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

mkpdavies · 29-04-2008, 10:42 PM

FOXNews.com - Massachusetts Police Get Black Uniforms to Instill Sense of 'Fear' - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

Quote:

The city's new police commissioner, William Fitchet, says members of the department's Street Crime Unit will again don black, military-style uniforms as part of his strategy to deal with youth violence.
Fitchet's predecessor, Edward Flynn, had ditched the black attire as part of an effort to soften the image of the unit. Flynn left Springfield in January to become the police chief in Milwaukee.
Sgt. John Delaney told a city council hearing Wednesday that the stark uniforms send a message to criminals that officers are serious about making arrests.
Delaney said a sense of "fear" has been missing for the past few years.

Yes, just like here.

Let me think. Who was it that did this sort of thing before?

Westcountryman · 30-04-2008, 01:55 AM

What uniform they wear doesn't really bother me - provided it looks professional - the measure for me is how they treat civilians and what policies they pursue. For me, that's the measure of the police state, not the uniform.

As for the 'fear factor'. Personally I think it's a good thing that people have a small amount of fear when they encounter the Police (that is, fear of getting into trouble as opposed to fear for personal safety) - I think it's only healthy and it might help change behaviour.

The yobs round here treat the Police with about as much respect as something they had just stepped in. If a uniform could help change that, then great.

Mikeuk · 30-04-2008, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eurosceptic Atlanticist

The yobs round here treat the Police with about as much respect as something they had just stepped in. If a uniform could help change that, then great.

Our police are more likely to instil a sense of amusement.

One worthless little yob of my acquaintance suddenly decided to become a policeman - I suppose because it would give him the right to throw his weight around. He was turned down by two farces but has now been accepted by a third. I wouldn't have given him a job as a toilet cleaner.

Jesus wept.

mkpdavies · 30-04-2008, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eurosceptic Atlanticist

What uniform they wear doesn't really bother me - provided it looks professional - the measure for me is how they treat civilians and what policies they pursue. For me, that's the measure of the police state, not the uniform.

As for the 'fear factor'. Personally I think it's a good thing that people have a small amount of fear when they encounter the Police (that is, fear of getting into trouble as opposed to fear for personal safety) - I think it's only healthy and it might help change behaviour.

The yobs round here treat the Police with about as much respect as something they had just stepped in. If a uniform could help change that, then great.

Perhaps it's just me, but I alway prefered the helpful friendly approach, rather than the make everyone scared one. I guess they think Saddam didn't get it all wrong.

ranter · 30-04-2008, 06:08 PM

Id rather not be approached at all

Westcountryman · 30-04-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkpdavies

Perhaps it's just me, but I alway prefered the helpful friendly approach, rather than the make everyone scared one. I guess they think Saddam didn't get it all wrong.

Depends on who you're dealing with. Average joe public yeah, your local scum/yobs/known troublemakers no. Also depends on the attitude of the person, obviously you're not going to be nice as pie to someone who's being an as*hole.

Anyway as I said, I don't think there's anything in a uniform (I only ask that it should look professional), it's all about the person wearing it.

Smidgey · 30-04-2008, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eurosceptic Atlanticist

Depends on who you're dealing with. Average joe public yeah, your local scum/yobs/known troublemakers no. Also depends on the attitude of the person, obviously you're not going to be nice as pie to someone who's being an as*hole.

Anyway as I said, I don't think there's anything in a uniform (I only ask that it should look professional), it's all about the person wearing it.

Sadly, the number of police that have approached me in my time seem to want to do absolutely everything in their power to make me hate them.

Their doing a good job of it too.

Westcountryman · 01-05-2008, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smidgey

Sadly, the number of police that have approached me in my time seem to want to do absolutely everything in their power to make me hate them.

Their doing a good job of it too.

I'm probably in the rather fortunate position of living in a small village, and thus know my local police very well. They're generally quite nice and know I'm not out for trouble.

Sadly, I've been stopped in other towns just for being out walking - instead of polite conversation they instantly seemed to treat me like I was up to no good - I was only out for a walk because I couldn't sleep. It was about 3am at the time.

mkpdavies · 01-05-2008, 07:11 AM

That is the problem. They are there for the public, but they are dressing for the criminal. Own goal, as they will become more and more feared, loathed and hated.

Michael Heaver · 01-05-2008, 09:38 AM

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?

30-04-2008, 01:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
Westcountryman Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Westcountry. Posts: 5,827 Party: None	What uniform they wear doesn't really bother me - provided it looks professional - the measure for me is how they treat civilians and what policies they pursue. For me, that's the measure of the police state, not the uniform. As for the 'fear factor'. Personally I think it's a good thing that people have a small amount of fear when they encounter the Police (that is, fear of getting into trouble as opposed to fear for personal safety) - I think it's only healthy and it might help change behaviour. The yobs round here treat the Police with about as much respect as something they had just stepped in. If a uniform could help change that, then great. __________________ the cake is a lie. the cake is a lie. the cake is a lie. the cake is a lie.

01-05-2008, 07:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,615	That is the problem. They are there for the public, but they are dressing for the criminal. Own goal, as they will become more and more feared, loathed and hated. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

01-05-2008, 09:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
Michael Heaver Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 382 Party: UKIP	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? __________________ "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something".

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30-04-2008, 06:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
ranter Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: in a parralell universe Posts: 827	Id rather not be approached at all