Nothing To Hide
One of the most routine tools in the police officer's arsenal is the query, "you don't have anything to hide, do you?" It's amazing how well that works, striking fear in the hearts of law-abiding people and criminals alike, causing them to throw open their doors, trunks and mouths.
But once again, don't ponder their question too long, when one need only see how the police handle the question when they're the ones under scrutiny.
For example, consider the reaction of Miami Beach cops, after nine cops pumped a bunch of bullets into unarmed 22-year old Raymond Herisse.
After killing Herisse, the officers chased down bystanders, including Narces Benoit and a photographer for a local news organization, and confiscated their cameras and cell phones.
Benoit hid his cellphone's SIM card in his mouth when cops seized and smashed his phone.
Or maybe you prefer a healthier video, say bike riders perhaps, where they go after the video after beating the cyclist?
And then there's the "glitch" that was used to conceal the beating five Cleveland cops gave an arrestee who had the audacity to have his belt buckle touch a cop (a vicious assault to the face, as officially described).
But once again, don't ponder their question too long, when one need only see how the police handle the question when they're the ones under scrutiny.
For example, consider the reaction of Miami Beach cops, after nine cops pumped a bunch of bullets into unarmed 22-year old Raymond Herisse.
After killing Herisse, the officers chased down bystanders, including Narces Benoit and a photographer for a local news organization, and confiscated their cameras and cell phones.
Benoit hid his cellphone's SIM card in his mouth when cops seized and smashed his phone.
Or maybe you prefer a healthier video, say bike riders perhaps, where they go after the video after beating the cyclist?
And then there's the "glitch" that was used to conceal the beating five Cleveland cops gave an arrestee who had the audacity to have his belt buckle touch a cop (a vicious assault to the face, as officially described).
McGrath: This is just "a glitch in the system."
Really. I watched the booking video at Cleveland.com over the weekend and it looked pretty bogus to me. The abusive officer, if I'm not mistaken is a son of a longtime suburban Police Chief and brother of other cops and local lawyers. Thus you might conclude that there is a motivation for a "blue line" cover-up among rank and file.
Police Chief McGrath, who had a pretty good reputation, would have been better off shutting up, his mangled rationalization tells you precisely what's going on: same old, same old. Actually transparent in the department = violence, police abuse, lies and cover up. Nothing changes.
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I found Chief McGrath absolutely sincere and convincing. When he says "glitch," (or clitch, which is like a glitch except clitchier), I believe him completely.
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In today's Miami Herald the Miami Beach Police Chief offered this entirely reasonably explanation for taking the photographers into custody:
Police did seize multiple cameras on Memorial Day, but they were not trying to cover up their actions, said Police Chief Carlos Noriega. The officers were determined to preserve evidence, not destroy it, he said.
The Chief helpfully expanded on the incident where police seized Benoit's phone taking him to the ground at gunpoint and drawing their gun at his girlfriend, who was videotaping the incident.
Clearly, he was looking to sell his video.
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The Chief later revealed that he's selling a historic bridge in London. Story on page 5.
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These kinds of shenanigans are also collected at the "Bad Cop, No Donut!" subreddit, often before they're widely reported.
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There are many places that collect such detritus, and yet I choose to highlight the ones I prefer. Now why would I possibly want to do that, I wonder?
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Well, yeah.
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My favorite reply is, "When you make love to your wife, are you doing anything wrong? Do you have anything to hide?"
I've yet to actually use it but I've yet to have actually been asked the question.
I'm sure that this would endear me to them to no end as it would anyone who gave a similar reply.
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