Originally Posted by bob47 (Post 1933822)

This is one of the most rational postings I've ever read.

Originally Posted by jswirs (Post 1933866)

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You ECHO my sentiments, exactly. NO ONE, including policeman, are above the law, and it's about time those that discredit the police force are held accountable for their actions. Like many other organizations who go to extremes to protect their own, (for example, the Catholic church and their pedophile priest), it's time for accountability.

Originally Posted by DeanFL (Post 1933655)

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I would sincerely hope that most of us here in The Villages feel this way too.
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Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan (Post 1933821)

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.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 1933688)

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.

Originally Posted by Girlcopper (Post 1933973)

You ruined a beautiful posting by the OP. They are touting support for police and you go and post how you video a cop for stopping someone who is walking while black! How do you know why he was stopped? Who are you to critique the actions of the cop? You know the old saying.......people who live in glass houses? Oh. Thats right....you have cop friends. Just like someone saying......I have black friends....to prove they arent prejudice. .

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan (Post 1934178)

It seems to me you said the police need top take care of the problem, and correct it. Then you said Obama was wrong for pointing out the problem and demanding the police correct it.

What can the President do except use his bully pulpit to bring about change by pointing out it is needed.

The problem has been growing for many decades, it is not just now becoming a problem, it is just that now people are starting to say, it is wrong, and there are some police officers that should not be police officers. That is not being ANTI cop, that is being anti bully, racist, sadist, white supremest. The vast majority of cops a great people doing a hard job.

But, there are some that have no business being a cop, and we need to do anything necessary to encourage the good cops to clean their own house.

Originally Posted by NAB20 (Post 1934246)

DeanFL, you thought you asked a simple question and found that it was actually very complex. Of course, most people support the police. Where would we be without them. In a very dangerous world is my guess. We should never stop demanding that officers are vetted, properly trained, and monitored to maintain the highest standards required of their roles in society. They need to be trusted to make the system work. We are thankful that they take on the demanding and dangerous work that is needed to keep safety and order. LEO: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Especially in light of recent situations, answering your question has brought on a lot of in-depth responses because things are not just all one way or the other, black or white (nothing racial intended), sweet or sour, day or night, etc. So thank you, also, for allowing people to have this discussion. There always seems to be a lot of layers once we move past the surface of any topic.

Originally Posted by DeanFL (Post 1934252)

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I always say (re ToTV), I could open a Thread stating "What a beautiful day it is today in The Villages!

...and some would say "NO! there's a cloud!" "Nope I woke up with a backache" "Maybe where you are, it's raining here". "Nope, I see dog poop". "No way, my neighbor put out a gnome!". you catch my drift...grrr.
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