A case eventually making its way to a judge isn't really a counter-argument to how much power police have.
Things like asset forfeiture, qualified immunity, etc. are all pretty strong arguments that police have too much power. Not to mention all of the cases where someone innocent is killed by police, where the victim doesn't get to go in front of a judge because they are dead.
You have no rights in front of a cop. You only have rights in front of a judge. A cop can break every single one of your rights as they want, including kill you. It's frankly the most absurd system to ever exist. Your rights should exist well before it makes it to court (if you want to wait that long...if you get a court date). This whole system that cops can escalate your punishment and practically ruin your life financially is the greatest injustice in criminal justice system of the US. But talk of worker protections and limiting police powers is evil rhetoric here among the actual ruling class.
I agree it doesn't sound so bad, but from another perspective: why should a cop be given the authority to demand a law abiding citizen move 25ft for any reason?
That's just unchecked power waiting to be abused and there's simply no reason cops have given the public to believe they won't abuse power frequently, if given the opportunity.
Criminals should fear justice.
The police is NOT the judge and jury. The police responsibility is to bring someone, alive, in front of a judge, with proof of wrongdoing.
It is called separation of duties.
Doesn't this completely go against the trias politica principle? The police effectively playing judge and determining the penalty, without due process and even worse, for their own benefit?
Frankly I'm at a loss for words here. It's wrong on every imaginable level. The most worrying to me is, that there seem to be so many people who do NOT see anything wrong with it.
Do so many people miss a basic grasp of right and wrong, of the building blocks of our society? And what are they doing in the police force?
Indeed, being able to tell a cop you'll have your long list of very expensive lawyers contact them has a habit of slowing them down amazingly quickly.
If only law enforcement faced severe penalties for abusing their power, given they should be held to a higher standard of demonstrating good values and restraint in such roles in society.
And yet, American citizenry at large and the justice system in general gives the police the benefit of the doubt in all matters versus the populace. Are we really that dumb as a country? If you have to ask...
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