Who Is "Them"?

Over at SayUncle was a post about a local law enforcement agency looking to buy armor. Not the kind you wear, the kind you ride in.

Mark of a Free Man took exception, in comments, to the statement of one commenter who said "Look, 99 percent of the cops are good guys..." with some pithy comments of his own, ending with "I don’t think I’ll *ever* trust cops with this kind of equipment."

In that comment he mentioned the case of ex-policeman Harless of Canton OH, pointing out that his fellow officers and superiors were complicit in his guilt since they knew about him and did nothing (what is it that is necessary for evil to triumph? For good men to do nothing).

Another commenter, a policeman, has engaged him in debate (and I don't mean this tongue in cheek, there is an actual reasoned debate and not accusatory bomb-throwing, which is refreshing) over at his own place. Do go over there and read the linked posts, especially the comments sections.

I have often commiserated that modern law enforcement seems to not be familiar with the works of Sir Robert Peel.  To say I am following this exchange with great interest would be understating the case.

I can only hope that the boys in blue are following it as well.

On a related note, Sean over at An NC Gun Blog has a link to a post from a California policeman about the incorrect (and sometimes fatal) assumption that the police are able to protect you. "Buy a gun" he says. "Get a bat. Own some weapon and have enough skill to use it to save your own life and the lives of your family members. DO NOT RELY ON THE POLICE TO SAVE YOUR LIFE FOR YOU."

Good advice, and no I have not missed the irony of a California policeman advising citizens to engage in the sort of behaviour that would attract the interest of law enforcement.  I can only hope that he has not missed the irony, either.  I left a comment (yet to be published, but I have faith) noting that it is not so much that the common average citizen is uninterested in protecting his/her own life as (s)he has been trained not to.

This is changing.  Sometimes change is good.