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| Copyright © 2006 - 2008 - Barry M. Baker - CareerPoliceOfficer.com |
| Disclaimer |
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Paul Craig Roberts wrote the Kemp-Roth bill and was Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. He was
Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal editorial page and
Contributing Editor of National Review. He is author or coauthor of
eight books, including The Supply-Side Revolution (Harvard
University Press). He has held numerous academic appointments,
including the William E. Simon Chair in Political Economy, Center
for Strategic and International Studies, Georgetown University and
Senior Research Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University.
He has contributed to numerous scholarly journals and testified
before Congress on 30 occasions. He has been awarded the U.S.
Treasury's Meritorious Service Award and the French Legion of
Honor. He was a reviewer for the Journal of Political Economy
under editor Robert Mundell. He is the co-author of The Tyranny
of Good Intentions. He is also coauthor with Karen Araujo of Chile:
Dos Visiones – La Era Allende-Pinochet (Santiago: Universidad
Andres Bello, 2000).
Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. He was
Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal editorial page and
Contributing Editor of National Review. He is author or coauthor of
eight books, including The Supply-Side Revolution (Harvard
University Press). He has held numerous academic appointments,
including the William E. Simon Chair in Political Economy, Center
for Strategic and International Studies, Georgetown University and
Senior Research Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University.
He has contributed to numerous scholarly journals and testified
before Congress on 30 occasions. He has been awarded the U.S.
Treasury's Meritorious Service Award and the French Legion of
Honor. He was a reviewer for the Journal of Political Economy
under editor Robert Mundell. He is the co-author of The Tyranny
of Good Intentions. He is also coauthor with Karen Araujo of Chile:
Dos Visiones – La Era Allende-Pinochet (Santiago: Universidad
Andres Bello, 2000).
"The only terrorist most Americans will ever encounter is a
policeman with a badge, nightstick, mace and Taser."
policeman with a badge, nightstick, mace and Taser."
| by Paul Craig Roberts |
“To begin with, our perception of the world is
deformed, incomplete. Then our memory is selective.
Finally, writing transforms.”
deformed, incomplete. Then our memory is selective.
Finally, writing transforms.”
"They threw him to the floor and tasered him right in front of
Senator Kerry and the large student audience, who captured on
video the unquestionable act of police brutality. Meyer was
carted off and jailed on a phony charge of "disrupting a public
event."
Senator Kerry and the large student audience, who captured on
video the unquestionable act of police brutality. Meyer was
carted off and jailed on a phony charge of "disrupting a public
event."
| by Paul Craig Roberts |
Wow! Some mini-resume. Dr. Roberts certainly has a lot of
accomplishments to his credit. I urge you to read the two articles by Dr.
Roberts which I've linked above.
accomplishments to his credit. I urge you to read the two articles by Dr.
Roberts which I've linked above.
| "Don't Tase me, Bro!" |
I can't help but wonder why a person with Paul Craig Robert's
intellectual accomplishments would use the ridiculous performance of
"wanna be famous" Andrew Meyer as an example of police brutality.
Here's a perfect lesson for you on the subject of perception. Dr. Roberts
watched the video of Meyer's act, and he saw an "unquestionable act of
police brutality." I watched the same tape, and I saw a perfect textbook
example of resisting arrest.
When it comes to the accusation of brutality...that's just simply
laughable.
When it comes to the use of the Taser, I'm sure you've seen videos
where you've questioned its use...particularly at the point when it's used.
I know I have; however, in Meyer's case, there's no question that use of
the Taser was justified. Sure...there were four police officers. They
could have twisted Meyer into knots; until, they got both wrists close
enough together to affix handcuffs.
Let's say the officers had passed on the Taser, and they used physical
force to handcuff Meyer. First, the event would have lasted longer, and
Meyer would have been screaming, as though in severe pain, the entire
time. Second, Meyer's continuing resistance could have -- hopefully
from the critics' perspective -- resulted in physical injury to Meyer. Had
Meyer sustained...say...a dislocated shoulder or a fractured wrist or
finger(s), the critics, including Dr. Roberts, would have been ecstatic.
Of course, any physical injury sustained by one of the police officers
would have been unimportant and a mere distraction from this
"unquestionable act of police brutality."
But...let's not forget that the officers, according to Dr. Roberts,
unlawfully arrested Meyer for a "phony charge of disrupting a public
event." When the loud and obviously disruptive Meyer surged forward
toward Senator John Kerry, I suppose Dr. Roberts believes the police
officers should have stood by and done nothing. After all, there are
plenty of videos out there showing university police officers doing just
that when loud and disruptive students charge after speakers in these so
called "academic settings."
Personally, I'd like to have seen Senator Kerry handle Meyer on his
own. After all, Senator Kerry is a self avowed hero, and he's perfectly
capable of protecting himself. Okay, I'm being sarcastic. I would have
blocked Meyer's advance exactly as those police officers did.
Knowing what we now know about Andrew Meyer, I doubt that he would
have posed any actual physical danger to the Senator. However, Meyer
is a big guy, and there's no doubt in my mind that, left to his advances,
he would have physically dominated and humiliated the Senator. While
I, personally, would have found Meyer's domination and humiliation of
Senator Kerry entertaining, I, as a police officer, would have never
given Meyer the opportunity to do so.
Make no mistake...these university police officers acted properly and
with restraint. However, that didn't stop the University of Florida from
suspending two of the police officers pending an investigation. What
investigation? Their suspension was simply an act of contrition at the
alter of political correctness. The officers were subsequently reinstated
after a sufficient period of homage.
When you become a police officer, you're going to run into a lot of
dangerous people, but your most dangerous enemies will be those people
who think they know everything about everything. When it comes to
the actions you take as a police officer, you can be attacked by these
types at any time.
You're beginning your police career at a time unique to any other.
Never before have the "cop haters" had so many ways to dispense their
pseudo expertise. The Internet, newspapers, and 24 hour news have
brought information sharing to a level never before realized. The
Internet allows views to be voiced on anything by anybody...even
competent and informed views by those actually possessing real
expertise on a subject. You could say that the Internet is the only truly
democratic institution in existence.
When it comes to newspapers and television news, the truth and
accuracy about anything is always going to be presented only after it
goes through the sieve of political correctness. While one would think
that video of an actual event would serve to accurately depict that event,
it's not so with those police videos labeled as police brutality.
Remember this...any use of force by a police officer, no matter how
minor or justified, can be labeled as police brutality. The University of
Florida video is proof that there's a serious shortage of videos depicting
real police brutality.
Webster's Dictionary defines brutality as a "savage, cruel, and inhuman
act."
Let's make this simple with a clear example of police brutality:
You've just arrested a man, and he's lying on his stomach with his
hands cuffed behind his back. He's shouting insults and just being
generally obnoxious, but he's not making any movement. Tired of
listening to his insults, you walk over to him and kick him once in the
head.
I know...it's a no brainer. The act you just committed is clearly, savage,
cruel, and inhuman.
Here's what you have to remember. You're entering a profession where
you will, from time to time, be required to employ violence to resist and
subdue violence. As long as the violence you employ is not gratuitous
and unnecessary, you'll never commit an act of brutality.
Police brutality has become such an overused term that the smarter cop
haters have toned down their shrill condemnations by using the more
benign and vague term, "excessive force." This transformation hasn't
done anything to help their perceptions, but it has given them wider
latitude in explaining their more ridiculous observations.
The worst critics you'll encounter will be those who have absolutely no
personal experience at physically subduing another human being who
doesn't want to be subdued. Sadly, many of the critics will be
intelligent, highly educated, and verifiable experts in their own
professions.
It's all just about power and politics. The police officer is a highly visible
symbol of authority and indispensable for social order. You'll find that
your most vociferous critics will be individuals with power in their own
right, but they don't individually possess the power of physical force
over others that you do. This is the thing they despise most about you.
Just the thought that they might be subject to the commands of a police
officer is anathema to them. You should also notice that these critics
are most vocal when their own political and social agendas are not being
implemented whether those agendas be on a local or national level.
Because you are such a visible symbol of power, you'll always be at risk
of becoming a pond for those who want to change the political order of
things. The only thing you can do to protect yourself from the know
nothing experts is to perform your duties as professionally as possible.
When it comes to using force, use the amount you must, and only that
amount. Being right won't protect you from criticism, but being right
will, in most instances, prevent the cop haters from destroying you.
intellectual accomplishments would use the ridiculous performance of
"wanna be famous" Andrew Meyer as an example of police brutality.
Here's a perfect lesson for you on the subject of perception. Dr. Roberts
watched the video of Meyer's act, and he saw an "unquestionable act of
police brutality." I watched the same tape, and I saw a perfect textbook
example of resisting arrest.
When it comes to the accusation of brutality...that's just simply
laughable.
When it comes to the use of the Taser, I'm sure you've seen videos
where you've questioned its use...particularly at the point when it's used.
I know I have; however, in Meyer's case, there's no question that use of
the Taser was justified. Sure...there were four police officers. They
could have twisted Meyer into knots; until, they got both wrists close
enough together to affix handcuffs.
Let's say the officers had passed on the Taser, and they used physical
force to handcuff Meyer. First, the event would have lasted longer, and
Meyer would have been screaming, as though in severe pain, the entire
time. Second, Meyer's continuing resistance could have -- hopefully
from the critics' perspective -- resulted in physical injury to Meyer. Had
Meyer sustained...say...a dislocated shoulder or a fractured wrist or
finger(s), the critics, including Dr. Roberts, would have been ecstatic.
Of course, any physical injury sustained by one of the police officers
would have been unimportant and a mere distraction from this
"unquestionable act of police brutality."
But...let's not forget that the officers, according to Dr. Roberts,
unlawfully arrested Meyer for a "phony charge of disrupting a public
event." When the loud and obviously disruptive Meyer surged forward
toward Senator John Kerry, I suppose Dr. Roberts believes the police
officers should have stood by and done nothing. After all, there are
plenty of videos out there showing university police officers doing just
that when loud and disruptive students charge after speakers in these so
called "academic settings."
Personally, I'd like to have seen Senator Kerry handle Meyer on his
own. After all, Senator Kerry is a self avowed hero, and he's perfectly
capable of protecting himself. Okay, I'm being sarcastic. I would have
blocked Meyer's advance exactly as those police officers did.
Knowing what we now know about Andrew Meyer, I doubt that he would
have posed any actual physical danger to the Senator. However, Meyer
is a big guy, and there's no doubt in my mind that, left to his advances,
he would have physically dominated and humiliated the Senator. While
I, personally, would have found Meyer's domination and humiliation of
Senator Kerry entertaining, I, as a police officer, would have never
given Meyer the opportunity to do so.
Make no mistake...these university police officers acted properly and
with restraint. However, that didn't stop the University of Florida from
suspending two of the police officers pending an investigation. What
investigation? Their suspension was simply an act of contrition at the
alter of political correctness. The officers were subsequently reinstated
after a sufficient period of homage.
When you become a police officer, you're going to run into a lot of
dangerous people, but your most dangerous enemies will be those people
who think they know everything about everything. When it comes to
the actions you take as a police officer, you can be attacked by these
types at any time.
You're beginning your police career at a time unique to any other.
Never before have the "cop haters" had so many ways to dispense their
pseudo expertise. The Internet, newspapers, and 24 hour news have
brought information sharing to a level never before realized. The
Internet allows views to be voiced on anything by anybody...even
competent and informed views by those actually possessing real
expertise on a subject. You could say that the Internet is the only truly
democratic institution in existence.
When it comes to newspapers and television news, the truth and
accuracy about anything is always going to be presented only after it
goes through the sieve of political correctness. While one would think
that video of an actual event would serve to accurately depict that event,
it's not so with those police videos labeled as police brutality.
Remember this...any use of force by a police officer, no matter how
minor or justified, can be labeled as police brutality. The University of
Florida video is proof that there's a serious shortage of videos depicting
real police brutality.
Webster's Dictionary defines brutality as a "savage, cruel, and inhuman
act."
Let's make this simple with a clear example of police brutality:
You've just arrested a man, and he's lying on his stomach with his
hands cuffed behind his back. He's shouting insults and just being
generally obnoxious, but he's not making any movement. Tired of
listening to his insults, you walk over to him and kick him once in the
head.
I know...it's a no brainer. The act you just committed is clearly, savage,
cruel, and inhuman.
Here's what you have to remember. You're entering a profession where
you will, from time to time, be required to employ violence to resist and
subdue violence. As long as the violence you employ is not gratuitous
and unnecessary, you'll never commit an act of brutality.
Police brutality has become such an overused term that the smarter cop
haters have toned down their shrill condemnations by using the more
benign and vague term, "excessive force." This transformation hasn't
done anything to help their perceptions, but it has given them wider
latitude in explaining their more ridiculous observations.
The worst critics you'll encounter will be those who have absolutely no
personal experience at physically subduing another human being who
doesn't want to be subdued. Sadly, many of the critics will be
intelligent, highly educated, and verifiable experts in their own
professions.
It's all just about power and politics. The police officer is a highly visible
symbol of authority and indispensable for social order. You'll find that
your most vociferous critics will be individuals with power in their own
right, but they don't individually possess the power of physical force
over others that you do. This is the thing they despise most about you.
Just the thought that they might be subject to the commands of a police
officer is anathema to them. You should also notice that these critics
are most vocal when their own political and social agendas are not being
implemented whether those agendas be on a local or national level.
Because you are such a visible symbol of power, you'll always be at risk
of becoming a pond for those who want to change the political order of
things. The only thing you can do to protect yourself from the know
nothing experts is to perform your duties as professionally as possible.
When it comes to using force, use the amount you must, and only that
amount. Being right won't protect you from criticism, but being right
will, in most instances, prevent the cop haters from destroying you.
| John Kerry speech September 17, Constitution Day, University of Florida, Gainesville |
“Monarchy degenerates into tyranny, aristocracy
into oligarchy, and democracy into savage violence
and chaos” ~ Polybius
(Polybius was a Greek statesman and historian, c.203-122 BCE)
into oligarchy, and democracy into savage violence
and chaos” ~ Polybius
(Polybius was a Greek statesman and historian, c.203-122 BCE)
(10 October 1913 – 6 July 2005) Claude Simon was a French novelist and the 1985
Nobel Laureate in Literature
Nobel Laureate in Literature
~ Claude Simon
| your most dangerous enemies... |
| Pop Quiz |
Which of the following statements best describes most critics'
objections to the use of a Taser to subdue an individual?
objections to the use of a Taser to subdue an individual?
A. Use of the Taser will cause pain to the person being subdued.
B. A police officer could be accidentally tased during the arrest.
C. Use of the Taser will not produce bruises; contusions; lacerations;
bleeding and broken bones which could better support an allegation of
police brutality.
D. Use of the Taser is not a politically correct application of force.
B. A police officer could be accidentally tased during the arrest.
C. Use of the Taser will not produce bruises; contusions; lacerations;
bleeding and broken bones which could better support an allegation of
police brutality.
D. Use of the Taser is not a politically correct application of force.
Your critics will always present themselves as protectors of
democracy, but are they really...
democracy, but are they really...
| Read Police Author Marshall Frank's article on this site: Going After the Cops |
Thirty years of law enforcement in Miami, Florida,
including sixteen years working homicide, gives
Marshall Frank a huge reservoir from which to draw
insights into the problems facing America today.
After retiring from the Miami-Dade P.D. in 1990,
Frank went on to become a writer, now with eight
published books, five fiction and three non-fiction. His
book "Militant Islam In America" was published after
an exhaustive research study about the inroads that
radicals are making within the borders of the U.S. He
is currently working on a non-fiction book about the
including sixteen years working homicide, gives
Marshall Frank a huge reservoir from which to draw
insights into the problems facing America today.
After retiring from the Miami-Dade P.D. in 1990,
Frank went on to become a writer, now with eight
published books, five fiction and three non-fiction. His
book "Militant Islam In America" was published after
an exhaustive research study about the inroads that
radicals are making within the borders of the U.S. He
is currently working on a non-fiction book about the
abominable criminal justice system. Book listings, prices and availability can
be accessed at his web site: www.marshallfrank.com
You can contact Marshall Frank at: mlf283@aol.com
be accessed at his web site: www.marshallfrank.com
You can contact Marshall Frank at: mlf283@aol.com
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