Quote:
Originally Posted by dksuddeth
cops are above the law, in fact, they are the law.
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Which is it you're saying? Are they above it, or are they
it?
I'd disagree with either. Cops are one arm of the government's upholding of law. Included also are government itself (which makes and enacts law), the courts (which interpret law and administer consequences of breaking it), prisons (which is a system to manage those who are deemed to have broken the more serious laws), and military (which is a force used to enforce laws in foreign territories, or against foreign forces in domestic territory).
The police are like military in that they enforce laws, but domestically, among the general population. The aims of the police are to enforce laws and to prevent crime. They are not the law in its entirety, not by a long shot.
If applicable laws deem what this officer did to be unlawful, then this should be processed as such. This is partly why there are cameras in these settings now. We're watching the watchmen.
I think perhaps you were making a political statement, but if this is the case, your brevity has lead to an easy disagreement through misunderstanding.