Kinja reply list

Power corrupts. And absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Unless an until the incentive structures within police departments change, as long as deployment decisions remain unchanged, as long as funding streams are tied to the programming and outcomes they are currently tied to, as long as there is no real accountability or enforcement of criminal laws against officers, as long as retaliation for failing to tow the line and adhere to the blue wall remains the norm and unpunished, as long as policing remains the chosen profession for large numbers of white non-adjudicated juvenile delinquents, then an individual who wants to “do good” and expects to make a living as a police officer will still be limited by all of these things.

And, if someone really is an ‘activist’ and seriously wants to fight against the injustices perpetrated by the criminal justice system (vs. just a “good” person who would just not otherwise be inclined to act in those ways) then I would imagine going to work in a place filled with people who embody what you are against and being forced to enforce and comply with policies that you vehemently disagree with but are powerless to change would be pretty soul crushing. Plus you have limitless power and a “brotherhood” that encourages bad conduct more than good conduct in a lot of ways, which I am sure leads to eventual power-tripping. Ditto prosecutors’ offices for the most part—as a low-level DA you are not making the policy decisions that you want to be able to make and to get ahead you will have to do a lot of things that you disagree with because of the incentives and ways that your performance is judged.

The systems need to be completely overhauled, you can’t just throw a few alright folks in there and expect a significant difference.

Plus this way the white cops don’t have to feel nervous about a black cop ratting on them out on patrol.

win-win!

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Schmoopie4: The Long Road Back.Not Enough Day Drinking
2/07/17 10:20pm
Why take a dump on this post? He seems like the kind of cop that should be used as an example for the ideal police officer.
Also: “The Tulsa police department is hiring. If you believe that change is required, please join the department and be the change that you are seeking.”
I’ve always wondered why more activists don’t do just that, and actively try to recruit a different kind of cop to join the police and be better than the current status quo.
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GirlwithNoName64Schmoopie4: The Long Road Back.
2/08/17 1:05am
Power corrupts. And absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Unless an until the incentive structures within police departments change, as long as deployment decisions remain unchanged, as long as funding streams are tied to the programming and outcomes they are currently tied to, as long as there is no real accountability or enforcement of criminal laws against officers, as long as retaliation for failing to tow the line and adhere to the blue wall remains the norm and unpunished, as long as policing remains the chosen profession for large numbers of white non-adjudicated juvenile delinquents, then an individual who wants to “do good” and expects to make a living as a police officer will still be limited by all of these things.
And, if someone really is an ‘activist’ and seriously wants to fight against the injustices perpetrated by the criminal justice system (vs. just a “good” person who would just not otherwise be inclined to act in those ways) then I would imagine going to work in a place filled with people who embody what you are against and being forced to enforce and comply with policies that you vehemently disagree with but are powerless to change would be pretty soul crushing. Plus you have limitless power and a “brotherhood” that encourages bad conduct more than good conduct in a lot of ways, which I am sure leads to eventual power-tripping. Ditto prosecutors’ offices for the most part—as a low-level DA you are not making the policy decisions that you want to be able to make and to get ahead you will have to do a lot of things that you disagree with because of the incentives and ways that your performance is judged.
The systems need to be completely overhauled, you can’t just throw a few alright folks in there and expect a significant difference.