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EXPLANATORY JOURNALISM: The TerryReport
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News, commentary, opinion on politics, government, books, social trends, American life, travel, cycling, books, other stuff
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The op-ed column in todays Washington Post represents the exact kind of attitude on the part of Americas police officers that The TerryReport has been writing about for years. It is this: the most often committed crime in America is contempt of cop, and by that we mean talking back, doing anything the officer doesnt approve of or not immediately (within a few seconds) following orders. It doesnt matter if the officer is right to give the orders, it doesnt matter if you havent broken any laws. In America, when a police officer approaches you, you are supposed to surrender all rights as a free human being and TAKE ORDERS.
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Even though it might sound harsh and impolitic, here is the bottom line: if you dont want to get shot, tased, pepper-sprayed, struck with a baton or thrown to the ground, just do what I tell you. Dont argue with me, dont call me names, dont tell me that I cant stop you, dont say Im a racist pig, dont threaten that youll sue me and take away my badge. Dont scream at me that you pay my salary, and dont even think of aggressively walking towards me. Most field stops are complete in minutes. How difficult is it to cooperate for that long?
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Sunil Dutta, a professor of homeland security at Colorado Tech University, has been an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department for 17 years. The views presented here are his own and do not represent the LAPD or CTU.
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Wow, talk about good timing, right in the middle of the mess in Ferguson, Missouri. Many people will see these comments as a direct threat to shoot. Many others will see them as a call to revolution. Many have lit up the Internet in anger.
I see this is another sign, ones that I have seen for years, that American police forces do not accept the idea of civil liberties and the ideal of free American citizens. Many seem to hate our Constitution and Bill of Rights because it makes their job more difficult. If they can stop you and intimidate you at any moment, and then threaten at that moment to shoot you if you dont immediately do exactly what they say, what good is the concept of freeom?
Lets be clear: white people in rich suburbs are not routinely challenged like this by police officers. Black people in poor neighborhoods are challenged again and again and they get tired of it. I dont blame them. With attitudes expressed in the manner above, who could be surprised at riots in Ferguson?
Doug Terry, 8.20.14
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FROM AROUND THE WEB:
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Amy Davidson, writing in the New Yorker:
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That is not how its supposed to work, in this country, anyway. We respect the police as professionals because their job is so hard, and so important; it can involve chaotic nights and yelling crowds, or opening the door to an apartment where anything might be happening. Police officers dont get to wave a gun whenever they think it might make everything easierwhen they think it will just make people behave. That is not the sort of authority, in any sense of that word, that will calm the streets of Ferguson, or any city.
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Link to the full article in The New Yorker
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to go to recent posts, nearly 300 pages of news and comments filed during the first nine months of 2013 and during the critical election year of 2012.
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to go back to prior years (500+ pages) of The TerryReport
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