Guest Post by Karl Denninger
As I write this today, our nation’s police departments are facing enormous scrutiny. Crime nationwide remains low by historic standards, but there is no denying we’ve had a rash of controversial cases of police officers killing unarmed civilians. Each specific case is different. Some complaints are legitimate. Others are overblown. Some reactions are justified. Others are just excuses for looting and criminality. Still, many Americans feel intensely aggrieved at the behavior of some police officers.
No kidding. When a cop manages three DUIs and yet still has his job, badge and police car until he manages to kill someone with the third alleged DUI, while any ordinary civilian would be under felony indictment by that time one has to wonder exactly why anyone should respect the police.
When cops “close ranks” and refuse to investigate on an open and honest basis the behavior of officers it indicts all of them on the force, not just the bad guy. In the civilian world this actually has a name and it’s a crime: Accessory after the fact. If you want the people to be less aggrieved toward cops end these practices and start prosecuting cops who cover up for other cops or who obstruct and refuse to press forward said investigations.
There is too much anxiety, too little trust, and far too much misunderstanding on all sides. But one thing is certain already: We’ve had more than enough sloganeers on all sides of these issues. It’s time for smart people who understand the complexities to start making some key distinctions here.
I’ll start. Having a magical costume and badge does not give you special rights. It especially doesn’t give you the right to break the law and get away with it, nor does it give you the right to cover up other cop’s lawlessness.
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