A Fighter Pilot, Political Science Prof and Author with Opinions and a Weird Streak
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Where Do We Get Such Men?
The title question usually is asked with regard to heroes. Here it is asked about these jack-booted thugs. Can you see disorder or a threat from these folks? Is it worth a SWAT response? Did they feel good about themselves that night?
3 comments:
Anonymous
said...
The question is....any Oathkeepers in the SWAT team or LEO's that day? If so they got some explaining to do.....
A couple of points FWIW. I'm pretty sure that's not a SWAT team, just patrol officers in riot gear. No, it's not necessarily better. I guarantee those officers didn't want to be there any more than the Tea partiers wanted them to be there. That was a command decision to stage those officers. A very poor one. It was a show of force that was completely out of proportion to the situation. I am persoinally ashamed of their actions. If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times. If you want to exercise control of your local PD you MUST be involved in local politics. The selection of Chief Officers (and subsequently that Chief's promotions within the organization) is done by City or County councils. The exception is most Sheriffs who are elected. City and County councils (or City Managers is some cases, especially here in california)exercise control over the local departments, including police. Elections of Mayors and councilmen is critical to control of all departments, including police. Get involved. Go on ride alongs and get to know your officers and let them get to know you. If your PD has a Citizens Academy, attend. If not, go to a council meeting and ask why not. I have organized and taught Citizens Academies and they're a fantastic tool for police/community relations. If anyone wants to know how to start one, contact me and I'll tell you. Citizen complaint letters work better than you might think. Be calm, be polite and be specific. Most departments take serious ones seriously, especially those directed at command staff actions. Know who your council person is and their phone numbers. Lighting political fires is in response to police overreacting can be effective. Chiefs hate finding themselves in the Mayor's office on Monday morning answering tough questions. It's not enough to complain, we all must get involved and stay involved.
3 comments:
The question is....any Oathkeepers in the SWAT team or LEO's that day? If so they got some explaining to do.....
A couple of points FWIW.
I'm pretty sure that's not a SWAT team, just patrol officers in riot gear. No, it's not necessarily better.
I guarantee those officers didn't want to be there any more than the Tea partiers wanted them to be there.
That was a command decision to stage those officers. A very poor one.
It was a show of force that was completely out of proportion to the situation. I am persoinally ashamed of their actions.
If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times. If you want to exercise control of your local PD you MUST be involved in local politics. The selection of Chief Officers (and subsequently that Chief's promotions within the organization) is done by City or County councils. The exception is most Sheriffs who are elected. City and County councils (or City Managers is some cases, especially here in california)exercise control over the local departments, including police. Elections of Mayors and councilmen is critical to control of all departments, including police. Get involved.
Go on ride alongs and get to know your officers and let them get to know you. If your PD has a Citizens Academy, attend. If not, go to a council meeting and ask why not. I have organized and taught Citizens Academies and they're a fantastic tool for police/community relations. If anyone wants to know how to start one, contact me and I'll tell you.
Citizen complaint letters work better than you might think. Be calm, be polite and be specific. Most departments take serious ones seriously, especially those directed at command staff actions. Know who your council person is and their phone numbers. Lighting political fires is in response to police overreacting can be effective. Chiefs hate finding themselves in the Mayor's office on Monday morning answering tough questions.
It's not enough to complain, we all must get involved and stay involved.
Ed,
You missed the best part.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2tKIBlTC6c&feature=player_embedded
Watch the pitiful job they did "marching" in.
A "Mack Sennett moment"
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