From what I can gather his solution is to have counselors on calls alongside any police presence and just pray to God the cops are willing to listen to their advice. It's not like there's countless fucking stories of cops absolutely beating the shit out of people while their partners hold back paramedics or anything. And let's face it the massive egos of our officers stop them from respecting paramedics, imagine how they'll treat mental health counselors.
From what I can gather his solution is to have counselors on calls alongside any police presence and just pray to God the cops are willing to listen to their advice.
This idea is worth considering, not necessarily because pigs would listen to a mental health counselor's advice, but because cops might be less likely to commit over-the-top violence when an observer who isn't fully in their corner is on their side. I remember reading something about the Rwandan genocide to the effect of "U.N. observers didn't have to point guns at anyone to stop mass violence; just watching made the aggressors hold off." I could see something similar working here.
It's not the most comprehensive solution, but it might be a step in the right direction.
For this to work effectively the counsler would need to be payed and report to another department then law enforcement.
As long as the counselors are employed/report to officers then they will become part of their system Of oppression. Either via playing along or the office fucking over those who don’t follow the line.
If I was a corrupt cop I'd put the counselor in a Serpico situation, basically not protect them from an obvious threat. Cops could coerce cooperation from counselors like they do with leaders by threatening to not do their job.
Yeah, maybe I'm too cynical but I think 'embedding' will do for counsellors what it did for journalists with the troops. And anyone who doesn't toe the line will be pressured out or find themselves a 'casualty'.
Not to undermine the great work or competency of lots of social workers or counsellors, but this plan basically feels like sending along a HR mediator with the cartel.
On the other hand, the worst atrocities were perpetrated by units with no embedded reporter or third party observer.
Having someone around with a bodycam that wouldn't know the timing to turn it off before the cops start going porcine would be probably the best outcome we could get outta crime bill joe.
The independent body cam would be good, but what I read about was more of an interpersonal-observer effect. Just knowing that someone reasonably neutral was there as a witness -- and all that implies -- apparently had a significant effect on stopping mass violence. Think of how most people tone down antisocial behavior (e.g., fucking around as kids, or being a drunk asshole as an adult) if a third party walks in who isn't part of your group.
That's a good point, I'd be curious to see how well it'd actually work. Because I don't think that cops would view an attached social worker or counselor as anything but an enemy, like internal affairs or whatever.
most progressive platform in human history
Makes Star Trek look like Warhammer 40K
The police in my podunk town get a new fleet of cruisers every 2 years, as well as fucking tanks and shit, meanwhile our schools are using textbooks from like 20 years ago. Fuck off
How do these people think the cops work? They’re just shooting people cuz their OT isn’t high enough?
Seriously Libs actually got angry about the murder of George Floyd and then somehow transferred all that anger to Trump instead of holding all the politicians who perpetuate the system accountable.
I agree under the one condition that the extra funding is used to start the Christopher Dorner training camp. Under my plan, a graduate must be present for all police interactions and cops would face immediate termination if they cross the line.
I look forward to receiving your votes come November.
- Melania
