I know not all cops are bad, but these two certainly seem to be. The childish and unprofessional conversation between the two police officers really makes one think about the reputation and ethics of those in charge of "serving and protecting" us. Warning: language. http://www.buzzfeed.com/davidmack/austin-police-investigating-after-cops-recorded-joking-about
A Mature Conversation Accidentally Recorded Between Two Austin, Texas Cops
- Thread starter SeaBreeze
- Start date
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
OMG!!! If even 2 Police officers are joking about it, then you know for sure that other cops are thinking or saying similar!! Dear God they have now given the public the reason to suspect that even decent police are thinking or saying the same thing...as if Rape wasn't a very hard thing to report without these 2 buffoons now making it so much harder for people who will read this and believe that they will not be taken seriously!!
On the subject of Robbery...they remark...''you probably **** deserved it''!
mg:
these guys have got to be suspended while being intensively retrained!!
On the subject of Robbery...they remark...''you probably **** deserved it''!
mg:these guys have got to be suspended while being intensively retrained!!
Debby
Well-known Member
- Location
- East coast of Canada
Try this story out: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-11-01/warning-avoid-corrupt-third-world-country-all-costs
It opens with a highway patrol officer 'confiscating' the cash of a man that was pulled over for a traffic violation in California. The money was legally obtained and he's been fighting to get it back for the last two years. It goes on to say that those confiscations have pulled in over $2 billion dollars since 9/11 and the government calls it Civil Asset Forfeiture. I guess that's to make it sound all legal and righteous or something. Sounds better than theft.
The ACLU has a page about it also. https://www.aclu.org/criminal-law-reform/civil-asset-forfeiture
Would you be willing to call the cops after reading these kinds of stories or worse yet, being involved with cops like the OP described or this article?
It opens with a highway patrol officer 'confiscating' the cash of a man that was pulled over for a traffic violation in California. The money was legally obtained and he's been fighting to get it back for the last two years. It goes on to say that those confiscations have pulled in over $2 billion dollars since 9/11 and the government calls it Civil Asset Forfeiture. I guess that's to make it sound all legal and righteous or something. Sounds better than theft.
The ACLU has a page about it also. https://www.aclu.org/criminal-law-reform/civil-asset-forfeiture
Would you be willing to call the cops after reading these kinds of stories or worse yet, being involved with cops like the OP described or this article?
Pappy
Living the Dream
Really makes one stop and think, doesn't it? Who the hell do you rely on for help when this corruption probably goes all the way to the top.
JustBonee
SF VIP
- Location
- Texas Gulf Coast
Around here, Austin is known as the capital of WEIRD. .. expect anything.
Grumpy Ol' Man
Senior Member
- Location
- Kansas, U.S.
I spent a short time in law enforcement in the early 1970's. Small town in mid-America and our task was to keep the citizens... all citizens safe. We'd drive 'em home if they were a little inebriated rather than lock 'em up. We'd walk into domestic disturbances and end up sitting down at the kitchen table and talking things through with the couple. It was all about taking care of each other.
Today, I'm sorry to say I've lost faith in most law enforcement... especially in the large metro areas. Our own community is 60,000 and we still seem to have a diligent and honest law enforcement agency. It is one of the few I would put a lot of trust in. That's sad!!! We hear about the Third World countries whose police are corrupt. I hate to think we may be close to that same culture in our own enforcement community.
Today, I'm sorry to say I've lost faith in most law enforcement... especially in the large metro areas. Our own community is 60,000 and we still seem to have a diligent and honest law enforcement agency. It is one of the few I would put a lot of trust in. That's sad!!! We hear about the Third World countries whose police are corrupt. I hate to think we may be close to that same culture in our own enforcement community.
OMG!! How many cops think like that?!
Falcon
DV8
- Location
- So. California
The cops aren't the only ones who talk like that. There's talk like that in other "industries" also; auto repair shops, hospitals, retail
stores, mortuaries etc. A lot of it is referred to as "gallows humor" It relieves stress in an otherwise boring state.
stores, mortuaries etc. A lot of it is referred to as "gallows humor" It relieves stress in an otherwise boring state.
I am surprised by what is looking to be an 'anti-cop" sentiment here. I know that there are bad cops, just like in any profession, but I think that it's the exception and not the rule. Perhaps I've been fortunate, but I have not encountered a dishonest or unprofessional police officer-ever, even in my 'unruly' youth.
I've never had an issue with any cops in the US or UK. But when we lived in Uganda all the cops were corrupt. Everybody was corrupt. We got stopped for speeding and had to pay an on the scene fine or be forced to come back later for court and pay a lot more.
Debby
Well-known Member
- Location
- East coast of Canada
My husband has a friend who was in the RCMP back around the same time and he only lasted about three years before he quit and it was because of the attitude epitomized in the OP video. He felt like his co-workers were lacking in respect and a certain level of decency even back then. So this isn't exactly new, we just have videos and recorders everywhere that catch it.
QuickSilver
SF VIP
- Location
- Midwest
Yes... I can attest to that. Gallows humor is alive and well in hospitals.. the public would be horrified if they heard some of the things that are said.
When auto mechanics, or Walmart clerks have power to tase, shoot and arrest me, then I'll worry about their "humor" on the job. I wouldn't want to be stopped for anything by these characters, after they're all pumped up and giddy from their private conversations.
These cops could save that kind of behavior for off-duty, if they can't control themselves that much, they shouldn't be in that position. Police are in a position of authority over the American citizens, and they should show some maturity on the job at least, IMO.
AprilT
Well-known Member
- Location
- A galaxy far far away
Honestly, nothing surprising, we have good and bad people in every profession, there are some of the worse people sworn to serve and protect in factions of service to the public from police to armed forces, thank goodness there are as many good people as well to counter, but, yes it's scary to know so many unscrupulous folks carry a badge. We are constantly reading about people here in law enforcement engaging in behaviors causing them to be put on suspension to loosing their badge, lots of sex parties and all.
case in point of misconduct and no one giving darn and people sworn to serve and protect looking the other way:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L34qSYmIsxU
Last edited:
oakapple
Senior Member
- Location
- Oxford England
Exactly right! This won't be new behaviour at all, it just gets picked up more nowadays.
Unless these increasing numbers [of police misconduct] are witnessed firsthand, then we would (probably)be witnessing via "the Media' (radio, TV, internet) to learn of the incidents. As the Media tends to focus more on sensational stories(Ebola, anyone?) the next worst thing is seeing the police beating up citizens on the 6 o'clock news, or learning of other misbehaviour while under the colour of authority.
In addition to the increasingly sensational news reporting, I believe there are greater numbers of violent criminals and/or crazy people that police are encountering...which leads to ugly officer-involved incidents. Officers targeted by gunfire(2 killed recently in California) and a couple attacked by a hacket wielding "suspect"...these incidents are definitely on the rise, with no end in sight.
I'd have to be a cop or an criminal to witness any of these things first hand, and I choose to be neither. Most of us hear reporting of various incidents on the news, and most of us know that there is sensationalism in many news reports, we've talked about it here in the past on the forum. And yes, Ebola is a good example.
There are exaggerations regarding police, criminal and victim conduct to be sure, we just have to learn both sides of the story and see which one is more believable. To be fair, I'd have to say there are a greater number of violent and crazy people, criminals and police these days.
Warrigal
SF VIP
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
AprilT, that video is probably the most shocking thing that I have ever seen, given that a young mother was abused at the hands of law enforcement IN A COURTHOUSE, and no-one took any notice of her complaint, not even the judge to whom she was appealing. That the judge ignored her and played with her little daughter, never looking up once, is so disturbing. She allowed the complaining woman to be arrested and taken away to gaol and the tiny girl to be taken away to care.
The mother was not drunk, abusive nor under the influence of drugs. She is a petite vulnerable young mother and should have the protection of law enforcement and the court.
Absolutely outrageous.
The mother was not drunk, abusive nor under the influence of drugs. She is a petite vulnerable young mother and should have the protection of law enforcement and the court.
Absolutely outrageous.
AprilT
Well-known Member
- Location
- A galaxy far far away
I feel sorry for the child too, that whole incident stinks! We'd never know about any of these things if it wasn't for cameras/video. Likely lots of tales go untold.
Unfortunately these kinds of behaviors aren't as uncommon as people would have you believe. If it doesn't move forward the right agenda, or inconveniences someone such as it may have the judge and others in incidents like this, they don't really let their conscious move them to act. This is how the world operates and most don't get that unless they bare witness to it up close and personal, but its happening and often times victims don't speak up just to avoid finding themselves becoming twice victimized as in the young women did in the video.
Sad indeed.
But again, I will state, these people don't represent the entirety, but these systems are quite corrupt.
Well said April, I agree.
Rocky
Member
- Location
- Austin, Texas
As recent events have unfolded, it is becoming more and more apparent that cops consider themselves an entity onto themselves. I've had disastrous episodes doing "ride-alongs" and also at social events ... this was years ago. Little has changed. It has just become more public.
Perhaps, as in the case of the cops making light of "rape" and the subsequent public uproar, the behavior of sadistic/bigoted cops will also become more public, tho' the fight will be long and hard and filled with obscenities and slander.
Rocky
Blaze Duskdreamer
Member
They need to be removed from office. No way are they protecting rape victims. I have the uneasy feeling that they've created rape victims. Who but a rapist would think that is funny! It's beyond dark humor. I love dark humor. This is not that. It is something just plain dark.
The union rep just sickens and disgusts me -- and I'm a big supporter of unions.
I get why good cops don't do anything about it. They don't want to wind up like Serpico (and Serpico was lucky; I bet cops like him get shot "in the line of duty" every day standing up for what's right) but every bad cop out there stinks up the force and makes the good cops look guilty by association. They aren't but when it's like this how are you to know the good from the bad and which uniform you can trust and which you can't.
What kills me is the suggestion that we all leave the country or at least bank elsewhere. Yeah, just let me jet over to Switzerland periodically (I once knew a rich man who did this but the key word there is rich) to do my banking. I'd love to emigrate but my daughter and grandson would have to come too and he can't. He's got his Dad and all his Dad's family too. So we're stuck. Besides, I look into other countries immigration laws all the time and unless you have family there or are some business or celebrity hot shot with something special to offer whatever that means but can bet it doesn't mean my pension that will be sent anywhere in the world, they're not accepting and I don't really blame them. They largely take refugees but good luck claiming you're one just because you're fed up with the horseshit that happens here in American when we have people fleeing much worse atrocities world-wide. So, he himself, did not have a realistic view. At least his suggestions are doable -- for the very wealthy.
Um, that's a tad beyond "gallows" humor when they're blowing the whistle at the woman and suggesting she be raped basically speaking. Not only is she sent a message that she can't call on the police for protection, she and any other potential victim within earshot, any potential rapist within earshot is being sent a we'll look the other way bitch is just asking for it message. Plus the comment about deserving to be robbed. This is inexcusable, unprofessional behavior.
I don't trust cops. I'll call them if I need their help and I know there's good ones but you never know what you're going to get. In high school, my oldest sister then 19 was home from a mental hospital she'd been in since age 13. My mother slapped me because she'd knew my sis would defend me and she wanted to send her back to the hospital. We lived in the country then so State troopers were the law enforcement. State trooper came, me and three little sisters and my older sister told the truth, I had the mark on my face but he chose to believe my mother saying sis hit her while neglecting to mention it was in my defense. Why? Because it was easier. All he had to do was send my sister back to the hospital. If he had acted on the obvious truth, he'd still have had to do that, arrest my mother for assaulting me and put the rest of us into foster care or found family willing to take us in as my aunt probably would have at least temporarily. He was lazy. He took the course of less action. This is nothing next to the incidents above and, I was a teen, I had no idea about reporting to Internal Affairs and probably wouldn't have if I had. He left. My mother locked me outside for telling the truth and encouraging my little sisters to do so also. Cold night. No coat. And only let me in because I took action, standing outside her window and singing loudly -- mocking her with her beloved hymns -- in protest, in you ain't going to get any sleep if you don't let me into that warm house! She ribbed me until I disowned her after my youngest sister was out of the house for "serenading" her. I'm surprised she didn't get that State trooper back out to arrest me but I was a juvenile and it would be kind of hard for him to deny I was locked out.
Right on! High fives!
OMG, that poor little girl so sweetly trying to protect her Mom too! Her poor Mom. I wish I were more surprised. I'm not. Not even at the female judge looking the other way and thinking she's doing her part distracting that toddler. I've been through family court trying to protect my 3yo from an abusive father. Nothing like this but the assumption that I was just out to get my ex... The law guardian assigned to represent my daughter, not me, not her father, first words to me, "Why you out to get your ex-husband, bitch?" Nothing done about it. I was treated as hysterical when I reminded him he was my daughter's lawyer, not my ex's. If I had been in the courtroom of someone like that... (shudders)
I actually don't think there's increasing numbers. I think bad cops are just being exposed more because of things like the internet.
Yep. They're just being exposed as people capture on cell phones and upload to You Tube and as more and more people realize they can complain to Internal Affairs and are having the courage to do so.
The union rep just sickens and disgusts me -- and I'm a big supporter of unions.
I get why good cops don't do anything about it. They don't want to wind up like Serpico (and Serpico was lucky; I bet cops like him get shot "in the line of duty" every day standing up for what's right) but every bad cop out there stinks up the force and makes the good cops look guilty by association. They aren't but when it's like this how are you to know the good from the bad and which uniform you can trust and which you can't.
What kills me is the suggestion that we all leave the country or at least bank elsewhere. Yeah, just let me jet over to Switzerland periodically (I once knew a rich man who did this but the key word there is rich) to do my banking. I'd love to emigrate but my daughter and grandson would have to come too and he can't. He's got his Dad and all his Dad's family too. So we're stuck. Besides, I look into other countries immigration laws all the time and unless you have family there or are some business or celebrity hot shot with something special to offer whatever that means but can bet it doesn't mean my pension that will be sent anywhere in the world, they're not accepting and I don't really blame them. They largely take refugees but good luck claiming you're one just because you're fed up with the horseshit that happens here in American when we have people fleeing much worse atrocities world-wide. So, he himself, did not have a realistic view. At least his suggestions are doable -- for the very wealthy.
Um, that's a tad beyond "gallows" humor when they're blowing the whistle at the woman and suggesting she be raped basically speaking. Not only is she sent a message that she can't call on the police for protection, she and any other potential victim within earshot, any potential rapist within earshot is being sent a we'll look the other way bitch is just asking for it message. Plus the comment about deserving to be robbed. This is inexcusable, unprofessional behavior.
I don't trust cops. I'll call them if I need their help and I know there's good ones but you never know what you're going to get. In high school, my oldest sister then 19 was home from a mental hospital she'd been in since age 13. My mother slapped me because she'd knew my sis would defend me and she wanted to send her back to the hospital. We lived in the country then so State troopers were the law enforcement. State trooper came, me and three little sisters and my older sister told the truth, I had the mark on my face but he chose to believe my mother saying sis hit her while neglecting to mention it was in my defense. Why? Because it was easier. All he had to do was send my sister back to the hospital. If he had acted on the obvious truth, he'd still have had to do that, arrest my mother for assaulting me and put the rest of us into foster care or found family willing to take us in as my aunt probably would have at least temporarily. He was lazy. He took the course of less action. This is nothing next to the incidents above and, I was a teen, I had no idea about reporting to Internal Affairs and probably wouldn't have if I had. He left. My mother locked me outside for telling the truth and encouraging my little sisters to do so also. Cold night. No coat. And only let me in because I took action, standing outside her window and singing loudly -- mocking her with her beloved hymns -- in protest, in you ain't going to get any sleep if you don't let me into that warm house! She ribbed me until I disowned her after my youngest sister was out of the house for "serenading" her. I'm surprised she didn't get that State trooper back out to arrest me but I was a juvenile and it would be kind of hard for him to deny I was locked out.
When auto mechanics, or Walmart clerks have power to tase, shoot and arrest me, then I'll worry about their "humor" on the job. I wouldn't want to be stopped for anything by these characters, after they're all pumped up and giddy from their private conversations.
These cops could save that kind of behavior for off-duty, if they can't control themselves that much, they shouldn't be in that position. Police are in a position of authority over the American citizens, and they should show some maturity on the job at least, IMO.
Right on! High fives!
OMG, that poor little girl so sweetly trying to protect her Mom too! Her poor Mom. I wish I were more surprised. I'm not. Not even at the female judge looking the other way and thinking she's doing her part distracting that toddler. I've been through family court trying to protect my 3yo from an abusive father. Nothing like this but the assumption that I was just out to get my ex... The law guardian assigned to represent my daughter, not me, not her father, first words to me, "Why you out to get your ex-husband, bitch?" Nothing done about it. I was treated as hysterical when I reminded him he was my daughter's lawyer, not my ex's. If I had been in the courtroom of someone like that... (shudders)
I actually don't think there's increasing numbers. I think bad cops are just being exposed more because of things like the internet.
Yep. They're just being exposed as people capture on cell phones and upload to You Tube and as more and more people realize they can complain to Internal Affairs and are having the courage to do so.