TV.
The LAPD adopted it in the 1950s. Because of LA’s media visibility the motto became widely known.
I heard in Springfield is “To protect and to sever”
That car is owned by the public. I shouldn’t see Hello Kitty stickers on it either, but at least it wouldn’t be obnoxiously missing the point.
I wasn’t speaking specifically about LAPD, I realize now that is where the conversation was going but there are other police squad cars. The ones near me say PROTECT AND SERVE and since I thought that was the general idea I assumed it was on most. So, ignorance successfully fought.
But I believe my point stands.
I think I realized it myself when I was stopped for an expired safety inspection sticker on my truck. The cop pulled me over, got out of his car with his hand on his gun as he approached my truck. Mind you, I’m a short haired, clean-shaven middle aged white guy with a spotless record. Eagle Scout even. And I was pulled over in a low crime wealthy suburb by another clean shaven, short haired white man.
There was absolutely NO reason for this guy to have his hand on his gun except if he was paranoid about his own safety.
I’ve also heard a lot of rhetoric out of the cop unions and spokespeople on the news and in the newspaper that imply that same sort of insular “us vs. the world” mentality, combined with a certain inflated sense of their importance as the last bulwark against crime and chaos.
I think a lot of it is personal paranoia, but I’m sure it probably started as a rhetorical device to secure more funding from frightened elderly white people in the 90s through today, who basically have that same “the world is fundamentallly unsafe” mindset and are afraid of everything.
I think this “readiness” posture is something they learn fairly early in their law enforcement career. Certainly for a large subset, it’s also a posture of “don’t fuck with me.”
I do mention this kind of contrast a little often, but out here in the “shit-hole” country of South Africa, every traffic stop I have been in… the officers typically have a pistol holstered on their right side, but their hands are much more involved in checking my driver’s license, and vehicle license.
The fact they have a 9mm with them just is not a worry at all. It is just part of the uniform, and a tool they use when necessary, not as a threat.
Our gun ownership is estimated at 10th in the world, but because of various wars in the 70s/80s in Southern Africa it could well be higher. But our cops don’t shit the bed as often as the USA.
We also don’t do mass gun killings, but I guess that is a different topic so I am drifting.
Slightly back on topic, our cops do wear military style boots, and while not camouflage, military style blue uniforms (probably just cheaper to mass produce the same pattern)
I suppose it’s a difference of mentality based on both police and population knowing what weapons are for, and that it’s not to prove you are the bigger man.
Also, awareness that if someone is going to attack me, he will be attacking me. Not running errands to the market but pausing to attack me before heading next to the launderette.
Probably — the thing is that “police” agencies remain distinguishable from the military and the common beat cop need not be in “battle rattle”.
As an interesting example, the US Coast Guard, which is legally a both a military and law branch, when shipboard or in everyday work duty, wears solid-blue working utilities. Camo only when field-deployed with the Navy or Marines.
@bump my friend, young, white, safe area, coming home wearing a ball gown and holding a box of Christmas decorations, was forced to the ground at gunpoint (“Get down on the ground!”) The cop was not wearing camouflage and, I can only assume, confidently satisfied with this typical, very professional interaction.
All I’m getting at is that here in the US anyway, middle-aged, clean shaven, short-haired white men driving pickup trucks in Texas are probably the least threatening demographic to cops save maybe the white women who are their spouses.
And despite all that, this clown had his hand on his gun while he came to tell me that my inspection sticker was out of date.
To me, that implies an unreasonable degree of paranoia and “the world is inherently dangerous” kind of thinking, especially for a policeman.
I’m not going to defend any aspect of ICE. But I wonder if their wearing of camo - and other carhart-type attire, essentially just reflects them being plain-clothes, and wearing gear that is most suitable for potentially demanding often outdoors work. Sure, unless they are proceeding “under cover” in specific situations, they ought to be clearly identified, along the lines of the clearly labelled windbreakers/vests you often see on cops/federal agents.
In reality, I think the “intent” reflects part a lack of planning - not caring about appearances, and part intentionally causing confusion and fear - making targets and bystanders wonder who these people are, and what their authority is.
Just boggles my mind that there hasn’t been quicker and more definite litigation regarding their tactics and masking.
To be honest, the vast majority of the time, I don’t think soldiers should wear camo either. That might be because during my military career, all the big generals had a pissing match over who could design the best “digital” camo, and wasted billions on it after the Marines updated theirs. It’s waste of money, unnecessary most of the time (and counterproductive at least some of the time), plus it makes soldiers in peacetime look like walking trash bags instead of sharp, respectable professionals.
But I agree with the broader point, civilian police shouldn’t be militarized at all. You get your service pistol and a billy club and your blue, bowtied suit, Officer Friendly. You want a machine gun and body armor, join the Marines.
Wait a minute. So you don’t think police officers should be allowed to wear body armor?
Tell that to the 3000+ whose lives were saved because of it.
And you feel this would pass? Or not be vetoed?
I couldn’t agree more, and even more so for the local tacti-cool cops who dress like SpecOps in Afghanistan. It’s not just ICE, I have those in my area. Ran into a guy at the local hardware store with his K9 SUV parked outside. Short guy, long beard, olive-drab uniform, tactical vest, the works. I stared at him the whole time wanting to make a comment about his grooming… you’re holding an Arby’s cup, probably working a traffic stop, and you’re slobbing around in a shaggy beard like you’re about to meet a Pashto tribesman? Get a shave and a haircut, jerk. Anyway he caught me looking at him, didn’t seem to like it, but he moved on.
So yes, I’d like to demilitarize the Mayberry Marines. And while we’re at it, I don’t want the “blue line” (aka “Police Supremacist”) flag on any police vehicles that I pay for as a taxpayer. Use the city’s emblem, state flag, or American flag if you must, but no meme shit.
Litigation. Not legislation.
My apologies for not reading more closely.
Don’t forget that it’s defined in federal law as flag desecration, too. Granted, the Flag Code isn’t enforceable, but you’d think that the performative-patriotism crowd would know better.
For the umpteenth time. That presumes anyone on the right actually cares about the flag, the constitution, or the Republic for which it stands. If you still believe that I’ve got a bridge I’d like to sell you (or I guess a Bitcoin nowadays?)
Is it? The code mostly talks about what things you can or can’t do with an actual US flag. A thin blue line decal isn’t a flag, it just uses flag iconography.