police (mis)conduct

[drewkitty]

I've had called to my attention (online) three separate incidents that involved police use of force. My opinions have sharply differed from the majority view.



1) Police officer shoots man who beat tot to death. (Rural road outside Turlock, CA)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/17/national/main4187588.shtml

Majority view: bystanders should have done more to stop the killer.

My view: most bystanders are neither trained nor equipped nor mentally prepared to do what is necessary to stop a deadly aggressor of this type. "Shall issue" concealed carry in California might have saved this toddler's life.

2) Campus police officer arrests popular teacher for interfering with tow of her car. (San Jose, CA, SJSU)

http://media.www.thespartandaily.com/media/storage/paper852/news/2008/03/04/News/Dispute.Over.Upd.Incident-3249889.shtml

Majority view: poor teacher beaten on by the mean cop.

My view: justified use of force.

3) Custody officer beats transgender person with handcuffs, incident caught on tape. (Memphis, TN)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25265517/

Majority view: cops should do time in jail. Custody nurse withheld aid. Discrimination against transsexuals.

My view: cops should be fired. Beatings are illegal regardless of who is the target and why. Custody nurse did her job.



Additional links will require some use of Google-fu. I read several links on each incident and feel that I have a good grasp of the details.

Any comments?

Comments

[rue-gingertabby.livejournal.com]

Incident #1: I agree with Aketnu...people should be more capable than they are. However, I have seen that society today has been trying to "weed out" the individualists that might have been able to stop or even prevent such a tragedy.

Incident #2: As for the hysterical teacher, most peace officers are not know for exaggerating the truth(it could mean their job). Peace officers have to report the facts as they occur(did occur) in order to have an accurate report. The teacher was probably hysterical and like most teachers under a great amount of stress. That does not give her the right to act inappropriately. The officers were doing their job.

Incident #3: The jail nurse has a moral obligation to help the injured regardless of if they have committed a crime or not.
Use of force in this episode was way beyond the law. I find it reprehensible that these officers used their authority wrongly. They, at the very least should be fired, if not criminally prosecuted.

[ihuitl.livejournal.com]

Continuing #1:

Some of it is also a society that expects the government to handle all of its problems, and employees of that government constantly imploring the public to "let the professionals handle it" or "don't be a hero".

I am a firm believer in public service...but does it have to be 'official' and paid to be valid? I say nay.

[rue-gingertabby.livejournal.com]

Very good point.