What's up with the cops these days?

[RedskinRat]

3 Upsetting New Abuses of Power by the Police

1. LAPD Tracking All Drivers Like Criminals

The Los Angeles Police Department is looking more and more like the NSA with its unrestrained use of Automatic License Plate Readers. The technology allows police officers to collect data on all vehicles that their patrol cars pass and store this information for years to come. The idea is that the data can be used retroactively to place certain people at the scene of a crime or establish a pattern of behavior.

2. Kansas Police Could Arrest People Who File Complaints Against Them

A new bill being considered in Kansas would enable police abuse at a frightening level. The proposed legislation, clearly designed to free cops of accountability, is problematic in many ways:
People who file complaints against officers that are later deemed “meritless” can subsequently be tried for a felony. The implicit message is “don’t rat out a cop or they will retaliate.”
Citizens who allege wrongdoing must offer a sworn affidavit before the investigation even begins or an officer has to respond to the charges. Not only will this eliminate a way for people to file anonymous complaints, but it also provides every bit of evidence to the officer in advance. With all of the incriminating details at their disposal, the police department can better create a narrative around the existing details to excuse the behavior.

3. Stealing from Latino Drivers

The immigrant community in Suffolk County, New York is being straight up robbed by local police officers. Evidently, more than a dozen Latino drivers were pulled over without reason. Officers would ask the drivers to hand over their wallet, which would later be returned to them… minus the money. Many of these incidents went unreported for a while; as undocumented immigrants, some victims were fearful of being threatened with deportation for highlighting the theft.