More cops or less cops

[Divair]

Using your basis, we should have everyone become cops because cops never commit crimes right. The U.S has a low per capita amount of cops because the USA has more people then all those European countries combined.

You don't know what "per capita" is, do you?

[Galloism]

http://i.imgur.com/36tLh.jpg

The vast majority of Europe is colder than the vast majority of the USA. There, problem solved. Cops are irrelevant, we just need huge air conditioners to freeze the streets so criminals stay inside.

Where the hell is Toronto? Did we just happen to lose our largest city or what?

Frozen solid. Sorry.

No crime, though!

[Divair]

http://i.imgur.com/36tLh.jpg

The vast majority of Europe is colder than the vast majority of the USA. There, problem solved. Cops are irrelevant, we just need huge air conditioners to freeze the streets so criminals stay inside.

Where the hell is Toronto? Did we just happen to lose our largest city or what?

I ate it.

[Wabacha]

Where the hell is Toronto? Did we just happen to lose our largest city or what?

I ate it.

How'd it taste?

[Divair]

I ate it.

How'd it taste?

Like bacon. And maple syrup.

[Cetacea]

Pictairn Island has like 60 people and one police officer, Niue has a population of like 2000. so yeah FTP!

More Police aren't the answer. What is needed is improved standards of living and more tightknit, sustainable communities

[Wabacha]

How'd it taste?

Like bacon. And maple syrup.

Delicious. Although I thought it would be a little more ice creamy. Or ham. Ham is good.

[Wabacha]

Pictairn Island has like 60 people and one police officer, Niue has a population of like 2000. so yeah FTP!

More Police aren't the answer. What is needed is improved standards of living and more tightknit, sustainable communities

Mainly, you want there to be no need for people to commit crimes. Why commit crimes when you have everything you want already? Most countries with low police to population ratio's already have that down pat.

[Qishi]

If they are the right kind of police officers, then more police is a good thing in most societies. By the right kind I mean that there have to be stringent hiring standards to ensure that good candidates are selected, they must be well-trained, and of course well paid (pay officers poorly and corruption will surely follow as a means of survival - plus it is a dangerous job, why not give decent pay?). More police should mean rapid response to emergencies, better chance of arresting criminals, maintaining good order in the community, particularly during events, etc.

Of course, I will admit to having some bias - my uncle was a police officer and I am going to be a crown attorney someday. Not to say that I think all officers are good; I am well aware that there are some bad apples and that sometimes the police ignore civil rights, which is why I am fully aware of my rights and have predetermined how much cooperation I would give the police if asked.

[Wabacha]

If they are the right kind of police officers, then more police is a good thing in most societies. By the right kind I mean that there have to be stringent hiring standards to ensure that good candidates are selected, they must be well-trained, and of course well paid (pay officers poorly and corruption will surely follow as a means of survival - plus it is a dangerous job, why not give decent pay?). More police should mean rapid response to emergencies, better chance of arresting criminals, maintaining good order in the community, particularly during events, etc.

Of course, I will admit to having some bias - my uncle was a police officer and I am going to be a crown attorney someday. Not to say that I think all officers are good; I am well aware that there are some bad apples and that sometimes the police ignore civil rights, which is why I am fully aware of my rights and have predetermined how much cooperation I would give the police if asked.

I didn't see any bias anywhere. Having more cops is good, if society needs it. Best wishes on becoming a crown attorney!

[Equestrian Democratic Republic]

Pictairn Island has like 60 people and one police officer, Niue has a population of like 2000. so yeah FTP!

More Police aren't the answer. What is needed is improved standards of living and more tightknit, sustainable communities

Why not have both?

[Mkuki]

Do you think that having a high number of police officers per capita is a good thing or a bad thing? I think it is a good thing since it deters crime makes police response time quicker. In addition to that it also adds more jobs. According to the United Nations the United Kingdom, Spain, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Belgium, and Germany all have more police per capita than the United States and those countries have much lower crime rates than the United States which is the crime capital of the first world.

Like BushSucks-istan said, it only works if the police aren't corrupt. And the only way to ensure that, as much as possible anyway, is through training and raising the standards to become a police officer.

[Equestrian Democratic Republic]

Do you think that having a high number of police officers per capita is a good thing or a bad thing? I think it is a good thing since it deters crime makes police response time quicker. In addition to that it also adds more jobs. According to the United Nations the United Kingdom, Spain, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Belgium, and Germany all have more police per capita than the United States and those countries have much lower crime rates than the United States which is the crime capital of the first world.

Like BushSucks-istan said, it only works if the police aren't corrupt. And the only way to ensure that, as much as possible anyway, is through training and raising the standards to become a police officer.

That makes sense.

[New England and The Maritimes]

I don't like police. The institution is a pretty terrible thing, and the entire focus is to get convictions, rather than to solve cases. That's why police routinely and regularly lie to people, extract false confessions, and in some disgusting cases kill folks and get away with it.

It should exist, but should be greatly altered to try and break the inertia it's gained from an existence separate from public life.

[Equestrian Democratic Republic]

I don't like police. The institution is a pretty terrible thing, and the entire focus is to get convictions, rather than to solve cases. That's why police routinely and regularly lie to people, extract false confessions, and in some disgusting cases kill folks and get away with it.

It should exist, but should be greatly altered to try and break the inertia it's gained from an existence separate from public life.

Your source? No the gang member who had been arrested 7 times for assault or drug dealing is NOT a valid source. Same goes for blogs, conspiracy theorist sites, or race oriented sites.

[New England and The Maritimes]

I don't like police. The institution is a pretty terrible thing, and the entire focus is to get convictions, rather than to solve cases. That's why police routinely and regularly lie to people, extract false confessions, and in some disgusting cases kill folks and get away with it.

It should exist, but should be greatly altered to try and break the inertia it's gained from an existence separate from public life.

Your source? No the gang member who had been arrested 7 times for assault or drug dealing is NOT a valid source. Same goes for blogs, conspiracy theorist sites, or race oriented sites.

Really? You haven't read the stories of people who "shot themselves in the head" in lockup after being handcuffed behind their backs and frisked 5-6 times? Or the Norfolk 4 who were induced to false confessions to a murder they didn't commit because police could not stand to drop the case against them?

[Atlantisea]

I do have to say, no matter where you go in this world, there will always be corrupt police officers and Law Enforcement officials. The concept of Law Enforcement for the most part is obviously for a very well cause. To maintain order in a society and arrest/fine those who break laws.

I say more cops, especially in underdeveloped communities. I live in an underdeveloped community myself, and I sure wish police patrol cars passed by more often. I plan on joining Law Enforcement once I graduate High School, and although I might show a bit bias towards Law Enforcement, I still believe "more cops" is definitely better.

Like previously mentioned, 10 corrupt police officers is no better than 2 well-trained, loyal police officers. But more police officers= deterrence of crime from constant patrols, faster response time and not only that, more responders to a situation. If a natural disaster or some sort of chaos were to break out, there's a large police force to keep the society organized and to help with rescue efforts. But this would only all work with a change in the Criminal Justice system, which I believe isn't too efficient. Much of it has to do with education. You know, I love Democracy, but I do have to say I have some...un-democratic values. For example, as I have mentioned, I live in an underdeveloped community. My school has many, well, worthless people who do nothing to contribute to anyone. They literally probably have half a credit or one credit by the time they reach their Senior year, they sell/use drugs, they steal, they rape, etc. So why should these people still be given an education from hard-working people's tax dollars? Send these people to a reformatory place, and not for just a year. For many, many years, and keep them busy at jail by making them work. Also, police officers in the U.S. don't get bad salaries or bad benefits at all, but I do think it should be somewhat higher. A higher salary, more benefits. Afterall, these people for the most part are on the front line of battling gangs. Why should people risking their lives earn the same, if not less, pay than a teacher teaching 5 year old students how to sing the alphabet?

I believe police officers should definitely not be corrupt, and this can be achieved by making more difficult to join, more training, looking for patriotism in these people, and more benefits+pay. Then you can definitely increase the police number count. Also, we should give more opportunities to those determined, hard-working families devastated by poverty. Not allowing children to fall into the hands of gangs, not education and family, is not acceptable.

That is all.

[JJ Place]

No, we need to be getting more criminals off the street.

[Equestrian Democratic Republic]

Your source? No the gang member who had been arrested 7 times for assault or drug dealing is NOT a valid source. Same goes for blogs, conspiracy theorist sites, or race oriented sites.

Really? You haven't read the stories of people who "shot themselves in the head" in lockup after being handcuffed behind their backs and frisked 5-6 times? Or the Norfolk 4 who were induced to false confessions to a murder they didn't commit because police could not stand to drop the case against them?

Yes I have read about a few isolated incidents some of which seem to be plausible and some of the ones that were plausible turned out to be true. Yes there are a few bad cops but look at the keyword FEW. You seem to be stating that the police do these things in mass on a regular basis and are a group dedicated to evil and are conspiring to be jerks. I will say it again. The gang member who had been arrested 7 times for assault or drug dealing is NOT a valid source. Same goes for blogs, conspiracy theorist sites, or race oriented sites.

[Equestrian Democratic Republic]

No, we need to be getting more criminals off the street.

And just how do you propose we can do that with fewer cops?

[Napkiraly]

http://i.imgur.com/36tLh.jpg

The vast majority of Europe is colder than the vast majority of the USA. There, problem solved. Cops are irrelevant, we just need huge air conditioners to freeze the streets so criminals stay inside.

Where the hell is Toronto? Did we just happen to lose our largest city or what?

No one likes T-dot.

[Condunum]

It's a good thing, even though cops creep me out with their guns and frightening demeanor.

The level of disconnect from society you must have is absolutely outrageous.

[Condunum]

more training, looking for patriotism in these people, and more benefits+pay.

yeah, Patriotism does not equate being uncorruptable. I doubt patriotic people are any harder to corrupt.

Then you can definitely increase the police number count.

How about we just don't to begin with?

[Quintero]

Always one less than there is.

[Vodean]

More cops or FEWER cops.
I think that's right, anyways.

In any event, my opinion is that the current level of law enforcement in this country (USA) is sufficient to contain everything up to low-level civil unrest. Anything beyond that, though, and the cops will be overwhelmed.
Of course, certain parts of the country need to up their law enforcement numbers. Of course, most of those areas (Detroit, Fresno, Oakland, etc.) are rather economically depressed, so I understand the difficulty in ensuring that.
And where there are a healthy amount of police officers, I think the main concern for them is professionalization. We have people in New Mexico tasering kids essentially for the lulz, and, of course, the pepper-spray incident at...whatever that place was (I can't remember it off of the top of my head).