I agree with this sentiment, with one caveat. The idiom “One bad apple spoils the bunch”.
Until the good cops start policing the bad ones, we can’t know which we’re dealing with and so must begin every interaction with self preservation in mind, as if it will be with the bad one. That sours even the good cops, eventually reinforcing the idea of “us against them” and turning them into future bad ones.
Some of them do though. I’ve seen videos where police arrest other police. They do exist, and they should be rewarded. Instead, the courts often give bad cops a pass.
The problem is “qualified immunity” and the police union, which has fought to make it nearly impossible to hold courts accountable.
It’s not about the few good cops that don’t get enough recognition - that’s not what ACAB means. ACAB means that the police as an institution is flawed on a foundational, systemic level and a few good actors don’t cancel that out.
It’s just not fruitful to discuss what a few outliers do well if it’s a failure of the government on a systemic level to have reasonable police officers. The job itself invites power-tripping men into it who want to abuse power, and they get away with it because there’s not enough disciplinary measures taken from higher-ups and the government to counteract that.
It’s like when women talk about their bad experiences with men and that they’re afraid to be around them and a man chimes in to say “but not all men are like that”. Yes, people know - it’s obvious - but it just doesn’t add anything of value to the conversation. It doesn’t change the fact that the majority have these tendencies, and it’s not a surprise when people are not fans of either.
It’s just not fruitful to discuss what a few outliers do well if it’s a failure of the government on a systemic level to have reasonable police officers
I disagree. I think pointing out and rewarding good policework while simultaneously attacking bad policework helps clarify what the public expects.
If you say something like “defund the police” or “ACAB,” that’s going to put police generally on the defensive, and now you need to fight against the powerful police union. If you instead call out specific bad actors and also good actors, you can work with the police union to find solutions.
Yes, we need reform in the police system, and that means some combination of better training, higher consequences, and better enforcement of police policies. I think the average cop would agree with you, so why not work with them?
I agree with this sentiment, with one caveat. The idiom “One bad apple spoils the bunch”.
Until the good cops start policing the bad ones, we can’t know which we’re dealing with and so must begin every interaction with self preservation in mind, as if it will be with the bad one. That sours even the good cops, eventually reinforcing the idea of “us against them” and turning them into future bad ones.
The entire process is just flawed.
Some of them do though. I’ve seen videos where police arrest other police. They do exist, and they should be rewarded. Instead, the courts often give bad cops a pass.
The problem is “qualified immunity” and the police union, which has fought to make it nearly impossible to hold courts accountable.
This is definitely not normal though. Chicken shit cops are afraid of blowback and ultimately do nothing. ACAB
Again, there are good cops and bad cops. Unfortunately, the good cops who actually arrest bad cops don’t get the recognition they deserve.
It’s not about the few good cops that don’t get enough recognition - that’s not what ACAB means. ACAB means that the police as an institution is flawed on a foundational, systemic level and a few good actors don’t cancel that out.
It’s just not fruitful to discuss what a few outliers do well if it’s a failure of the government on a systemic level to have reasonable police officers. The job itself invites power-tripping men into it who want to abuse power, and they get away with it because there’s not enough disciplinary measures taken from higher-ups and the government to counteract that.
It’s like when women talk about their bad experiences with men and that they’re afraid to be around them and a man chimes in to say “but not all men are like that”. Yes, people know - it’s obvious - but it just doesn’t add anything of value to the conversation. It doesn’t change the fact that the majority have these tendencies, and it’s not a surprise when people are not fans of either.
I disagree. I think pointing out and rewarding good policework while simultaneously attacking bad policework helps clarify what the public expects.
If you say something like “defund the police” or “ACAB,” that’s going to put police generally on the defensive, and now you need to fight against the powerful police union. If you instead call out specific bad actors and also good actors, you can work with the police union to find solutions.
Yes, we need reform in the police system, and that means some combination of better training, higher consequences, and better enforcement of police policies. I think the average cop would agree with you, so why not work with them?