Hypothesis: The shift from police being peace officers to law-enforcement officers, along with the explosion of victimless "crimes," has diluted justice and "criminalized" daily life. Crime would decrease and freedom would increase, if police return to preventing violence and theft.
Overreaction
The death of George Floyd is another indication that law enforcement officers (LEOs) should once again be replaced by peace officers (POs). Yes, Floyd was accused of theft for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill, so in my interpretation of what "peace officers" should be responsible for, the police officers in this case were serving the good by capturing a suspected thief. But they failed at the most important part of their jobs - keeping the peace. What could the police officers have done differently?
Well first, what did Floyd do that drew a violent response? He honestly or deceptively had a claustrophobic panic response to getting in the the back of the police car handcuffed. His refusal could have been construed as resisting arrest by the police officers, which it appears would be a reasonable assumption. Again, what could the police officers have done differently?:
1. Was there an option of placing the suspect in a police van instead of the backseat of a patrol car?
2. Could he have been hogtied to restrict his movements?
3. Could the police officers have offered to issue a summons for such a misdemeanor?
4. Even with the constraints of the method they used to detain Floyd, there appears to have been no need to restrict the movement of Floyd's head, constrict his neck, or hold him chest down for the length of time that the police officers did. Even one officer suggested that Floyd be turned on his side, because it was apparently against police-department police for a suspect to be held on his chest for any length of time. And apparently Chauvin refused.
Judge Chauvin
The violent - yes, violent - arrest of George Floyd points to a disturbing trend in policing. The one "law" that cops enforce the most is "contempt of cop." And then there is the militarization of policing.
Whether Floyd resisted or not, Chauvin made a decision at some point to "punish" Floyd. It seems impossible to believe that Chauvin didn't know for at least 3 minutes that Floyd was unconscious. To keep Floyd in a prone position with 3 men kneeling on him showed a reckless disregard for human life, especially by Chauvin with his knee on Floyd's neck.
According to the medical examiner, Chauvin did not strangle Floyd to death. But that does not mean that Chauvin didn't murder Floyd. If a perp shot an elderly man, and the senior dies of a stroke after being shot, did the criminal not murder the victim?
Chauvin might not have the same disregard for life as Judge Dredd, but Chauvin did nothing to protect the life in his custody.
NOTE: Now the medical examiner has released a new statement, and it has been determine that Floyd was strangled at least on one side of his neck.
Police Militarization
The easiest way to see the militarization of police is the equipment. Often when people described the militarization of police they referencece the tool kit:
- Mine-resistant armored personnel carriers
- Body armor
- Shields
- Helmets
- Semiautomatic rifles
- Multiple magazines
But what I find more disturbing is the mindset. "Civilians" is a poisonous word. Often you hear police juxtaposed with civilians. But cops are also civilians. They are not separate or above us. They are there to serve other civilians. Where did the mindset that cops are separate from us come from?
The enforcement of victimless laws will be death of real peace and real laws
