I entered a baseball team in the Police Athletic league, Policeman ran the whole organization. I listened as one officer bragged “I could arrest you for carrying a ham sandwich and looking hungry.” and he wasn’t kidding. If you do get caught on the wrong side be ready for “There is no justice; just us.”
Do you want to see a galt’s gulch on earth? Watch the documentary “Happy People, A Year in the Tiaga” it’s on Netflix. These people live without any law or government and do you know where they are? Russia! The fertilizer that helps a government grow is fear. It also works well for Insurance companies. Part of Tolstoy’s philosophy consisted of not being afraid to die, in war and peace the bastard son goes on this whole head trip about it. It’s amazing how easily people trade liberty for the promise of safety. Just think how safe you’d be from harm if you were in solitary confinement.

There was a tragedy in Suffolk county long island where a drug addict killed 3 people in a drug store. The cops found a suspect the next day and the news showed a school picture. When video of the apprehension was released the guy looked a little lumped up. As the days followed there were photos of the guy having one black eye then two; he was obviously taking beatings while awaiting his trial. I was at a social gathering when the suspect showed up on the TV screen. I remarked how the guy looks worse and worse every time I see him. Another guest at the party said “He gets what he deserves” this gentleman I found out was a police officer. Things went straight down hill in the ensuing conversation and I relented for the sake of our increasingly uncomfortable hosts. I had suggested a police officer brings suspects in for questioning, this can be done in a friendly manner at first. If the suspect complies, they both take a nice ride down town with the understanding the judge wants to talk to the suspect or his lawyer. With 3 police officers standing behind the arresting officer the suspect is most likely going to comply. What happened was the swat team stormed his house and interpreted the suspects eyes popping out of his head as resisting arrest, so they beat him into what they clearly recognized as submission. The officer at the party mumbled “he resisted arrest” when I dropped it. What appeared to me as a bad idea was when his date, apparently recent girlfriend, timidly uttered “I agree with him ( I had quoted a few obvious amendments in the Bill of rights). He leered at her, I hope she was OK when they got home. If police stay focused and perform their duties, unnecessary damage can be mitigated. I believe when they lose focus and believe it is their job to mete out justice the system becomes dysfunctional. I understand when they are on the job there are emotional forces that suggest suspects are guilty, I believe they must resist these urges. The key factor in all of this is time. Using swat is fast and successful, even if you break a few eggs. Waiting for a suspect to go outside and approach them in public takes time, but is probably much safer for everybody. Justice will be served when the process reaches the sentencing stage.

Perhaps 35 or 45 years ago, I recall in an issue of Newsweek a report of a police raid on a home where illegal drugs were believed to exist. All the house walls were pulled down, photos showed the damage and the timber frame, no illegal drugs were found.

This kind of police violence exists in many nations from corruption or personal antagonisms. When it exists as a result of altruism - the imperative to protect people against themselves- it develops until there are no restraints of thuggery and violence.