Good Cops/Bad Cops: The Reality Behind The Once-Closed Doors of Our Nation's Police Departments

"...Governments are instituted among [people], deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."  

-Declaration of Independence 

Houston we have a problem. Ferguson residents has crept into the backdoor of our nation's police departments and have begun to reveal the vile culture rampant in our national policing organizations. It may be high time to for you to begin listening to rap artists and interpret what they have been poetisizing in their music about police violence for years now. That's right, in between those "bitches" and "gold" lines lies a truth about the injustices many communities face everyday with the police. Police violence and brutality against citizens and residents is common knowledge. However now we are hearing from police officers from within the departments about police on police violence, intimidation, and brutality! We can now add to the ranks self on self crime within police departments. Quickly fading are the days of the myth that American blacks are overwhelmingly killing, hurting and violating each other. The reality is police officers and departments are turning against their own when an honorable public servant takes a stand for justice. 

Sergeant Ruff, an eight year police veteran out of Philadelphia was assaulted and disgraced by a group of his fellow police officers after attempting to anonymously turn in firearms to the department. The firearms were given to Sgt. Ruff by a concerned neighbor who is advocating for a safer community, and Sgt. Ruff, being a citizen and a public servant, did not want to disgrace upon his neighbor or community so decided to turn the firearms in in good faith. Sgt. Ruff is now suing the Philadelphia Police Department after his experience where some of the officers even after realizing he was an officer, called Ruff a "piece of shit" and "a disgrace to the job".  You read that right! Read Sgt. Ruff's experience for yourself.  What I understand about Sgt. Ruff's experience is an angst and prejudicial treatment, a double standard,  present throughout the policing system in our country that needs great attention.  Police departments and officers have become synonymous with words like: war-mentality, prejudice, violence, discrimination, and corruption.  Sgt. Ruff's story can be read here: 

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Police-Sergeant-Under-Investigation-After-Turning-Over-Stolen-Gun-271275051.html

 and here:

http://thefreethoughtproject.com/police-officer-files-police-brutality-lawsuit/

Another honorable veteran of the United States armed forces who served with the St. Louis Police department for over a decade was suspended without pay from his department after using non-lethal force on a resident of his city who threatened him. Officer Gore eventually talked the angry resident down from his threatening state. Officer Gore even went so far as to take the resident home.  Officer Gore tells us about the double standard present within the police department in St Louis (but it is safe to make a national generalization). Saint Louis Police Department is the same department that Officer Darren Wilson was suspended with pay from after killing unarmed resident, Michael Brown. You can hear Officer Gore's story here:

http://thefreethoughtproject.com/suspended-st-louis-officer-speaks-darren-wilson-department/

We need more officers like Officers Ruff and Gore in our police departments. Their acts are models for all officers of the law to follow. They are citizens and public servants.  They are community police who care about the citizens and residents of whom they have been charged to serve.  They took a stand for justice. 

#GREENSBORO4JUSTICE