Something has come to my attention recently that has made me wonder.
We regularly have "community activists" who like to stop and watch while we are on traffic stops. The vast majority of these people will park across the street, in a nearby parking lot, or some other place where they are unobtrusive. We always notice them, but they generally keep to themselves. I cannot hold it against these folks that they feel the need to watch us and be sure we aren't "violating anyone's civil rights", based upon some past contact, real or imagined, they have had with the police. They claim to be "unbiased observers".
One thing that does bother me, however, is that these folks only seem to show up when we have a black driver stopped. What message does that send? Are other "ethnicities" (there you go Hon...) somehow less entitled to the protection of an uninterested observer? Are white, Hispanic and Asian drivers less important?
Another thing I find rather curious, is that the vast majority of these "observers", who stop to watch when we have a black driver stopped, are white folks.
I often wonder what the thought process is behind this. Do they feel the need to make up for some slight they feel was perpetrated by their slave owning ancestors? Do they feel like they owe something to black people in particular, that they don't owe to anyone else? Do they just think we pick on black folks?
I don't know. And really, I don't care. It doesn't bother me that these folks observe our stops. I have absolutely nothing to hide from anyone. All of my stops are righteous. Watch me. Videotape me. Be the best witness I have when I find the guns and dope in the car, or when the driver decides to resist.
When I ask you for your video tape as evidence FOR me instead of AGAINST me, we'll see just how unbiased you are...
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11 comments:
We had an officer involved shooting a number of years ago involving a suspect with two edged weapons, wildly swinging them. He actually stabbed an officer in the chest (vest stopped the blade), but got him in the face on the downward arc. Another officer double-tapped him and put him down permanently.
A number of citizens (who usually come out of the woodwork when these things happen) were loudly proclaiming the suspect had been shot after he was handcuffed and face down on the ground. One citizen further claimed he had taken photos of the incident. Super! We seized his camera and turned it over to the agency assigned to investigate the shooting.
Wouldn't you know it - once the film was developed the fifteen photos proved conclusively the officers involved acted correctly and proved the claims of the witnesses were lies. The photos were so compelling that the federal judge hearing the subsequent civil suit simply tossed it out of court as baseless and took pains to point out the fact that the "star" witness was a liar.
Our white photographer, however, still sticks to his fraudulent claims about the shooting of the black suspect, even though he's been proved a liar. He even has his own "community activist" type website devoted to exposing "police misconduct" and trying to preserve his fifteen minutes of lying fame.
Maybe, just maybe, they aren't realy community activists... but opportunists looking for the next "greatest video" of police in action to sell to the tabloids or newsies for the highest bid. - Officer
Officer Smith,
I think it is called Liberal guilt.
Funny how the activists think they know how to do our jobs better than we do.
I really do hate this whole race card that people try to pull all the time. It gets SO old.
It's sick, actually.
When I ask you for your video tape as evidence FOR me instead of AGAINST me, we'll see just how unbiased you are...
do you plan on asking for the video before or after the cameraperson makes a copy?
David,
Of course, the cops want the videotape before a copy can be made so they can edit it & change it to what they want it to show, right? Is that what you're implying? You are one sick, annoying puppy...
Well, trust is a two way street, Ronjii. Would you trust the cameraperson to not erase the card?
Oh David. Your Paranoia on every subject is very boring. You always seem to be bleating on with such a closed mind. Does it worry you that you are becoming a bore?
Isn't there a significant chance these people are just nosy? We're all guilty of rubbernecking, so maybe these people just have a serious lack of self-control?
No, Nanny, I doubt it.
I have often seen the same people "observe" my stops, then when I finish, they approach the driver and ask if they can "talk with you for a minute".
You really get attuned to the difference between rubberneckers and "cop watchers" after a while.
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