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View Full Version : Why can't cops police their own ranks?




BlackTerrel
07-12-2010, 12:20 AM
This story was the front page on Yahoo just now and I noticed an interesting trend. I'm not interested in the story itself but this part in bold.


NASSAU, Bahamas – For two years he stayed a step ahead of the law — stealing cars, powerboats and even airplanes, police say, while building a reputation as a 21st-century folk hero. But Colton Harris-Moore's celebrity became his downfall.

Witnesses on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera recognized the 19-year-old dubbed the "Barefoot Bandit" and called police, who captured him Sunday after a high-speed boat chase, Bahamas Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said at a celebratory news conference in Nassau, the capital.

Greenslade said shots were fired during the water chase but he did not say who fired them. He also said Harris-Moore was carrying a handgun that he tried to throw away.

Another senior police official, however, said police fired to disable the motor on the suspect's stolen boat, and that Harris-Moore threw his gun in the water. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case, also said that police recovered a laptop and a GPS locator from the suspect.

This happens every time there is a high profile case. Why can't cops keep their mouths shut to the press when they aren't allowed to - or is it more a ploy and the cops want to release this "anonymous info". This is not an isolated incident, it happens constantly and you'd think if private companies can enforce it the police should be able to enforce it.

Lots of press and media would love to find out new details about the next iPhone or the next XBox but you never hear "a Microsoft/Apple/whatever employee spoke on the condition of anonymity". Those companies know how to keep their employees quiet - why can't the police?

jmdrake
07-12-2010, 06:05 AM
The reason anyone should care about this? :confused:

Pericles
07-12-2010, 08:53 AM
Private sector employees can be fired for transgressing almost any company rule.

Public sector employees seldom get fired for any reason.

It is easier to maintain discipline when meaningful penalties can be used.

fisharmor
07-12-2010, 09:02 AM
Lots of press and media would love to find out new details about the next iPhone or the next XBox but you never hear "a Microsoft/Apple/whatever employee spoke on the condition of anonymity". Those companies know how to keep their employees quiet - why can't the police?

The real question is: what information do the police have that needs to be kept secret?

In this case, the anonymous officer is offering information which makes the police look bad. They obviously didn't want anyone to know they had fired at him, and the source says they did.

Every time a mundane is murdered in cold blood by the cops, they feed the public half truths and disinformation. The more inside snitches there are, the better.

newbitech
07-12-2010, 09:04 AM
I also think its an intimidation factor of the media.

Cops have to manage PR just like any human enterprise. If media reports make cops look bad, then the police force PR engine starts withholding info. Media realizes this, so in order to get the juicy info, the media runs propaganda for the cops pr dept.

Anonymous source not authorized to speak is code for, I made a deal with the cops to not report the bullshit in exchange for this little crumb of information that gives the appearance that police on the inside are looking out for the citizens.

jmdrake
07-12-2010, 09:08 AM
Private sector employees can be fired for transgressing almost any company rule.

Public sector employees seldom get fired for any reason.

It is easier to maintain discipline when meaningful penalties can be used.

Actually public sector employees get fired for "leaking" all the time. One right now is facing prison time. (The Pentagon "Wikileaks" case). We need more public sector employees to leak. Thread fail.

BlackTerrel
07-12-2010, 11:53 AM
The reason anyone should care about this? :confused:

I think it's an interesting phenomenon. It shows an inherent mistrust of the rank and file of their bosses above. It is also the sign of a not very professional operation.

It is telling that this does not happen in the private sector - or at last nearly not as often.