A History of Modern Police

[wkmac]

Ever wonder how come there are men (and women) in costumes “policing” the rest of us?
Most people accept this relationship as both given – and eternal. That there have always been men (if not always women) in costumes “policing” the rest of us. But, in fact, it’s a relatively novel thing. Think back to your schooldays. Do you recall any mention of police when you were learning about the colonial era and the American Revolution? There were sheriffs, yes – and the local militia. But these were concerned mostly with keeping the peace – that is, stepping in when someone harmed someone else. Up to and even during the Civil War – a titanic struggle between the fading remnants of the old republican idea and the centralized, omnipotent state that took its place – the idea of police as we know it was essentially unknown. It is a modern concept – one developed out of the company town idea.

Where Do Cops Come From?

Thanks to Cop Block for linking the above.

 

[Returntosender]

Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America's Police Forces: Radley Balko: 9781610392112: Amazon.com: Books

Officer Misconduct / Internal Affairs

 

[wkmac]

Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America's Police Forces: Radley Balko: 9781610392112: Amazon.com: Books

Officer Misconduct / Internal Affairs

Radley has done great work in keeping up with this issue along with Will Grigg at Pro Liberate and the folks at Cop Block.

 

[wkmac]

THOUSANDS of people plead guilty to crimes every year in the United States because they know that the odds of a jury’s believing their word over a police officer’s are slim to none. As a juror, whom are you likely to believe: the alleged criminal in an orange jumpsuit or two well-groomed police officers in uniforms who just swore to God they’re telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but? As one of my colleagues recently put it, “Everyone knows you have to be crazy to accuse the police of lying.”

But are police officers necessarily more trustworthy than alleged criminals? I think not. Not just because the police have a special inclination toward confabulation, but because, disturbingly, they have an incentive to lie. In this era of mass incarceration, the police shouldn’t be trusted any more than any other witness, perhaps less so.

Why Police Officers Lie Under Oath