Unlike some the other guy who lied about being a Baltimore cop, this guy has a few thoughts worth hearing. From Humans Of New York:
I got an Ivy League education and then became a street cop for six years. I’d always been a knee jerk liberal. I was one of those kids screaming ‘off the pigs’ at protest marches. And then I ended up joining the force. I think it should be mandatory for everyone…. I think everyone should have to be a cop. It’s the ultimate social work. It’s the cop who has to step in when everything else has broken down. It’s where the rubber meets the road. It’s where conflict bubbles to the point of needing resolution, and somebody has to step in and protect the group welfare.
…
Everyone should have to make an arrest. Everyone should have to feel the fear of trying to apprehend someone who doesn’t want to go to jail. It breaks my heart to see all the hate toward cops. Are there hateful, racist cops? Sure. And they should be punished. But I’ve worked in just about every industry. And I didn’t find any more racism in the police department than I’ve found in boardrooms and retail stores.
Yes, a police draft would have several advantages:
– a PD that looks like its community;
– ordinary citizens would have a greater tendency to know or bee related to cops, increasing cooperation on the street, jury room, legislature, etc;
– draftee cops would be less likely to jump in enthusiastically on flavor-of-the-month policies;
On the disadvantage side, you might have less professionalism, and a weird combination of depolicing with overwhelming force on the few things that get policed. Sort of a Powell Doctrine on a micro scale.
Or kjnd of like how policing used to be….
JSM
How many people have been wrongfully imprisoned because of racism in other industries and professions?
We delegate enormous power to law enforcement. It shouldn't be a shock that we (should) hold them to a high standard of ethics and behaviour.
Police draft kinda leads to police state, ain't it?
Less policing and more creativity should be what a free society aiming for.
Adultery and blasphemy used to be crimes… Enforcing law seems like a solution for things but it's not. Making law and changing law should be what everyone have concerns on.
Maybe a Politician draft?
There may be no more racism in policing than in other occupations, but few other occupations can shoot the objects of their racism and get away with it.
So would police officers be made up of the same pool of people who can't get out of jury duty?
Ha! Yes, the police draft is not a realistic plan, for many reasons. But it is a useful prism to look at the issues of police-population separation.
One option that might share some advantages with the draft could be expanded police reserves. Again, not foolproof, because the people with good excuses for jury duty are the people who can't spare a shift a week. On the other hand, people who are already scrabbling for hours on their day jobs would be flexible enough, and would appreciate the income boost. Plus their day-job employer might appreciate having an off-duty PO behind the counter, driving the truck, etc.
Another option, which approaches problems from the exact opposite direction, would be to make all police state police. This would reduce some of the petty local political and financial influence. It would probably alienate the public more in some ways, since chances are your local copper has no ties to your hood or even your city. But on the bright side, she wouldn't owe anything to the local elites who may want her to oppress you.
JSM
Police draft kinda leads to police state, ain't it?
Right. Which is why, as everyone knows, Switzerland is the new Sparta.