On American Policing

Many members of US law enforcement are neither well-trained nor particularly competent. They seem to escalate situations that too often end in needless death. They also are quick to use firearms when less lethal force could have ended the threat. When someone ends up dead at the hands of cops for the crime of "jaywalking", it is a hallmark of deficient and excessive policing. I do not expect every officer to be a superman, but they must all be trained sufficiently in hand to hand combat that they will not have their guns taken away when grappling with a suspect. They should be trained to fire only as a last resort, and if at all possible to employ mace, Taser, beanbag round, or even riot baton first. They do not need to kill desperately mentally ill or drugged up people who would have not had to die if police contained their desire to shoot somebody. I remember an incident years ago in my hometown of Nashville where a policeman having a personal crisis was permitted to fire numerous rounds in a crowded neighborhood near schools, churches, and day care centers because none of his colleagues wanted to take him down. Police almost never show that kind of restraint with anyone else. Law enforcement agencies also need to do more extensive psychological testing in the hiring process and then periodically during employment as work-related stress mounts. Bullies and sadists need to weeded out of departments. With proper allocation of resources and better instruction, American police could be the best in the world.