I got sidetracked with real life and just getting back to something I was trying to do earlier which was to quote a post I wanted to clarify and still having issues with the quote.
@BeginnerSleuther, when I quoted your post, I meant to bold your last sentence opining that LE failed to keep everyone safe when they arrested BK, that’s the part I was disagreeing with.
I respect your opinion. It’s ok when we don’t always share the same opinions or agree, helps make discussions here interesting. I enjoy reading everyone’s thoughts, theories, and opinions, and value the things I learn here from WS members’ wealth of experience and knowledge.
I also have huge respect for your profession. Incidentally, one of my uncles (RIP) was a Physician and my Aunt who I’m very close to is a Psychologist. IMO neither is an easy job and I admire those such as yourself that choose the medical field as their life’s work and the sacrifice, hard work and dedication it takes to get there, as well as desire to care for and help others in their health journey. It is truly honorable and commendable.
I also have Active and Retired LE in my family who have shared their thoughts on how hard it is sometimes to make decisions that they know some members of the public won’t always agree with or back them on. They understand it goes with territory and that they won’t ever be able to please everybody in the public nor are they required to. LE first and foremost are bound to their sworn duty to uphold the U.S. Constitution, honor, serve and protect the safety of citizens in the communities they serve. There is more specific language tailored to jurisdictions, departments, various LE titles/occupations and LE agencies but that’s the main gist.
There are policies and procedures that fall within the law which sworn officers across various agencies use their training, skills, experience and discretion to follow and enforce every day across the country. Most LE I know personally and others I’ve watched and listened to interviewed over many years detest and feel very bad about having to put innocent citizens and family members of criminals and murder suspects through emotional/psychological trauma as a result of their decisions/actions, which is why they try to avoid no-knock arrests and typically only execute in cases they determine to be extreme circumstances r/t apprehension of suspect they determine to be high risk for (sorry to beat a dead horse) possibly causing physical harm to LE or others, themselves, destroy evidence and of course, LE prefers to take their suspect in alive to be able to answer to the charges against them.
I offer no apology for being a supporter/back the blue as some of them are my family members who do and have done great work. IMO LE obviously have a very tough job with huge responsibilities and put their lives on the line every day to protect citizens and society as a whole. Do I think LE are infallible? no absolutely not. I recognize they make mistakes just like all humans and I’ve seen many that own up to their mistakes/admit they were wrong and I respect them for that. Yes there are some bad actors in LE as there are in a lot of professions and if an LE is corrupt and breaks the law, they should be treated and held accountable to the fullest extent of law no question, and if incompetent, fired. Does it always happen that bad actor/corrupt LE is held accountable? no, just like some criminals and murderers are walking the streets. Our justice system is flawed and some bad/corrupt LE and criminals/murderers unfortunately do get away/never held accountable. That’s just the reality, sad and unfortunate as it is. Same if an innocent person is convicted of a crime and sent to prison, it’s awful but at least there are avenues available a wrongfully convicted person can pursue to help right the wrong and get out of prison. Having said all that, I believe the majority of LE choose to work in the profession for the right reasons, remain true to and honor their sworn oath, follow procedures, protocol, and obey the law.
I now realize how long this post is and probably won’t be commenting on the topic again. Just thought I’d share a little more of my perspective and opinion which I’ve formed based on conversations with my own family members who work/ed in various branches and capacities in LE, doing my own research/reading, and from following true crime for a very loooonnnng time. Ugh I’m reminded how old I am lol.
My apologies to all WS’ers for the long post and for probably boring y’all ad infinitum.
Carry on.
All of the above IMHOO