Lots of good points in that article, and yeah, Chauvin and the others may indeed walk. But it doesn't make the situation right.
IMO, there are serious policy issues that need to be addressed, and officers need to get some sort of proper training in the martial arts. This situation started with the inability of four men to handle a single restrained suspect, and video from this weekend's police shooting in Atlanta also demonstrated some grossly inadequate hand-to-hand skills. I get that this shit ain't easy and that anyone can armchair quarterback (which I most certainly am doing right now), but this problem can be addressed through far less drastic measures than defunding entire forces.
Have you ever tried to restrain and handcuff a person that doesn't want to be handcuffed?
Let alone a guy that is 6'6".
Let alone a guy that is hopped up on drugs.
I agree, defensive/restraint tactics should be trained continually, sadly, they are not. Usually, you spend a day on them in the academy, never to be seen again.
You know what what kind of training we do get? touchy/feely sensitive shit.
Stop sending cops out to deal with folks in mental health crisis.
Stop sending cops to someones house to make the kids go to school, or to tell them to listen to their parents. (this happens A LOT)
I actually concur, there needs to be changes.
Cops are their own worst enemy sometimes. Quit ostracizing cops that raise the alarm over unethical or abusive behaviour. (remember Frank Serpico)
Let cops enforce the law, not do social work. You know, penal and transportation code shit.