Off Topix: Embrace the Unexpected in Every Discussion
Off Topix is a well established general discussion forum that originally opened to the public way back in 2009! We provide a laid back atmosphere and our members are down to earth. We have a ton of content and fresh stuff is constantly being added. We cover all sorts of topics, so there's bound to be something inside to pique your interest. We welcome anyone and everyone to register & become a member of our awesome community.
Do you trust the police?
- Thread starter Daltonio
- Start date
Honestly, I don't know if I truly do. It's hard given what's going on these days and what I've seen. I feel fearful of them truthfully speaking. The actions of some don't reflect an entire department, but those some seem to be painting a very bad image at least in my eyes.
Not even the police in my family trusts the police.
So aside from them, HELL NO.
So aside from them, HELL NO.
I know many people who are police officers, they're fine people, most of my family were either in the service or in the police force, so I have nothing against them per se, HOWEVER, there are most definitely bad actors in the bunch that need to be weeded out and dismissed.
Yeah it's hard to stay objective if you know some cops because they're always nice to you not arresting you or beating you up etc but always remember that their loyalty is to their gang the police force and you're only seeing their nice side not what they do to others they don't like...like protesters etc the police are trained to hurt them not be reasonable with them...
None of that is accurate. I've seen behind the thin blue line, I know how they train, I know how they operate and I know their attitude in more common terms. They're nothing like the people you outline. There are some, of course, who are bad people in a position they shouldn't hold, but more often than not they out themselves and get the punishment they deserve.
We're just going to have to agree to disagree here because there is just too much evidence that police culture is toxic and is about them being above the law...the George Floyd murder is just the tip of the iceberg only being exposed not only because of the video evidence but because the majority just don't accept police culture explanations and excuses anymore...the Rodney King video was bad enough but too many weren't fed up like the rioters and still gave the police the benefit of the doubt...I'm sure some aren't bad like you say but they are the small minority always being bullied out by all the bad cops...
Police culture has evolved since both of those incidents. Bad things still happen, of course they do, but again, the bad is the MINORITY, not the majority.
Like I said I don't buy it when after George Floyd there still literally weekly reports of police culture not changing they just trying to sell their narrative to the public because they don't want to be defunded or abolished and they want to continue to trick the public into continuing to post y their wages and fund their toxic culture forever...
Look, I think we need a civil force to deal with criminal activity that impacts us. You're not going to use the army to hunt serial killers, for instance.
So I am all for having police.
However, as things currently stand, many of our police forces are seriously messed up. There needs to be an overhaul of the rules and improved oversight. In some cases, there might need to wholesale replacement of existing boards and leadership.
For instance, police should not be investigating police. Ontario, where I live, does have a civilian agency that investigates all incidents of injuries and deaths involving police so that's a start. It has problems (such as relying on retired cops as investigators in some cases) but at least the investigations aren't under the control of local chiefs or police boards. Of course, the local authorities and police unions don't like the SIU (as it is called) but that's exactly why we need it.
So do I trust the cops? On a personal level, sure. But I'm a white, middle-class, straight-presenting, cismale who acknowledges the privilege that comes with that. If I was Black, or homeless, or trans, I would not trust them as far as I could throw them. Our local cops have picked up a few black marks in recent years, including their horrible mishandling of a case where a local trans activist and influencer was doxxed and had her gear seized by the local cops (whereas when the Toronto police received the same false information, they warned her rather than acting on it). Oh, and they misgendered and deadnamed her to boot. There's also allegations of female prisoners being harassed and sexually assaulted in their holding facility.
So I am all for having police.
However, as things currently stand, many of our police forces are seriously messed up. There needs to be an overhaul of the rules and improved oversight. In some cases, there might need to wholesale replacement of existing boards and leadership.
For instance, police should not be investigating police. Ontario, where I live, does have a civilian agency that investigates all incidents of injuries and deaths involving police so that's a start. It has problems (such as relying on retired cops as investigators in some cases) but at least the investigations aren't under the control of local chiefs or police boards. Of course, the local authorities and police unions don't like the SIU (as it is called) but that's exactly why we need it.
So do I trust the cops? On a personal level, sure. But I'm a white, middle-class, straight-presenting, cismale who acknowledges the privilege that comes with that. If I was Black, or homeless, or trans, I would not trust them as far as I could throw them. Our local cops have picked up a few black marks in recent years, including their horrible mishandling of a case where a local trans activist and influencer was doxxed and had her gear seized by the local cops (whereas when the Toronto police received the same false information, they warned her rather than acting on it). Oh, and they misgendered and deadnamed her to boot. There's also allegations of female prisoners being harassed and sexually assaulted in their holding facility.
Makes sense.
A recent example of apparent racism: Black athlete pulled over over an assumption of cannabis in car https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66937794
Well that's your opinion but I'm willing to take my chances abolishing the police to try anything else for awhile like Peacekeepers that don't arrest/investigate/police us...or just me protecting myself with guns or whatever...
I believe we need a standardization of law enforcement. Some areas have good police who are required to have a college education, go through various different training, and handle things situation by situation. Where as in other areas you got cops who don't know the law that they are enforcing, have multiple issues that get swept under the rug, cops who get fired but then rehired elsewhere, and who abuse their power. Until standardization happens I can understand why some people trust their police less than others.
Don't you think policing is already pretty much standardized already...? I mean police culture is pretty much standardized worldwide in my opinion...simply put not killing or harming people is the assumption but the facts are that in most countries the police brutalizing people are the norm not the exception...the whole culture of policing is the problem the whole idea that one group of people get to impose and inforce things upon the rest is the very problem...the idea that laws keep people safe is foolish as if people will suddenly go crazy if laws didn't exist...anyways for anyone still too scared to imagine a world without police and without laws just remember that the police and governments are human beings just like us so why hand over your safety and security and tax dollars to others to rule over and police you when we are also human beings equal to the task of protecting our own safety and security ourselves so don't be so negligent and lazy with something so important as our own freedom...
And what’s worse, inadequate vetting leading to recruits with a prior criminal history.
Agreed, the Scottish police were found to be institutionally racist.
New Police Scotland chief agrees force is institutionally racist
Chief constable Jo Farrell intends to drive "an anti-discriminatory agenda" at Police Scotland.
www.bbc.co.uk
No, I don't.
