Police are citizens. They enjoy the same rights we all do. They enjoy the same constitutional guarantees. If the civil libertarians do not want police officers to deny due process to citizens, they should not deny due process to police officers.

Best part of the article. Especially the first line. Police ARE citizens, with no more, and no less rights than any of the rest of us NOT currently wearing a uniform, and no one, especially police officers should never forget this.

Best part of the article. Especially the first line. Police ARE citizens, with no more, and no less rights than any of the rest of us NOT currently wearing a uniform, and no one, especially police officers should never forget this.

And entitled to due process and fair hearings, trials in any event where police misconduct is alleged.

Best part of the article. Especially the first line. Police ARE citizens, with no more, and no less rights than any of the rest of us NOT currently wearing a uniform, and no one, especially police officers should never forget this. And entitled to due process and fair hearings, trials in any event where police misconduct is alleged. 3 posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 1:02:22 PM by meandog ((please pray for future

Actually, police and cops in general have no civil rights. When I was a detective, I wrote a letter -not on county stationary - urging clemency for a suspect in a homicide case I had investigated.

The agency I worked wanted to give me thirty days off without pay.

I spoke with a very high powered attorney, one anyone in California LEO biz would know. He simply stated, "you're screwed man, don't you know what's going in your county?"

Police ARE citizens

Citizens pay taxes and are required to obey the law. The police do not pay taxes (they are paid from the tax pool) and they do not have to obey the law.

They are not citizens - by their own choice.

By your definition, then politicians and elected officials that skirt the law or buy their way out of it are also non-citizens.

Pure hokum. Peace officers have to file income tax reports and pay taxes just like the rest of us do.

By your definition, then politicians and elected officials that skirt the law or buy their way out of it are also non-citizens.

Ayup.

Peace officers have to file income tax reports and pay taxes just like the rest of us do.

If I come up to you and take $20 from your wallet and then give you $5 back, am I paying you?

I wasn’t disagreeing with that part.

However... I will say that IF you catch a criminal on tape robbing a store, or murdering or any other sundry crimes, it’s nearly an open and shut case, and yes, they DO get a trial, even sometimes when confronted with the video.

A cop who does something that is illegal is in the same boat. Sure they deserve exactly the same deal as criminals in those cases.

Look I think police officers and firefighters are some of the bravest folks alive, especially those that live and work in the inner cities. I have an uncle who is retired now, who was both a Detroit police officer and a Detroit fireman. God knows the two jobs nearly both killed him.

But at the same time this doesn’t give any of our hero figures a out on crime, or doing something that is clearly against what’s right.

I guess my beef is that I’ve seen a LOT of cops lately shown on videos tazing people, or beating the crap out of someone when they could have easily ASKED them to “get down on the ground” but didn’t take that opportunity.

I’m not talking about situations where they were obviously in danger. I’m talking, for instance of the tasing where a cop asked the guy on the ground “Hurts doesn’t it?”.

That’s wrong and that cop should be prosecuted for it, and the city shouldn’t just PAY to sweep it under the rug like they did and leave that creep on the force. Sorry, that doesn’t wash.

I really believe it is a case of “walk a mile in another's moccasins” when talking about firefighters, police or uniformed military. In the heat of the moment, people are capable of anything, despite training to the contrary; it is especially evident in wartime scenarios where atrocious acts, though rare, are sometimes committed.

I’m afraid you’re talking to the wrong guy about “walking a mile” in someone else’s shoes. I don’t have too. Been there done that friend.

I saw a portion of the video. It showed officers approaching a vehicle that was stopped on the street. Officer opened the back door pulled a man out and started kicking him while he was laying down on the street. He was not resisting in any way and the cops were not even attempting to place handcuffs on the man. They were viciously kicking the guy.

Here's two links

Philadelphia police

Philadelphia police beating