this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2025
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THE POLICE PROBLEM

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    The police problem is that police are policed by the police. Cops are accountable only to other cops, which is no accountability at all.

    99.9999% of police brutality, corruption, and misconduct is never investigated, never punished, never makes the news, so it's not on this page.

    When cops are caught breaking the law, they're investigated by other cops. Details are kept quiet, the officers' names are withheld from public knowledge, and what info is eventually released is only what police choose to release — often nothing at all.

    When police are fired — which is all too rare — they leave with 'law enforcement experience' and can easily find work in another police department nearby. It's called "Wandering Cops."

    When police testify under oath, they lie so frequently that cops themselves have a joking term for it: "testilying." Yet it's almost unheard of for police to be punished or prosecuted for perjury.

    Cops can and do get away with lawlessness, because cops protect other cops. If they don't, they aren't cops for long.

    The legal doctrine of "qualified immunity" renders police officers invulnerable to lawsuits for almost anything they do. In practice, getting past 'qualified immunity' is so unlikely, it makes headlines when it happens.

    All this is a path to a police state.

    In a free society, police must always be under serious and skeptical public oversight, with non-cops and non-cronies in charge, issuing genuine punishment when warranted.

    Police who break the law must be prosecuted like anyone else, promptly fired if guilty, and barred from ever working in law-enforcement again.

    That's the solution.

♦ ♦ ♦

Our definition of ‘cops’ is broad, and includes prison guards, probation officers, shitty DAs and judges, etc — anyone who has the authority to fuck over people’s lives, with minimal or no oversight.

♦ ♦ ♦

RULES

Real-life decorum is expected. Please don't say things only a child or a jackass would say in person.

If you're here to support the police, you're trolling. Please exercise your right to remain silent.

Saying ~~cops~~ ANYONE should be killed lowers the IQ in any conversation. They're about killing people; we're not.

Please don't dox or post calls for harassment, vigilantism, tar & feather attacks, etc.

Please also abide by the instance rules.

It you've been banned but don't know why, check the moderator's log. If you feel you didn't deserve it, hey, I'm new at this and maybe you're right. Send a cordial PM, for a second chance.

♦ ♦ ♦

ALLIES

!abolition@slrpnk.net

!acab@lemmygrad.ml

r/ACAB

r/BadCopNoDonut/

Randy Balko

The Civil Rights Lawyer

The Honest Courtesan

Identity Project

MirandaWarning.org

♦ ♦ ♦

INFO

A demonstrator's guide to understanding riot munitions

Adultification

Cops aren't supposed to be smart

Don't talk to the police.

Killings by law enforcement in Canada

Killings by law enforcement in the United Kingdom

Killings by law enforcement in the United States

Know your rights: Filming the police

Three words. 70 cases. The tragic history of 'I can’t breathe' (as of 2020)

Police aren't primarily about helping you or solving crimes.

Police lie under oath, a lot

Police spin: An object lesson in Copspeak

Police unions and arbitrators keep abusive cops on the street

Shielded from Justice: Police Brutality and Accountability in the United States

So you wanna be a cop?

When the police knock on your door

♦ ♦ ♦

ORGANIZATIONS

Black Lives Matter

Campaign Zero

Innocence Project

The Marshall Project

Movement Law Lab

NAACP

National Police Accountability Project

Say Their Names

Vera: Ending Mass Incarceration

 

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[–] UncleGrandPa@lemmy.world 8 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

You ever notice how they stand with their hands covering their badges and name plates?

[–] no_username@lemm.ee 2 points 13 minutes ago

domestic terrorism

[–] okamiueru@lemmy.world 15 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (2 children)

If one of the possible answers to your question is "yes, I am indeed armed, and committing a felony by impersonating a law enforcement officer", you should reconsider your most recent life choices. In particular, asking them that question.

Observe from a safe distance, and call 911. What on earth do you hope to gain by going up to them for a chat?

excuuuuuuuse me. Are you actually taking people hostages? Or is this some kind of publicity stunt? Hellooo?! Are you really shooting at me? That's just, like, so rude.

[–] musubibreakfast@lemm.ee 5 points 1 hour ago

These sort of tactics might work if you're with a large group in a public space, if you're one person then it might not be the best idea. Honestly a lot of this stuff is highly context dependent.

[–] LandedGentry@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

One would assume you are not alone when you do this. Confrontation in public is not just important but demonstrably working. We have seen plenty of communities scare off ICE.

You are far more likely to be dealing with ICE than someone impersonating them. Acting like you're the next potential target for a political assassin is a bit weird.

Always be safe, always be careful, but the fact is if you're out at a protest or live in a community with a substantial immigrant population, you are likely to encounter ICE/the police.

[–] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 0 points 1 hour ago (1 children)
[–] LandedGentry@lemmy.zip 0 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Seems some folks never really wiped the Reddit off their dirty shoes

[–] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 3 points 25 minutes ago* (last edited 24 minutes ago) (1 children)

That phrase is much older than The Bad Site. I first used it in mIRC in the '90s

[–] LandedGentry@lemmy.zip 0 points 22 minutes ago

Good for you? The point is you’re being an ass. If you want to have a discussion like an adult I’m all ears but if you’re going to be flippant, I’m going to be flippant back.

[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 48 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

Dial 911 first, and say there's a masked person with a gun. No need to qualify that shit.

[–] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 16 points 3 hours ago

My thoughts exactly. You think gestapo is gonna wait patiently while you call 911?

[–] Randelung@lemmy.world 6 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

If you don't, you're dead or at least on the ground before you finish that first question.

[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 9 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

You don't have to talk to a masked gunman or engage with them in any way to call 911.

If you see masked people with guns, call 911. If they're authorized to be there, there's no harm in calling it in.

[–] Randelung@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

I think we're all agreeing. My comment might have been ambiguous.

[–] Katana314@lemmy.world 15 points 2 hours ago (2 children)

It would be incredible if we could get through a lawsuit to news stations anytime they make bad assumptions in articles. They continually write "Federal agents detained ..." when they should be writing "A team of unidentified individuals in masks and armor detained ..."

Just as they are always meant to write "The suspect" not "The criminal". Nothing must be assumed in reporting (exceptions allowed if they've contacted ICE headquarters and received a confirmation of them)

[–] Crikeste@lemm.ee 4 points 1 hour ago

The media is the 4th branch, they won’t report on these things until they have to. And even then, they’ll find a way to delegitimize.

[–] AutistoMephisto@lemmy.world 4 points 2 hours ago

Just as they are always meant to write "The suspect" not "The criminal".

For now, anyway. Due process and the presumption of innocence are still holding up, but the fascists are working hard on that one.

[–] JigglySackles@lemmy.world 17 points 3 hours ago

Like they,are going to give you the time to do this shit.

[–] Ileftreddit@lemmy.world 3 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

If you think a masked unidentified person will answer your question…..

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 hour ago

If you think a masked unidentified person will answer your question……

More like from a legal standpoint, you'd have a leg to stand on, you might also spook a fake agent enough to move on to a more willing target.

Assuming they're real agents, I think the real issue is the cop's response:

  • They likely would not show up in a timely fashion
  • They likely would not show up at all
  • If they did show up in a timely fashion, the odds that they would side with you are slim
[–] RedditIsDeddit@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

They are cowards and likely not actual police.

[–] I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world 88 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

If a person impersonating a cop spouted out some random digits when I asked for their badge and serial number, I doubt I would be able to tell the difference.

[–] Chip_Rat@lemmy.world 4 points 1 hour ago

Exactly. I had some undercover (or plain clothes I guess?) cops show up at my workplace looking for one of my guys. I asked to see their badge and they showed me a badge but honestly, that's only gonna stop someone who didn't plan far enough ahead. The badge could have been from the dollar store and I would have a hard time refuting....

[–] Djinn_Indigo@lemm.ee 45 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

That's what the call is for- you ask the local office if they can confirm that that officer is actually on patrol, exists, etc. Idk how that would work for ICE though; I don't think you can just call up the federal ICE headquarters.

[–] JackbyDev@programming.dev 44 points 12 hours ago (4 children)

That's not what the post says. It says call 911 if they refuse. It gives no guidance on what to do if they respond.

[–] Mniot@programming.dev 2 points 1 hour ago

The current state of things is that they cover their faces and refuse to give any ID. Even fake ID.

I think if you followed the post suggestion and the result was that ICE would give fake names and fake badge-numbers, that would actually be positive because "agents lie about their identity" is something new and interesting. Then the strategy will need to change, but in the mean time it was useful.

[–] Natanael@infosec.pub 14 points 9 hours ago

At least with 911 on the phone you can ask to be connected somewhere who can verify

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[–] MetalMachine@feddit.nl 62 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

This always makes me think, if you resist an "ice agent" because they have not identified themselves, your not liable right? Like if you go infront of a court wouldn't you have a good case to say, "they didn't identify themselves, I thought I might be assaulted or kidnapped by someone"

[–] PlutoniumAcid@lemmy.world 57 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Except you won't go to a court. You'll go to a camp.

[–] MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca 13 points 3 hours ago

Herein lies the problem.

There is no due process.

There is no law except what they choose to enforce.

You will not see a judge.

You will never be convicted by a jury of your peers.

You will just die, or be sent off to a place where you will likely wish that you were dead.

This is not law enforcement. This is not legal. They will not follow their own laws, why would you? If they come for you, fight like your life depends on it, because it probably does.

[–] thebestaquaman@lemmy.world 67 points 10 hours ago

Your first mistake was assuming you would be allowed to see a court.

[–] Akrenion@slrpnk.net 78 points 11 hours ago

There is a reason why they suspend due process.

You are being kidnapped.

[–] Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 52 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Next protest literally everyone should dress up in the same outfit the ICE officers dress in. Who would they arrest?

[–] JackbyDev@programming.dev 24 points 12 hours ago

I was in autopilot reading this like don't dress like cops then I remembered the cops aren't dressing like cops. (I'm very sleepy.)

[–] sudo@programming.dev 206 points 16 hours ago (13 children)

Utterly delusional to think any of that would work. At every step you would just get your face beaten in. When the cops come they too will just beat your face in.

Thinking you can castle doctrine a squad of ICE agents is equally delusional. You could probably take a couple out but you'd still die in the end and be risking the lives of anyone that lives with you.

The only solution is well known and already in practice in places like LA: have an active community response force that will show up and intimidate and harass the ICE agents. All of the previous delusions assume you, alone, can stop an ICE with just your privledge.

[–] JcbAzPx@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

If you can't stop them, taking a many out with you as you can is not the worst option.

[–] sxan@midwest.social 13 points 5 hours ago

It happened at one of the protests. Someone asked one of the officers for their badge number and got their head battered.

[–] AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 21 points 9 hours ago

Folks also need to be tearing down the local deathcamps, and rescuing the people still alive in them.

[–] NutWrench@lemmy.world 71 points 15 hours ago (6 children)

No badges, no uniforms, driving unmarked cars and wearing masks? I think any person could successfully argue in court that they thought they were being kidnapped by criminals.

[–] vithigar@lemmy.ca 107 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

You never get to court, that's the point the previous comment is making.

As an individual trying to stand up to them you're somewhere between being either completely ineffectual or making the situation worse. Having the law on your side doesn't matter because it's impossible for you to summon the enforcement of it fast enough to help you, assuming they even would.

A local community response that will mobilize and appear in your neighborhood in seconds is basically the only way to respond quickly with enough force for them to care about.

[–] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 12 points 8 hours ago

The people in LA Matt have been tracking and following the ice vehicles to some extent. We need that everywhere.

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[–] dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world 55 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Skip straight to step 3. Just call 911. These guys aren't fucking around, and neither should you.

[–] Robust_Mirror@aussie.zone 20 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Exactly what I thought. If their intent is to kill you they aren't going to mess around while you ask several times threatening to call the police.

[–] lambalicious@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 hour ago

If their intent is to kill you, phoning 911 is a waste of time. You are now alone. Fight for your life. Take down as many nazis as you can.

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