I also read the City Pages article on law suits paid out for excessive force. While I have a great deal of respect for police Officers, I am struck by the fact that none of the officers received discipline for their actions, and those who did received a slap on the wrist.
If the new chief is serious about changing the police department, he should treat the police like he has with the STOP Program. Start with minor policy infractions. It may make officers feel uncomfortable, but it send a clear message that you are their to make changes. You cannot change the community's wrongdoing without changing the police departments wrongdoing. Until police officers are held personally responsible for their actions, the tax payers of Minneapolis will continue to pay. While I understand the federations position, I wish they would step up to the plate and tell the bad offiecrs that they are on their own. I would guess that the numbers they would have to tell, are smaller than we may believe. As it stands, these officers are getting no discipline for excessive force or violating a persons rights. But the tax payers still foot the bill. The fault doesn't just lie with the police federation, it lies with the city council, the mayor and the chief of police. The Mayor and the City Council should be pushing for stronger discipline in the police department. I thought that was why they brought this chief in. The hardest pill to swallow are the law suits paid out to drug dealers, all because a police officer used excessive force on the warrant or when arresting them. Or suspects in stolen car chase who the police beat up at the end of the chase. To say that the police are stretched thin and stressed out is ridiculous. Those are hazards of the job and every day life for some people. I want to thank the many officers who put their lives on the line each day. Unfortunately, the good ones will be the ones to suffer in the end and the bad ones will go to a full retirement with full benefits. Michelle Hill Cleveland REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
