Comments for Talking the Beat http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com A Canadian police officer's blog on policing, criminal justice, law and criminology. Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:09:05 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on What an incredibly dangerous precedent by talkingthebeat http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com/2008/06/17/what-an-incredibly-dangerous-precedent/#comment-70 talkingthebeat Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:09:05 +0000 http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-70 As an addition to this post...I actually had a bad guy quote this decision while we were dealing with him, trying to get him to leave his house so we didn't have to get a warrant. Although, when we told him we'd return with one, he told us to remember this case. Doesn't that just piss you off that they'd even be able to reference it?! As an addition to this post…I actually had a bad guy quote this decision while we were dealing with him, trying to get him to leave his house so we didn’t have to get a warrant. Although, when we told him we’d return with one, he told us to remember this case. Doesn’t that just piss you off that they’d even be able to reference it?!

]]> Comment on Taser, Taser, Taser by talkingthebeat http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com/2007/11/23/taser-taser-taser/#comment-65 talkingthebeat Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:32:39 +0000 http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com/2007/11/23/taser-taser-taser/#comment-65 Jeff, thanks. I appreciate your question. My point in this circumstance is that while the videographer was filming the incident before police arrived, he repeated his call for "someone call the police". Then when police arrived, he was very much critical of what actions they took and how they reacted to the problem that he required them for. Why I said that was both practical and critical of him. Citizens need to realize that police cannot be everywhere at once and need to take a proactive role in the safety of their own community. Make the phone call to police (rather than video taping), be a good witness, or god forbid, try to help the man (if its safe). Once police arrive, offer assistance. I think people tend to stand back and let other brave people act rather than getting involved. People should also appreciate that the help they requested arrived and took care of the situation. If people let this man continue his behavior, it is clear that someone would have been hurt at some point. Having more cameras will mean that more people are standing around watching, video taping rather than actually helping out others. I firmly believe that we need to break the group think and help out, especially in the cities. A video comes to mind of an officer in the states fighting a man on the sidewalk, while people on the busy street keep walking by, and the guy kept video taping. Why wouldn't all of them go and help the officer? Of course, there are situations that are unsafe for bystanders or anyone but police, and the attending officers will let you know. Otherwise, do your public duty and help keep the peace. That's my opinion. Jeff, thanks. I appreciate your question. My point in this circumstance is that while the videographer was filming the incident before police arrived, he repeated his call for “someone call the police”. Then when police arrived, he was very much critical of what actions they took and how they reacted to the problem that he required them for. Why I said that was both practical and critical of him. Citizens need to realize that police cannot be everywhere at once and need to take a proactive role in the safety of their own community. Make the phone call to police (rather than video taping), be a good witness, or god forbid, try to help the man (if its safe). Once police arrive, offer assistance. I think people tend to stand back and let other brave people act rather than getting involved. People should also appreciate that the help they requested arrived and took care of the situation. If people let this man continue his behavior, it is clear that someone would have been hurt at some point.

Having more cameras will mean that more people are standing around watching, video taping rather than actually helping out others. I firmly believe that we need to break the group think and help out, especially in the cities. A video comes to mind of an officer in the states fighting a man on the sidewalk, while people on the busy street keep walking by, and the guy kept video taping. Why wouldn’t all of them go and help the officer?

Of course, there are situations that are unsafe for bystanders or anyone but police, and the attending officers will let you know. Otherwise, do your public duty and help keep the peace. That’s my opinion.

]]> Comment on Taser, Taser, Taser by Jeff http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com/2007/11/23/taser-taser-taser/#comment-64 Jeff Tue, 20 May 2008 05:28:36 +0000 http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com/2007/11/23/taser-taser-taser/#comment-64 A very interesting blog, I appreciate the opportunity to see these events from an officers' point of view. I have one question about this posting. You say : "Perhaps you should take action yourself next time and help out these officers" What do you mean? What can a citizen do that will not get them arrested or harassed for interfering with the police? Don't we want more cameras, rather than less? People need to know the difficult situations that police face ever day if they are to have an understanding of incidents like this. People need to be able to trust the police before they will support them. A very interesting blog, I appreciate the opportunity to see these events from an officers’ point of view. I have one question about this posting.

You say :
“Perhaps you should take action yourself next time and help out these officers”

What do you mean? What can a citizen do that will not get them arrested or harassed for interfering with the police? Don’t we want more cameras, rather than less? People need to know the difficult situations that police face ever day if they are to have an understanding of incidents like this. People need to be able to trust the police before they will support them.

]]> Comment on The cost of back-up by talkingthebeat http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/the-cost-of-backup/#comment-9 talkingthebeat Thu, 15 Nov 2007 04:40:36 +0000 http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/the-cost-of-backup/#comment-9 Call-out is where officers are paid for their overtime. You're 'called out' when you are off-duty and receive a call from work, dispatcher, etc. Call-out occurs often with the RCMP, as they don't have staff to cover the 24hr clock. As a result, officers go home after shift and are called out pending an important call. Call-out is where officers are paid for their overtime. You’re ‘called out’ when you are off-duty and receive a call from work, dispatcher, etc. Call-out occurs often with the RCMP, as they don’t have staff to cover the 24hr clock. As a result, officers go home after shift and are called out pending an important call.

]]> Comment on The cost of back-up by Ben http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/the-cost-of-backup/#comment-8 Ben Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:44:45 +0000 http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/the-cost-of-backup/#comment-8 I'm not familiar with call-out. What is that? I’m not familiar with call-out. What is that?

]]> Comment on Policing crowds by No more Sgt. Pepper « Talking the Beat http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com/2007/07/17/policing-crowds/#comment-3 No more Sgt. Pepper « Talking the Beat Wed, 18 Jul 2007 05:43:00 +0000 http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com/2007/07/17/policing-crowds/#comment-3 [...] Making an arrest in a crowd is dangerous for any officer. Crowds can turn easily, as described in my last post. To have a large number of people confronting you during an arrest, depending on their involvement [...] [...] Making an arrest in a crowd is dangerous for any officer. Crowds can turn easily, as described in my last post. To have a large number of people confronting you during an arrest, depending on their involvement [...]

]]> Comment on Change police culture? by Someone was listening… « Talking the Beat http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com/2007/06/16/changing-police-culture/#comment-2 Someone was listening… « Talking the Beat Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:57:04 +0000 http://talkingthebeat.wordpress.com/2007/06/16/changing-police-culture/#comment-2 [...] and creative move to address some of the problems inherent in the police organization. As I mentioned in my previous post, choosing a civilian to lead a police force is the right step, as the role is very political [...] [...] and creative move to address some of the problems inherent in the police organization. As I mentioned in my previous post, choosing a civilian to lead a police force is the right step, as the role is very political [...]

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