Because the people with the most privilege should be held to the highest standards and subject to the most scrutiny.
If you write the rules, and you do not live up to the rules (or write them in a way that leaves you untouched), you are corrupt , do not deserve the privilege of writing rules, and should be sent to prison.
If you enforce the rules, and you break the rules, you are corrupt, do not deserve the privilege of enforcing rules and should be sent to prison.
This is why it shocks me when police unions and LE agency heads insist that all LE officers are upstanding people and incapable of doing wrong. LE officers are human beings and therefore prone to give in to temptation just like everyone else, and many would argue that they are even more tempted to do so, due to lack of accountability and the amount of power they wield.
I used to work in a big city ER and one of my early responsibilities was to inventory and safeguard the valuables of patients. We were watched closely by the boss (as it should be) and there were rumors of city cops and EMTs stealing from patients. I never heard of anyone being charged though.
It’s discouraging to hear the Sheriff saying: “I’ll do everything I can [to keep this man from returning to Law Enforcement]”. Like, No Guarantees, but we’re sure gonna try. Confirming that a criminal history is not an absolute bar to a career in Law Enforcement.
Can this guy count his Jail Time as additional Law Enforcement Experience on his resume going forward?
If all the sheriff’s departments across the country terminated deputies that victimized their citizens, nearly half of them would need to find new jobs. The sheriff’s deputies from my area (Tulsa, OK) are the least respected leos because they’re always getting caught pulling some shenanigans.
When I was 21 a friend borrowed my car, crashed & died. We got to the scene about 20 mins later. The only people @ the scene were 4 cops. No ambulance, no tow truck. I went to get my tools out of the trunk (about $1000 worth) but they were gone. I went to the cops and asked what happened to my tools. They were surprised & a bit flustered to hear that it was my car. When I insisted on knowing where the tools were and walked towards their vehicles to see where they were, the cops threatened to arrest me if I didn’t drop the subject. Needless to say I have zero respect for cops. I regard them as a gang operating under state protection.
Similar incident of bad cop (thief-and – Sergeant) filmed while stealing lumber from a construction site in AZ. He was in uniform and went home to get his own truck, returned and loaded the lumber, while still in uniform, not realizing the home owner was filming him from next door. The small town Chief of Police showed the video to the Sergeant and told him return the lumber and sin no more. No other repercussions for the thieving cop. What a town.
Always pick on the cops? I have never gotten the impression that you single out the cops. No one complains when you talk about bad attorneys, yet I don’t believe you are implying all attorneys, yourself included, are bad either. There are examples of crooks, criminals and outright scumbags in every profession.
There may be “Good Cops” and there may be “Bad Cops” but until the “Good Cops” are unwilling to tolerate the behavior of “Bad Cops”, nothing will change.
A few years back a British “bobby” (cop) was seen in a grocery store switching price tags between carrots and (what else?) a box of donuts. He was fired. He’s on the “do not hire” list for law enforcement.
My Dad was Sheriff he said to me 63 years ago it only take one bad officer to make a hundred look bad, he hated bad officers, then he said don’t get in trouble because I won’t back you up, your reputation is everything in life if it bad it will follow you everywhere forever.
“What are the odds you’ll have to use that (sidearm)?” The odds more or less the same as me having a fire in the kitchen. It’s not likely, but I keep a fire extinguisher at home anyway.
“We have another good cop…” No we don’t. We have a less-bad cop who allowed a criminal cop go without arresting him. The fact this bad cop wasn’t arrested shows his boss is also a bad cop.
“Steve, you always pick on cops!”
Because the people with the most privilege should be held to the highest standards and subject to the most scrutiny.
If you write the rules, and you do not live up to the rules (or write them in a way that leaves you untouched), you are corrupt , do not deserve the privilege of writing rules, and should be sent to prison.
If you enforce the rules, and you break the rules, you are corrupt, do not deserve the privilege of enforcing rules and should be sent to prison.
This is why it shocks me when police unions and LE agency heads insist that all LE officers are upstanding people and incapable of doing wrong. LE officers are human beings and therefore prone to give in to temptation just like everyone else, and many would argue that they are even more tempted to do so, due to lack of accountability and the amount of power they wield.
As upholders of the LAW, police officers should, repeat should be held to a higher standard of obeying the law. Period!
I used to work in a big city ER and one of my early responsibilities was to inventory and safeguard the valuables of patients. We were watched closely by the boss (as it should be) and there were rumors of city cops and EMTs stealing from patients. I never heard of anyone being charged though.
It’s discouraging to hear the Sheriff saying: “I’ll do everything I can [to keep this man from returning to Law Enforcement]”. Like, No Guarantees, but we’re sure gonna try. Confirming that a criminal history is not an absolute bar to a career in Law Enforcement.
Can this guy count his Jail Time as additional Law Enforcement Experience on his resume going forward?
If all the sheriff’s departments across the country terminated deputies that victimized their citizens, nearly half of them would need to find new jobs. The sheriff’s deputies from my area (Tulsa, OK) are the least respected leos because they’re always getting caught pulling some shenanigans.
12 years on the force. These two occurrences aren’t the first or the only, they are just the ones he got caught for.
Nah, just claim qualified immunity. He was performing those duties clearly in line with his duties as a deputy.
When I was 21 a friend borrowed my car, crashed & died. We got to the scene about 20 mins later.
The only people @ the scene were 4 cops. No ambulance, no tow truck.
I went to get my tools out of the trunk (about $1000 worth) but they were gone.
I went to the cops and asked what happened to my tools. They were surprised & a bit flustered to hear that it was my car.
When I insisted on knowing where the tools were and walked towards their vehicles to see where they were, the cops threatened to arrest me if I didn’t drop the subject.
Needless to say I have zero respect for cops. I regard them as a gang operating under state protection.
The cop has probably been a thief from the very start.
Similar incident of bad cop (thief-and – Sergeant) filmed while stealing lumber from a construction site in AZ. He was in uniform and went home to get his own truck, returned and loaded the lumber, while still in uniform, not realizing the home owner was filming him from next door. The small town Chief of Police showed the video to the Sergeant and told him return the lumber and sin no more. No other repercussions for the thieving cop. What a town.
Always pick on the cops? I have never gotten the impression that you single out the cops. No one complains when you talk about bad attorneys, yet I don’t believe you are implying all attorneys, yourself included, are bad either. There are examples of crooks, criminals and outright scumbags in every profession.
There may be “Good Cops” and there may be “Bad Cops” but until the “Good Cops” are unwilling to tolerate the behavior of “Bad Cops”, nothing will change.
A few years back a British “bobby” (cop) was seen in a grocery store switching price tags between carrots and (what else?) a box of donuts.
He was fired.
He’s on the “do not hire” list for law enforcement.
Why can’t we (U.S.) have standards like that?
The shooting story was interesting. Puts the “no one needs a firearm” argument into perspective.
My Dad was Sheriff he said to me 63 years ago it only take one bad officer to make a hundred look bad, he hated bad officers, then he said don’t get in trouble because I won’t back you up, your reputation is everything in life if it bad it will follow you everywhere forever.
I wonder how many times he hasn’t been caught?
Bet he calls it Civil Asset Forfiture
I’ve heard about cops, EMTs pilfering from dead/incapacitated people of cash, jewelry.
If they violate the constitution or cover for another who did, they’re NOT a good cop.
The deputy was quoted as saying, “Hey, she wasn’t using the cards no more!” or something
“What are the odds you’ll have to use that (sidearm)?”
The odds more or less the same as me having a fire in the kitchen. It’s not likely, but I keep a fire extinguisher at home anyway.
Ah, they’ll be glad to have him over at the LA County Sheriff’s Department. They need him for their gang.
“We have another good cop…”
No we don’t. We have a less-bad cop who allowed a criminal cop go without arresting him. The fact this bad cop wasn’t arrested shows his boss is also a bad cop.