this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2023
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THE POLICE PROBLEM

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    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.

♦ ♦ ♦

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② If you're here to support the police, you're trolling. Please exercise your right to remain silent.

③ Saying ~~cops~~ ANYONE should be killed lowers the IQ in any conversation. They're about killing people; we're not.

④ 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

 

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249
‘Didn’t State Who He Was’: Federal Drug Agents Seize Millions from Passengers at Atlanta Airport While Posing as Regular Travelers In Plainclothes In ‘Cold Consent Encounters’ (news.yahoo.com)
submitted 1 year ago by jordanlund@lemmy.world to c/thepoliceproblem@lemmy.world
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[–] grue@lemmy.world 137 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Of course Yahoo buried the lede:

While the searches may not be popular, they’re certainly profitable.

Clayton County records and federal documents show that drug agents find large amounts of cash on passengers at departing gates rather than drugs. Agents have seized millions of dollars, and while travelers aren’t arrested, their money is often administratively forfeited.

Like most civil forfeiture cases, people who have their money taken must prove in court that their money isn’t connected to drug trafficking or other illegal activity. Seizures like these don’t just happen at the Atlanta airport. They’ve taken place at airports across the country.

[–] lingh0e@sh.itjust.works 82 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Nah, they REALLY buried the lede with this bit further down. Emphasis added.

Most travelers are unclear of their rights when it comes to airport searches. In order to be admitted entry to the airport’s gated areas, passengers must submit themselves to TSA security screenings. That’s a fact.

However, the random searches by DEA agents at the Atlanta airport give passengers pause, but it should be noted that they’re not mandated. The DEA officially calls its stops and searches at airport gates “cold consent encounters,” and passengers are free to end the encounter and walk away if they’d like.

[–] toasteecup@lemmy.world 30 points 1 year ago (4 children)

free to end the encounter and walk away if they'd like.

Well I know what I'm going to do. "Get fucked pig" and walk off.

[–] bitsplease@lemmy.ml 25 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Willing to bet just about anything that the second you try, they'll find probable cause to detain you

[–] toasteecup@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I'll gladly make it an aggravated arrest.

[–] Tvkan@feddit.de 13 points 1 year ago

Might end up on a no fly list and with federal charges, but you've surely showed them.

They have the upper hand, and no amount of imagined badassery will fix this systemic problem.

[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

You're just dead set on being murdered by a cop, aren't you? 🤦

[–] toasteecup@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

You do you and I do me. Let's not judge each other and instead remember we're on the same side fighting for the same thing just in different ways.

After all, I'm not asking you to do as I do. That should mean something right?

[–] bitsplease@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You're welcome to try, but your whole attitude seems rooted in the idea that at the end of the day, the justice system is on your side and that you can beat them at your own game.

More likely you'll get arrested, probably have some BS charges thrown at you that the judge will happilly pass through, you'll never fly again, and maybe even see some jail time.

There are many valid and important ways to fight back against police injustice. Yelling "get fucked pig" - while satisfying, and even justified - is definitely not one of them, even if talking about doing it does make you feel like a badass lol

[–] toasteecup@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You're making an assumption that I believe in the justice system.

You're very likely (95%) correct that I'll get fucked over by the entire system, and I'm willing to accept that. I don't care if I lose. I care that I tried.

[–] bitsplease@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Seems like a waste to me, if you're literally willing to give up your freedom to fight the system, it'd make a lot more sense to do it in a way that might actually lead to change

But hey, it's your life to throw away 🤷🏼‍♂️

[–] toasteecup@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Shhh just make me a martyr to the cause yo.

[–] Astroturfed@lemmy.world 18 points 1 year ago (2 children)

You ever had. Real encountered with the police? They'll just make some shit up and search you anyway best case scenario. More likely is you now upset them and they arrest you for whatever they make up on the spot, I believe there was just a supreme court ruling that they can make up a reason for stops/arrests after the fact and that's perfectly fine as well.

So, while I agree with the sentiment, I wouldn't try anything like that. The police state is real and oppressive. You want to avoid any interaction with it and the US system at all costs.

[–] toasteecup@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Lol I've been given a breathalyzer by the fucking police all because I stopped on the side of the road after avoiding getting hit by traffic 7 times.

Yeah I've dealt with the pigs. Fuck em and if I'm the process of fucking I get arrested on bullshit charges and convicted then so be it.

[–] winterayars@sh.itjust.works -4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

DEA isn't real police though. Mind you i wouldn't try that shit, i like having teeth and dislike dealing with violent gangs.

[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

DEA isn't real police though.

Yeah they are and they're usually even WORSE than regular cops. ACAB means federal cops too.

[–] scottywh@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Probably safer to at least try "sorry, I don't have time for this" while just walking away

[–] toasteecup@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Probably but my intent isn't to go for peaceful. If your intent is, I hope it works out for you.

[–] scottywh@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh, I see... You want to get arrested.

I'll pass on that since I've been through the experience more times than I can count already but good luck with that.

[–] toasteecup@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Less so want to get arrested. More so, willing to deal with the consequences of my own actions.

If that means getting arrested for telling a pig to fuck off then so be it.

[–] GBU_28@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

... to the cinnebon, 20 yards away

[–] toasteecup@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Meet up at the cinnebon then ran away to South America together?

[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago

Yeah because that's how encounters with cops ever happen 🙄

If I had a dollar for every time a cop has murdered someone for failing to obey an unlawful order, I would be rich enough for cops to let me get away with anything!

[–] bassomitron@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The DEA is a failed experiment filled to the brim with corruption and toxicity. It should've been dismantled decades ago. Redundant executive agencies have gotten out of control in the US (e.g. Dept of Homeland Sec (DHS), NSA, DEA, etc). There's nothing the DEA does that the FBI isn't capable of doing. Same with DHS. And I won't even get into how the DEA violated the Constitution by essentially writing their own laws regarding drugs (i.e. Controlled Substances Act states that determination if drugs have medical use is to be conducted by the Surgeon General, yet the DEA repeatedly ignored SG and just labels drugs however the fuck they want).

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

DHS was meant to be the answer for your concern. Why have many agencies with separately defined jurisdictions, checks and balances and limitations when you can combine them into one monstrous entity that can work together without pesky limitations like Constitutional rights or public transparency

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2023-02/23_0221_dhs_public-organization-chart.pdf

[–] anemoia_one@lemmynsfw.com 75 points 1 year ago (1 children)

must prove in court that their money isn’t connected to drug trafficking or other illegal activity

Ah yes, the cornerstone of US law, “guilty until proven innocent”

[–] Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 41 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is just flat out robbery.

[–] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago

Civil forfeiture is one of many bullshit laws that exists only to protect and serve the police.

[–] renlok@lemmy.ml 26 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How is this allowed in US, it's what you might expect from a police force in a third world country

[–] SzethFriendOfNimi@lemmy.world 24 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It shouldn’t be. Steve Lehto covers it a lot on his channel. So much there’s an actual playlist and I can tell you there’s more than 23 videos on the topic.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIN0HaGKANpp8-Zw7NEh9XokjmzYCIRiL

In fact these are all over a year old. It’s just abhorrent.

[–] sik0fewl@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

Did they? That's pretty much what I got out of the headline.

[–] AgentGrimstone@lemmy.world 49 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Bullies taking people's lunch money

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 23 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yup, and it's on YOU to know they have no actual power to stop you.

[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

They shouldn't but absolutely do. They follow the conservative maxim and consider themselves part of the in-group

"Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition ... There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” --Frank Wilhoit"

[–] Diplomjodler@feddit.de 32 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Phantastic country where the police can just legally rob you.

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In fairness, it DOES vary state by state. Some states require a conviction before they can just seize your assets, but not all of them.

One of the interesting things about having 50 different rules and regulations.

https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-rights/asset-forfeiture-laws-by-state.html

[–] philpo@feddit.de 7 points 1 year ago

well, this is federal, so it applies to all states...

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 27 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I was followed around by an obvious undercover one time, assumed they were checking me as a terrorist, but it was far more likely they thought I was a mule.

Me: Middle-aged white guy, desert combat boots, straw cowboy hat, huge CamelBak. When I travel, in any way, I dress for comfort, weather and the ability to handle whatever random shit comes my way.

Here's what I wrote at the time so I don't mix up memories:

Got followed around DFW by an OBVIOUS undercover. Standard-issue ex-military federalé. White guy, early 40's, good looking, square jaw, shaved tight, excellent shape. Clothes so plain it was obvious he was trying to blend in, BUT the kinda boots you wear to hike or fight in. Ever seen a 30/40-something undercover cop in a college bar? Yeah, that guy, except the look screamed professional. Seems this guy is tailing me, I might be paranoid, pulled some "tradecraft". Turned and came back at him. He stops to look in a closed perfume/soap shop window. Not a place in which guys would be interested, nothing to actually see in there, and he's obviously not looking into the store. He's watching my reflection!

Glanced at a shop window, oh lawd he comin'! Went a few dozen yards down the concourse, pulling my tail along, spun a 180 and walked back through the crowd waiting to board. He casually spun into facing another random shop, unfocused eyes, perfectly still, not window shopping. Lost him soon after. Did he catch onto me?! Did he feel he was blown and called in another tail? Found me harmless and gave up? LOL, the man certainly avoided eye contact like I was some kinda Gorgon!

SO wanted to blow his cover! Wimped out.

All I can figure is that I checked a pistol case, perfectly legit, and sported a loaded CamelBak with gear loaded in the molle loops. Maybe the grenade pouch looked sus? Also, had a 7-hour layover and walked every square inch of all 5 terminals. Looked like I was casing the joint?

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago

"Flights from Atlanta to Los Angeles are routinely monitored by these officers, who call them “known drug trafficking routes.”"

[–] hiddengoat@kbin.social 14 points 1 year ago

Atlanta cops are scum? Never would have guessed.