And most end up being closed or deleted.

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STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!! I'm the OP. And I posted the illustration for ONE REASON - to show MY support.

If others AS YOU must degrade and condemn and assume the worst - yes it will be closed. Some folks here sit behind their keyboard and simply MUST slam others or their points of view.

Reminds me of what my mother said when my brothers and I horsed around the house...

"This is why we can't have anything nice around here!"

The 'usual suspects' come out, and many times ruin, what could be, a positive discussion.
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[bobdeb]

Originally Posted by DeanFL

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STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!! I'm the OP. And I posted the illustration for ONE REASON - to show MY support.

If others AS YOU must degrade and condemn and assume the worst - yes it will be closed. Some folks here sit behind their keyboard and simply MUST slam others or their points of view.

Reminds me of what my mother said when my brothers and I horsed around the house...

"This is why we can't have anything nice around here!"

The 'usual suspects' come out, and many times ruin, what could be, a positive discussion.
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What he said...

[GrumpyOldMan]

It seems many feel it is all or nothing, on almost every topic. Pandemic has a cure or doesn't. Vaccines are 100% affective or not affective at all.

And people have to chose to be for the police or against them. PERIOD.

I disagree with those presumptions. I can support the police while at the same time call for the incarceration of police that abuse their positions of power or break the law.

There are 15,000 murders in this country every year. That is only 0.015% of the population of Americans. Since it is such a small percentage should we just look the other way when a murder is committed? Why bother prosecuting that small percentage of Americans - when it is obvious that the overwhelming majority of Americans are good people are not murders.

Pretty silly?

Well, so is ignoring a police officer spaying pepper spray in the face of a patriot serving his country in uniform.
So is, justifying shooting a person in the back who is walking away with their hands raised, because they were walking away.
So, is, justifying killing a person by kneeling on their throat.

So, is.

These officers, the ones that are guilty, are a disgrace to the police force and the uniforms they wear.

I completely support the officers that uphold the law. I am 100% in favor of prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law any officer that abuses their position of power, or brakes the law in the line of duty.