Understanding the divide white/black/blue

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The discussion highlights the deep-rooted issues of distrust between black communities and law enforcement, stemming from historical injustices and ongoing discrimination. It emphasizes that both law-abiding black individuals and police officers operate under a cloud of suspicion, shaped by past experiences and societal narratives. The conversation calls for empathy and understanding from both sides, recognizing that each group perceives the other as a potential threat. Despite advancements in opportunities for black individuals, the fear of discrimination persists, complicating interactions with police. Ultimately, the dialogue stresses the need for constructive discussions to bridge the divide and foster mutual understanding.
  • #61
micromass said:
Why do you think is there a very high turn over and burn out rate?

Because it is...lol I have been an LEO for over 15 years and have rarely seen an officer make it beyond 2 years. Some people just can't handle the pressure its dangerous and you get treated badly,...add to that a ridiculously low salary,... it is not very much insensitive in staying long.

I stayed because its all i ever wanted to do professionally speaking. Wanted to be a cop since i was a kid.
 
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  • #62
gjonesy said:
Because it is...lol I have been an LEO for over 15 years and have rarely seen an officer make it beyond 2 years. Some people just can't handle the pressure its dangerous and you get treated badly,...add to that a ridiculously low salary,... it is not very much insensitive in staying long.

I stayed because its all i ever wanted to do professionally speaking. Wanted to be a cop since i was a kid.

What do you think about my statement about police officers receiving too little training?
 
  • #63
micromass said:
What do you think about my statement about police officers receiving too little training?
I agree,,,,they don't. They asked us (the veteran officers) how to better prepare rookies for the job. My suggestion was gun take away and knife take away techniques. It took 2 years to implament that training.

First they had to develop it, then approve it, ask the lawyers how to legally defend it if a technique is misused or if someone got hurt doing it.

Lots of red tape to go through its a nightmare for training staff.
 
  • #64
Regarding the training aspects, I was listening to an interview with former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper says in his book To Protect and Serve: How to Fix America's Police that policing is in crisis. He says more emphasis needs to be put on community policing. He had a number of thoughtful and thought-provoking comments.

http://www.npr.org/2016/07/10/48546...ief-has-a-plan-for-how-to-fix-americas-police
 
  • #65
I read an interesting article this morning
Police Pay Gap: Many of America's Finest Struggle on Poverty Wages
OCT 26 2014
Since then, he’s worked for three different police departments in St. Louis County, all paying between $10.50 and $12.50 an hour.

“This is not what I expected,” said Howard. “I thought being a police officer was a really good job.”
Curious for a comparison, I checked the HR department's website where I used to work. The lowest salary is for students: $11.50/hour
 
  • #66
OmCheeto said:
I read an interesting article this morning

Curious for a comparison, I checked the HR department's website where I used to work. The lowest salary is for students: $11.50/hour

I was a 15 year career officer my yearly salary was 33,000 before taxes, after taxes and deductions may have cleared 20 grand.
 
  • #67
micromass said:
Sure, it is an obvious answer. But it didn't really tell me anything new, nor did it tell me anything I'm particularly interested in getting an answer in.
You really should be interested in hearing all relevant answers. In any case, since it had an obvious answer, I'm curious as to why you brought up England, yet didn't provide the answer yourself?
But you said:

You explain the jumping around part, and you're probably right. I still would like to hear about the "aren't always true" part.
It's one complaint: jumping around means you make a statement/give an example that is true/relevant in one case and not true/relevant in another or vice versa; In the case of England, you heard an answer that was true for that case (a case you raised) but didn't want to accept it so you jump to another where it isn't true.

All I'm suggesting here is that you should be more open to the complexity of the issue and not be so quick to discard answers you don't like.
 
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  • #68
micromass said:
Why do you think is there a very high turn over and burn out rate?
While I didn't include it in my list, I did describe the problem and cause and the relationship to training in the last paragraph of post #52.
 
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  • #70
russ_watters said:
You really should be interested in hearing all relevant answers. In any case, since it had an obvious answer, I'm curious as to why you brought up England, yet didn't provide the answer yourself?

It's one complaint: jumping around means you make a statement/give an example that is true/relevant in one case and not true/relevant in another or vice versa; In the case of England, you heard an answer that was true for that case (a case you raised) but didn't want to accept it so you jump to another where it isn't true.

All I'm suggesting here is that you should be more open to the complexity of the issue and not be so quick to discard answers you don't like.

1) Where at all did you get the notion that I didn't accept the England answer in the first place? You seem to have made that up. I never said the answer was wrong. I jumped to another example because the England answer was explained for me and I wanted to hear an explanation for the other answers.

2) Unless you think it is a good idea for cops in America not to wear guns like in England, then there must be other differences between England and America that makes it true that English police doesn't wear guns. Those are the things I'm interested in.

3) You failing to give examples of things "that aren't always true" is frankly disgusting behavior to me. Sorry, but that's how I see it. You can spin the England example all you want, but you're not actually pointing out something that I said that "isn't always true". It would be respectable of you to retract that statement then.
 
  • #71
Id like to submit a bit of context as to why some of these police shootings occur in some areas. Its part of the culture. Street culture the "stop snitching " movement. Things of this nature in many respects it is unique to America. It is promoted in music, gang lifestyle "thug life" and within the illeagal drug trade. Unfortunately kids get involved with these activities and lifestyle and some of it is just a bluff. But when you get that real criminal element mixed in with it, sometimes, many times you can't tell a gangbanger from a want to be.

Sometimes these kids are for lack of a better term to stupid to realize that it is not good to be bad. This problem and the multiplicity of different players only complicate these issues. Plain and simple police work is hard and its getting harder.
 
  • #72
russ_watters said:
The article suggests a fix, but I don't see it very specifically described. Can you paraphrase what the fix is?
The author fix is captured, I think, in the second to last paragraph. It's essentially "more oversight". His premise is that since Police Officers are not held accountable, they have no real motivation to be more placid. His suggestion is to assign a special prosecutor to try excessive force cases, and secondly, he recommends external third party investigators instead of internal reviews when it comes to complaints.
 
  • #73
gjonesy said:
Cops like that should either get more training or be cut loose. You should sue the pants off that department.
Like I said, we knew the mayor. We didn't come out of that without some perks.
 
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  • #74
micromass said:
As a European, this makes no sense at all. Here we very rarely have police officers killing civilians. What's the difference?
A big part of the problem in the US is easy access to guns as revealed in Oakland/Alameda, California. For as little as $50, one can by a pistol, and perhaps a rifle. Sure, criminals get guns, and so do people with mental issues.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/member-british-parliament-shocked-seeing-021108475.html
 
  • #75
Astronuc said:
A big part of the problem in the US is easy access to guns as revealed in Oakland/Alameda, California. For as little as $50, one can by a pistol, and perhaps a rifle. Sure, criminals get guns, and so do people with mental issues.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/member-british-parliament-shocked-seeing-021108475.html
About 40 years ago, the National Rifle Association, which had been up until that point mostly about safety and even regulation was taken over by extremists and it's remained a major roadblock for any regulation ever since.
 
  • #76
MarneMath said:
The author fix is captured, I think, in the second to last paragraph. It's essentially "more oversight". His premise is that since Police Officers are not held accountable, they have no real motivation to be more placid. His suggestion is to assign a special prosecutor to try excessive force cases, and secondly, he recommends external third party investigators instead of internal reviews when it comes to complaints.

That may be the case in some states but in NC during any officer involved shooting the officer is chargered with murder. If its a (good shoot) after the investigation is completed and if found to be a justifiable use of force then the charge is dropped. If not the officer goes to trial. I have seen officers fired for pepper spraying someone without good cause. Then again in NC we don't see a lot of OIS unless its justifiable, if sops are not followed then the state can be sued and the state hates lossing money.
 
  • #77
newjerseyrunner said:
About 40 years ago, the National Rifle Association, which had been up until that point mostly about safety and even regulation was taken over by extremists and it's remained a major roadblock for any regulation ever since.

Well the NRA doesn't make the law, they just are just lobbyist, you can thank greedy politicians for weak gun laws.
 
  • #78
256bits said:
he/she has, of workplace fatalities for 2010...
92% "he"
 
  • #79
gjonesy said:
What's not easy about co-operation?

If the ethos in a community for young males is to never cooperate with a cop, then cooperation is going to be difficult.

Easy or not, co-operate is what you DO if a cop tells you to do so. Don't like it? Cop's out of line (and I've met some)? Complain to his supervisor *later*, which often has consequences for the cop. That's how it has to be. The leadership of this country should be saying something like this at the outset of *every* conversation on the subject, instead of the years of knee jerk reaction to even the possibility of injustice on the part of police.
 
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  • #80
gjonesy said:
That may be the case in some states but in NC during any officer involved shooting the officer is chargered with murder. If its a (good shoot) after the investigation is completed and if found to be a justifiable use of force then the charge is dropped. If not the officer goes to trial. I have seen officers fired for pepper spraying someone without good cause. Then again in NC we don't see a lot of OIS unless its justifiable, if sops are not followed then the state can be sued and the state hates lossing money.
You're going to have to show me a law or memo that indicates those actions will be taken for me to actually believe that statement.
 
  • #81
MarneMath said:
The scenario presented in the video is more equivalent to a car rushing to a check point, I tell the person to stop and as they slow down ...
The suspect in the video repeatedly refused commands and retreated into the vehicle, escalating the potential threat, not reducing it by "slowing down." The better checkpoint analogy is attempting to maneuver around the stop.
 
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  • #82
Fair enough point. In regardless, of how right or wrong the victim was in their action. It's still inexcusable for an officer to lie about the course of action he took. I also find it the officer's demeanor, escalation of force, and general dismissal of this individual as a person to be inexcusable. I am simply arguing that the officer should have handled the event different. I'm pretty sure something as simple as asking these three questions could've involved this event entirely:

1. What's your name? (Which was asked).
2. May I see your id to verify?
3. Does xyz live at this address?

Instead, we have?

1. What's your name?
(Patrick)
2. What's your name?
(Response Patrick)
3.Get out of the car!
(What's this for? )
4. There's a warrant for your arrest!
(What I just saw my parole officer! Can I see the warrant)
5. GET OUT OF THE CAR!.

There were so many opportunities for this to be handled better, and if you feel that the officer acted correctly than perhaps that's the problem with police culture. To much latitude to be jerks.
 
  • #83
"Three Modest Propositions"

No longer invite into the White House any leaders whose affiliated members have marched chanting their desire to kill police officers (e.g., “What do we want? Dead cops” / “Pigs in a blanket; fry ’em like bacon”).

Do not consult with any self-appointed leader in the White House whose past has included overt and implicit calls to shoot police officers (e.g., Al Sharpton: “I believe in offing the pigs. Well, they got pigs out here. You ain’t offed one of them. What I believe in, I do. Do what you believe in. Or shut up and admit you’ve lost your courage and your guts to stand up”).

Do not invite into the White House any artists whose work has glorified the killing of officers of the criminal-justice system (e.g., Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly album, one of whose songs was dubbed by Obama as his favorite of 2015), whose cover depicts a group of African-American youth celebrating with champagne and cash on the White House lawn over the corpse of a white judge with his eyes X-ed out).

http://www.nationalreview.com/corne...ident-could-discourage-those-who-glorify-them
 
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  • #84
MarneMath said:
You're going to have to show me a law or memo that indicates those actions will be taken for me to actually believe that statement.

Look up nc general stautes at
ncleg.gov, do your own home work.
Frankly i really could careless what you believe.
 
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  • #85
micromass said:
As a European, this makes no sense at all. Here we very rarely have police officers killing civilians. What's the difference?
In the US, police officers killed in the line in 2015 was 130, with perhaps half of those not directly related to crime or suspicion of. In the UK (per Wiki and policememorial.org.uk), the recent figures are 2015 - 1, in 2014 - 0, in 2013 - 1, 2012 - 4, and so on. The US population is five times large as that of the UK, but it is still at least an order of magnitude more dangerous to be a cop in the US than in the UK (and perhaps Europe?).

I agree with the supposition that weapons may be similarly available to criminals in Europe. Contraband is difficult to stop. So I find myself looking elsewhere reasons. I'm inclined to credit the encouragement of lawlessness by government leadership and celebrities, a tendency to blame police first ("the police acted stupidly", apologies for Ferguson at the UN), and of a culture of disrespect for the police and the law (Occupy).
 
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  • #86
What really is astonishing to me is a total lack of any willingness on the part of some BLMers to even listen to Black officers.

I saw a picture of a black police officer wearing a whimsical tee shirt.

I will paraphrase what it actually said. Cops are here to protect an serve not to coddle, say pretty please or kiss your (edit) behind.

When belligerent uncooperative suspects insist on doing it (their way) and cops give into it, that's usually when cops either get hurt or get dead.

In fact if you believe in this cause and you want to make a difference here is a novel idea. If you are a law abiding citizen have a clean record go join the nearest local police force. Get trained and work this job a couple years. I guarantee your veiws will change, if you survive.
 
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  • #87
And the cycle of violence continues.

If we do not learn from our mistakes of the past, we will be doomed to repeat them. http://bluelivesmatter.blue/3-baton-rouge-police-officers-shot/
 
  • #88
gjonesy said:
Look up nc general stautes at
ncleg.gov, do your own home work.
Frankly i really could careless what you believe.

But you made a statement, you have to back it up. It's not about caring what someone else believes.

I've been following this discussion. I have a question: In the US, are you required by law to stop if a police officer asks you to stop so he can ask you questions (e.g. you're walking down the street and are intercepted by an officer), without having orders to arrest you?
What happens if you ask the officer if you are arrested, he says no and you just leave?
 
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  • #89
I spoke to a friend who is a district attorney about this awhile ago and based on my memory, stops tend to lumped into three themes.

1. An officer may approach anyone and ask you any questions. When an officer does not have articulable facts that would allow him/her to detain you or arrest you, then you are free to go. The side note is that the officer does not have to inform you that you are free to go. It is up to you, as in individual, to state that you do not wish to answer any questions and also ask if you are free to go.

2. Terry stops are stops where an officer believes you are going to commit a crime or have committed a crime. In these stops you are not allowed to go. At most you may be required to identify yourself. The law becomes a bit muddy here. While you may be required to vocally ID yourself, it's murky as to if you have to provide ID or written verification of whom you are.

3. Lastly we have an arrest. Again you are not free to go, but once again you required to ID yourself. Many states failure to ID yourself at this points does become a crime, even if it isn't in a Terry stop.
 
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  • #90
Cruz Martinez said:
But you made a statement, you have to back it up. It's not about caring what someone else believes.

I've been following this discussion. I have a question: In the US, are you required by law to stop if a police officer asks you to stop so he can ask you questions (e.g. you're walking down the street and are intercepted by an officer), without having orders to arrest you?
What happens if you ask the officer if you are arrested, he says no and you just leave?

Actually i did back it up, i told him exactly where to find that information.

This is general discussion if I am not mistaken. And I am not making any claim for any of the rest of the 48 states or other countries, just North Carolina because that is where i receive my training. The laws are easy to look up so i don't have to prove anything. They covered the Use of force continuum on the first week. And incase you aren't familiar with the US constitution it states that no one will be depribed of life, liberty or freedom without due process. Any officer involved shooting must be investigated. In my state there is no self defence law. Only justifiable use of force.

Feel free to look through all these statues. The laws on muder are pretty clear and a badge doesn't stop due process of law. A uniform, a badge and a sworn oath do not exempt officers from the law, infact it guarantees a charge and a investigation. Now i know people like to think police work is like they see in the movies and we can just shoot anyone any way we want for any reason. Its not like the movies. Police work is a bit more formal then that. And not quite that easy. In fact a police officer can get in way more trouble for a bad shooting then a civilian, we are trained, civilians aren't so we are held to a higher standard.

In north Carolina you have to stop but because of (blue light bandits) you can drive to the police department before you stop if its an unmarked vehicle. On the street if you are walking in the general vicinity of a crime or if someone calls the police and you are stopped they can (detain you) you have to define arrest, an arrest is when you are no longer free to go. A detention in lew of arrest means they hold you for a time period to make a determination of an offence, you aren't under arrest until it is established you have committed an offence. And it must be an arrestable offence otherwise you are ticketed and released.http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/Statutes/StatutesTOC.pl
 
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