I'm going to give this a try, again, since there seems to be a general consensus on both sides that some elements of our current LE structure need improvement:
Your local police department is a reflection of your local community, your elected leaders, and their priorities.
To expand on BB's correct comments....
The reality is that most LE agencies are operating just as the local community wants them to. If one does not like the way they operate then one needs to take steps to change the management/power structure to ensure that operating standards are changed to be more appropriate. Generally speaking, as the country lurches towards centralizing power, in the federal government, it does so because the populace values comfort over freedom. By definition, centralized power views itself, regardless of base motivation, as superior to the individual and, by extension, this will lead to an adversarial relationship, at the highest level of probability, between centralized power and the citizenry. If you are in the camp that LEO's are here to support and protect the individual then the citizenry will work in partnership with LE agencies. By extension, this collaborative relationship will lead the citizenry to support a management/power structure of a similar ilk that will, in turn, likely drive policy/procedure/protocols supportive of the citizenry's goals. Historically, an engaged populace would look to have LEO's training focused on negotiation skills, issue management, community management, crime trends, detective work etc. Firearm training and increased 'militarization' would be low on the priority list. Key in this philosophy is that the individual plays a critical role in policing.the community.
The reciprocal view is also true. When the populace is not engaged that vacuum will be filled in, generally, a more centralized fashion. Local leaders will defer to state/federal leadership(or those influencing them), risk management will be replaced with risk avoidance, police will be less likely to police themselves and over police the individual, unions will amplify the centralization of power over the individual freedoms, unions will provide a safe harbor for those operating on the edge of policy and local/regional nuanced needs will be met with suboptimal state/federal homogeneous protocols.
Some here advocate the position that a LEO is more at risk of significant injury/death today and, as a result, needs to be better armed. I would ask that if anyone can provide proof of this that it be posted here. It needs to be scientific and not anecdotal or "the data indicates.....". Additionally, this ends up being a self fulfilling prophecy for LEO's that force needs to be met with force +1. Research proves that when a person, in an intellectually and emotionally neutral state, is met with someone in an aggressive posture a flight or fight response will occur. While a citizen may not actually fight or run from a LEO, when faced with a LEO expressing an aggressive posture, the citizen will internalize that in a negative way. As any LEO that works within a risk averse, adversarial oriented departmental culture you are, in fact, a portion of the problem. This is not to condemn LEO's that act, intentionally or unintentionally, as their leadership structure promotes but rather praise those not trapped by the dogma produced in the vacuum of lazy, ignorant, socialist/communist local community.
This is a complex issue exacerbated by regional variations that is not going to be resolved by name calling on an online forum. It requires one to be a active vocal member of your community to exact change with community leades/LE agencies and even that will have a low probability of happening quickly. It does not, however, mean every demonstrable example you can find is proof of 100% corruption however it can be used as a lever to reinforce changes in LE behavior. If you are one of the LEO's doing the job with integrity/ honor/ passion then you are already sensitive to the needs of your local community and should be commended. If you see your constituents as threats, whiners, complainers and subservient to how you manage your policing duties then you are either simply doing your masters bidding or need to find a new line of work.
Many in the soon to be East German sat idly by saying they really liked their community and nothing would really change how they lived their life. The grip of communism did not happen over night and, in my personal experience, the path from friendly helpful LEO's to a police state was a relatively easy and simple journey that many did not dissent from until too late. Those that made it out looked back, happy that they were proactive, and most of those generations that did not leave questioned why they did nothing at a time when something could have been done. While I am not suggesting that we are at that point I am suggesting vigilance and questioning the behavior of those that serve should not be viewed by LE as a challenge but, rather, be managed as an opportunity for an active partnership.
Formulating an opinion, refining that opinion, strengthening your knowledge and sharing of knowledge is a wise endeavor. The marketplace of ideas will remove the wheat from the chaff. Name calling of others when thoughts are being shared degrades the opportunity for real knowledge sharing and lacks intellectual integrity.
My thoughts....do with it as you will. In the meantime I am going to keep getting good info on the right load for my new Spartan 6.5 cm from Marc.
