[Leica] Cops run amok

[Jim Bauman <jbauman@earthlink.net>]

Eric wrote:

>Lima, Ohio seems another home to jack-booted Nazis!

Holy Toledo! Just another example of how the police get confused about
their mission: They are supposed to protect the public,
but in recent years have begun to see their mission as
controlling the public.

The letter of the law becomes more important than
the intent of the law, or the reason for the law.

The other issue is that these guys then also get to
inact the reason that they became cops instead of criminals
in the first place: THEY get to be in control. 

I'd be willing to bet that if psychological profiles were
done on many of the younger cops, they would show
a low self-esteem, which they compensate for by being the
source of authority. Thus they adopt the view that their
job is to maintain control over society, to protect the
law rather than the people subject to it.  

Reminds of when I was shooting Nixon (with a Leica before you get TOO
excited...). I was credentialed, and I guess they thought I got a little
too close ... I leaned over too far and fell off the press platform.
Anyhow, next thing I knew, I was being "investigated," and escorted out of
the building. Got the shot I wanted though!

Jim Bauman

PS "Jack booted Nazis" exist in larger numbers in
San Bernardino and Riverside Counties (California) than anywhere
else in the world, I think.