Quote Originally Posted by Drake
cops who abuse their power make me flippin sick. that had to be humiliating. poor kids.
i think there should be a greater filtering process for cops and more education required along with a greater salary.
The "filtering" process (background) is about as rigorous as it gets for the State Police. Written and physical testing, psychological exam, polygraph and background investigation (where they actually go out and dig for dirt). And then comes the academy (which is one of the most brutal academies I've seen...). I don't know what more they could have done to identify this guy eventually doing this... It wasn't like they just handed him a badge and a gun when he walked in the door...

Unfortunately, this crap happens. And it appears that there are probably going to be more victims in this story. Drake - this sickens me too... That's why I posted it - because I think it should be a lesson for everyone. WTF was that trooper thinking? And what would possess ANYONE to treat someone else like that.

I suppose what is even more disturbing about this story, the Illinois State Police fancy themselves as the "elite" of law enforcement in Illinois. If this guy did this with the Illinois State Police, it could happen ANYWHERE!!!

Which leads me back to what you originally said - yes - there should be greater education and screening for the position of police officer. It will cut down on the numbers of incidents like this. It has been established through studies that increased education is especially effective in reducing the police misusing their power (i.e. beatings, torture, etc.)

But also keep in mind that police officers are human beings. Adding a badge does not make the cop any wiser or braver or smarter or whatever, anymore than he/she was before they pinned it on. In other words - cut the officers some slack!!! Don't paint with a broad brush when you think about what this chucklehead did. I can tell you I have NOT engaged in this type of behavior, and I don't know any of my fellow officers who have either. It is an isolated incident, and the total blame belongs on the individual who did this - the State Police did not train him or encourage him to do that... And other cops arrested this guy for doing what he did!!