An Attorney And Ex-Cop's Tale Of The Republican National Convention
RoboCops: Professional Policing of Political Protest
"In early September, hundreds of protesters in St. Paul were arrested outside the Republican National Convention by helmeted police officers wearing black uniforms and full body armor reminiscent of scenes from the 1987 movie, RoboCop featuring: "Part man. Part machine. All Cop. The future of law enforcement."
In an operation supervised by federal agents, informants were recruited and paid to infiltrate media and protest groups. Preemptive search warrants were served on their gathering places by masked officers in riot gear armed with assault rifles, and video cameras, computers, journals and political pamphlets were seized.
Officers marching in formations and shouting military chants used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades, smoke bombs and excessive force against predominately peaceful demonstrators. Specifically targeted, independent and credentialed journalists covering the protests were arrested, violently detained and charged with felony rioting.
The present encroachment by the federal government into matters of local law enforcement results in part from powers seized by President Bush following 9-11. He recently reaffirmed: "Consistent with ... the National Emergencies Act ..., I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency I declared on September 14, 2001, ... with respect to ... the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on the United States. Because the terrorist threat continues, the national emergency ... and the powers and authorities adopted to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond September 14, 2008."
President Bush has appointed himself to ensure our "continuity of government"; however, the actual limits on his "powers and authorities" remain secret, even from Congress. Any "Enduring Constitutional Government" will be run by the president alone, and any "cooperative" role played by Congress or the Supreme Court will be at his pleasure as a "matter of comity."
Watching these events unfold, and reflecting back upon the experiences and observations of a 45-year career in America's justice system, I have concluded that while law enforcement may have improved as a profession, police officers have become less conscious of who it is they are sworn to protect and to serve."
"In early September, hundreds of protesters in St. Paul were arrested outside the Republican National Convention by helmeted police officers wearing black uniforms and full body armor reminiscent of scenes from the 1987 movie, RoboCop featuring: "Part man. Part machine. All Cop. The future of law enforcement."
In an operation supervised by federal agents, informants were recruited and paid to infiltrate media and protest groups. Preemptive search warrants were served on their gathering places by masked officers in riot gear armed with assault rifles, and video cameras, computers, journals and political pamphlets were seized.
Officers marching in formations and shouting military chants used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades, smoke bombs and excessive force against predominately peaceful demonstrators. Specifically targeted, independent and credentialed journalists covering the protests were arrested, violently detained and charged with felony rioting.
The present encroachment by the federal government into matters of local law enforcement results in part from powers seized by President Bush following 9-11. He recently reaffirmed: "Consistent with ... the National Emergencies Act ..., I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency I declared on September 14, 2001, ... with respect to ... the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on the United States. Because the terrorist threat continues, the national emergency ... and the powers and authorities adopted to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond September 14, 2008."
President Bush has appointed himself to ensure our "continuity of government"; however, the actual limits on his "powers and authorities" remain secret, even from Congress. Any "Enduring Constitutional Government" will be run by the president alone, and any "cooperative" role played by Congress or the Supreme Court will be at his pleasure as a "matter of comity."
Watching these events unfold, and reflecting back upon the experiences and observations of a 45-year career in America's justice system, I have concluded that while law enforcement may have improved as a profession, police officers have become less conscious of who it is they are sworn to protect and to serve."
posted by nolocontendere at 9:38 PM
2 Comments:
Things are speeding up fast.
I agree, and I'm about to do a disappearing act.
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