clocker bob wrote: ..just the act of putting on that badge and gun convicts them in the eyes of many in society, just like black skin convicts many.
Which came first: the chicken or the egg?
Because black skin equals automatic guilt, people distrust cops for assessing guilt based soley on skin color. Since one is a reaction to the other, the two are not equatable. I think that people's aprehension is a survival tactic. Biologists teach zoo-raised endangered species to mistrust humans before they set them free, so that they do not get taken advantage of.
People's dubiousness towards police is not inherent, but the result of their [the cop's] predecessor's behavior. That is something up to the police to change. I am not going to let my guard down just because cops have a tough job. Its not like the job description was sprung on them after they graduated the academy.
Ditrust does not mean dislike. A crap/not crap attitude about the Chicago Police should be subjective. I've been sore about the CPD since our practice spot was robbed. Four months later one of the band members spotted some kid bumming for change and wearing one of the stolen basses in the same gig bag
right outside the spot! The CPD was called and upon arrival they immediately grilled the band member about what he was doing in that area. He explained the sit. and told them that if they opened the kids gig bag they'd find a Guild b301a bass.
So they went over to the kid, opened the bag, and found that same bass. One cop turned to the band member and said, "How do we know its yours?"
"Well I told you what was going to be in the bag. And that bass is on our police report. And we are right outside our practice spot."
"There were probably thousands of these made. You can't just go around accusing people of stealing your stuff."
"....wtf?"
They arrested the kid on an outstanding warrant, and on the way to process him, get this, they let him drop all of his property, including the bass, off at his friend's house. The ticket to $20,000 worth of stolen gear, and these two sawed-off cunts let it go because they're too lazy to do their jobs.
Another band member's dad is a Chicago cop, so they went up to the station with the dad and of course then everyone was embarrassed at what happened to a cop's son and "Oh we'll get some guys on it right away." They did recover about 75% of the stuff, but the lesson learned was you can get something done as long as you know the right people. And make friends with the kids of cops. it pays.
But not all cops are bad. I've never been fucked with by a bike cop. And I'm sure some are downright warm and fuzzy once they take off that catcher's equipment.
Do I think all cops are assholes? No, some of them are dicks.
Bob, son of Kat- Wiffleball, and all around, Champ.