You have hit the key point as have several others...Too many in “law enforcement” have adopted the Them vs. Us mentality...If you ain’t “cop” you’re a suspect, a perp, or about to be...You’re little people...
With a description of the suspect available, a simple roadblock and observation of occupants, along with a “Good day Sir/Ma’am, sorry for the inconvenience; we’re looking for a bank robber...Move along, and have a nice day!” would have earned these officers points with citizens, and helped their image as protectors...
Instead Aurora PD officers are seen by these citizens and TV viewers in the Denver Metro area as jack-booted thugs; an opposing occupation force unnecessarily and menacingly pointing weapons at innocent citizens going about their lawful business...
The video link attached shows bewildered citizens sitting handcuffed on the curb for an unknown period of time, and crying kids being hurried to the roadside by one cop...Wonder why they’re crying, after being removed from their car with their Dad at gunpoint...6 and 8 year old kids don’t fit the usual bank robber profile IMHO...
And this is not how “Sheepdogs” are supposed to behave...Extremely unprofessional, thuggish, and more than a bit cowardly on the part of LEOs...Clearly not their finest hour...
But maybe seeing this kind of thing will wake up some of the sleeping “flock”...We better get busy correcting this kind of thing or get used to seeing it happen...
These “officers” didn’t wake up one morning and say to themselves “If I stop someone today, I’m gonna menace them with my weapon...” It’s part of the new culture of protect yourself, assume no risk in performance of duties, take no chances that all stems from the Them vs Us doctrine of policing; and it’s US who are the enemy...This is top-down, folks...
Take a look at the video here, before it is taken down:
http://kdvr.com/2012/06/02/aurora-police-searching-for-bank-robbery-suspect/
The video portion has already been removed.
Is it anywhere on utube yet?