Before you read any further, watch the above video – it’s important to know what I’m talking about to understand this post.
This tape is from March 19 in Meriden, Connecticut.
Now, the Internet is abundant with videos of cops beating people, and people wishing death on cops, and going on and on about what assholes cops are and what gives them the right, and on and on ad nauseum.
Here’s a simple solution – don’t resist!
I’m a big believer in personal freedoms and civil rights, but with those freedoms and rights come accountability for ones actions. I’m not saying that a Rodney King situation is justifiable or deserved, or anything like that. What I am saying is if you don’t want the cops to treat you with hostility and aggression, don’t be hostile and aggressive!
It’s that simple.
Did this nozzle get what he deserved? Not really for me to say. What I understand from the video is that he was running from the cops, they rammed his car to stop him, and repeatedly asked him to stop resisting (a request he can clearly be seen ignoring).
Again, I’m not saying the cop was justified, but I’m certainly not condemning his actions, either.
Consider it from the cops’ point of view – they have no idea what they’re gonna find in that car. All they know is that the dude is running from them. Hell, they don’t even know why he’s running. Could be he’s got drugs in the car. Could be he’s got a gun. Could be he’s an ex-con that just did 20 for aggravated homicide. They don’t have any way of knowing how dangerous the situation they’re approaching is, or even if they’ll make it out alive.
According to PoliceMag.com, there were 181 officers killed in the line of duty in 2008. I can only imagine what goes through an officers head at the beginning of a chase that ends like this one. “Am I going to be next” or something along those lines has gotta be right up there with “will I make it home tonight to see my wife and kids?”
I’ve been in the company (usually not by choice) of plenty of officers that were dicks, and I’ve had my share of friendly and understanding ones as well. I’ll tell you what, though – I’ve never even come close to an officer striking me, and it’s because I am polite and cordial, even when asserting my rights, and even when I think the officer is flat-out wrong. The moral of the story is pretty simple, really. Don’t be a dick and you won’t get treated like one.
March 27th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Amen. I understand why people get freaked out about abuse of police power, and that does happen, but at the very least, if you act respectfully and cooperate, there is almost zero chance that you will get roughed up. If we had to put up with what cops witness on a regular basis, especially in violent neighborhoods, I think many of us couldn’t take it. So if I meet an asshole cop, I respect the badge and position and not the man. I have yet to hear a convincing argument against that logic.