This one should generate some interesting discussion!

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/12/08/kopbusters-reality-s.html

This is a short news story on a new online reality show, "CopBusters" that claims to document police using illegal tech, means and methods to perform drug raids.

The implication is planted drugs to cover up bad calls.

A similar thing happened to me long ago. Wasn't drug related either. Essentially, I ended up at trial on charges related to a very aggressive arrest. I had to sit and watch as the Police lied on the stand, repeatedly. My point with that is that I totally buy this kind of thing happening.

Taken from their perspective, a job is a job, and they have a dangerous one. One that does carry some valid risk, civil, criminal and just in terms of bodily harm. I can easily see being on the other side of things having to work double hard to cover up a bad call, or having to deal with the fallout from a bad call, maybe one somebody else made!

My case ended up fine. It took some dollars, and I recovered nearly all of them, but I cannot recover the time, energy and anguish of having to go through that process.

So then. Is this a check and balance, or an abuse of the process?

A check and balance. Cops are human, don't ever forget that.

If they are going after drug dealers then the policy should be "Shoot first, ask questions later"

The ONLY good drug dealer is a dead drug dealer.

If they are going after drug dealers then the policy should be "Shoot first, ask questions later"

That IS the policy. That's why many cities pay out million for "oops, wrong house" claims.

Too bad the numbers of good cops and good drug dealers is roughly the same.

The problem with shoot first and ask questions later is that the cops are usually wrong.

I don't trust cops any more than the average low level criminal. They'll lie just like them if needed.

..pardon ME, your oinkships...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMNWK3i8IV4

"Shoot first, ask questions later"

This disturbs me. We've got a significant fraction of the nation, who does not appear to understand "due process".

Folks, this lies at the FOUNDATION of what America is about!

There is no free lunch. If we just nail those we think are criminal, then we all run the risk of losing our life or freedom from our own government. On the other hand, if we do take due process seriously, the general social risk can be higher, and we run that same risk from criminals.

The American solution is to recognize then that we all share a social burden to work hard at solving these problems together. There's no hand-off, no just pass it and it goes away law.

It's just work.

There is always this work. If we slack on it, then the world gets lousy.

I don't like drug dealers either, but I sure as hell want to make damn sure the dealer is dealing before passing judgment.

After reading this thread, I completely support these guys. We need the reality check as a people.