this post was submitted on 25 Apr 2025
751 points (99.0% liked)

THE POLICE PROBLEM

2962 readers
1324 users here now

    The police problem is that police are policed by the police. Cops are accountable only to other cops, which is no accountability at all.

    99.9999% of police brutality, corruption, and misconduct is never investigated, never punished, never makes the news, so it's not on this page.

    When cops are caught breaking the law, they're investigated by other cops. Details are kept quiet, the officers' names are withheld from public knowledge, and what info is eventually released is only what police choose to release — often nothing at all.

    When police are fired — which is all too rare — they leave with 'law enforcement experience' and can easily find work in another police department nearby. It's called "Wandering Cops."

    When police testify under oath, they lie so frequently that cops themselves have a joking term for it: "testilying." Yet it's almost unheard of for police to be punished or prosecuted for perjury.

    Cops can and do get away with lawlessness, because cops protect other cops. If they don't, they aren't cops for long.

    The legal doctrine of "qualified immunity" renders police officers invulnerable to lawsuits for almost anything they do. In practice, getting past 'qualified immunity' is so unlikely, it makes headlines when it happens.

    All this is a path to a police state.

    In a free society, police must always be under serious and skeptical public oversight, with non-cops and non-cronies in charge, issuing genuine punishment when warranted.

    Police who break the law must be prosecuted like anyone else, promptly fired if guilty, and barred from ever working in law-enforcement again.

    That's the solution.

♦ ♦ ♦

Our definition of ‘cops’ is broad, and includes prison guards, probation officers, shitty DAs and judges, etc — anyone who has the authority to fuck over people’s lives, with minimal or no oversight.

♦ ♦ ♦

RULES

Real-life decorum is expected. Please don't say things only a child or a jackass would say in person.

If you're here to support the police, you're trolling. Please exercise your right to remain silent.

Saying ~~cops~~ ANYONE should be killed lowers the IQ in any conversation. They're about killing people; we're not.

Please don't dox or post calls for harassment, vigilantism, tar & feather attacks, etc.

Please also abide by the instance rules.

It you've been banned but don't know why, check the moderator's log. If you feel you didn't deserve it, hey, I'm new at this and maybe you're right. Send a cordial PM, for a second chance.

♦ ♦ ♦

ALLIES

!abolition@slrpnk.net

!acab@lemmygrad.ml

r/ACAB

r/BadCopNoDonut/

Randy Balko

The Civil Rights Lawyer

The Honest Courtesan

Identity Project

MirandaWarning.org

♦ ♦ ♦

INFO

A demonstrator's guide to understanding riot munitions

Adultification

Cops aren't supposed to be smart

Don't talk to the police.

Killings by law enforcement in Canada

Killings by law enforcement in the United Kingdom

Killings by law enforcement in the United States

Know your rights: Filming the police

Three words. 70 cases. The tragic history of 'I can’t breathe' (as of 2020)

Police aren't primarily about helping you or solving crimes.

Police lie under oath, a lot

Police spin: An object lesson in Copspeak

Police unions and arbitrators keep abusive cops on the street

Shielded from Justice: Police Brutality and Accountability in the United States

So you wanna be a cop?

When the police knock on your door

♦ ♦ ♦

ORGANIZATIONS

Black Lives Matter

Campaign Zero

Innocence Project

The Marshall Project

Movement Law Lab

NAACP

National Police Accountability Project

Say Their Names

Vera: Ending Mass Incarceration

 

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

The March 14 directive, signed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, uses an obscure 18th-century law — the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 — to give law enforcement nationwide the power to bypass basic constitutional protections.

According to the memo, agents can break into a home if getting a warrant is “impracticable,” and they don’t need a judge’s approval. Instead, immigration officers can sign their own administrative warrants. The bar for action is low — a “reasonable belief” that someone might be part of a Venezuelan gang is enough.

(page 2) 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 28 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

The second amendment says that they can’t

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Snowclone@lemmy.world 17 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

Incidentally, it's perfectly legal to own a mounted gatling gun on top the of your property.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] The_Caretaker@lemm.ee 74 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (2 children)

Any law, rule or regulation that violates the constitution is invalid. The Supreme Court has ruled on this in multiple cases. Unless Congress passes a constitutional amendment that eliminates the 4th amendment, the executive branch must abide by the law as it's written. The executive branch has no authority to make, change or interpret law.

Edit: A lot of laws and constitutional amendments have been made since the 1798 Alien Enemies Act was passed. The 13th Amendment banned slavery (with a loophole) The 14th Amendment gave equal protection under the law among other things. The 1964 Civil Rights Act made it a crime to discriminate based on race and national origin, which pretty much destroys the Alien Enemies Act. No altering the enforcement of our laws based on where the person came from or what they look like.

[–] Wilco@lemm.ee 41 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Correct. At this point a few ICE agents need to be treated as armed intruders and dealt with.

We don't do this in an armed society ... it's why we are armed.

[–] ThePyroPython@lemmy.world 16 points 15 hours ago

It's a bold move Cotton, let's see how this test of the 2nd amendment plays out.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 86 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

Republicans would have turned in Anne Frank. This is truly some gestapo shit.

[–] Hobbes_Dent@lemmy.world 48 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Republicans would be the ones looking for Anne Frank.

[–] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 16 points 12 hours ago

The hypotheticals have run out of runway. They're here.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] wildcardology@lemmy.world 32 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

Ok let me get this straight. There's no legal migrant anymore?

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 44 points 14 hours ago

When did they mention migrants at all? The way this is written up is that anyone can be acted upon, all it requires is a "reasonable belief" that someone might be part of a Venezuelan gang. And lets face it, if they have their way no one will be checking anyone's documents before, during or after these raids.

[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 10 points 14 hours ago

actually anyone can be "considered illegal" they left enough vagueness in the policy.

[–] MrSulu@lemmy.ml 16 points 14 hours ago

"Hiel Trump" is required when people meet in public or private. Any hesitation must be treated with aggressive concern and reported to all, immediately. This is the only way to keep America safe from (insert current list of threats).

[–] kn0wmad1c@programming.dev 29 points 16 hours ago (4 children)

Are people going to stand their ground when this happens?

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] Derpenheim@lemmy.zip 27 points 16 hours ago

Put a bullet in the head of an ICE agent, see how many wanna go inside a home.

[–] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 10 points 13 hours ago

The only time the Alien Enemies act should be used is in an extreme emergency: Say, for example, an orange man wanting to press a big red button to burn the world to cinders.

ICE, if it truly wanted to do things the right way, can do the 'practicable', by waiting for judges and their juries to render judgement. As we have clearly seen, ICE doesn't measure up to even basic sense nor decency. Here's hoping that ICE is broken by the people, for the people.

[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz 93 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

uses an obscure 18th-century law — the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 — to give law enforcement nationwide the power to bypass basic constitutional protections

...That's not how the relationship between laws and the Constitution works.

Journalists don't need to just print both sides arguments and throw their hands up like determining truth is beyond them. Don't print lies and falsehoods without immediately pointing out they're lies and falsehoods. They didn't find a glitch in the system that maybe the courts will patch eventually, they're making up unlawful justifications to violate constitutional rights. Yeah, constitutional rights aren't going to save you from the violation, but we all need to know and establish that it's a violation in advance. ICE could always enter your home without a warrant, they just couldn't do it legally, and a memo from fascist Barbie hasn't changed that.

[–] dzso@lemmy.world 8 points 12 hours ago

Your mistake is thinking that the media in the US employ journalists. They're oligarch controlled propaganda machines.

[–] dis_honestfamiliar@lemmy.sdf.org 25 points 18 hours ago (3 children)

Still waiting on those nuts to step up to what they said they were keeping guns for.

[–] Zron@lemmy.world 9 points 12 hours ago

You can go exercise your rights too.

Learn to shoot, might not be long before they’re kicking in your door.

I’m not going to some El Salvadoran death camp. If I’m gonna get killed by my own government, I’m going down swinging. Maybe I’ll take a few of the bastards with me.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] LordCrom@lemmy.world 25 points 16 hours ago

If anyone forces their way into my house without a warrant, they are getting shot.

[–] nul9o9@lemmy.dbzer0.com 199 points 21 hours ago (3 children)

Well, constitutionally, they can't for whatever that's worth now.

That bold faced liar can go right to hell.

[–] MrMcGasion@lemmy.world 114 points 21 hours ago (4 children)

Looking forward to this being challenged in a state with Stand Your Ground laws where warrantless trespassing is legally the same as any other trespassing.

I'm personally opposed to lethal force being used to protect property in general, but there are places where that is essentially legal due to Stand Your Ground laws.

[–] Joncash2@lemmy.ml 84 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Your opposed to it, but now you also see the sole reason the 2nd exists. If ever the government does something like warrantless trespassing, it's our civic duty to use our 2nd amendment rights to remind them we oppose tyranny. That said, never thought this would happen in our lifetimes. Worlds a changing.

[–] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 13 points 16 hours ago (3 children)

There are very few people who would survive this tactic though.

Still seems like a stupid plan—2nd amendment or not (which is really not what the 2nd was about before courts made it anyway). At best you take one with you on the way out, if you’re ready when they break in. At this point I’d still rather be detained than dead.

[–] Olhonestjim@lemmy.world 13 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

I've never imagined I'd survive a fascist regime.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] arrow74@lemm.ee 17 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

If everyone they illegally targeted managed to take one this problem would be quickly resolved

[–] sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz 4 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

Any statement that begins with "If everyone one..." is going to be followed by something that would be great, but won't happen. As much as we may both 100% believe it should.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 64 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (4 children)

Thus far these bozos have demonstrated a pattern of showing up without uniforms, with masks on, refusing to identify themselves, show badges, or produce warrants.

This is needless to say an incredibly stupid thing for them to do, especially if they plan to also go around kicking in people's doors. I personally know an old man who got off the hook for shooting a state cop in my area who tried the same. I think the only hope the Dummkstaffel here has of making a charge stick against a homeowner who blows one of them away will be to somehow make it Federal, because otherwise I think the state courts -- especially in blue areas -- are not going to treat any warrantless door-kicking by nonuniformed armed men who refuse to identify themselves very kindly.

Edit to add: You're also not protecting your "property" in such a case, you are protecting your person, which is a very different thing both legally and ethically. If the alternative is that you're going to be whisked away without due process to a death camp in El Salvador, your only rational course of action is to stand and fight -- especially in your own home.

load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.com 21 points 16 hours ago

It's totally fine everyone. Obviously this would only ever happen to poor people or bad people or other people /s.

Seriously though, where the fuck are all the people screaming about freedom?

[–] dylanmorgan@slrpnk.net 34 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Remember when democrats got all heated about G Gordon Liddy saying “if the feds come to your door, shoot them in the head” (to account for body armor)?

I don’t know why that popped into my head just now.

[–] HelixDab2@lemm.ee 24 points 17 hours ago (8 children)

Don't do that.

Shoot them in the dick.

Seriously.

The lower abdomen is chock full o' arteries, and a hit on the pelvis is going to instantly drop someone; you can't walk with a pelvis that's been shattered by a 9mm. It's also generally an easier target.

[–] thepenismightier@lemm.ee 6 points 12 hours ago

Buckshot to the belt buckle.

[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 6 points 13 hours ago

I like your ideas.

load more comments (6 replies)
[–] match@pawb.social 41 points 19 hours ago (5 children)

weird question, do i have to be black to join the black panthers

[–] Guidy@lemmy.world 11 points 11 hours ago

The Black Panthers arming themselves because of (I hope you're sitting down) police brutality is why assault weapons were first banned in California. Backed by Democrats, Republicans, and the NRA, and signed into law by Governor Ronald Reagan. I'm talking about The Mulford Act.

Just so you know how it's going to go.

[–] WarlordSdocy@lemm.ee 15 points 15 hours ago

You might be better off looking into something like the Socialist Riffle Association and if they have a chapter in your area. No idea how good they are but I'm in the DSA and some people mention them as an option.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] ininewcrow@lemmy.ca 95 points 21 hours ago (12 children)

Where are the 2A advocates when you need them.

[–] SpitefulSprite@lemmy.world 71 points 21 hours ago

Silently supporting this... After all the babies we sacrificed at school to keep their guns under threat of tyranny... Well it's freaking here and where are they? Oh being the disingenuous bags a shit they have always been

[–] HelixDab2@lemm.ee 14 points 17 hours ago

Right here.

Shoot 'em in the dick.

Even if they have full-coverage soft armor, and not just a plate carrier, that's gonna drop 'em instantly. Can't walk with a 9mm through your pelvis, and there are a lot or arteries going through there.

Also, I'm a certified basic pistol instructor; if any of y'all are looking for non-chuds to get some basic training from, look up the Liberal Gun Club, the Socialist Rifle Association (altho competency varies a lot from chapter to chapter), or Operation Blazing Sword.

load more comments (10 replies)
[–] FauxPseudo@lemmy.world 20 points 17 hours ago

Can't wait to hear people like Alex Jones defend this. Can't wait for every sovcit to defend this. Can't wait for every Gadsden flag flag and bumper sticker to defend this.

load more comments
view more: ‹ prev next ›