The usual suspects need to come in here and defend the Thin Blue Line on this.
Am I a "usual suspect"? I'm part of that Thin Blue Line.
This is old ground between you and me. You don't like cops. I get it. I happen to be one.
I have a bullet hole, a broken shoulder, a broken hip, and more scars than I can count for my efforts.
You?
I'm old school. I believe we are peacekeepers first, and enforcers last. Yes, I'm probably in the minority amongst my peers, but there are more of us in that mindset than you know. Only the bad apples make the news.
You happen to hear about the SRO that likely saved lives in Maryland today? Maybe I missed your post on that.
Bad cops deserve the maximum penalty under the law. They broke the public trust, and there is no way back from that. Any cop who betrays their oath is not my brother, or my sister. They are an insult to the badge I wear.
I have no problem with you calling them out. You should.
When you get a minute, go visit the Officer Down Memorial Page. ODMP.org. Go read a few of those stories. Two of my brothers are there. Both good men. Lost their lives honoring the oath they took.
There are honorable men and women on that Thin Blue Line. Don't let the bad apples turn you against them.