Police State

I'm all for rules restricting police use of force, but what is the DOJ doing dictating rules to Seattle police? That's a federalization of police.

"The civil-rights suit, filed in U.S. District Court, contends the changes have effectively created “hesitation and paralysis” among officers, stripping them of their constitutional and legal right to make reasonable, split-second judgments in the line of duty."

In upside-down world, cops sue for the civil right to attack people.

"Just two weeks ago, a Seattle Police Department report revealed steep drops in the enforcement of lower-level crimes, traffic offenses and infractions in recent years as officers have displayed less willingness to seek out illegal activity."

This is wonderful news for the people of Seattle.

"The suit alleges officers have turned in Tasers in large numbers because of confusion about how and when to use them and will testify about an “insidious” reluctance to respond to backup calls, all out of fear of being exposed to unreasonable discipline or termination. "

More good news.

"The city and DOJ civil-rights attorneys agreed to the reforms in 2012 after the Justice Department found that officers had engaged in a pattern or practice of excessive force, a conclusion the lawsuit rejects as flawed and unproved.
The Justice Department also cited troubling evidence of biased policing."

I don't doubt either of these charges, but the proper response is to fire and prosecute perpetrators.

"The new use-of-force policy, which went into effect Jan. 1, for the first time defined “force” as any physical coercion by an officer in the performance of their duties, and advised when it can be used and how much is appropriate under the circumstances.
Officers must report all but the most minimal use of force to supervisors, and shall “use only the force necessary to perform their duties” and “with minimal reliance upon the use of physical force.”
They also are required, if circumstances allow, to attempt to de-escalate tense situations through “advisements, warnings, verbal persuasion, and other tactics” to reduce the need for force.
When using force is unavoidable, the policy cautions officers to use only the force necessary to make the arrest, and says that their conduct before force was used may be considered by the department in determining whether force was appropriate."

This should be every police department's policy, but not dictated by the DOJ.

"I would like to say the policy is overly broad, poorly written and somewhat confusing."

Exactly what one would expect from the feds.

"Mahoney in 2009 was given 30 days off without pay after an 18-year-old Explorer cadet he had been supervising accused him of kissing her and putting his tongue in her mouth. "

Killing people gets you promoted. Kissing a girl cost a month's pay. Why didn't she keep her mouth closed? That's suspicious. I don't trust either of these people.

Bipartisanship prevents cuts to the police state.

Judge Napolitano reviews Greenwald's book on meeting Snowden and NSA revelations.