Perhaps you missed the piece in today's Washington Post by Sunil Dutta, a member of the Los Angeles Police Department, and junior college instructor. It is a whiny, self-righteous screed that will make him a hero around cop bars and police water coolers nationwide. His message? If you don't want to get hurt, just obey when he asks you to do something. Screw the Constitution. Kiss the man's baton and you'll be fine.
Here are excerpts.
"Working the street, I can’t even count how many times I withstood curses, screaming tantrums, aggressive and menacing encroachments on my safety zone, and outright challenges to my authority."
Um, Dutta, "your authority"? What do you think you are, plantation master? Perhaps if you didn't strut the streets like you owned them you'd be treated with more respect.
"Even though it might sound harsh and impolitic, here is the bottom line: if you don’t want to get shot, tased, pepper-sprayed, struck with a baton or thrown to the ground, just do what I tell you. Don’t argue with me, don’t call me names, don’t tell me that I can’t stop you, don’t say I’m a racist pig, don’t threaten that you’ll sue me and take away my badge. Don’t scream at me that you pay my salary, and don’t even think of aggressively walking towards me. Most field stops are complete in minutes. How difficult is it to cooperate for that long?"
This paragraph should be exhibit one in every case about abuse of police power. It reflects perfectly why some men and women are unfit to wear a badge and uniform. Mouth off to this goon and expect the full measure of his wrath. Challenge him, and he'll hurt you.
I am just betting this fellow is a real pleasure to meet at the tail end of one of his shifts.
I read his piece in the Post after one of my sons sent it to me by email. He thought it was satire, until he read it twice. It's the likes of Sunil Dutta who shoot to kill. It's the likes of Sunil Dutta who yield communities so frustrated they rise up in rage.
Sunil Dutta is an entitled asshole in a uniform. Wow. A real swinging dick, a noir sort of cop just looking for a little respect.
He'd get more if he learned to show some.