You know something is way off when David Brooks and I agree (LINK). He has an interesting take on the Police Unions current set of responses to New York peaceful demonstrations.
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And I find the whole thing odd. Odd that the Police have been so tone deaf to some very real worries that the public has.
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Whenever most of us question or dare to criticize the Police, it is always prefaced by the very honest caveat that we appreciate the work they do. We understand how they put their lives on the line for people. Perhaps the present flood of criticism seems unfair, but again – it is always preamble by how much the public appreciates the police.
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But the recent response by the police unions in affect areas, New York, Ohio and Ferguson, has been tone deaf. In New York, mild criticism from the Mayor, and non-violent protests have pushed the Police Union Chief to a) Promise a slow down at work (oddly by following the rules) and b) ask all the Police to issue a statement that if they die in the line of duty, then the Mayor shouldn’t come to their funerals.
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Look, I hate Mayor DeBlasio as much, if not more, than most people. But he hasn’t been a left-wing looney on this. He didn’t come out and say that the Staten Island Police should have been indicted. He told people to respect he process. How that stirred up so much hate is crazy. Perhaps it is because he didn’t come out and denounce the peaceful demonstrators. (One, ONE, demonstrator did hit a policeman and DeBlasio immediately repudiated that.)
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In Cleveland, Police Chief Follmer has said that the shooting of 12 year old Tamir Rice, in a public park within 2 seconds (TWO SECONDS) of the police showing up as the child played on the swings was justified because the police had been told the child had a gun. And the Grand Jury will undoubtedly agree with him. But he has gone on to complain that athletes shouldn’t be allowed to express their opinions on a shirt in warm ups at football.
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It was a 12 year old. A kid on a swing set, with a toy gun that the police never saw! Also in Ohio they shot a shopper (black – duh) in Walmart carrying a BB Gun he was buying. And while you can say whatever you want about that, the video shows he wasn’t aiming it or threating anyone. AND, thank you NRA, Ohio is an open carry state. He actually had the legal right to carry an assault rifle in the store and many white men do – and they are not shot.
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I am not judging the police’s actions in their job of law enforcement here. But I am questioning their response to heartfelt questions and concerns. Their response – that they are the victims in the cases where they have killed people accidently – is basically tone deaf. They are defining anyone that questions them as idiots or busybodies. And that is making them bullies to an entire generation. Lawless bullies and people to be feared, not respected or supported.
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That is not the America that they want to serve. These few Police Union talking heads are giving honest, hardworking and great police a terrible name.