LogFAQs > #941041642

Conflict posted...

"If you called 911 and needed help, how would you like it if no one was there for you?"

I hate arguments like that. Nobody is arguing that law enforcement isn't needed. The problem is that bad officers are protected by the union, fellow officers, prosecutors, judges, and sometimes even the laws themselves. Apparently the official police report for George Floyd's death stated that there was a "medical issue", with no mention made of one cop murdering him while several others enabled the behavior. To say nothing of the people who get framed for crimes or arrested for things that aren't actually crimes. The public never hears about most cases of misconduct, and even with they do, officers are hardly ever punished. When the are, the punishments are light and the police in general are indignant that there was any punishment of a fellow officer at all.

That just isn't how things should be. Nothing about the job of being a cop necessitates any of this BS protection they get. American soldiers in war zones constantly risk debilitating injury and loss of life, and they are held to far higher standards of conduct than police are. And when soldiers do mess up, military justice is harsher than regular criminal justice. There is no reason for this to not be the case for police too.

I legitimately don't understand the pro-police perspective with regards to reform. Who the hell wants to live in a world where police can do whatever they like to you with impunity? If your mentor or friend or spouse is a cop and you support them because they are good people, great! By getting rid of ridiculous police powers and protection, the good cops will no longer be forced to choose between having a job and saving someone from being murdered or having evidence planted and losing years of life for nothing. Any good cop that doesn't agree with huge police reforms either isn't really a good person, or has been fortunate enough to never see police corruption ruin lives. There is no downside for good cops if strong police reforms get passed, because it can only make being a good person easier.

Once we get done reforming police, we can start on the corrupt judges and prosecutors. Sensible laws to eliminate minor crimes and unclog the prisons and courts would be sweet too. It's time to make America great again...for real this time OK? There is no reason our country has to look like this.