Thug Love isn't Police Reform

By Nadra Enzi —— Bio and Archives September 8, 2016

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Public safety is in a dangerous state of flux. Departments are told, by pro crime activists, limitation lobby lawyers and federal judges, that felony suspects now enjoy limited diplomatic immunity. Under these rules of engagement, the subject must be addressed in genteel terms, lest his feelings be hurt. This also helps camera phone footage look less infuriating to addicted cop haters awaiting viral video injection. Officers must respond to resisting arrest in a deescalated manner, regardless of injury inflicted. Should the felony subject die during the conflict he initiated, departments weigh whether to charge the officer to head off violent protests and ritual rioting. Often, the chief solemnly meets with the dead felony subject’s mother, as if her son were an honored war hero.

As a police, self-defense and private security advocate, I don’t support humiliating police in this manner. The solution to alleged LA Confidential-style brutality and conspiracy isn’t making felony subjects de facto ambassadors. This is thug love, not police reform. Police advocates either push this state of flux in a pro-public safety direction or hostages choose vigilantism and the military must patrol cities in response. You can’t grovel before felony subjects and expect otherwise. Loving thugs isn’t police reform, it’s police removal.