Real Politiks

We now live in a world where the prevalence of cameras and the ability to mass distribute video through the internet has opened us to seeing problems previously ignorable.  Problems which, viewed as individual instances, are often seen as mundane events, but when taken in aggregate across our country, gives great cause for concern.  I am speaking of the many hundreds of videos showing police brutality.  Questionable taser uses, seemingly undeserved arrests, deliberate interference with the media; all can be found peppering the internet, coupled with countless comments of growing discontent.

The existence of these cameras, on our phones, in public places, and on police cruisers, has been a source of paranoia for those afraid of the growing surveillance-state.  In an age where the government is openly engaged in illegal wiretapping, there is a part of me that sees this fear as completely rational.  However, when I look at what these cameras are exposing to the outside world I have to wonder if perhaps these cameras might be good to have in our hands, as a defense against that same tyranny.  

Admittedly, this defense is only as good as the system prosecuting these abuses of power.  This is the same system that has failed for eight years to produce any real oversight on its most public official, The President; it is no wonder to me that many are enraged, indeed, boiling with anger with the release of each video of abuse. 

No single instance of abuse is grounds for the condemnation an entire police force, nor of all police officers.  Taken in aggregate, however, I have become increasingly concerned about the disconnection between the police and those they “serve and protect.”  This divide becomes very apparent when watching these videos.  We do not live, nor have we ever really lived, in Andy Griffith’s Mayberry.  However, I think that a real lack of direct social and personal connection to the community is giving rise to situations where abuses of power are becoming rampant; situations where the police see themselves at odds with the community itself, rather than a part of it.

The job of the police is difficult, complex, and dangerous, but this should not excuse officers from acting and treating others like human beings.  Police officers are vested with many powers beyond a normal citizen to enforce the law, but with power should come responsibility and accountability.  This is not what people see when they view the many hundred videos of police abuse online.  For every instance of an officer being fired for their grievous actions, there are ten more instances where the officer is barely scolded before being sent back to work. 

Every time this occurs it only fuels the growing masses of people that see the justice system as harboring a culture that protects its own, instead of the people.  Indeed, some in power that believe the police are entitled to special breaks because of their difficult jobs.  They believe that the police are only human, bound to have a bad day, and should be forgiven their failings.  The police need to treat the community like humans, but we must also remember that they are only human themselves.

I agree with this, police are human too, but they are humans with the power of force and the legal backing to use it.  This is in itself the reason they should not be entitled to special breaks.  The idea that people in special positions of power should also be granted special leeway when they abuse this power is ludicrous, and tantamount to institutionalizing injustice.  Special power should always be subjected to special scrutiny, and justify its action, if that power is to be taken for anything but tyranny. 

As I sit writing, there are literally dozens of news stories, just today, about police abuse, being put out by new services across our country.  In the myopic vision of justice, that takes each case on its own, there is no real problem to be seen here.  The disconnection between police and community will continue to be ignored, and the growing anger will fester, further undermining the peoples trust in their government.  I want the police to be a part of my community.  The question that remains is when will they reach back and be apart of it?