posted by Murphy in comments, it is a self serving commentary by a police officer:
Highlights:
“Even though it might sound harsh and impolitic, here is the bottom line: if you don’t want to get shot, tased, pepper-sprayed, struck with a baton or thrown to the ground, just do what I tell you. Don’t argue with me, don’t call me names, don’t tell me that I can’t stop you, don’t say I’m a racist pig, don’t threaten that you’ll sue me and take away my badge. Don’t scream at me that you pay my salary, and don’t even think of aggressively walking towards me.“
In other words, you have no rights, can’t ask questions, and have to be subservient to me for my safety and convenience, no matter what.
Followed by:
” And you don’t have to submit to an illegal stop or search. You can
refuse consent to search your car or home if there’s no warrant (though a
pat-down is still allowed if there is cause for suspicion). Always ask
the officer whether you are under detention or are free to leave. Unless
the officer has a legal basis to stop and search you, he or she must
let you go.”
But if you follow the second bit of advice, the first paragraph says you might get “shot, tazed, pepper sprayed”, etc., even though the officer has no reason to stop you.
The attitude of this cop is that everyone is subservient to his choices, and his decisions. The fact is that I am a citizen, and have no reason to submit to a police officer unless I am a criminal and am being charged with a crime. Now, I generally am polite to officers, if they are polite to me. I have found that it (generally) makes for a better experience. But f they begin pushing me around, they get pushed back….both figuratively and literally. Just because a police officer stops you does not give him the right to handcuff you “for his safety” or his convenience, nor do you have any reason to follow his orders. This is not to excuse being rude or an asshole either….on either side.
Any officer who feels that I should submit just because he feels it necessary to detain me for his convenience or safety without reasonable cause should not have police powers.The police need to remember that the majority of the people they encounter are citizens, not criminals,and that the police are not rulers over serfs. Most of us in the US aren’t lowlifes, drug users, drunks, petty criminals or
murderers. And, while I realize that when cops first meet us, they don’t know, they can be decent while being cautious….and most cops, while having an attitude, aren’t jerks or assholes. Any cop who professes an attitude like Officer Dutta should not be a cop.
And until the police departments purge themselves of bad, corrupt, racist, ignorant and psychologically unfit officers rather than making excuses and/or hiding their actions, (as happens so often when cops hide issues behind the “Blue Line”) and we as citizens can expect fair and decent and professional treatment from every officer nearly every time (not true today) then no police officer can reasonably expect unquestioning cooperation.
I have had outstanding encounters with police, where I was treated well and professionally. Sadly, however, these are a rarity. I have had others that were not so good or professional. I take the time for both the good and the bad to inform their superiors about them.
