The other unaddressed issue in this whole debate is candidate quality:
most u.s. police forces recruit from a similar pool of people as enlisted armed forces (and less selectively), they are:
1. HS/GED + potentially a couple years of college (its my understanding that most police officers don;t hold four year degrees)
2. Pass a drug test
3. Pass a criminal background check
4. Pass a rudimentary psych/aptitude test
5. Meet a minimum level of physical fitness
A friend who was a marine and did recruiting estimated that about 20% of a graduating U.S. high school class could meet those requirements - you then had to compete with other jobs and trades that were potentially more lucrative/appealing - and in the case with the marines (and i suspect it is similar with police forces) had a couple of motivations for joining (despite what they might say)
1. kill people/beat ass
2. Serve their country community
3. family tradition
4. need a job/job security
5. Challenge
6. uniform and toys
when viewed in this context one may not be too surprised at the actions of some portion of police officers
most u.s. police forces recruit from a similar pool of people as enlisted armed forces (and less selectively), they are: 1. HS/GED + potentially a couple years of college (its my understanding that most police officers don;t hold four year degrees) 2. Pass a drug test 3. Pass a criminal background check 4. Pass a rudimentary psych/aptitude test 5. Meet a minimum level of physical fitness
A friend who was a marine and did recruiting estimated that about 20% of a graduating U.S. high school class could meet those requirements - you then had to compete with other jobs and trades that were potentially more lucrative/appealing - and in the case with the marines (and i suspect it is similar with police forces) had a couple of motivations for joining (despite what they might say) 1. kill people/beat ass 2. Serve their country community 3. family tradition 4. need a job/job security 5. Challenge 6. uniform and toys
when viewed in this context one may not be too surprised at the actions of some portion of police officers