Straight from the Pig’s Mouth
Recently a former police officer wrote an article discussing police culture. His hope, as he put it, if the truth came “straight from the pig’s mouth” maybe folks would listen.
The jist of it, cops lie.
It begins in training where officers are bombarded with videos portraying colleagues getting shot and seriously injured on duty. Backed by the motto, “I’d rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6,” officers are brainwashed everyone is out to kill them. Their safe place is their fellow officers, with whom they should do anything for, even if it includes lying, covering up, or turning the other cheek. Right from the beginning young officers develop an “us against the world” mentality.
Over time officers, even begin to desire violence. A disturbing game within the department, where those who have killed encourage first kills.
The officer goes on to give hard examples of police lying, including:
- Lying about the law;
- Lying about what cops can do to you;
- Lying about their own fear to justify using force against you;
- Lying about police reports;
- Lying in police reports;
- Lying they will “put in a good word for you with the DA”
- Lying if you cooperate it will “look good”
- Lying about what they see to conduct an unlawful search;
- Lying about what they hear to conduct an unlawful search;
- Lying about what a witness said;
- Lying about not arresting you if you’re “honest”
- Lying about what they smell to search containers
- Lying about what they can charge you with.
In calling for change, the writer incudes a laundry list of serious problems within the departments. Like a flesh eating virus eating away one’s skin from the inside-out, the disturbing footage we ultimately see, begins early on within the ranks. A system the cop calls “broken beyond repair.”
Adding to the fuel (and less spoken about) a separate article addresses prosecutors. Specifically, the many prosecutors that enable this police conduct by either not holding them accountable or even endorsing their unlawful behavior.
The bottom line, is the system is flawed, very flawed. It is unknown what changes will come, but by knowing your rights, you can protect yourself. So what should you do if you find yourself in such a situation?
Record.Request.Refrain
- Record (you have every right);
- Request, If you are free to leave; If yes, leave. If no say, “I’d be happy to cooperate with my attorney present.”
- Refrain from talking.
When you implement these rights the officer must stop asking you questions and has a choice to either arrest you (if he or she has enough evidence) or let you go.