The LAPD Responds

DIGG THIS

Recently on LRC, I answered the email of a Los Angeles Detective. I am very worried about the militarization of the police, the overzealousness of SWAT teams and the continuing failed drug-war which those paramilitary units use as an excuse for their continued existence. The Detective disagrees with me and has asked for a chance to respond to LRC readers.

I believe that to be a wonderful suggestion! We here at LRC are nothing if not proponents of the free exchange and debate of ideas. That being said, the following is the Detective's response (once again, I am withholding his name so as to protect him from any official retribution).

Mr. Blackstock was kind enough to respond to my response and allow me to do the same.

Enough is enough, indeed.

Let me first share that my e-mail was not a personal attack on Mr. Blackstock. It was to open a respectful dialogue. Here are some thoughts on his response:

  1. Law enforcement is an evolving art and that a ride-a-long in the 70’s or 80’s would have little to do with today. I don’t know when Mr. B. was last in a black and white.
  2. I agree that some police officers are doing the job for all the wrong reasons and I don’t want to work with those idiots any more than you want to be stopped by them.
  3. The examples I cited were to illustrate that if day to day policing is that harsh (and the criminals that cold-blooded) then when going against a known gang/drug location it is much more dangerous and deserving of extra caution.
  4. As for the lady whose home was raided, there are civil and criminal means to address these issues (lawyers and more lawyers).
  5. Point 5 in the ‘drug chain of events’ is incorrect. Almost no one dies from overdosing on methamphetamine or ‘rock’ cocaine (the drugs de jour). They are potent and keep the addict alive for years of drug-buying. This fact comes from years of dealing with hundreds of drug users in Hollywood Division . . . and believe me when I say this, ‘nothing seems to kill these people.’

My critique of ‘ivory tower elitism’ was not about economic standards. Living in a racially mixed community does not equate to being in the ‘real world.’ Brentwood and Beverly Hills are racially mixed, but far from real world problems. Colleges and University settings tend to be very safe, not filled with mentally ill transients, diseased drug addicts and gang-bangers.

Everyone in LA loves to bash the cops but don’t reveal their true motives. Every PC advocate goes after the police to forward their social agenda while screaming ‘no justice-no peace.’ Mr. B was honest in his motives of legalizing street drugs. As for a ‘higher standard’ of behavior, LAPD Officers are held to a standard than any other profession I know. We can be taken out of the field for an allegation of misconduct. We can be suspended without pay with no real appeal because it is an ‘administrative decision’ as opposed to a civil or criminal procedure. Officers are fired on a regular basis for offenses that wouldn’t warrant a company memo in the private sector.

Now to the good stuff. Mr. B assumed that I am in favor of strict anti-drug laws. Sorry, No. I am in favor of personal responsibility as I referenced in my prior closing remark. If someone wants to ruin their lives and health smoking speed – go for it. BUT (and this is a big but) there should be NO tax funded social or health programs to help them if they do. This was the missing point in his ‘drug chain of events’ – guilty liberals rape the taxpayers with huge ‘anti-gang’ and ‘anti-drug’ programs. Proposition 36 (CA’s rehab not jail system) has a roughly 75% failure rate at a cost of over $ 600,000,000. And the call goes out for more funding; which is nothing but a shallow disguise for socialist wealth redistribution. Let private citizens support the charities of their choice and get people off the government teat.

The comparison to prohibition is interesting because 100 years ago, opium was legal as well. There were also no tax payer funded programs if you became an addict. Additionally, in the modern era, sharing needles leads to the very expensive conditions of HIV and Hepatitis C. No taxpayer in 1900 was paying $1,000,000 in health care for a sick junkie. Mr. B. compares the rise of the military state with the increase of the paramilitary police units. Perhaps this is true, but if you want to reduce the ‘warfare’ state – please call for a reduction of the ‘welfare’ state as well.

And after many years ‘on the beat,’ I would join with Mr. Blackstock in saying ‘enough is enough.’ Please get involved and stay involved.

Please Note: That while I am a Detective for the LAPD, these comments are my own and do not represent the official views of the department in any way.

Signed, Detective —, LAPD

What do you, the readers, think of the Detective's statement? Write and let me know!

May 12, 2007