The police can’t police themselves. And now the public is too scared to cooperate with them.

[damnedifIknow]

When Feidin Santana recorded Walter Scott’s murder, his first thought was fear of reprisal from police. In an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, Santana said he was tempted to delete the video and move for his own safety. Though he ultimately gave the video to Scott’s family, who then turned it over to the press, he still fears reprisals. Like Scott’s family, Santana didn’t trust the police to do the right thing with the evidence, and why should he? He saw an officer, Michael Slager, shoot an unarmed man in the back, plant evidence on the body and stand calmly as fellow officers arrived at the scene and did nothing to help the dying man on the ground. "

*Whether the example is the Burge torture case in Chicago that spanned nine years of police brutality with 110 documented victims, the decision of Atlanta officers to posthumously frame 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston after she was killed during a botched “no knock” drug raid, or the bizarre attempt to frame Marcus Jeter for crimes he didn’t commit during a traffic stop in New Jersey, there’s no shortage of examples around the country that abuse of police power can happen anywhere. Factor in the Rampart scandal in Los Angeles, proof that officers with the New York Police Department planted drugs on suspects, recent Justice Department reports illustrating widespread problems with excessive force and biased policing in Ferguson, Mo., Cleveland and Seattle, and it becomes clear why Mr. Santana didn’t feel he could trust the police. "

*Despite the physical harm done to victims of police misconduct, and the high financial cost of lawsuits for taxpayers, there is very little being done to curb the problem.

Police unions have a long history of fighting against corrective measures in ways that range from near riots to work stoppages. As a result, investigations of misconduct are often conducted by members of the same police department. These internal units are theoretically separate from the rest of the force, but members went to the same police academy, served in the same precincts, and are not exactly the unbiased objective investigators that would be needed. "

http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/04/10/the-police-cant-police-themselves-and-now-the-public-is-too-scared-to-cooperate-with-them/

[johnnysad]

1. I don't blame him for being scared

He just turned evidence in on a violent gang member

[damnedifIknow]

2. I don't blame him either for being scared

He did the right thing though even at the risk of his own personal safety and that fits the definition of true bravery in my book.

[awoke_in_2003]

6. yep

Like turning in info on Capone. At least the mafia dealt with just the informer and left the family alone.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. And what is also a disgrace is that

many municipalities (notably the bigger cities) end up paying out millions of tax payer money each year to settle cases of false arrest and other egregious behavior carried out by the bad apples in their law enforcement community. So everyone loses.

[kimbutgar]

4. I now feel uneasy when I see cops

After 9-11 they became "heroes" instead of public servants there to protect citizens and it went to their heads.

I was next to a police car a couple of days ago and for the first time viewed them as enemies. I felt real ashamed of my feelings. I was a PAL cadet in high school, my uncle was a police commander. My cousin is sergeant for the SF Police and he's a good guy. I even dated a couple of police men when I was single but now I feel uncomfortable when I see them.

[Thespian2]

5. K & R

I have friends and relatives who are in law enforcement. I still fear the American police.

[blackspade]

7. He has every right to be scared.

Who wouldn't with a bunch of armed maniacs walking 'the beat.'