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[Xantalos]

Pretty much. It's not an issue of the cops suddenly becoming corrupt where they weren't before, it's just that the corruption that was there the whole time's coming to light.

[UXLZ]

It's just that the level of corruption that the police force contains is incredibly high.

[SalmonGod]

Taking the Baltimore discussion out of the American Politics Thread.

These two links appeared one directly on top of the other on my Facebook feed this morning.  I don't think authorities could make a stronger statement.

The 6 officers charged in Freddie Gray's death are released on bail.
Teenager caught in one of the most widely used pictures of the riots placed on $500,000 bail and faces life in prison.

Both the bail and the sentence are harsher than what the officers face on murder charges.

[Baffler]

This sounds to me like someone at the top is forcing along the officers' prosecution, and the police and courts going along with it but are taking every opportunity they can to lash out. They blame the protesters (and they're 100% on the mark) for the whole situation and want to make them suffer for it.

[Frumple]

Don't forget that the kid turned himself in, too, whereas the officers had to be served warrants and brought in

That said, the officers did have bails in the multiple-hundreds of thousands, too -- 350k for the ones on felony charges, 250k for the misdemeanor ones. As the article notes, apparently they didn't want to risk them being in jail, and so decided folks that killed someone and didn't turn themselves in were less of a flight risk than someone that committed what amounts to vandalism and did.

As they say, shit's fucked up.

[SalmonGod]

That said, the officers did have bails in the multiple-hundreds of thousands, too -- 350k for the ones on felony charges, 250k for the misdemeanor ones.

Yeah... another screwed up thing is that they're all able to pay it.  Most likely because police unions always fund bail for police officers, even when their actions are severely damaging to the public image of police.

[nenjin]

That said, the officers did have bails in the multiple-hundreds of thousands, too -- 350k for the ones on felony charges, 250k for the misdemeanor ones.

Yeah... another screwed up thing is that they're all able to pay it.  Most likely because police unions always fund bail for police officers, even when their actions are severely damaging to the public image of police.

In this case I can understand. Their guilt will be a matter for the courts, and the union can't very well selectively decide to not support its members. Unfortunately, they weren't caught red-handed.

[SalmonGod]

They just randomly assault people...

Or kidnap them...

Yeah, there's a curfew... and apparently that means standard arrest procedures don't need to be followed for non-violent suspects...

[Mictlantecuhtli]

Or kidnap them...

1. Still out past curfew
2. Known instigator of trouble before
3. Wearing a mask to hide his identity after being out past curfew is extra suspicious

That is why he was arrested.

[Morrigi]

Or kidnap them...

1. Still out past curfew
2. Known instigator of trouble before
3. Wearing a mask to hide his identity after being out past curfew is extra suspicious

That is why he was arrested.

But clearly it was a KIDNAPPING because... reasons.

[Zangi]

Its how you frame it. 
Lawful arrest of suspicious person breaking lawfully mandated curfew... or grabbing people off the streets and detaining them against their will.

.... Clearly, the law is on the law's side here. 
You can't really frame it as a kidnapping unless you ignore the fact that the authority has given itself casus belli to arrest people for breaking the conditions of a lawfully mandated curfew.

I like how the camera followed the truck, rather then take a look at whats happening with the guy. 
I also like how they timed grabbing the guy, using the truck as cover against media.

[lijacote]

The people rise up in protest against the police, tired of being murdered, harassed, oppressed. Bay Watchers step up to defend the police. Naturally.

[Reelya]

That said, the officers did have bails in the multiple-hundreds of thousands, too -- 350k for the ones on felony charges, 250k for the misdemeanor ones.

Yeah... another screwed up thing is that they're all able to pay it.  Most likely because police unions always fund bail for police officers, even when their actions are severely damaging to the public image of police.

It's the job of a union to provide specified services to those who pay the dues. Not to uphold some arbitrary image. The union fees are paid for in exchange for the services that they offer. If they withhold their services from members who are accused of crimes, then this undermines why they would pay the dues at all.

The police union are basically the defendant's lawyers in this case, and they've already been paid for the defense counsel they provide. They must ethically assume their clients are innocent, no matter how blatantly rotten they are.

[Zangi]

The people rise up in protest against the police, tired of being murdered, harassed, oppressed. Bay Watchers step up to defend the police. Naturally.

Yea...  maybe I should have put some sort of sarcasm tag.

But it is true that the police/authorities can and will use their authority of law to give themselves lawful means to detain protesters and ride roughshod over gatherings of protesters.

So yea, the law is clearly not on the side of those demanding change.

[lijacote]

The people rise up in protest against the police, tired of being murdered, harassed, oppressed. Bay Watchers step up to defend the police. Naturally.

Yea...  maybe I should have put some sort of sarcasm tag.

But it is true that the police/authorities can and will use their authority of law to give themselves lawful means to detain protesters and ride roughshod over gatherings of protesters.

So yea, the law is clearly not on the side of those demanding change.

It was more of a general comment than aimed at you. Regardless of whether or not you intended defence, regardless of whether or not your particular post was a defence or apology for the policing institution, there is a resentment towards resistance, a knee-jerk reaction in favour of authority, in favour of oppression.