Grandmother, 73, Held As Sausage Looter (I Post, You Decide 1/3 Barf Alert)

MSMNBC ^ | 9/16/05 | AP via MSMNBC

[beltfed308]

Good point. A JBT is a cop that breaks the law and still keeps their job. It would be encouraging for them to be held to the same standard as us commoners.
I see people jumping on you but do not see anything in this thread to warrant it.

[paddles]

Sausage looter? Didn't realize Barney Frank was in Nawlins'...must've been on one of those fact-finding trips.

[dangus]

>> There are those here on FR who hate the police. Period. They will post on any thread that has to do with the police, and use terms like "jack-booted thugs (JBT)" to describe all law enforcement officers. <<

>> That's been my observation too. It makes me think that some of these cop haters have been on the wrong side of the law at some point and got caught. No way to prove that theory though what with the anonymnity of the internet. <<

I've never had any serious run-ins with the law. (One violation; I did something stupid; and I feel no ill will at all towards the cop who busted me.) I can say I have had several experiences police that could have left me bitter:

* I believe someone tried to mug me, but because I was running and ran into the weapon, I got knocked back hard enough I was knocked unconscious. I think the perpetrator got scared he killed me and ran off without robbing me. The police at the scene were not even interested in taking a report from me.

* I was sharing a house with several other tennants. My landlord was getting married soon, so he sold the house he was living in to raise money for a house for he and his bride, and just moved into the living room. He broke our stuff, left the house a mess, and made noise all night. I called the cops on him to get him to leave. When the cops arrived, he went berserk screaming at me -- in front of the cops -- that he'd come into my room while I was sleeping and slit my throat. The cops saw nothing wrong with his behavior.

* A friend and I was crossing a street to join a woman friend of mine. We witnessed a homeless man assault her, and we chased him off. We found a cop on the next corner, gave him a description, and told him which way the man was running. The cops' response? "I'm off duty, and there's not much I can do about it now, anyway, is there?"

* I was in a car accident. The police officer referred me to a towing service. When the towing service tried to bilk me out of several hundred dollars, I told him the police were witnesses to what really happened. His response: "Bob? Why the hell do you think he referred you to us?"

I experienced a much more serious incident where a cop was trying to keep crime down; let's just say his method was highly questionnable, and I won't say it on even an anonymous public forum because I am not 100% sure of all facts, and the accusation would be fantastically grave.

I am a harmless-looking, white suburbanite who was raised to respect the police, and appreciate their absolutely vital and frequently extremely heroic service to our communities. My mother sang at countless funerals for Long Island cops and firefighters who died saving lives on 9-11. I know better than to let my bad experiences lead me to "hate" police in general. But there are thugs out there; violent criminals who hide behind badges, and petty corrupt schemers. I would not make the presumptions you have made about people who label certain individual police officers "jack-booted thugs."

The men who subdued PCP-crazed Rodney King were not jack-booted thugs. The officers accused of raping Tawana Brawley were not jack-booted thugs. The men who ran into the World Trade Center to save others sure as hell were not jack-booted thugs.

The men who beat an elderly monsignor unconscious in New York were jack-booted thugs. The men who sodomized Amadou Dialu (sp?) with a toilet plunger and beat him to within inches of his life were jack-booted thugs. The thirty police officers in Boston who witnessed a man being beaten unconscious on the hood of a car, and who all denied being at the scene despite camera footage of them, were jack-booted thugs. The men who stormed Elian Gonzales' home on Easter Morning, carrying rifles with their safeties off, were jackbooted thugs. The men who raided Riby Ridge were jackbooted thugs.

I pray that these men are a very rare abberation, and I will continue to treat any police officer I encounter with the presumption of the highest respect. But jack-booted thugs do exist.

[dangus]

Ping to #63.

[Itzlzha]

Agreed, and that is what I have been trying to point out, much to my detriment from the LEO-Uber-Alles choir here.

[Shalom Israel]

I bet some NOPD officers had eyes on those sausages for themselves...

Cannibalism?

[dangus]

btw... What's an LEO?

[Itzlzha]

You may not welcome or respect my words...but I extend my gratitude toward your son for his service, and prayers for the safe return of Sgt. Matt Maupin.

[Itzlzha]

Law
Enforcement
Officer

[drjimmy]

It is much different when, er, pros shoot though. (say it fast)

That's a rather ham-handed comment.

[ApplegateRanch]

Gosh, finally somebody who can read.

SO many on here remind me of fishwives, spouting off first, then (maybe) actually glancing at what was posted.

[Cathy]

Sounds like you have a lot of experience with Police Officers. Where do you live, East Los Angeles? The Bronx? I have never been mugged, witnessed an assault, had bodily harm threatened in front of a PO, or been ripped off by a tow service and I am 38 years old.

I repeat - no one is saying there are not corrupt LEO's. I agree with all your examples.

There are roughly 650,000 full time LEO's across the country. One jack ass cop in Cleveland kicks an old lady and the whole MSM and many on this site pull out the rhetoric. An overwhelming majority of cops are honest hard working people that get very little (if any) respect from the public but still do their job. Think how many times an average Police Officer makes contact with a member of the public per shift? Probably a dozen times, you do the math. Yet the bad cops get all the press. Save a life or catch a criminal and it is part of your job.

What does the term JBT's insinuate? Nazism? There are a couple terms cops hate, Jack booted thugs and pigs. Every profession has crooked people. If a cop is crooked it is particularly bad as they are sworn to protect and serve.

I am off my soap box now. Most of the time I don't post on Law Enforcement posts anymore because of the bashing.

[Cathy]

Maybe I will start a new group "ULEOA" Uber Law Enforcement Officer Allies - sounds good to me! I guess I am President.

[Graybeard58]

You may not welcome or respect my words...but I extend my gratitude toward your son for his service

Why wouldn't I welcome your words?

All who serve, I consider my sons (and daughters) and am proud of them all.

You are proud of them too. Because you are a patriot.

[Itzlzha]

An overwhelming majority of cops are honest hard working people that get very little (if any) respect from the public but still do their job. Think how many times an average Police Officer makes contact with a member of the public per shift? Probably a dozen times, you do the math. Yet the bad cops get all the press. Save a life or catch a criminal and it is part of your job.

Hmm..read this story...

Ex-statie cadets detail academy hazing horrors

Gee...when the Sate Police Academy pulls this kind of crap on members of the Armed Forces who are applying for the job of State Trooper...do you think it's JUST here? Not exactly making sure the "Best and Brightest" are getting the jobs, are they? More like "Dumb and pliable". And maybe...MAYBE this is indicative of just how bad the whole LEO society really is? Could this kind of "Fraternity" attitude lead the new recruits to believe they are above the law?

Could this "Brotherhood of Silence" carry over into their actual duties? Could ANYONE deny that this is NOT the professional training we need LEO's to have?

Oh, and BTW...when the SCOTUS has ruled that police have NO LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY to actually PROTECT the citizens...where does that leave us? And as we saw, the LEO's start confiscating Citizens guns, now the populace is unarmed, and helpless...and the LEO's are busy looting Wal-Mart...what do we do?

Is THIS the America you remember growing up? Is THIS what the Founding Fathers risked "Their Lives, their Fortunes, their Sacred Honor" to create?

I don't think so. And turning a blind eye to the criminals with badges ALLOWS them to continue to operate with impugnity!

[Itzlzha]

Thanks for your kind words.

[Cathy]

Your falling into the trap - highlighting ONE story and applying it all the academies in the WHOLE COUNTRY.

You have just revealed your hand:

"Not exactly making sure the "Best and Brightest" are getting the jobs, are they? More like "Dumb and pliable". And maybe...MAYBE this is indicative of just how bad the whole LEO society really is?"

Dumb and Pliable - real nice.

You are painting the broad brush again and if you think we live in a police state I can't help you. I believe our civil rights are being eroded too but to blame it on the police departments across the country is wacky. The cops don't make the laws they must enforce them and if you have a problem with a law go complain to your legislature.

I don't know one cop that thinks taking guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens is good. They would rather you protect yourself - because as you may not know they are not our personal bodyguards. Cops show up AFTER THE CRIME IS COMMITTED - it is rare they catch a crime in progess. This is not CSI.

Let's see - 650,000 officers, roughly 280 million people in the US - looks like we need a lot more police officers to protect you and your family. Oh - wait apparently most of Law enforcement is forcing people to wear poppy pants, or looting wal-mart, or grabbing the guns out of the hand of innocent citizens - oh yeah - or arresting a little old lady with a bunch of sausage. If they weren't so busy breaking the law they might be able to prevent it, is that what you think?

[Graybeard58]

Here's my son who served in Iraq. You can tell by the uniform what he does in civilian life.

He's not a crooked cop and I know lots of cops and none of them are bad people.

He's also a member of Free Republic. Screen name "smaagee"

Pictures of his home coming here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1282017/posts

[Graybeard58]

Oops, heres the link in a clickable version:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1282017/posts

[Itzlzha]

Again...I do NOT accuse ALL POLICE of being corrupt.

I am up here in the Northeast, and that armpit state Massachusetts has a HUGE number of crooked cops. The State Police barracks at Logan Airport are known as F-Troop...bith because that IS their troop letter, but they are the biggest bunch of boobs and hacks and crooks the State Police has assembled!

Check my posts...I'm VERY clear on my points.

I would like to see the HONEST and DECENT Cops get rid of all the corrupt one, but I know that either the corrupt are protected by leaders and hacks, or the honest ones are sold on "Police Solidarity" and an "us Vs. Them" mentality that pervades Police orgs.

Look at my post that links to a Mass State Police Academy scandal brewing over hazing, and the best and brightest not willing to sell their souls for the trainers...

I've said that the good cops are our best hope...but I fear they are getting outnumbered in the cities.

And what happened in New Orleans shows it...hell, EVERYONE in LE KNEW that N.O. cops were the most corrupt...and then 1/3 don't show for the disaster, and a bunch are looting and running with the gangs...others were turning a blind eye to looting in front of them!

Ask your son if he knows and "marginal" cops, and why are they not being busted by the good cops?