Re: [Leica] Cops run amok

["Bryan Caldwell" <bcaldwell@softcom.net>]

Don't forget that it's the local District Attorney's office that decides to
prosecute things like this. The police only arrest and recommend. The final
decision to prosecute is solely in the hands of the D.A.  The surest way to
curb this kind of police action is for the D.A. to refuse to prosecute and
to strongly convey their decision to the police superiors.

Bryan


- -----Original Message-----
From: Jim Bauman <jbauman@earthlink.net>
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Date: Thursday, April 08, 1999 8:49 AM
Subject: [Leica] Cops run amok


>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.
>