How the Police See Us

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So that police cruisers can enter/exit the police station and you know, respond to emergencies, has zero to do with the "moat" around the station? Gotcha.

nador on January 23, 2013 at 7:33 AM

They know they are hated. Pity they don't do anything to change it but just wall themselves up.

pfffter on January 23, 2013 at 7:46 AM

Thanks for posting this, Dominic. This is controversial, but I chalk much of this up to imperial rot. We're seeing the tactics used to suppress populations abroad come home, in the form of militarized police tactics and constant surveillance, to name a few.

Tent_Liberation_Army on January 23, 2013 at 7:48 AM

You can thank Occupy Wall Street for this. Neo Anarchists will always flock to large marches, they love to stir up a shit storm and have no problems turning a peaceful protest into a chaotic situation for their own amusement.

Kinison on January 23, 2013 at 7:49 AM

Didn't know that leaving lanes open for vehicle access = OMG POLICE STATE!!!11!!!!!1!!

Douche. Report better next time.

on January 23, 2013 at 7:51 AM

Of course the SPD doesn't trust civilians. Occupational psychosis. When you're a hammer, the world is full of nails.

Sir Vic on January 23, 2013 at 7:52 AM

Let's not overreact, shall we?

tacomagirl on January 23, 2013 at 7:52 AM

You have freedom. Now you just want free shit.

on January 23, 2013 at 7:58 AM

That's one way to look at it, sure.

gloomy gus on January 23, 2013 at 8:05 AM

Anyone who thinks Seattle is a police state needs to actually travel a little.

on January 23, 2013 at 8:15 AM

@1, @5 yes, I could see your point about emergency egress if the police were still using horses and semaphore flags instead of "motorized vehicles" and "wire-less radio." The report is correct: this is another example of the counter-insurgency model that police have used for 20 years. Maybe you didn't get the memo.

Che Guava on January 23, 2013 at 8:16 AM

@4 Finding scapegoat groups to justify heavy-handed, militarized policing. How very freedom-loving of you.

Tent_Liberation_Army on January 23, 2013 at 8:17 AM

@4, Sort of unfair to blame Occupy. The anarchists though is probably quite correct (and probably the ability to get in and out unobstructed (emergencies/anarchists?). It's actually kinda depressing to see the moat with that thought in mind. But this is somewhat matter of fact pragmatism on the part of SPD. So no Randy Rowland, it isn't you they don't trust. It's the jackasses that might co-opt your peaceful demonstration.

Bean on January 23, 2013 at 8:18 AM

Nothing more bourgeois than middle class white kids yelling "police state" or "counter insurgency!"

Did mom forget to send the rent money?

on January 23, 2013 at 8:25 AM

@13 I get what you're saying, but if a few anarchists are enough to push us towards this kind of stuff, that isn't their fault. Seriously, does this seem like the best response - to justify their critique of all government legitimacy being at core based on violence? Maybe the problem is that they're right.

Tent_Liberation_Army on January 23, 2013 at 8:25 AM

@12 The Slog is just chock full of police apologists. You're wasting your time.

Ian Awesome on January 23, 2013 at 8:35 AM

Having trouble getting that worked up about this one, honestly.

emor on January 23, 2013 at 8:44 AM

Ian Awesome, Slog is also filled with people like you who make wild accusations that the SPD caused local lunatic Jennifer Fox to lose her baby. Then when pressed to provide evidence, you just pull a different colored gerbil from your ass, make a new fauxhawk and go into hiding like the pussy you are.

on January 23, 2013 at 8:49 AM

@4: I know it's a lot of words, but you really ought to read the entire statement under the picture.

treehugger on January 23, 2013 at 8:49 AM

I'm pretty sure the SPD is racist and out of control. But not because of this. It's not even 9 yet and we've possibly got the dumbest Slog post of the day.

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn on January 23, 2013 at 8:51 AM

@18: Your meds. Take them.

treehugger on January 23, 2013 at 8:51 AM

11: yes police have radio cars (and bicycles) but they dont have matter transporters. Cars and vans require a fair amount of street to move quickly in (1 lane) and out (1 lane).

Not saying that's the reason (seriously I dont know) but it is a possible reason.

david on January 23, 2013 at 8:54 AM

Yeah, I can't bother to get outraged by this. What @20 said.

Rotten666 on January 23, 2013 at 9:03 AM

Did you bother to ask SPD about this? Or your BFF Mayor? Perhaps they would have a reasonable explanation; or would that be too much journalistic effort?

Looking For a Better Read on January 23, 2013 at 9:59 AM

Seriously. A lane so emergency vehicles can get in and out is not a "barricade" and 8 guys standing around with their hands in their pockets is not a "platoon of officers".

tacomagirl on January 23, 2013 at 10:35 AM

Not going to get worked up over this either.
The "anarchist" brats have a long history of fucking up peaceful demonstrations so this is no surprise. I'm actually more surprised they didn't try anything on MLK day.

SPG on January 23, 2013 at 11:10 AM

The police station needs to have a lane clear for emergency response vehicles to get through, as would a fire station or hospital.

Though judging by the comments I can see why the police would fear a large hostile crowd. Seems funny that the same people who understand why the president has armed guards do not understand why a police station would need to be protected.

Cascadian Bacon on January 23, 2013 at 11:18 AM

@29 Was the president in that station? Is that what you are saying?

Geraldo Riviera on January 23, 2013 at 11:41 AM

Did they go around counting how many people there were? They love that kind of harassment. If you don't have enough people you can't protest, clearly the constitution was about protecting the police's right to tell smaller groups of protesters to fuck off but this big group needs to know who's boss. Remember last year at the MLK protest when...wait...

watchout5 on January 23, 2013 at 11:54 PM

Hate crime and violence is all over
the country and I just finished reading a book about it. White Girl
Bleed a Lot: The return of racial violence to America. http://whitegirlbleedalot.com/.
It's about hate crimes, racial crimes, mob violence, violence against
gays.. etc. It's a collection of violence mostly have videos. You might
not believe it but it's really happening. So scary. I think there's
more than 50 cities.

on July 30, 2013 at 8:13 AM

How the Police See Us

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