Massachusetts Police Get Black Uniforms to Instill Sense of 'Fear'

Smidgey · 01-05-2008, 09:46 AM

My experience with the police is that they like spending far too much of their time annoying the public who are doing basically nothing wrong except maybe violating some tiny by-law or such.

I have had two runs in with the police recently (both for acts which did not break any law nor did they harm anyone else). A recent one was where I was leaving a friends house at night (I think it was about 12:30) and I couldn't figure out how to open his gate. His fence was only about up to my waist, so I decided just to jump over it instead. To my great misfortune, a police car was going by, and instead of just going up to the doorbell and ringing it and solving the problem, he thought he would take down all of my details and phone up their central office or whatever it is to see if I had a record (which of course I did not).

By the way, I have also learned that you should never say "Don't you have a murder to solve?" to a police officer. It just makes them become angry and go on a power trip (as if they weren't already on one) as well as keeping you waiting for another 5-10 minutes.

Mikeuk · 01-05-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Heaver

Perhaps you'd be more inclined to believe in heavy handed police Matt if you lived in inner city London, Birmingham, Liverpool or any other large city instead of Woking.
How you can compare a police unit to the Nazi state based on the colour of their police uniform I don't know. Have you even seen a picture of the uniform you're condemning so vehemently?

You say that they are dressing for the criminal, not the ordinary person. This makes no sense. The ordinary person wants the police to tackle the criminal and if this is a measure they’re taking towards that, then why not?

Black uniforms were very much the hallmark of the Nazi SS. Their official newsletter was named 'Das Schwarze Korps'

Most police forces - perhaps including this one - actually wear dark blue uniforms, not black.

The swastika used to be a perfectly innocuous symbol before the Nazis hijacked it. I don't think you'd waste your breath attempting to defend a business or political group which attempted to 'reclaim' it today.

Little Englander (sour) · 01-05-2008, 12:17 PM

Why do Chinese police cars, deployed in Tibet, have the English word "POLICE" as livery?
Why do Chinese police have "SWAT" emblazoned on their "black" uniforms?
Are the police farces of the world becoming unified?

Westcountryman · 01-05-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Englander (sour)

Why do Chinese police cars, deployed in Tibet, have the English word "POLICE" as livery?
Why do Chinese police have "SWAT" emblazoned on their "black" uniforms?
Are the police farces of the world becoming unified?

To make it easier for English-speaking people to identify them I expect.

mkpdavies · 01-05-2008, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Perhaps you'd be more inclined to believe in heavy handed police Matt if you lived in inner city London, Birmingham, Liverpool or any other large city instead of Woking.
How you can compare a police unit to the Nazi state based on the colour of their police uniform I don't know. Have you even seen a picture of the uniform you're condemning so vehemently?

You say that they are dressing for the criminal, not the ordinary person. This makes no sense. The ordinary person wants the police to tackle the criminal and if this is a measure they’re taking towards that, then why not?

Going on that logic, why not give them all machine guns, allow torture and implement ID cards too. After all, you do want them to be able to catch and punish the criminals right?

If you think dressing to scare people, will scare criminals then I fear we are destined for some tyranny.

Little Englander (sour) · 01-05-2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eurosceptic Atlanticist

To make it easier for English-speaking people to identify them I expect.

Must be a lot of English speakers in Tibet and China or, did the police know in advance that the English speaking world would have their cammeras out in farce? accordingly - did a quick paint job.

Westcountryman · 01-05-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Englander (sour)

Must be a lot of English speakers in Tibet and China or, did the police know in advance that the English speaking world would have their cammeras out in farce? accordingly - did a quick paint job.

I expect it's for tourists mainly.

tito · 01-05-2008, 06:30 PM

Professional uniforms, I believe, are far more effective than scary ones!

You want to be respected, not feared!

The worst uniforms are in some US states where they just wear cotton t-shirts with police on them :s

Westcountryman · 01-05-2008, 06:32 PM

Credit to the LAPD on a highly professional uniform:

Most Police Officers in the UK no longer bother with their hat/helmet, polished shoes or a tie.

mkpdavies · 01-05-2008, 06:51 PM

And the reality

LiveLeak.com - LAPD beat suspect

LiveLeak.com - LAPD Beating.

01-05-2008, 09:46 AM	#11 (permalink)
Smidgey Uber Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 2,001 Party: Libertarian Party	My experience with the police is that they like spending far too much of their time annoying the public who are doing basically nothing wrong except maybe violating some tiny by-law or such. I have had two runs in with the police recently (both for acts which did not break any law nor did they harm anyone else). A recent one was where I was leaving a friends house at night (I think it was about 12:30) and I couldn't figure out how to open his gate. His fence was only about up to my waist, so I decided just to jump over it instead. To my great misfortune, a police car was going by, and instead of just going up to the doorbell and ringing it and solving the problem, he thought he would take down all of my details and phone up their central office or whatever it is to see if I had a record (which of course I did not). By the way, I have also learned that you should never say "Don't you have a murder to solve?" to a police officer. It just makes them become angry and go on a power trip (as if they weren't already on one) as well as keeping you waiting for another 5-10 minutes. __________________ How vain is man, who boasts in fight the valour of gigantic might! -Georg Friedrich Händel

01-05-2008, 12:17 PM	#13 (permalink)
Little Englander (sour) Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 648	Why do Chinese police cars, deployed in Tibet, have the English word "POLICE" as livery? Why do Chinese police have "SWAT" emblazoned on their "black" uniforms? Are the police farces of the world becoming unified? __________________ Little Englander (bigoted)

01-05-2008, 06:32 PM	#19 (permalink)
Westcountryman Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Westcountry. Posts: 5,692 Party: Libertarian Party	Credit to the LAPD on a highly professional uniform: Most Police Officers in the UK no longer bother with their hat/helmet, polished shoes or a tie. __________________ Anyone who supports 42 days pre-charge detention should read this: 42-day detention: the threat to our liberty \| John Major - Times Online and this: Why David Davis is right to make a stand \| Mail Online

01-05-2008, 06:51 PM	#20 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,615	And the reality LiveLeak.com - LAPD beat suspect LiveLeak.com - LAPD Beating. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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