The cops did not need to draw a gun or a taser on that 20 yo kid

[Progressive Jones]

9. I've often thought that policing should be more of a profession than it is.

Make it a higher education program, like you suggest. Way more training than there is now, especially in deescalating confrontational situations, community outreach (here's a novel idea -- bring back walking beat cops, in pairs.) Then, to make it worth the work/study, pay these higher level officers a higher salary, with more time away from the job to help with stress, etc. Currently, a lot of officers work hours and hours of overtime. This has to have a heavy impact, mentally and emotionally.

There should be more oversight and power in the area of discipline, and more intervention for repeat offenders. The police associations/unions seem to have too much power to obstruct in that area. I get it -- they're trying to protect their members, but too many red flags get swept under the carpet, and one day a known "problem child" with a history of misconduct goes way out of bounds, often with deadly results.