Pixiq

1 year ago

I like how the TV news report manages to sound like a retiree talking about "the cables" when they put "cop watching" in quotes like that.

Guy Fawkes

1 year ago

Cops can get away with this because there is no effective system to punish them for bad behavior. Sure, the department can get sued, but settlements get paid with tax dollars, with no financial repercussions to the officers involved.

Bart Keppel

1 year ago

Cop watching? Seriously this dude needs to get a life. If he is so mesmerized by cops maybe he should become one. I'm sure he would be an outstanding officer.

1 year ago

Copwatch is just a bunch of cop hating activists. There is one guy in my town that was calling himself Copwatch. However he had a neutral attitude and posted videos that also showed the good job that police officers do. He was contacted by the leadership of the local Copwatch group and was told that his postings were too pro-police. He was threatened with legal action if he kept posting positive stuff under the name "Copwatch".

Never mind that this person was also posting when the police screwed up. They just didn't like anything that showed the police in a positive light. That just shows that these groups don't care about the truth. They just want the police to look back.

1 year ago

Yeah, there are a lot of cop haters out there, and with good reason. There are ABSOLUTELY good cops out there doing good work in the community... That being said, the other 95% are only cops because they enjoy intimidating and bullying people. You are more likely to be killed by a cop than a terrorist in this country, and you are more likely to be killed on the job as a gardener than as a cop, so don't give me that crap about what a dangerous job you have. The police are no more that collection agents for the State who can take your life if they feel threatened in the least little bit. If you can't arrest a mother in a minivan, or a schoolgirl skipping school without tazing her, you are a disgrace, and should look for work elsewhere.

1 year ago

@ freethinker

95% of cops are in it just to intimidate and bully people? In the words of Michael Kearny "citation needed".

There is a world of difference in being killed going towards an armed suspect compared to getting your arm caught in a woodchipper. While you may be unwilling to acknowledge this, the majority of the population understands and appreciates the risks police officers take.

Go to a police funeral and you will see the support of the public. Man I bet that burns you guys up inside.

@ Michael Kerney

Does every personal story need a citation or just those that conflict with your world view?

I am pretty sure there is a CopWatch chapter in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Are they a shining beacon of fair reporting or do they have an agenda? I am willing to bet it is the latter.

1 year ago

"Does every personal story need a citation or just those that conflict with your world view?"

Has nothing to do with anyone's "world view." If this person really is/was posting videos, it's easy enough to post a link so we know you're not making this up to support your own assertion.

Notice how Johnny Law is scared to death of people knowing any actual facts about him, but LOVES to show that he knows things about other people.

1 year ago

mis use of police computers I would guess. of course you have to be special to even look at his own blog.

1 year ago

@ Johnny Law...No difference, dead is dead.
And just so you know, all of my uncles (5 of them) are retired NYC cops...my Father is retired FBI, and I am retired Military.
Back in the 70's when I was a kid, people actually looked up to cops and respected them, but those days are long gone.
The new breed of cop is so militarized he/she doesn't even look like a cop...more like a terrorist.
You can lie to yourself all you want, but don't try and feed me your Propaganda, you don't take risks, that's why fewer cops are killed than gardeners. You just shoot first and sort it out later, and you have the courts blessing to do so.

Citation needed? I don't think so.

1 year ago

"And just so you know, all of my uncles (5 of them) are retired NYC cops...my Father is retired FBI, and I am retired Military."

Interesting. I am sure they are very proud of you and the way you slander their profession. Do you hate them as well? Were they just in it to bully and intimidate to? Wow your dad was a fed? He must have been especially evil then. After all, we all know the FBI is the main tool for a repressive government that caused 9/11, killed Kennedy, and hide evidence that our leaders are actually lizard people from Alpha Centauri.

As for being retired military, are you aware that there are many people who consider the military to be just as evil as the police that you hate? How does that make you feel when you hear some cowardly idiot insulting the military and it is obvious they have no clue what they are talking about?

"Back in the 70's when I was a kid, people actually looked up to cops and respected them, but those days are long gone."

Really? Wasn't the number of cops killed on-duty at an all time high in the 70s? I didn't know it was all a Norman Rockwell painting back then. The sad fact is that there are always going to be anti-police types who just can't stand that the police have authority over them. Maybe it is people with over-assertive parents or maybe they resent themselves for not having the balls to do the job. Who knows?

What I do know is that the majority of the population respects the job the police do just as most of the population respects the military. Don't mistake a few frightened and angry loudmouths on this site as evidence of a majority opinion.

1 year ago

You're an Idiot.
If you weren't one of the egomaniac cops that are part of the problem, you wouldn't be responding the way you do.
You will never understand, because you have an innate need to always be right, regardless of if you even know what you are talking about.
And those retired family members...they all agree that cops have gotten out of control in recent years, we discuss it often.
So go ahead and fool yourself into thinking you are respected...whatever gets you through the night, buddy.
And as far as not having the Balls...I saw more action in Iraq then you could ever dream of you piss stain wannabe tough guy.

1 year ago

LOL

For a "freethinker" you sure don't seem used to having people disagree with you.

You make the ridiculous statement that "That being said, the other 95% are only cops because they enjoy intimidating and bullying people" and don't expect to be called on it? Of course it's okay because your uncles and daddy were cops right? Obviously they are in the 5% that are the good guys out there. Give me a break. If you are going to slander a whole profession, at least be honest with yourself and admit that you think your family members are a bunch of thugs as well.

Take a look at the front page of Officer.com. There is headline after headline of cops being killed, shot, or assaulted. Mayberry is long gone my friend and you need to get your head out of the sand (and other places).

As for you being an Iraq vet, thanks for your service. However you still didn't answer my question of what you think about people condemning the military over there for things they don't have the slightest understanding about. Did you do anything dangerous over there? If you did, then you should understand the problem with a bunch of keyboard rangers trying to second guess everything and being more concerned with things looking pretty then with your safety.

However from your postings, I imagine you as one of those senior NCOs who enjoyed walking around base and chewing on soldiers for not having their front pockets buttoned or for not having the correct length mustache.

1 year ago

Like I said...an innate need to be right even when you don't know what you are talking about.
Get back under your bridge, Troll.

1 year ago

@freethinker

I see. So disagreeing with you = troll. Spoken like a true "freethinker". No wonder you and Michael Kerney are getting along so well.

1 year ago

I am done with you, Troll, and bid you good day.

http://officer.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=56437

1 year ago

Police work isn't a dangerous job?

Like hell.

A Premature Alarm Regarding Police Fatality Rates

1 year ago

NPMSRP was on the Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial Fund spinning up numbers back in December.

So, the homicidal death rate for law enforcement officers in 2009 was 8.14 per 100,000 and the 2010 homicidal fatality rate was 8.35 per 100,000 which translates to a 2.5% increase in the homicide rate for police officers. If we use the numbers according to LEOMF sources in that there are 800,000 active sworn officers in the US, then the homicide rate drops to 7.38 per 100,000 but that 800,000 number cited does not seem to reflect a general decline in law enforcement employment rates that we’ve seen lately due to the declining economy.

So, in conclusion, yes, there has been an increase in deaths by homicidal violence for police officers in 2010 and any increase should be examined rationally to determine if there are prudent ways to address preventable deaths. But the increase seen for 2010 is not as alarming as we are told it should be and definitely not extensive enough from which one could derive any conclusive causative effect, such as blaming it on efforts to increase accountability and transparency within law enforcement agencies in the US as was done earlier this year.

...

Looks like they're still trying to get the Thin Blue Whine machine spun up.

1 year ago

Let me repeat the headline "Eleven Officers Shot in 24 Hours".

I couldn't care less that the owner of Injusticeeverywhere.com doesn't think that is cause for alarm. Of course he isn't the one risking his life every day either is he?

I'm glad the general public understands the risks we take even if the tinfoil hat wearing folks here don't care.

1 year ago

Facts and statistics mean more than appeals to emotion, bragging and slandering the people who actually have facts.

LOL. "risks we take" my ass.

It's tough work, sitting at a computer arguing on the internet with fake names like Johnny Law does.

1 year ago

Eleven officers being shot within 24 hours is hardly an appeal to emotion. It is a hard fact. I guess it is easy for you to dismiss those numbers from the safety of your little bike workshop.

1 year ago

It's a fact out of context, unlike what the NPMSRP article provides.

Eleven officers shot (not killed, only two have died) in 24 hours... is that even a statistical anomaly? How does that compare with any other given 24-hour period in the US? Are these numbers beyond average for the same period in any previous year?

It's easy not to have an emotional reaction to numbers provided out of context for shock value and as an appeal to emotion.

But then I guess it's easy for JL to be insulting from the safety of his pretend cop status behind a keyboard.

http://www.policemag.com/Channel/Patrol/Articles/2010/01/Ambush.aspx

1 year ago

I suppose the four officers killed in Lakewood and the four officers killed in Oakland were also just statistical anomalies? Or the officers killed in Pleasanton, TX after being lured by a phony 911 call?

I don't care if crab fishing in the North Atlantic is risky. What other profession has to worry about being ambushed while having coffee in the morning simply because of their profession?

The point is that police work involves a substantial risk of being shot or assaulted and that we are expected to go to calls where we know people are armed. Confronting an armed suspect is a different thing from a roofer slipping and falling.

Like I have said before, most of the public understands this and appreciates the risks even if the tinfoil brigade tries to minimize it.

1 year ago

But that risk excuses nothing. Cops cannot fall back on, its a rough job. That cannot be the excuse every time they "accidentally" shoot someone, or beat someone. If you can't handle the job without boiling over, then be a security guard and not a public servant. Ask the people of Oakland who saw what happened to Oscar Grant. Its not just cops getting killed.

1 year ago

I'm not using that as an excuse. I am responding to the idiotic statements comparing police work with being a gardener and other nonsense.

The officer who accidentally shot Oscar Grant was fired and is now in prison. That should make you happy.

1 year ago

The cop who shot Oscar Grant received involuntary manslaughter and will be out in less than 2 years. That is no justice.

1 year ago

If those 11 shootings in one day were all by the same guy, you might have something. The fact remains, however, that they were not directly related, and overall police officer deaths are at a low not seen since the 1950s. Attaching emotional descriptions doesn't change these facts.

"'The chances of being killed in the line of duty are lower than they have been in modern times,' noted Kevin Morrison of the Officers Memorial Fund."

JL always forgets that admission.

Ask Gabrielle Giffords who should worry about being ambushed simply because of their profession. Or a doctor who is known to perform abortions. Or a journalist. Or a...

The police officers Johnny worships aren't alone in taking risks by doing their job, and by no means are more special than anyone else who has a risky job.

1 year ago

Assaults against the police are up. The only reason the death rate isn't lower is because of advances in modern medicine and the quicker modern response of EMS. That's the same reason why the murder rate is lower nationally today. It's not because society has become less violent.

Maybe you only place an importance on being killed but getting shot and surviving isn't a trivial matter. Well I guess it could seem that way to someone who never has to face that kind of risk.

1 year ago

Assaults against the police are up. [citation needed]

Numbers and source for this?

Bart Keppel

1 year ago

It really sounds like Michael is jealous of cops.

Bart Keppel

1 year ago

Michael is right, police officers aren't alone in taking risk by doing their job. The difference is they are risking their butt for somebody else.

Gabrielle Giffords wasn't killed so by Michael's logic (only 2 of the 11 officers shot were killed) she doesn't have a dangerous job.

1 year ago

Right on schedule.

1 year ago

@Freethinker

I think you're making a mistake here, though. You're taking for granted that "Johnny Law" is actually a police officer.

1 year ago

All I really know for sure is that he is an idiot, But he sure has the Ego of a cop...if he is not, he missed his calling.

1 year ago

Copwatch is just a bunch of cop hating activists. There is one guy in my town that was calling himself Copwatch. [citation needed] However he had a neutral attitude and posted videos that also showed the good job that police officers do. He was contacted by the leadership of the local Copwatch group and was told that his postings were too pro-police. [citation needed] He was threatened with legal action if he kept posting positive stuff under the name "Copwatch". [citation needed]

hkarn

1 year ago

The truth is that cops are the primary line of enforcers for a coercive monopoly that upholds itself by robbery, threats and initiation of violence.

That most cops act more polite then your average Mafia goon does not change that the basic purpose of the job is exactly the same...

1 year ago

So the Citizens have no business keeping tabs on the Cops that are supposed to protect them? Even though they are paid from OUR taxes? The fact that there is NO law that says that filming is illegal means nothing? The cop can just interpret the law however he sees fit at the moment and that is OK?
I guess we should just trust them to do their jobs with no oversight whatsoever, and just hope that they will do the right thing.
You're an Idiot, I've seen your posts before.

Roger

1 year ago

Be very careful about any thing from CopWatch, they have an agenda. As often happens in such cases the agenda takes precedent over the truth, check it out. Use care, I have noted several cases of half truth and twisted facts.

Rich

1 year ago

No good police officer, doing his job and his duty has any fear of being video taped. There are good examples on you tube of police doing there job and not caring at all about the cameras on them.
Police that are not level headed enough to know that when they are in public, they are at all times in the public eye camera or no camera should choose another profession.

Any officer who has a problem with video tape showing the facts clearly and in color what happened for all to see, who thinks the public is out to get him, who thinks that we should all just mind our business is Crooked.
Any police officer who has a problem with the public seeing what he does should not be trusted with any authority.

1 year ago

yes and that agenda is exsposing arrogant pukes who dont like being exposed for the trash they are

1 year ago

Hello Everyone!

This is Tommy Frain (they spelled my name wrong) from the video above and I would like to make some clarifications.

Myself and Mr. Kilgore are in no way associated with Copwatch! Our group is called Citizens Coalition for Police Accountability (CCPA on Facebook). Our group is similar to Copwatch as Copwatching is one of our actions, but we wish to bridge the gap in communities between good officers, and the citizens. We do not disrespect or hate cops, and we believe the majority of Police Officers are doing a great job, and there are a few bad apples that tend to rotten the bunch. If you would like more information on our group and on the incident, please find us on facebook or email me anytime at CCPAFL@gmail.com

Also, on one note for the person who said get a life... Sir, it is our right, and our duty to hold our police accountable for their actions. Just as much as we hold our elected officials accountable. This is a democracy of the people, for the people, and by the people. I am the government, you are the government, and our civil servants are the men and women in uniform. We cannot leave it up to another agency to keep track of this agency, that job is in our hands. We all have civic responsibilities, and one of those is keeping those we pay in check.

Bob Holderman

1 year ago

Well said. Any chance on uploading the whole raw video?

1 year ago

Well, this event just happened last week. Basically we are still getting the word out, and hoping that this week the property will be returned. But as of now, my property and Kilgore's, including the camera, is still in the possession of the Tarpon Springs Police.

Guy Fawkes

1 year ago

I think a point has been missed in this thread. Whether the people behind the cameras like/dislike/are neutral about cops is IRRELEVANT. The only relevant fact is do they or do they not have the right to film the police. If, as in this case, Kilgore did, it's an abuse of power to arrest him. Some police seem to think that doing anything that annoys them constitutes an arrestable crime; it isn't.

Robert Fisher

1 year ago

I apologize for the threadjack, I can not find a link that will let me send Carlos a link to a story. The Austin, TX police department is going to test cameras worn by the officers on their heads:
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/austin-police-to-test-cameras-worn-o...

1 year ago

Their jobs are dangerous, no one is denying that. But that is reason why police forces should have video equipment in every car, for the protection of the populous and of the police. But please do not connect 11 dead officers, and our incident. The 2 issues have no connection, and to draw one is propaganda.

hkarn

1 year ago

Being is a cop is by no means dangerous.

Just being alive in most parts of the world is a lot more dangerous then being a cop in America.

By American standards it is a semi-dagerous profession but keep in mind that the most common cause of death among patrol officers is traffic accidents. Getting killed in traffic hardly warrants roughing up people because it is "safer"...

Also for reference some jobs with a higher death ratio is garbage collector, truck driver, high-voltage electrican, farmers and the most dangerous which is fisherman and have a death-ratio over 5 times higer then patrol officers...

Just Me

1 year ago

Dearest, Darling Johnny Law,

Can you dislike a waitress; but, still enjoy the restaurant?

Can you dislike a soldier; but, still respect soldiers?

Can you dislike that they've shrunk the package; but, still enjoy the Chunky Monkey Ice Cream inside?

I think many folks herein are vexed by your intransigence in accepting the FACT that there are some very, very bad people wearing badges, and that good citizens can hold these Sociopaths-with-Badges in disdain while honoring the most honorable of professions as a whole.

Constantly "Towing the Thin Blue Line" does a disservice to good cops such as yourself - I presume - and the citizens they serve.

I wish Safe Patrols to all Good Cops and Unemployment for the rest!