When I go on duty it never crosses my mind that “ I have qualified immunity, I can do anything I want”, rather I think one wrong move and I lose everything I’ve worked for my whole life. I’m not making any excuses for &$!hole cops, trying to start an argument, or trying to gain sympathy. These guys in Memphis will pay the price for what they did. It’s just hard to explain. As a small town officer (5000 people give or take) it’s mainly driving around patrolling, maybe writing a traffic citation or two, and sometimes just sheer boredom. Then the call comes in and next thing you know you are fighting a tweaker who is younger than you, stronger than you, and has alot less to lose than you.
My point I guess is it’s very hard to go from that fight mentality to having to comfort a child who’s dad just beat up their mom. I think that’s the key, to be able to turn off the “cop” mentality and treat every situation with wisdom and understanding, which many people are unable to do. There is no excuse for these cops beating a man to death, but I can’t imagine being in a gang unit in Memphis. I’m sure they literally deal with killers every day. They let their anger take control and they will pay for it.
At the end of the day I’m just trying to provide for my family and this is the profession I happen to have stumbled into. In the line of duty I’d give my life for any of you, anti or pro. Just a thought. I’m going back to sleep. Jeff.