Our system is all kinds of screwed up. As it so happens, those that make the laws, and those that enforce the laws, somehow seem to get held to a lower standard than the citizens laws are supposed to protect. We allow them to skate. I've always been of the opinion they should be held to a higher standard than the common citizen. They're supposed to be the examples, and when you allow them to violate the law and skirt punishment, you send the wrong message to society. No one should be above the law. Such a common phrase, but we see all the time, some people are above the law.
My door got broken down for the probable cause of a heart attack happening. Unfortunately it was at the wrong address. Guns were drawn coming in. 8 months pregnant it scared the crap out of me.
The heart attack was across the street. I kept wondering what kind of idiot breaks down the wrong door and terrified a pregnant woman? I think I got over it pretty quickly but I wasn't letting it go.
I went to the village council mtg, explained what happened and told them I wanted my door repaired. After hemming around the subject the village mayor said we will pay for it. I had to hold them accountable.
I talked with the police chief and questioned him on the manor in which this happened. Same sgt who never quite seemed to do the right thing was involved. If you are breaking a door down for a medical emergency why the guns drawn. I had a few more run ins with the sgt and not doing his job or screwing it up. He finally got assigned to court house duty. Apparently he had a long history of not paying attention to details. They fixed it internally after several discussions with the chief.
He won't be breaking down anyone else's door. I don't wish to take anyone's living away but he's now in a place that hard decisions are not on his plate anymore and he will retire in that roll. He made the rest of the village police look bad. The rest were by the book professionals and quite frankly expressed relief in not having to deal with him anymore. I can imagine there are thousands of police who feel that way about coworkers.
Multiple that scenario by 10 and you have a small city force. Multiple that by 100 for a large city. Not every cop belongs on a beat, not every cop should be a trainer and some cops shouldn't be issued a weapon. I think the details of an individuals bad behavior or poor judgement gets ignored to a certain extent until there is a sentinel event. I don't believe this is all the time because there are plenty of chiefs who take public safety responsibility personally and the actions of the officers as a reflection of themselves and the department as a whole.
I am seeing more independent reports that warrents are obtained with false info after a death event and investigation. I'm finding allot of probable cause entry being bs after a death event. Those should have never have happened and they happen in all large cities.
Since policing the police is impossible until something bad happens the no knocks should be illegal. I do see it as a 4th violation. I think there are probable causes for entry but those are extreme with lives in danger and not related to the war on drugs.