Police State

..turn the post into a thread.

Aristotleded24 wrote:

More OPP officers died by sucide than on duty

What's the relevance? Whatever we may think of the institution of police, being a police officer is a tough job that takes a huge psychological toll on those who do it. That stress is no doubt a huge factor in police abuse (although not an excuse) because a person under that level of stress can only hold it in for so long before snapping. We hear a great deal about violence directed at police officers. That is because it is easy to use that issue to support restricing freedom in the name of safety. How can an officer suicide be scapegoated to the benefit of the ruling class?

To bring police unions into this discussion, since the police unions are supposed to be advocating for the interests of their officers, why don't we hear anything from them about protecting their psychological well being?

I'm unimpressed by that CBC report. Maybe I should read Marin's full report?

How can a journalist write an article like this without asking themselves:

"What's the suicide rate for the overall population? Is it more or less than the OPP suicide rate?"

It's irresponsible and scandal-mongering to tell half the story.

I found this Stats Canada summary on suicide rates, from 2009. It put the male suicide rate that year at 17.9 per 100,000. I'm taking the "male" rate because I'm guessing that the vast majority of OPP officers are male (especially if we're looking back since 1989 - women were only first admitted in 1974). So if you multiply that rate by 30 (because Marin's study is since 1989), you get roughly 540 per 100,000 over 30 years. Marin says 23 officers (including retirees) have taken their own lives since 1989, while the current OPP has 8,000 in all. I'll take 8,000 as the annual figure, just because I don't have any other info. That means that for a population of 8,000, the 30-year rate (540 per 100,000) should have produced:

(8,000 ÷ 100,000) x 540 = 43.2 suicides.

I dunno, but sounds to me like those poor oppressed OPP folks are enjoying life to the fullest, compared to the rest of us.

If my math is wrong, please let me know. More importantly, "news" stories like this should be written more responsibly.

Aristotleded24 wrote:

Marin estimates the number of officer suicides since 1989 to be 23.

Yes, I got that.

Quote:

That does not mean that if it can be shown that police forces are not doing all they can to protect their members (and by "protect," I mean "look after their health and safety," not "turn a blind eye and refuse to hold them accountable for their misdeeds") that the problem shouldn't be addressed.

The stats that I found and my calculations show that the rate of suicide among OPP officers is far less than the average of the male population as a whole. So what is there to address? I'd rather address issues like, say, disarming cops? Stopping racial profiling? Etc.

A24: Did you get my point that police suicides are far less than the average? Did you wish to comment on that?

Aristotleded24 wrote:

My point: Stress that police experience on the job not direclty related to violent attacks is not discussed openly in large part because it is not convenient to turn that around in order to increase government control. Do you wish to comment on that?

That could very well be correct. I'm just not familiar with any information on such police stress. The article you linked provides none. If you have other sources, I'll gladly have a look and give an opinion. 

WWWTT wrote:

Oh but when a cop dies, whole fucking country is supposed to go into mourning. 

 

Are we?

I didn't know where to post this very disturbing article. This RCPM officer needs to be fired for his treatment of this young woman and his obvious misunderstanding of the term sexual assault.

Police briefly interviewed her and then she was brought into the West Kelowna RCMP detachment the next day for questioning with two ministry workers.

She said a male officer immediately took her into an interview room and started to barrage her with questions.

“I felt very alone in there,” she told APTN. “There was no parental support for me there at all. I was terrified.”

‘Were you at all turned on during this at all? Even a little bit?’ the officer said. “You understand that when a guy tries to have sex with a female and the female is completely unwilling it is very difficult.”

In one exchange, he appears to question how hard she tried to fight during the alleged assault.

“Go over again with me how did you try and get him to stop,” he said. “Did you scream ‘no’ did you say ‘get off me’, did you say ‘this was rape? I need you to stop?’”

https://aptnnews.ca/2019/05/13/were-you-turned-on-by-this-at-all-even-a-...

Canada's National Security Landscape Will Get A Major Overhaul This Summer

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bill-c59-national-security-passed-1.518...

"Canada's national security architecture is about to undergo a major demolition and rebuild this summer, now that C-59 has received royal assent. The bill, which  after two years, passed through both houses of Parliament this week - gives Canada's signals intelligence agency new powers, although most of its new authority, will come into force down the road.

Once the prime minister and cabinet issue an order, the Communications Security Establishment will be permitted under C-59 to launch cyber-attacks (also called 'active cyber-operations') for the first time in Canadian history. Civil liberties groups have warned that a section of C-59 dealing with CSIS and datasets has the potential to usher in mass surveillance."

This dovetails nicely with the news release by Global Affairs Canada, after the recent official visit to Washington that the 'Prime Minister Announces Enhanced Cooperation With the United States.'

Moo...

American Apocalypse

https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/08/23/american-apocalypse/

"This is how you prepare a population to accept a police state willingly, even gratefully. Mark my words. There's trouble brewing..."

Convicted Anti-Nuclear Activists Speak Out: “Pentagon Has Brainwashed People”

The seven Catholic peace activists who were convicted on October 24 for their symbolic protest against nuclear weapons at the Kings Bay Naval Base are now facing a two-to-three-month wait to hear their prison sentences. They could face more than 20 years in prison.

quote:

Facing a Jury Without Opinions on Nuclear Risks

The jury that convicted the Kings Bay Plowshares 7 activists was self-avowedly apathetic about the risks posed to humanity by nuclear weapons, and the judge and prosecution worked together to prevent the defendants from sharing information or arguments to raise jurors’ consciousness on the issue.

“Our own lives are uncertain regarding the possible length of prison sentences,” defendant Martha Hennessy told Truthout in an exclusive interview. “But we rejoice in the fact that more scrutiny is being directed at the purpose of the Kings Bay Naval Base in southern Georgia.”

Sam Husseini, communications director at the Institute for Public Accuracy, a progressive nonprofit organization, attended the three-day trial. “It was a subtly but insidiously controlled courtroom with the judge and prosecution working hand in glove,” Husseini told Truthout. “The defendants were allowed to speak about their religious beliefs and to some degree how they relate to nuclear weapons. But it was all presented as subjective, and expert testimony on international law, and justification and necessity of urgent action were excluded.”.....

Police unions are pretty tough nuts to crack.

I've wanted to comment about this case for a long time.

Winnipeg family awarded damages after police unlawfully enter hotel room:

Quote:

The case dates back to Dec. 26, 2014, when Ola and Andrew Beaulieu took their two children — Kyra, 18, and Kyuss, 16 — along with Kyra's 18-year-old friend for a stay at a Winnipeg Clarion hotel as a late Christmas present.

Police arrived after staff and a hotel patron called 911, saying the family — and in particular Andrew, who had been drinking — was causing a disturbance.

Cellphone video recorded by the family showed the four officers arriving at the door of the hotel room.

In his ruling, the judge said the four officers — Const. Gary Douglas Powell, Const. James William Macumber, Patrol Sgt. Darren Cote and Const. Michelle Degroot — unlawfully entered the room, without a proper reason or warrant to do so.

This was a simple noise complaint. All the officers had to do was go to the room, tell the family to stay there, and if they had to come out again, then there would be arrests. After that, they could have gone to the front desk, explain to the hotel staff that they cannot enter the room, but to call back if the guests give them any more trouble, and they would come back and take the guests in. Very simple, and it would have freed them up to go after the dangerous criminals they say they need more resources to deal with. Instead, these officers not only lost the city hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars, but they have given the police service yet another black eye. Furthermore, if you read the news stories, one of the people involved said she will have problems trusting a police officer again. So future officers who had nothing to do with this behaviour will be tarnished by these actions. The police say they have a hard job? What makes that job even harder is the fall-out from doing things like this, especially when the officers involved are not held accountable.

Shameful! Disgusting!

Minneapolis police under fire after death of George Floyd

Quote:

The mayor of Minneapolis is calling for charges against the white police officer who knelt on the neck of 46-year-old George Floyd, a black man who died Monday after being restrained.

"Why is the man who killed George Floyd not in jail?" Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a press conference Wednesday. "If you had done it, or I had done it, we would be behind bars right now."

The mayor did not specify what the charge should be but said that his determination was based on video of the incident.

The horrifying video spread quickly on social media Tuesday, showing the officer driving his knee into Floyd's neck as he repeatedly says he can't breathe.

Minneapolis Erupts in Flames as Protesters Rage Against Police Killing of George Floyd

In Minnesota, parts of Minneapolis erupted in flames Wednesday night as residents took to the streets for a second night to protest the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by police on Monday. A video circulated widely on social media earlier this week shows George Floyd gasping for air and telling the officers “I cannot breathe,” while a white officer named Derek Chauvin pinned him to the pavement with a knee to his neck. Three other officers stood nearby. All four officers have since been fired. The officers confronted Floyd after receiving a complaint that he tried using a counterfeit bill to buy groceries.

On Wednesday, protesters held a day-long demonstration outside the city’s 3rd Precinct police headquarters. Police fired tear gas, flash-bang grenades and projectiles in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Demonstrators also rallied outside the home of former officer Derek Chauvin.

On Wednesday night, the city requested help from the National Guard as a number of buildings were set ablaze. Meanwhile, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has called on prosecutors to file criminal charges against Chauvin.

Mayor Jacob Frey: “Why is the man who killed George Floyd not in jail? … George Floyd deserves justice. His family deserves justice. The Black community deserves justice. And our city deserves justice.”

The Star Tribune reports Derek Chauvin was involved in multiple police shootings in his 19 years on the Minneapolis police force and was the subject of a dozen police conduct complaints. Protests over the killing of George Floyd have also erupted in other cities, including Los Angeles, where demonstrators temporarily blocked traffic on Highway 101. We will go to Minneapolis after headlines.

epaulo13 wrote:

The Star Tribune reports Derek Chauvin was involved in multiple police shootings in his 19 years on the Minneapolis police force and was the subject of a dozen police conduct complaints. Protests over the killing of George Floyd have also erupted in other cities, including Los Angeles, where demonstrators temporarily blocked traffic on Highway 101. We will go to Minneapolis after headlines.

Multiple police shootings? The odds of any individual officer having to shoot someone over the coruse of his or her career are quite small. How do several shootings involving this officer not raise any red flags with the department?

"It's kinda funny. Trump & the anti-China elements of the bourgeoisie & corporate media want to focus on China & the reactionaries in Hong Kong but instead it is images of Minneapolis & now other cities in the US in rebellion that are dominating the international press."

https://twitter.com/ajamubaraka/status/1266142054708654080

"WATCH: Minnesota prosecutor says video showing George Floyd's death is 'terrible' but says there's 'other evidence that does not support a criminal charge.' This is most likely going to set half of USA on fire overnight."

https://twitter.com/ASB_Breaking/status/1266137689700564992

Meanwhile a Toronto woman's family is questioning police after she fell from the balcony:

Quote:

What began as a 911 call for help for Regis Korchinski-Paquet ended in her death, her family told reporters at a news conference on Thursday.

...

Speaking outside the apartment building, Singh said Korchinski-Paquet's mother called police around 5:15 p.m. ET to the family's apartment at 100 High Park Ave. after a conflict that left the 29-year-old in "distress."

"I asked the police if they could take my daughter to CAMH, and my daughter ended up dead," said Claudette Korchinski​​​​​​-Beals, referring to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto.

Police Chief Mark Saunders told reporters Thursday that officers received a "frantic" call reporting an assault and were at the scene within four minutes.

They arrived on the 24th floor where they met Korchinski-Paquet, her brother and mother in the hallway. As they made their way down the hall, Singh said, "words were exchanged" between Korchinski-Paquet and police.

...

Within a minute or two, Singh said, the family heard commotion. Then, they heard Korchinski-Paquet cry out, "Mom help. Mom help. Mom help."

Moments later, there was silence. Police soon confirmed she was dead. 

"How can a call for assistance turn into a loss of life?" Singh said. 

The family's news conference comes after video of Korchinski-Paquet's mother and cousin emerged on social media alleging police pushed her from the balcony.

What Would Malcolm Say...?

https://twitter.com/redfishstream/status/1266033926256156672

Protests Rage After Minneapolis Prosecutor Does Not Bring Charges Against Officers Who Killed George Floyd

Thousands took to the streets of Minneapolis Thursday as protests against the killing of an African American man by a white police officer rocked the city for the third night in a row. Demonstrators set fire to the Minneapolis Police Department’s 3rd Precinct, just hours after prosecutors said they were not yet sure if they would criminally charge Derek Chauvin, the white police officer who pinned George Floyd to the ground by his neck for eight minutes while Floyd gasped for air. In a video that has now been seen around the world, Floyd repeatedly gasps “I can’t breathe.” Four officers including Chauvin have since been fired, but not arrested. On Thursday, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman was questioned about the delay in charging and arresting the officers.

Mike Freeman: “That video is graphic and horrific and terrible, and no person should do that. But my job, in the end, is to prove that he violated a criminal statute, and there is other evidence that does not support a criminal charge.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called in the National Guard overnight as protests raged in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. This morning, Minnesota state police arrested CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez, along with his producer and camera crew, live on national television outside the charred remains of the 3rd police precinct. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz later apologized to CNN over the arrests, and the crew was released. After headlines, we’ll go to Minneapolis for the latest.

Scores Tear-Gassed, Arrested as Protests Against George Floyd’s Killing Spread to Other Cities

Around the United States, thousands of people took to the streets to protest the police killing of George Floyd. Here in New York, police arrested at least 70 people during a rolling protest that began in Manhattan’s Union Square. In Colorado, police fired tear gas and pepper balls at protesters who gathered at the state Capitol in Denver. One protester was intentionally rammed by a driver who plowed their SUV into a crowd of demonstrators. In Arizona, police declared an “unlawful assembly” Thursday and fired tear gas and pepper spray at hundreds who gathered at Phoenix City Hall. In Louisville, Kentucky, hundreds of protesters gathered downtown demanding justice for Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old aspiring nurse who was shot to death by police inside her own apartment in March. At least seven people were injured by gunfire that erupted as demonstrators surrounded a police vehicle. It’s not known who fired the shots, though Louisville’s mayor said no police officers fired their weapons.

Toronto Police Accused of Pushing Black Woman From Balcony To Her Death

https://twitter.com/JohnOCAP/status/1266052409849233410

"Relatives say the police pushed her off the balcony..."

#JusticeForRegis

"Police brutality and racist violence in the USA is not the odd isolated incident. It is systematic." (and vid)

https://twitter.com/timand2037/status/1266151118913933314

Compare US Police-State Racist and Inhuman Tactics With Those of Colonists in Occupied Palestine

https://twitter.com/timand2037/status/1266117301629120512

  Canadian politicians kowtow to both and even send their police for 'advanced training.'

#JusticeForGeorgeFloyd

https://twitter.com/hashtag/JusticeForGeorgeFloyd?src=hashtag_click

'A Riot is the Voice of the Unheard!'

#GeorgeFloyd

https://twitter.com/hashtag/GeorgeFloyd?src=hashtag_click

The People United Will Never Be Defeated!

Mass Anger Erupts Throughout the US in Protest Against Police Murder of George Floyd

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/05/29/minn-m29.html

LIVE UPDATES

Minneapolis: Unicorn Riot-Cam LIVE

https://twitter.com/UR_Ninja/status/1266550825113059329

"Police in Minneapolis didn't even seem to be pretending to try to enforce the 8PM curfew right now. People are marching, still angry..."

#JusticeForRegis  Toronto rally/demo Saturday 2:00 pm Christie Pits park

https://twitter.com/globalnewsto/status/126672307762859218

"The protest, shared on social media under the hashtag #JusticeForRegis and organized by the group Not Another Black Life is set to begin at 2pm at Christie Pits park.

(Across from Christie TTC station)