The week before last, I attended and taught at the annual conference of ILEETA, the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. Despite the economy, the event drew some 725 police trainers from around the country and several other nations, even though a huge number had to subsidize their attendance out of their own pockets.
It is a horrible year for police line of duty deaths. This past weekend alone, at least three cops in different parts of the US were murdered in the line of duty. Much of the emphasis of this year’s training was on Officer Safety and Survival.
The general consensus of police, military, and national intelligence is that it’s only a matter of time before this nation experiences an incident reminiscent of Beslan or Mumbai: armed, trained, committed terrorists massacring the innocent with automatic weapons and explosives. My old friend Jeff Chudwin, Chief of Police in Olympia Fields, Illinois and one of the nation’s leading authorities on such things, gave a compelling presentation on the topic.
At a time when we need more, better-trained and -equipped cops than ever, we’re seeing police layoffs, hiring freezes, and budget cuts. Many of the presenters addressed how to deliver quality training with less money for equipment, ammunition, and pay for officers attending.
For the private citizen, what all this is saying is to be prepared for disaster. Remember Hurricane Katrina, just six short years ago. In a nation where there are only about 800,000 cops to serve an estimated 320,000,000 citizens, it’s absolutely true that when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
On a personal note, I shot the annual ILEETA Cup pistol match, sponsored by Meggitt, providers of excellent high-tech training simulators. We had close to fifty seasoned instructors and master shooters in the running, including Chris Cerino, finalist on last year’s “Top Shot” TV show. It was a challenging Meggitt course that represented targets as far away as about fifty yards, some of them moving, on the computer-run event. I had the good fortune to win it, proving the old adage that even a blind squirrel finds an occasional acorn. With only time to shoot four matches in the first four months of this year, I was grateful for the outcome…but more grateful for the chance to recharge my batteries with the spirit of commitment my 725 brothers and sisters brought to the ILEETA conference.
Jeff Chudwin warns that it’s only a matter of time before Beslan and Mumbai scenarios are acted out in the USA by enemies of our country.
Ron Borsch’s research shows that mass murders in the US are generally ended by private citizens (sometimes armed, often not) or by single, first responding police officers.
2011 ILEETA Cup pistol shooting award. From left, Jimmy McCoy of Meggit LE Training Section, Jimmy Smith of ILEETA, Mas, and ILEETA executive director Harvey Hedden.
“The general consensus of police, military, and national intelligence is that it’s only a matter of time before this nation experiences an incident reminiscent of Beslan or Mumbai: armed, trained, committed terrorists massacring the innocent with automatic weapons and explosives.”
I’d say VASTLY more likely is an exponential-level expansion of what’s *now* happening – large numbers of unconnected *individual* habitual criminals, lacking ideological motivation but no longer bought off into reasonable good behavior as the economy collapses, taking it out on the first authority figure they can!
You see a common pattern in the incidents in the past 12 months in which someone shot one or more officers: long criminal record, no ideology or even pretense of an ideology driving their actions – and all taking place in an economy in which any convicted felon like these guys has essentially zero chance at a decent job that would keep him stable and on the path to a decent future.
Saw the HBO documentary “Terror In Mumbai” a while back, which not only discussed the event in detail but featured exclusive audio tapes of the intercepted phone calls between the terrorists and their handlers back in Pakistan, along with an interview of the lone surviving gunman. I would recommend this to anyone who wants an idea of what it must have been like to be at ground zero that day. Or perhaps Chief Chudwin knows of an even better resource.
The way that the law enforcement in the US of A have been acting in the past number of years , THEY will be the target not citizens
Considering that these people have operators here already and are almost openly operational in South America, I’d say they have both a plan and a timetable.
But it’s alright, dear leader and his friends will save us! Right after he consults with the Bushes regarding ignoring what intelligence we do have. But then maybe I’m being too harsh. Maybe that information never reached them…. Which is a whole new set of problems.
quote:”For the private citizen, what all this is saying is to be prepared for disaster. Remember Hurricane Katrina, just six short years ago.”
Lest we forget; it was the POLICE going door to door disarming those same private citizens.
As an ex leo, I just do not see the reason for the elitism that I see.
This “us” vs “them” needs a better definition!
Given the extreme shortages of police officers, budget crises and the fact that we are facing grave terrorist threats, why aren’t more efforts made to create and recruit for Reserve Officer programs? Most municipalities don’t even have Reserve forces, and of those that do, they sure don’t go out of their way to encourage participation.
It seems to me there are many men and women in their 30’s, 40’s and beyond who feel compelled to “give back” a bit and volunteer in various ways for their community. Imagine how police presence could be expanded by establishing Reserve programs in all police forces. Not only would on-duty forces be increased, but “off-duty” officer numbers could be doubled, or even tripled.
What are your thoughts Mas?
I think the police trainers are paranoid and looking for ways to expand their reach and power, I don;t believe their rantings for a minute.
I also agree with Richard, the way the police have been treating the people the last several years is inexcusable. I am all for laying off more police, we don’t need them and they have proven themselves to be more of an occupying army than the protectors of the innocent they claim to be. Sad that they have turned out this way, I used to respect the police and I no longer do.
Sir,
I really hope you can use your influence in the Law Enforcement circles to bring cops back to what they should be.
We the people are getting angry with Cops who are above the Law.
When I read, “Remember Hurricane Katrina, just six short years ago” memories flashed through my head of an old American woman being brutally disarmed by a California Highway Patrol officer who volunteered his services for the storm. The illegal confiscation of hundred personal firearms by the National Guardsmen and local LEO’s from American citizens that even today have not all been all accounted for. The murders of the American people on the bridge by police officers, who just last month they were finally convicted of.
No, Mr. Ayoob, I am not proud of the police officers we have today. I am fearful of them which is not the way we should live in America. They are armed to max like SWAT teams and almost totally militarized in appearance and mannerisms. Law enforcement needs a total overhaul starting with the BATFE and the TSA.
Considering the behavior of the police during Kartrina, they are the last I would look to for protection.
I agree that a small arms attack is a likely tactic we will face. Especially as standard active shooter doctrine has our LEOs entering situations piecemeal at least until they realize they are not dealing with the average active shooter.
Congrats on your win in the match Mas!
Another Beslan, or Mumbai ? You know it’ll happen, every Sheepdog does. But the concept is too much for the sheep to warp their heads around so they protect themselves from the inevitable by denying it can happen .
And few of the bureaucrats who hold the staffing and training budget purse-strings are sheepdogs…
Congrats on the win , Mas. Yes ,I too think it’s only a mater of time before TSHTF. I saw on the news (fox of course, as the rest think all is well) more terrorist crap is being found along the border much like you blogged about almost a year ago. I would hope the admin is preparing but I fear they have their heads in the sand.
True enough! Here in the southwest (New Mexico and Arizona) it can be more like hours, not minutes! Distances between even small towns can be 50 miles or more of uninhabited open space. Self-reliance is the ONLY option!
As far as winning the cup and the “blind squirrel” comment, I don’t buy that for a second! One day, when you are REALLY old, you may go blind and then the luck story might work. But for now, those of us who know you would use the Waylon Jenning adage: “old age and treachery always overcomes youth and skill!”
As Richard said above, there have been so many cops videoed in the last year, beating down civilians who had already surrendered, beating down unarmed people, retarded men ( like the one in LA who was doing nothing but standing on a corner ) beating down the girl in an Atlanta restaurant the other day, after slapping her across the face – examples abound, including the one where the cop shot the black man in the back after he had already been subdued and cuffed on a train platform = the internet shows hundreds of these events. SO -most citizens are more in danger of harm from power crazed cops than derka derka tangoes.
And these are not isolated incidents. So if TSHTF and the police need help, do you think that citizens who have watched them assaulting people on a whim, are likely to come to their aid? Anyone in law enforcement should remember that every time one of them does some sadistic SS type exhibition, that adds another hundred people to the list of those who do not trust or respect the whole profession.
If the cops want their good reputation back, then instead of closing ranks and protecting the sadists, they need to get them out of the profession.
Maybe these same Peace… Law Enforcement Officers, should start, as loudly as they can, advocating open and concealed carry without a permission slip from the government? After all, who should know better than anyone else that our “gun laws” have not and do not prevent criminals from carrying and using guns. And in a worse case scenario as mentioned in the article, those gun laws will not hinder terrorists from committing such an event. But you can rest assured, that the citizens who are caught up in it, will not have the means to protect themselves in such scenario and will be nothing more than sheep at a slaughter.
Of course, when we hear of police officers and Chiefs talking about getting guns off the streets and tougher gun laws … you get the sense that they could care less whether or not citizens would be killed, unarmed, in such an event.
“The general consensus of police, military, and national intelligence is that it’s only a matter of time before this nation experiences an incident reminiscent of Beslan or Mumbai: armed, trained, committed terrorists massacring the innocent with automatic weapons and explosives.”
Bovine Excrement! Unless they are refering to our own police and military as the aforementioned terrorists. Or perhaps they are refering to the actual citizens of this country once we finally decide to end the corruption and filth of our own government and rise up to replace it.
Sadly it seems that the consensus is “more cops”. The only person that can protect ME is me. I would hope the only cops getting killed are the ones who are no longer protected by the law due to their felonious actions. It is not to hard to check out youtube and see cops beating the public and usurping their “power”. The supreme court in all its stupidity has done the public a favor and ruled that cops have no duty to protect the public at large. The responsibility of police is one, to investigate crime, and two, arrest criminals. Fortunately this ruling is designed to tie the hands of the stazi, sorry I mean cops. A criminal is one who has enough evidence, in writing, emphasis on the in writing, to draw a warrant for their arrest. Did I mention in writing. To the criminal justice system that usually means a “warrant”. So in conclusion good luck on your criminal exploits. I have every intention to defend myself against corrupt cops. Please don’t forget that “ignorance” is not a legal defense.
More cops?
Give me a break. With the present batch on the force these days I’d actually feel better with LESS cops. I can take responsibility for my own safety thank you.
And the part about Katrina? As one comment mentioned the cops were the ones taking peoples firearms away, thank you so much.
I agree with many of the comments…’Katrina’ is a black-mark for ‘the police’ and about the worst ‘what-if’ example of recent years.
But my question is: What kind of “year” – since it’s supposedly such a “horrible year” for police getting shot in the line of duty – for “us” innocents? How many of “us” have been shot &/or terrorized by identical cops in-the-line-of-no-knock-raid ‘duty’ (and other just-because-I-can power-wielding-duty)???
Bet it’s more – but even if it’s not, seems to me when you go into a ‘line’ of work where it’s a given that you’ll deal with crime & hence criminals, the possibility of getting shot goes-with, yes?
I expect that when such an event occurs, it will be in New York, of New Jersey or Illinois or some other state that has essentially disarmed the populous. If open carry were the law of the land, there would be no such attacks since it would be met with overwhelming force as such things are in Israel.
Something to think about. According to the medicos, a man can remain conscious and active up to 45 seconds AFTER their heart has stopped. Imagine how much damage even one man with an AK could cause in the food court of a mall on a Saturday in that time frame. Now imagine a half dozen armed loonies (anybody who wants to spend eternity with 72 women is a nut case in my opinion) going through a crowded mall in one of the aforementioned states. With enough ammo, they could conceivably kill MORE people than the four teams of hijackers did on 9/11. Now imagine the same guys going active in a state where even a few carry openly or concealed.
http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21004171567351/
http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Broward-judge-ordered-by-deputies-come-out-with-your-hands-up-120755199.html
stories like this are what make me the most nervous – while i like and respect many officers in our local area – the increased militarization of law enforcment and an often proportionately similar increase of their disrespect for the everyday citizen is the most worrying thing.
sure for an armed attack like a mumbai – yes we need swat style response and tactics- but now it seems they send out swat teams for elderly grandmothers running stop signs. for comparison – just watch the new orleans katrina disarming of the elderly woman in her own home. it is not a good trend…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-taU9d26wT4
if the police are not going to “police” themselves then i fear we will have runaway power and corruption in their ranks no different then we see in our congress and government in general.
My goodness, the cop-haters seem to be out in force this week…
“My goodness, the cop-haters seem to be out in force this week…”
And *why* do you think people hate cops? Or do you even care what the “little people” think?
Cops think what they’re doing to innocent citizens is *right*. They think the laws they unquestioningly enforce are legitimate. They think anyone they ever meet, under any circumstances, who is not a “brother in blue”, *must* be guilty of *something* if they can just find it.
And if they can’t find it, they plant it, to excuse their actions.
I’m far more afraid of police than of whatever they’re supposed to be “protecting” me from.
Cops still think they’re the *good* guys. But we’re the ones who are “nuts”?
26 year full-time copper here. I’m just wondering how the Chief of a village of 5,000 folks becomes “one of the nation’s leading authorities” on mid-Asian terror and its long-term repercussions here in the states. This is not to say it can’t or won’t happen-or that we shouldn’t be prepared. My advice to private citizens on this topic, is that when you hear staccato gunfire, screams and revving engines- get your ass out of sight and behind something that will stop your deer rifle. Lay low until its over, unless you feel the pressing need to intervene against terrorists on behalf of the helpless. If you do, be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for that choice.
My opinion is that the average reader of this blog, or the magazine which hosts it, is a lot more likely to get shot or stabbed by homegrown gansta wanna-bees. Of course the simple advice to ‘Stay The Hell Out of Thugville’ won’t sell any books or training tickets, so I suppose it is irrelevant to this discussion.
As to the earlier comment that the police should be supporting permitless concealed carry- some of us have been doing just that for decades, not to mention giving a break to decent folks who would have picked up a Weapons charge- had we not believed in the literal wording of the Second Amendment.
Nice win Mas. Well done.
Sobering commentary, both your article and the responses.
Congrats on your win, Mas.
Mousegun Mike
Mas
I have read your work for about 15 years, and appreciate your efforts at educating us.
That said, lumping those of us who are becoming increasingly aware of the atrocities committed and the blue line of defense which protects the guilty, I don’t believe that calling names, cop-haters, is constructive. The daily list at this site
http://www.injusticeeverywhere.com
should sicken anyone, and stir a righteous indignation at the abuse going on daily.
The abuse by the f troop which is currently being investigated by congress as Operation Gunwalker, Fast and Furious, shows even more disregard for individuals and honest gunshop owners.
Mike Vanderbough at http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com
has done a great job of exposing the criminal behavior of this group which believes it is above the law.
The chief of police in the city of over 400,000 near where I live, is so corrupt that it is a pathetic standing joke.
The first prohibition brought us a harvest of corruption in law enforcement, and the war on drugs has multiplied that corruption many times over. Trying to protect fools from self-destructive behavior and taxing me and taking my rights to accomplish that is a root cause of much of our corruption.
Then again the PTB are encouraging a police state attitude, and the sheep have been so dumbed down that they will welcome it because it will promise them safety in place of responsibility.
Mas, I’m sorry you think we’re cop haters when we make comments about how often the civilian populace has been beaten down, shot and railroaded or mal-accused by ‘wrong addresses’ and when decent civilians- especially legal CCW- are detained and treated like criminals for no reason other than ‘wrong place wrong time’ incidents.
It isn’t that we hate police- we hate bad police and even more, we hate bad police actions.
When car companies put commercials on Tv granduerizing (is that a word?) SWAT police to sell cars imported from Detroit… when real cops act like the ninnies on Tv police programs… when real cops shoot innocent women carrying children and are not prosecuted for it… when real cops shoot a housefull of innocent women and children and burn the evidence of their atrocity and are not prosecuted for it… it’s time to hate cops. Especially the bad cops as those in power who refuse to prosecute criminals who admit their crime, and give them positions of power in government because they’re friendly to the POS in the White House… when even the POS in the White House treats honest police officers like criminals and accuses them of showing poor judgment in doing their duty… when police chiefs show disdain and disregard for the Constitution… it’s beyond time to hate them.
One day soon, the police are going to discover they are being bitten by the hand that feeds them.
If this bothers you as a former police officer, I am sorry, but it’s the facts of life. You’ve always been one of my heroes in the gun world, and I am surprised you do not see how now common police actions are creating a maelstrom of problems for them. But those problems are of their own making so they have absolutely no reason to whine or bitch about it.
Shy III
I wouldn’t call these folks cop haters Mas.
First time I called a policeman a cop when I was a kid my dad snatched a topknot on me and set me straight that they were policmen and looking out for all of us. Times change and the biggest gang in town ain’t afraid to let you know it. Any respect I have for law enforcement (ptooey) anymore is on a case by case basis. I can tell you from my experience there aren’t more than one in twenty-five (I’m being generous here) worthy of respect and they’re suspect for the company they keep.
You’re just seeing John Q Public finally getting a gut full.
# Mas Says:
April 28th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
My goodness, the cop-haters seem to be out in force this week…
What do you expect? Justifiable fear is bound to induce hatred.
Mas, I have always respected you as a firearms expert and teacher, but that is the lamest thing you have ever written.
It is non responsive in the extreme. Are you seriously going to try to dismiss the real and documented concerns of the commenters above (and hundreds of thousands of their fellow citizens) regarding police behavior with such a flippant and dismissive remark?
When you and your “brothers in blue” begin to honor your Oath of Office and start Protecting and Defending the Constitutions of your Nation and your States, and when you cease being the enforcers for power hungry tyrants in pin striped suits and black robes, you might once again claim the mantle of “Peace Officer” and lose the fear and loathing associated with that muscle of tyranny called “law” enforcement.
But we aren’t holding our breath.
Try to remember that you are civilians and Citizens first and that the Rights you trample are your own. This is your country and that is your Constitution as well. What kind of country do you want to leave to your children and grandchildren?
My comment above begins at:
What do you expect?
To separate it from the quote from Mas’ comment.
Who hates cops?
We hate bullies and sadists with badges.
Cop haters? No… people are just fed up being abused by those who are supposed to protect and serve. We are citizens not civilians. We have rights and when we challenge an officer’s authority, peacefully, we don’t want to be roughed up thrown in jail and be charged with assaulting an officer, resisting arrest and any number other charges that can be tagged on to teach us not to question authority or to stick up for our rights.
Cops are now used as revenue collectors for the county and state. We don’t like getting tickets with large fines for the smallest infractions (cops don’t have ticket quotas… yeah right). We don’t like going to bed knowing that no knock warrants for petty crimes are being served by swat teams at 3 am often to the wrong address. We don’t like when said raid on the wrong house ends in the death of at the minimum the family dog and at worse of the frightened innocent home owner.
When you are part of the club most of these things are foreign to you. When you don’t have the protection of a badge the world is a very different place. We are not cop haters, we hate what the cops have become…
I like cops just fine, I just feel better when they are not around…
~BarFly
“My goodness, the cop-haters seem to be out in force this week…”
Mas, My detector doesn’t really sense cop-haters in the postings. YouTube is full of bad acts and injusticeeverywhere.com has many cases everyday along with other sites. Video cams have brought many bad acts to public view. What I do detect is a public that is deeply frustrated that the many good cops are not cleaning the thugs and criminals out of their own ranks. I used to be a strong LE supporter and do anything in my power to help, but now I have to determine first if the LEO is a good guy or just another criminal with a badge.
Mas, I have been reading your writings and listening/watching programs featuring you for years, and one thing is constant: honor. Honorable people command respect and desrve it. I do not “hate” cops; I fear too many of them. Pulled over on a lonely road on a dark night and told to get out of the car–no witnesses, no explanation, no nothing but a drawn M&P for simply driving home from work. I follow the rules, I am respectful, I was in my nursing uniform, as I am an Emergency Department nurse. Once the officer confirmed that fact all was well, but what if he hadn’t? What if I were not? I am around law enforcement officers frequently; I understand gallows humor; I shot PPC for 10 years so am not unaccustomed to “cop talk”, but it has gotten uglier the past 10-15 years. The “us vs. them”mentality is worse. And here in lovely Illinois it is a felony to film a cop; a gimme to Chicago PD? Times are a’changin’, sir.
Respectfully, Mick
Mas says; “the cop haters seem to be out in force this week…”
Are you saying any of the above comments do not at least have an element of truth and we should blindly trust the LEO’s? Notice that of late they have become Law enFORCEment Officers with the emphasis on the force instead of what used to be Peace Officers. There is a huge difference between the two. These days there is really little public trust in police type agencies by any other than those gullible enough live by the word of the state run media. The internet has opened a lot of eyes.
You should check out David Codrea’s War on Guns blog for his take on what he refers to as the “only ones” as in “we (LEO’s) are the only ones that should be allowed to carry guns”. He provides a lengthy list of abuses. When only the police are armed it is called a police state.
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/
You also said; “Much of the emphasis of this year’s training was on Officer Safety and Survival”, and therein lies much of the problem outside of the us or them attitude. Check out this piece of work that was done in the name of officer (I feared for my life) safety.
http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/27685803/detail.html
Nor is it the only incident involving the same officer.
http://www.khou.com/home/Man-sues-officer-city-of-Houston-over-alleged-police-brutality–120820424.html
And then there is always this site from which the two incidents above are linked;
http://www.injusticeeverywhere.com/
You can’t deny that there has been increasing militarization of the police ever since that big shoot out in L.A. ten or twelve years ago. Increasing funding from the fed and the inclusion of mil surp equipment in those funding packages for police depts. has led to the creation of small armies in all major cities. It also makes the local LEO’s obligated to back up or provide the muscle for those federal no-knock warrants where pets are shot or kicked to death in the name of officer safety and sometimes children are injured. Let us not forget to include the increasing number of times they do this to the wrong address and some of the wrongful deaths that have occurred. Are the officers ever held accountable? If any are charged, the obligatory investigation ensues and the charges in most cases dropped. Also an influx of returning veterans has contributed to the increase in militaristic attitude as departments snap them up to augment their own departmental training. what kind of attitude do you think that brings to the situation?
No sir, Mister Ayoob. It will take a long time and a committed reversal in behavior on the part of the LEO’s before the informed public will ever fully trust them again. They need to open ranks and take out the garbage first. THEN if the SHTF and they need help the law abiding citizens of this country might be willing to lend a hand, otherwise we will just sit within our “tribal” boundaries and watch it all go down. We will protect our own…you see, a lot of us HAVE been preparing as you mention. And then when the shooting stops and the bulk of the dying is done try to put things back together.
While we’re at it….let’s take a serious look at that 800K figure you gave for the total number of officers in this country. How many of them are active in the field? What percent? We can subtract from the total any on disability and the desk chair warmers. How many have actually been in a gunfight? Not many I’d wager. They will be up against committed religious fanatics not to mention any gangs that will be seeking targets of opportunity many of whom will HAVE been in gunfights. If things are really bad, how many will stay the course? How many will seek to go and protect their families first as also happened during Katrina? That number is not looking so good now is it?
You see…..the police need us a lot more than we need them.
NO, Mas, just the people who have seen too much to pretend.
Does pointing out the truth make us enemies of the state?
Does a failure to elevate the brutes with badges to godlike status make everyone else in the nation a cop-hater? Be honest – for we all respect you immensely – if you could see unedited videos of not one, not ten, but over two hundred videos of (a) bus drivers, or (b) TSA employees, or (c) fast-food workers, beating the living hell out of citizens, or shooting them in the back while they are restrained, or groping their genitals, or kicking them in the head when they were already down – over and over, in state after state, city after city – would you be all happy and blissful to entrust the safety of your wife or daughter to anyone of those groups?
If you watched cops intimidate and then disarm legally armed citizens after Katrina, actually stealing their firearms, leaving them vulnerable and defenseless for the still armed thugs and gangs, then did you see the military-garbed cops as protectors of the innocent? Be truthful with yourself.
If you have a disaster in your AO and the cops come and demand every gun in your possession, will you smile as you hand them over?
I can tell you that when I was a kid, we had ‘beat cops’ who got to know the people in their area, and they were trustworthy and honest. You would never see, or hear, of one beating a woman or shooting a cuffed man in the back as he lay on the ground; it was unheard of. But that was in the 50s. Now, I see so many bad, bullying cops that to find a good one is the exception, not the rule.
Of course you are free to think that I – and everyone else posting here tonight – am a crank or a loon. But whatever your opinion, maybe you get treated differently than others because of who you are; still, when we, the common everyday citizens, are asked to trust the LEO community, they are going to have a LOT of horrible behavior to straighten out before they earn that trust again.
With respect for you,
EW
Not hate, fear. Police today have been given more and more training in paramilitary tactics. They have also been given more and more training in subjects such as diversity and cultural sensitivity. What they lack is an understanding of the Constitution or, in some cases, the laws regarding ownership and carry of firearms in their own cities. Plus, it is well within the realm of possibility that, should some serious catastrophe take place, that the police will blindly follow unlawful and unconstitutional orders. It certainly did happen during the aftermath of Katrina.
Things such as peer pressure and political pressure can be used to compel decent men to do horrible things. A good examination of this phenomenon is the book “Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland”. The men in Police Bn 101 were ordered to execute Jews. These were not slavering, wild-eyed, maniacs; quite to the contrary. They were clerks, shopkeepers, and factory workers that wanted to do their ‘patriotic duty’. Should we believe that our police officers are better men then those in 101? If so, why do things like the Danziger Bridge incident continue to occur? How are we to trust those who enforce the law when they are the same ones that break the law as in the Gunwalker scandal?
If there is to be trust restored between law enforcement and civilians, there has to be more publicity given to people such as the aforementioned Ron Borsch who sees armed citizens as allies rather than simply more people to be disarmed in the interest of officer safety.
Where I live on the Texas Gulf Coast, in Galveston County, we have some of the finest officers to ever wear a badge, who are overworked and underpaid, and hopefully appreciated for their service and sacrifice. Sadly, just across the bridge in the City of Galveston, there is a collection of the laziest, most selfish, and loudest whiners to ever disgrace a badge, who do little to enforce the law but complain every chance they get about the city management and police department management. Strange how the two different types can exist so closely together. And I’m glad I live in the County and no longer on Galveston Island.
I’ll bet that over half of the responses here are from people who have never put their butts on the line for the citizens of their locals. Yes there are bad cops as in any other profession. Any time there is a budget problem the politicians cut fire and law enforcement first. This makes the criminals more amd more brazen in their actions.
If this keeps up then you will see vigalantes appear and alot of innocent people will be taken out.
There are a very large group of retired LEOs and military that if pushed enough will react and defend this country.
God bless the Republic.
There are many instances of LEOs behaving badly and doing things they should not. But as a student of history (graduate level) things have improved A LOT as far as corruption and LE in America. Take 1933 when Federal Agents arrested a known organized crime figure in Hot Springs Arkansas. The agents had to drive long distances and dodge local LE roadblocks that would have freed their prisoner due tot he corruption of the time. When they finally arrived in KC to deliver the prisoner to Leavenworth, they were ambushed and in the ensuing seconds one agent was killed, as were two KC Police Officers. The Pendergast machine was so rampant then that the KCPD did not even investigate the murder of two of their own officers!
While there is plenty to criticize in LE today it is far more transparent and professional than ever before.
There has been terrorrism: Data is that more people killed and beaten by ‘enforcers’ every month than killed during 9/11- every month, for 10 years. Plenty of data on websights mentioned in comments above. The public statements consist of ‘overlords’ putting ignorant serfs in their place.
They are my employees, and they have forgotten whom they serve.
It’s long past the time to demand that ‘enforcers’ turn in their guns “For citizen safety”.
Really.
Every citizen’s first job is to come home at night to their family- And police are just going to have to accept ‘common sense’ disarmament during contacts with their EMPLOYERS. “For citizen Safety”.
Really.
Oh, there was also a question on how a small town police official becomes an expert on things like Belsan and Mumbai. Its called research. Read three or four books, read some official pubs on the matter from the nations in question, see a seminar or two and including reading time you have over 40 hours of study on the matter, know more than anyone else in your area about the issue. That is called an expert for a LEO who has a job to do. To get much higher you need to travel to the sites, and really have to be a well resourced reasearcher/historian/etc.
I am a police officer as well as a firearms/tactics instructor for my department. I hold numerous certifications in training as well as SWAT. All that is good and fine. The most important aspect of my LEO credentials, though, is that I took the oath to defend and uphold the both the US and the Texas Constitutions. (Yes, I am part of that fringe, subversive group known as Oathkeepers…) I too am disgusted by the behavior of many officers that abuse the public they are supposed to be serving. I’ve seen the videos both you tube as well as a few from my own department. All I have to say is this: Fellow citizens, please understand that the police do not have a legal obligation to protect you and your family. That is actual case law from the a number of states as well as the US Supreme Court. Also understand that YOU are the ones your police department is accountable to. Make your voice heard loud and clear on how you expect your officers to act. The police are the tip of the spear that governments at all levels use to enforce their will. You have got to be the driving force to direct that spear appropriately at real criminal behavior, not letting it stick the innocent, law abiding citizens. Lastly understand that you are the final line in the sand in the stand against government and/or foreign tyranny. Prepare and train accordingly. God bless.
Its ok to hate the cops, we have come to expect it. 27 years wearing a badge has taught me a few things.
People love you when they need you and hate you when they don’t.
You never hear of or see video of cops done a good job, only the bad stuff makes the press.
We all get painted with a broad brush, when the feds screw up it must be the local beat cops fault too.
When your doing your job and looking for bad guys and happen to check out someone that turns out not to be a bad guy, you’re an idiot that should be out looking for bad guys.
Despite the criminal element becoming better armed, more sophisticated, and better equipped, people still want the police to be armed with 1950’s weapons and equipment. And yell and scream that we are militarizing when we try to join the 21st century level of equipment and armament.
So if you don’t like us, don’t call us when your world goes to hell, dialing 911 is optional. That’ll free us up to respond to someone that appreciates the fact that we are willing to be cut, stabbed, shot, on their behalf.
Cop haters? Hmmmm…..I believe that all the governing entities of the world are feeling these days the wrath of the Internet. People simply have the means these days to express themselves more effectively than ever. “Incidents aren’t isolated like they were when I was a kid to just the neighborhood. The bullying man in blue who everyone feared for his irrational violent behavior. Now it gets recorded and posted on Youtube. No excuses any more. The reaction is to make it illegal to record them. Hmmm…that sure helps public relations doesn’t it.
“Cops” have earned the reputation they have. If they want to be perceived differently then change your behavior and vet your ranks. Cops “own” the behavior of the ATF. They own the behavior of seizure law enforcement. They own the SWAT killings of innocent homeowners. They own the molestations of TSA. It goes on and on and “cops” don’t stand up and protest. They remain silent and by being silent they’ve taken sides.
Yes, Chudwin and others are right, a Mumbai in the US is overdue. By many accounts, overdue for decades. And you can be assured if/when it occurs it will be in a State/City/Location that has significant gun control, excuse me, citizen disarmament laws in place. The enemy will be looking for the easiest and least restrictive (to them, not us.) target possible with the ‘biggest bang for the buck’. I’m thankful not to live in a highly restricted locale. That doesn’t mean it can’t happen here, it just means I’ve got a fightin’ chance if it does. YMMV
Any police officer that has sworn to uphold the Constitution and then tramples upon it is not worthy of any respect. All enemies foreign and domestic includes the dirtbag politicians in New Orleans. All enemies include fellow police officers that confiscate at gunpoint that which is constitutionally protected. Either you are with us (the free citizens) or you are with those that trample the Constitution. If you trample then I pray you become trampled. If you defend freedom then I pray you stay free.
Congratulations on the win.
80% of the people do not believe that anything significant will happen in the USA.
It’s the last 4 days of the month again. Flashing blue lights are everywhere. It is so obvious it is pathetic. Ya, I know. The cops just want to say HI and get acquainted with the public.