Thank you ACLU
The ACLU has asked the DOJ to investigate the Seattle PD for many documented uses of excessive force described as a 'pattern of violence by the Seattle Police Department' with some events described as 'inflict injury out of anger'.
Thank you ACLU. Perhaps we cat get these thugs in line with 'protecting' rather than 'enforcing the law'. There IS a distinct difference: mind-set.
Want more info: http://www.google.com/search?q=aclu+seattle+police
Idaho (IDAHO!!!) has better officer training than Seattle does. Frankly, that's embarassing. I'm sure Idaho is a nice place with nice people (exception skin head dipshits), but the fact that their police depts are organized more intelligently with more informed and trained officers when you compare the relative education, household income and government budgets.
The SPD site says:
"A police agency earns respect by being transparent, answerable and accountable to the people. The Department is held accountable by a variety of measures, including the Office of Professional Accountability, the Firearms Review Board, CALEA Accreditation Standards and the Department's mission, training practices and policies." (www.seattle.gov/police/accountability/)
Either those policies, offices, etc, have NO teeth with NO requirements of the officers, OR these are empty words with no force or impact. EVERY officer should be in-line with what the citizenry EXPECTS of their police department and when one officer witnesses unprofessional actions, even before they're done, should interrupt, correct and when necessary, report.
But, here we are. Instead, we've got a 'brotherhood' of officers who treat their job as 'us vs them' and will aid (ie: abet) their fellow 'brothers' to protect them from 'unfair' rules, regulations and expectations.
I do not expect professionalism from police. To be honest, I have occasionally (not nearly half) been surprised to find my expectations set low.
Here's hoping there's real change in the SPD and the surrounding communities model themselves on the new dept.