> From: Ed Fesler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Much of the support for McManus comes from people who don't like the police. > > My prediction: If McManus is confirmed, the result will be more complaints > against the police, not less. > > What happens when you raise expectations which can't possibly be met? What > will happen when criminals think they and the police are on a level playing > field?
What complete nonsense. Is this a threat or simply a prediction? Police cultures everywhere, especially in Minneapolis, are rife with the need for reform. The police culture long ago decided it would be a separate one from the community we pay them to serve and protect. The rest of the world, for that matter. Does this mean we/I "don't the police?" Damned right. Do I know we need a police force? Of course. And it's because we need a police force that they have a greater responsibility to be the best they can possibly be at serving and protecting - not isolating and thumping - selected members of that community. People who do not like the police are not just the law-breakers of the community; we are people who believe that police officers should be members of the community protecting their neighbors with genuine compassion and understanding of the causes of crime as well as the need to stop crime. Police do not prevent crime, not by their existence and sometimes not even by their presence. They can only find and apprehend perpetrators and solve crimes. They may witness crimes, but very rarely and usually mild traffic violations. Still, there they are, uniformed and armed to the teeth with weapons of human destruction, licensed to kill and often without the cool head and keen eye to prevent the carnage they too often inflict on residents gone bad, but who deserve consideration as human beings as much as victims of the crimes they have committed. Knowing this history, those of us who have grown to dislike the police (not every police officer) demand better leadership and more accountability for their performance in uniform and out. We have every right to demand this higher level of professionalism from the people we pay to walk around with guns at the hip. If a chief is as dysfunctional as many of his charges, then he/she should be replaced by someone who is not so and is willing to professionalize the force and rein in the irresponsible killers among them. McManus may not be perfect, but it appears that the police "supporters" - like those who accuse antiwar activists of hating the soldiers fighting those wars - are prepared to attack the watchdogs and not the "bad apples" they claim bad cops are for supporting him. Many are either as dysfunctional as the thumpers they defend or have their heads in the sand as to whom the real enemies of domestic peace really are. He will have a huge job herding the cats that comprise the scattered corps of mixed abilities and attitudes making up the Minneapolis force. He has about a 60-year entrenched culture of serious human dysfunction to weed out. Defending the miserable members by attacking the chief's supporters is no way to serve the community. Andy > From: Ed Fesler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 06:37:36 -0800 (PST) > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: MPD: A short honeymoon for McManus? > > Here is an article by David Chanen: "expect short honeymoon for McManus" > > http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4320024.html > > Much of the support for McManus comes from people who don't like the police. > > My prediction: If McManus is confirmed, the result will be more complaints > against the police, not less. > > What happens when you raise expectations which can't possibly be met? What > will happen when criminals think they and the police are on a level playing > field? > > Council Members who want to heat up the issue of police brutality should > vote IN FAVOR of Manus. > > I am sure that the Mayor and the Liberal Establishment think that the > McManus appointment will put the issue of police brutality to rest. Instead > of quieting critics of the police, the issue will move to the front burner. > > Save us from naive, well-meaning liberals and their good intentions! > > When will they ever learn? > > > Ed Fesler > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Minneapolis REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
