Recent content by thomas pendrake

There are frequent cases in which police have a warrant for the house on the next block, read a number wrong, et c. Police also claim make-believe exigent circumstances, hallucinatory probable causes, or just plain mess ups. They need to always be held responsible for damages, lest they just...

Some officers have the idea that they are the law and we have to do whatever they say. I would say "big egos", but the fact is that this sort of behavior stems from defective, insecure egos. The right to be secure in our homes is an intrinsic part of out basic rights. This sounds like many...

At least start your formal education. The longer you postpone it, the harder it will be to get started. This also allows you to investigate the LEO opportunities available to you. Also, it keeps you from getting stuck in a bottom-rung track. Sometimes it is hard to work your way up from the...

This does not represent any lowering of educational requirements. It is true that advanced education programs, even academic programs have become common. Most larger cities require graduation from a departmental police academy, and I believe many states now have certification requirements that...

I would like to refer you to this article from late 2014 regarding a lowering of max IQ for St, Louis Missouri LOWERING the max allowed IQ for officers. Note how close this is to Ferguson, where a recent police killing of an unarmed person has received much attention. It does mention the 1996...

It probably is different in your country. In a nation with limited opportunities, police officers would likely be people who are "above average", but in other "advanced" countries police work would appeal to many people not as likely to pursue high-end jobs. The popularity of police tv shows...

The 18th amendment established organized crime as a significant force in America. When it was repealed, Marijuana prohibition was established to save police jobs, help organized crime thrive, and protect Randolph Hearst's newsprint monopoly. Other drug prohibitions were enacted to protect...

I'm surprised by the fact that this thread has been up for so long, and no one has commented. I hope that the situation has long been resolved. At the very least, a formal complaint should be filed. Is this business unionized? I suspect not. If you do not get an immediate positive response...

I am pleased to see that so many people agree that better techniques need to be employed. I don't think that there is necessarily a rash of police killings, just more awareness. Some people seem to think that racial prejudice has increased since President Obama was elected. I think that the...

As I mentioned above, rules are sometimes put into place for immoral reasons. For instance, several states have enacted voting rules clearly designed to prevent some groups from voting. They claim that it is designed to prevent people not entitled to vote from voting, but the rules are designed...

Sometimes a law or rule can be bad, even evil. I have no trouble remembering "Jim Crow" and similar laws, so don't try to tell me that all laws should be followed. And just think about some of the laws in some other countries. I try to do what I know is moral.

Of course, when an officer lets personal anger or pride (do what I say, don't question me.....) it can cause problems, but I am talking about the basic techniques used being dangerous. Some jurisdictions allow what I was taught in the Army as a kill take-down (we called it a rear stranglehold...

In the last few months there have been at least two well publicized deaths resulting from dangerous take-down techniques being used by police officers, in both cases for minor infractions. The case of Eric Garner involved what I was taught in the Army as a killing technique, the rear...

Re: Article: Missouri town responds to officer exodus after election of black female If no one ever saw them, my question is, did they check the donut shop? Probably they were afraid that they would actually have to do something. What kind of experience did the local "black" population have...

How about the red two-door that the under-cover deputy who ran into my bicycle was driving? I guess he was a bit embarrassed. I once delivered a pizza to a house with the instructions "look for my husband's unmarked police car out front." Around here the police like to use cars they have...