Ok, but let me be deviled advocate here.
Cop illegally violates my rights. We'll use the 'move along because I said so' bit here.
I obey the unlawful order. My rights are violated. I file a complaint. Cop gets at best a wrist slap. My rights were still violated.
So, what happens the next time? Do I move on again? Do I tell the cop "last time you said that, your boss said you were wrong. By the way, I checked, and that law you said I was violating? Yeah, it doesn't exist. I checked, and your boss confirmed it."
So, here's my question.
See, I attribute this to walking away, vs. fighting with some jackoff who yells at you because you 'supposedly' cut him off in traffic. We could walk away, chalking it up to the guy simply being an *******, or we could challenge what he's saying. Now, for what its worth, every time someone accusses me of cutting them off, I dont always walk away. I'll give in to their antics, and yell back. But the more I think of it, in the end, its not worth me giving in to him, so short of the guy trying to physically assault me, yes, I usually sputter a few things, and go about my business.
The issue with the police....it sounds to me, as if people are trying to say there're more bad than good. Are we that fearful in todays world, where we have to worry that God forbid we pass by a cop, that he may, yell at us, slam us against a car, take us to the ground, etc.? Again, I'm not saying that there are no bad cops out there, and I'm sure we've all seen cases, but come on....if we're going to be that afraid....
How many teeth will I lose when he bounces my head off the pavement then cites me for "disobeying a cop", and "assaulting a sidewalk", and "littering" (for the teeth I left there" and "creating a biohazard" (for the blood I spill as a result), as well as "disturbing the peace" (my screams of pain), "obstruction of a law enforcement officer in the performance of his duties" (not obeying the unlawful order), "obstruction of a public right of way" (because I fell down when he hit me), etc?
Or, do I again allow him to violate my rights, file yet another minor complaint that goes no where?
On one hand I avoid potential pain, physical harm and significant financial and time drains. On the other hand, my rights are violated.
What's the point of having rights then?
If civilians do not stand up to cops issuing unlawful orders and pushing non-existent laws, what is there to stop them from violating our rights? If we do not stand up for those rights, we lose them by default.
"But Bob, all they were asked was to move. What's the big deal?"
Move. Stand here, no there. Let me see your ID. Answer these 20 questions. Lets see whats in that bag. Show me your pictures. Delete your pictures. Don't take those pictures. Don't film me. Don't record me. No I won't tell you my name or badge number. No I don't have to explain it just do as I say.
Where does it stop before "whats the harm" becomes "no choice."
Cops are to defend and enforce the law.
Not create the law.
Not above the law.
Bound by the law.
Must operate within the law.
Most cops get that. Some, like the subject of the OP, think otherwise.
Am I wrong here?
I've taken calls, and still do, to this day, from residents and store owners, who complain about large groups of kids or adults, that're just 'hanging out' not really doing anything wrong per se, other than just hanging out, and I have to send a cop to move them along, no matter how stupid I may think the call is.
A state cop pulled me over one night on the highway. I was coming home from work (not the job I have now), saw something going on, on the other side of the highway, so I did what everyone else does...I rubbernecked, and in the course of this, swerved a bit. He was in an unmarked car. I saw a car behind me, but thought nothing of it. Next thing I know, he lights me up. I explained what happened, but still had to show my DL and reg., answer where I was coming from/going to, etc. Real nice cop, I explained that I lived right off the exit ramp, was on my way home, apologized for the slight swerve, and that was that. No issues, no pat downs, no search of the car, nothing. Now, had I gave him a hard time, I could almost bet that I'd have had a miserable time.
Then again, we're assuming that the worst thats going to happen, will be a wrist slap.
