The Philosophical Cop Got Hacked??

Hello all.  I know I have been out of touch.  I am working on that (mobile app for adding posts!)…

In the meantime, someone has, without my permission, taken over www.philosophicalcop.com!  Please know I am working on this, and the person does NOT have my permission to be there.  Worse, he or she is posting my old content there.

I will appreciate if you all stick with me at this philosophicalcop.wordpress.com location until I figure it out.  Also, if any of you are tech geniuses, please let me know what might have happened…

Thanks!

BART Officer Gets 2 Years; The Right Sentence, And A Riot (Of Course)

Well, the BART cop got 2 years.  I figured that would happen.  After all, the jury’s verdict indicates it was a mistake, after all.  As I said in my original post on the subject, I never believed it was an all-out assassination.  What is much more predictable (and much more disappointing) is that the Oakland folks are rioting already. 

Assume for a minute (which I do not) that the average cop is racist.  Assume for a minute (which I do not) that this cop meant to kill.  If it is all a big racist plot (I also reject this concept handily) then why would huge groups of the “victim” group go out and reinforce the stereotype that they believe officers hold against them?

If the Black Riders and other groups want to show that Blacks are innocent victims of police brutality (which they are not) then why not have a peaceful demonstration to show that the (evil, to them) cops are wrong? 

Sigh…

September 11 – A Day To Acknowledge Double Service

I would be remiss on 9-11 not to say a brief “thank you” to all of our folks in the military.  I also try to remember on this day each year that so many of these men and women perform “Double Service.”  What I mean by this is that they serve overseas after leaving a homeland position in police or fire service.

Interesting gene it is that so many first responders have; they choose to serve others at home and abroad.  What a wonderful way to spend a lifetime helping your family, neighborhood, city, state, and nation.  Thank you.

A Different Twist On The Recent LAPD Officer Involved Shooting

Wait, wait wait!  I am not going to give you more of the same “he should have / he shouldn’t have” garbage about this shooting.

Plenty of people will be on that topic.  I have a different look, and it has always driven me crazy.  Read carefully the LA TIMES article linked above.  Then read it again.  Did you catch the talk about the KIDS participating in the protest?  What?  Are you kidding?  You brought your kids?

I think adults should use their 1st Amendment rights however they want.  Blah Blah Blah is the worst I can say.  But when you bring your minor children to a protest that (already is, or) may turn violent, you are a fool.  If the cops start putting down that riot, the kids might get hurt.  Even if the cops, once again, exercise their discretion and stand on the sideline, the protesters themselves might inadvertently harm their own.

Arrest them for child endangerment, I say.  What do you think?

BART Officer Mehserle Convicted!

The jury just convicted former BART officer Mehserle of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting of Oscar Grant.  I really want to hear what you feel about this verdict.

Give me your thoughts, and I will let you know what I believe after we have collected about 24 hours of comments.

Are you surprised?

Is this the right verdict?

Was it motivated by a fear of riots?

Should he have been convicted or murder?

Thanks and look forward to hearing your input!

We Are On Twitter!

As I have said many times, the philosophical cop blog exists to allow all of us to discuss and learn together.  That is why we enjoy so much back-and-forth debate and, yes, sometimes some conflict.

It only makes sense, then, that as social media becomes more and more accessible and popular, that our conversation move to that arena as well.  So……..

I signed up for a twitter account!  Follow the philosophical cop at “philosophcop” and you will get a more immediate, up to the minute look at my opinions  -  your opinions  -  and current law enforcement events.  I hope to see you on Twitter soon!

A New Colleague

I don’t often update my blogroll (part lazy / part frustrated with the quality of content out there).

But I ran into this other blog when I started contributing to the Crime Report.  Check out his informative stuff.  Especially those who live in the biggest country in the United States.  I think you will agree, he is quite good…

PC

BART Officer Will Get Railroaded

I couldn’t resist the pun. 

Seriously though, read this.  Now, I have watched that video online.  I have also seen the officer’s somewhat odd behavior following the shooting.  And I think he made a mistake.  I think he blew it big time.

But murder?  Right in front of all those witnesses? I doubt it.

Keep in mind what the geniuses in that article are alleging.  For this to be MURDER, the cop would have to be more than careless, and more than stupid.  He would have to be someone who MEANT TO KILL the suspect.  I just don’t buy it.  Not to mention that Mr. Shakur is also quoted as saying that the cops murder someone every day.  Let’s hope he gets to address the court…

The better charge might be negligence or something like that.  In any case, here is my prediction:

Just like other cops on that Left Coast that we love, this guy will be convicted.  After all, if he isn’t, they might have another riot.  Hey, it was enough to get the Rodney King cops convicted the second time. I think it will be enough again…

What do you think?

Happy Holidays To Our First Responders!

Every holiday as I pack up to go to work, or enjoy the rare one at home, I remember those who are out serving our communities instead of enjoying time with their families.  There is no more appropriate time to say thank you.  So if you are out there making Christmas safe for your town, city, or state, please be safe and know that people appreciate your service  –  especially today.

Happy Holidays!

60 Percent Of Police Chiefs Should Be Fired

As I indicated in my last post, I have started to contribute to a site called The Crime Report.  I was reading their interview with International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Michael Carroll and fell off my chair.

According to Carroll, 60 percent of police chiefs do not require their officers to wear bullet resistant vests.  If this is accurate, then all of them should be fired.  Today.  There is no excuse.

I have heard all the arguments:

“Its not comfortable”

“Its too hot”

“I can’t move in it, so in fact it is less safe.”

“They are so expensive”

Please, cut me a freakin break.  Thousands of lives have been saved by vests.  Officers in the Arizona desert wear them, and countless officers have been involved in hand-to-hand encounters wearing them and survived.  There is no excuse.

Now, the money thing is interesting.  A good vest costs close to $1000.00.  So I can see a small town struggling with that budget reality.  The fact is there are grant programs to buy them, and if your department has even one car, one radio, and one jail cell, then you can make cuts to get a vest for your one cop.  There is no excuse.

If any of you are working right now and do not have a vest on, please go get it.  If you are not provided one, please make some noise.  And please write back and let me know what your department / chief thinks of wearing a vest…