Why do so many police go along with blantantly violating the rights of citizens?

Question

From illegal searches without warants (LAPD Crash unit is infamous for this)TO SIEZING GUNS DURING HURRICANE KATRINA, to violating their oath to uphold the constitution and demanding that a citizen self incriminate by handing over identification if the officer doesn't like something you did (has actually happened to me for taking a cops photo in a public street, I was eventually cited for jaywalking, I had stepped off the curb and into a parking lot, I had that case dismissed) why do police go along with these unamerican, totally unconstitutional actions?

Answer 1

it's a classic game of tests
thye test the constitutional limits to see who pushes back, in many
cases most people do not know there legal rights, and the police know that, it's foolish to think that the goverment will behave accordingly, we as the people must keep a constant vigil on our rights so that they do not erode over time. As Ben Franklin once put it... those who do not defend liberty, do not deserve it.

Answer 2

I will start off by saying there a some bad cops out there..... how else did we end up getting 7 million immigrants into the US in a 10 year period (2000 a day if you break it down) On the other hand, there a thousand apon thousands of cops (PEACE OFFICERS) that send there life (including holidays) protecting the rights of citizens. In one of the responces I read " in emergencies cops can enter your home without a warrent or knocking" This is right...... If a girl is being beat by her boyfriend almost to the point of death, would you want the police to take the time to get a warrent, knock and then come save the girl????? NO, you going to harass the cop asking him why his just standing there and doing nothing......SO next time you give cops **** about what they have done, sit back put yourself in thier boots and ask your self if you would kick in that door, shot the guy two time your size thats hopped up on meth. Peace officers are just like you. Human, if were shot, we bleed the same color.....

Answer 3

You left out information so I'll give you a few possible answers. This is the internet and I don't know what country you live in, but here in Canada and in most States you have the legal right to record on public property, within reason. Unless you had done something to obstruct justice beforehand, which they were arresting you for. It's not reasonable to think you have the right to record while being handcuffed for an alleged crime. But if recording itself was the reason for your arrest, yes your rights were violated, in legal terms as well if you're governed by laws protecting that freedom

Answer 4

The reason you were harassed for taking that picture is that there are sick people who have a game on the internet where they can win points by killing the cops whose pictures are posted on a site. And, emergency measures act erases all citizens rights until things back to normal. They really don't want armed citizens going around shooting others to protect property from looters. nothing is worth a life. There are too damned many guns in the states anyway. taking a few away, isn't going to even make a ripple in the pond.

Answer 5

You ain't seen nothin' yet!

Yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision, that "it would be rash to reject evidence simply because of a technical violation of the so-called knock-and-announce rule." They can kick down your door, without knocking, and they don't even have to say, "Ooopsie."

That's one. Now check this:

Monday, May 22, 2006, Associated Press:
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court reaffirmed Monday that police can enter homes in emergencies without knocking or announcing their presence.

Is the Fourth Amendment being watered down and whittled away?

There's a lot of discussion about this kind of thing. Law and Order freaks go to one extreme, civil libertarians go to the other.
Throw in the Second Amendment aspects of what happened in New Orleans and stir together with thousands of video surveillance cameras being installed in many cities and you have the recipe for tyranny.

Answer 6

I'am with speedtrap on this. You should try walking a mile in their shoes. A cop can't even pull a car over for a broken taillight without the fear of getting killed. By the way, if someone was breaking into your home right now, who would you call?

Answer 7

Interestingly on the news there is a case where someone is now allowed to sue the police. Their wife was killed and themselves injured by a person fleeing the police in their car. For three years he has been unable to sue the police. New ruling says that they can go to court. Indianapolis.

Answer 8

In some cases, I imagine there are mistakes. What amuses me to no end is that we hire and pay police to protect us and the peace, and then we spend so much time bad mouthing and criticizing them. The police I know are trustworthy, honest and hardworking. In the community where I live (a seaside resort), our police department is OUTSTANDING. They keep a tight rein on drunks and dope peddlers, and we have a peaceful town. I have never known so much as ONE honest, law abiding person in this town who isn't glad they are here to help us!! We admire and respect them!!

Hope you finally agree.

Answer 9

I am not condoning bad Cops because they are out there. But the job is very dangerous and hard on relationships. I think they have to look at the worst side of things first because criminals dont play by the rules.

Answer 10

The majority of them think thwey can get away with it. It's like being in a secret society of police officers, or to make a better comparison, a closed group of police thugs that can do whatever the hell they want, cause nobody cares.