Here we go again! More police brutality exposed by a body-worn camera, as reported in Friday’s ADN. So much for the “integrity” element in the Alaska State Trooper motto.
We’ve all heard stories of frustrated police and troopers taking their job personally, viciously beating the tar out of compliant citizens. Troopers Miller and Woodruff fit that pattern; in effect, going nuclear over a $150 warrant. The recent spate of body cam videos indicates just how pervasive that attitude probably is; rarely does one hear of law enforcement personnel reporting abuse by fellow officers.
This scenario also would have escaped scrutiny had it not been for a conscientious K-9 commander reviewing the results of an involved but inadequately trained rogue police dog. Presumably, those two troopers once upon a time had provided some public benefit or service, but I suspect it’s been negated by their unreported abuses.
Contrary to my experiences with various local police departments, whose officers typically react reasonably and flexibly to a situation, the half-dozen interactions I’ve had with the troopers over minor traffic infractions have been very negative: they’ve invariably manifested attitudes of arrogance, rudeness, condescension and unmitigated suspicion. I suppose that’s considered equal treatment under the law, because we’re all potential bad guys until proven otherwise. That, of course, is indicative of a paranoid society. Therefore, we should discourage law enforcement participation in such indiscriminate brutality or society will itself become extinct.
— Larry Slone
Homer
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