Real Police Work

Someone had to bust Fred Flintstone.

This man did not need to die

After watching the video it's fairly apparent that Robert Dziekanski did not need to die. The taser was applied almost as a matter of convenience. The cops in the video appear fairly cavalier.

This is tough for me to say, because all the cops I know really seem to be doing a tough job for the right reasons, and it frustrates me that my profession (teaching) is often tarred with a big brush, but there are some sick people who work their way into policing. Let's face it, if you get a sick kick out of violence, policing is a great state-sanctioned way to live that out. It's too early to apply that sort of characterization here, but we need to have our eyes open.

Pot Busts Rising: Wise Use of Resources?

Since the Conservatives killed decriminalization legislation, pot busts are on the way up again. First of all I should say that whatever pot is supposed to do, it doesn't do it for me, not my thing. I should also say that there are lots of regular users that I know who are perfectly successful, hard working, tax paying citizens. Yes some people have a problem with it I'm sure, just as some people have a problem with booze or a problem with gambling. In both those cases though, the practice is allowed, but not with marijuana.

None of these arguments are new, we know this. I cringe when I think though that my tax dollars are being used to round up people using something that is surely no more harmful than alcohol.

Cyclist assaulted by a cop?!

I saw the story yesterday about some kids who caught a driver on tape punching a cyclist in downtown Toronto. Now it turns out that this guy is a cop.

I'll go to bed now and fight the urge to read anything into that.

Canadian Law For Dummies or Why Police Should Not Pick Judges

I've now seen another voice trying to assure me that police picking judges is okay. In this case it's from the right-wing hacks who pass as the editors of Macleans:

Nor do we have a problem with Mr. Harper's inclusion of a police representative on the JACs. It is only natural that lawyers and judges would want to monopolize the process, but the community is better served by a multiplicity of informed viewpoints.

Is the view of one group - cops now a "multiplicity?" What they - and everyone who supports this stupid plan - fail to see is that Canada's courts (like those in most industrialized nations) are adversarial in nature. The police are typically on the side of the prosecution. This manner of selecting judges is tantamount to letting the crown put a finger on the scales of justice. It doesn't matter whether we trust cops or think that they are nice or good people or whatever, in criminal law they are not a disinterested party. Watch one episode of Law & Order and you can figure whether or not the cops want to convict the accused. They are, for better or worse, part of an adversarial system.



Picture: Craig Bromell, do you want this man picking your judges?
Video: The Clash - "Police On My Back"