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I point this out once or twice a year, particularly when faced with someone who'll do or say almost anything to cement their police apologist credentials:
Police are under-trained, under-supervised and under-appreciated.
1/10 https://twitter.com/LMWatsonNV/status/1304440882108661760
Police are under-trained, under-supervised and under-appreciated.
1/10 https://twitter.com/LMWatsonNV/status/1304440882108661760
2/10
Under-trained because their actual breadth of training teaches them that problems are solved with force. So-called de-escalation training is comparatively non-existent. And they receive constant feedback supporting escalation as a tool to solve their own inflammatory
Under-trained because their actual breadth of training teaches them that problems are solved with force. So-called de-escalation training is comparatively non-existent. And they receive constant feedback supporting escalation as a tool to solve their own inflammatory
3/10
conduct. They're taught they are allowed to lie, so they do. They're taught everyone lies to them, so they distrust. They're taught everyone is dangerous, except them.
They're taught they are the Blue Line protecting civilization, and the rest of society is a nail.
conduct. They're taught they are allowed to lie, so they do. They're taught everyone lies to them, so they distrust. They're taught everyone is dangerous, except them.
They're taught they are the Blue Line protecting civilization, and the rest of society is a nail.
4/10
Under-supervised because they're encouraged to believe dishonesty is necessary to enforce honesty, and there is rarely negative feedback for poor decisions.
A sergeant is supposed to enforce standards in the field, but instead often protects "his" people.
Under-supervised because they're encouraged to believe dishonesty is necessary to enforce honesty, and there is rarely negative feedback for poor decisions.
A sergeant is supposed to enforce standards in the field, but instead often protects "his" people.
5/10
A state POST commission will certify an officer's training, but won't revoke that certification absent truly egregious (usually criminal) conduct. How many times do we hear of a brutal act, committed by a cop, who has a long record of brutal acts?
A state POST commission will certify an officer's training, but won't revoke that certification absent truly egregious (usually criminal) conduct. How many times do we hear of a brutal act, committed by a cop, who has a long record of brutal acts?
6/10
And the standards for supervision are often discretionary. In San Diego a cop sexual molested women while on duty. He was actually on trial while another cop did the same thing. Both routinely violated policies, and were routinely excused by their sergeant.
And the standards for supervision are often discretionary. In San Diego a cop sexual molested women while on duty. He was actually on trial while another cop did the same thing. Both routinely violated policies, and were routinely excused by their sergeant.
7/10
And under-appreciated because the job is dehumanizing to anyone. Few people see the grittiest side of life like a cop: a child with welts going back a year, a teen who gives up on life with daddy's gun, a mangled group of bodies in an alcohol-fueled car accident.
And under-appreciated because the job is dehumanizing to anyone. Few people see the grittiest side of life like a cop: a child with welts going back a year, a teen who gives up on life with daddy's gun, a mangled group of bodies in an alcohol-fueled car accident.
8/10
A pulverized face on a rape victim. A single mother in the midst of an overdose with two kids in the back of her car. They see wasted life, and are asked to maintain their optimism and professionalism about people. But generally the only others they socialize with
A pulverized face on a rape victim. A single mother in the midst of an overdose with two kids in the back of her car. They see wasted life, and are asked to maintain their optimism and professionalism about people. But generally the only others they socialize with
9/10
are other cops with their own stories of society's decline.
There are a lot of reasons why true reform is difficult - entrenched training, senior command with no incentive to change, unions protecting bad officers, chiefs at the end of the career not making waves,
are other cops with their own stories of society's decline.
There are a lot of reasons why true reform is difficult - entrenched training, senior command with no incentive to change, unions protecting bad officers, chiefs at the end of the career not making waves,
10/10
celebrity status of the hero self-designation, the actual danger that arises unexpectedly day-to-day, and the lack of political will (if not accountability). But until those three issues - training, supervision, appreciation - are tackled we're just spinning our wheels.
celebrity status of the hero self-designation, the actual danger that arises unexpectedly day-to-day, and the lack of political will (if not accountability). But until those three issues - training, supervision, appreciation - are tackled we're just spinning our wheels.
