Putting the picture of the Chicago cop punching a protester in context

[facetious_badger]

152. .

They don't really have a choice in the matter right now. If they make one stumble then the department and the city get slapped with lawsuits. The rioters are not the ones who get in trouble is there is violence and destruction, it's the city. Just like trampling deaths at concerts aren't blamed on the crowd, they're blamed on the owner of the facility and the security companies. Not only is litigation likely, but the officers can be demoted, acquire career damaging reprimands, or outright fired.

I have several friends in all sorts of law enforcement, and helped give me perspective on the issue. They don't want to wade into hostile crowds, they don't want to go on a high speed pursuit, they don't want walk up to a pulled over vehicle with tinted windows, etc. Those aren't enjoyable experiences, and put them in a great deal of danger.

Then when something happens the media pours over footage that is edited to reflect negatively on the police officers involved. The end clip of several officers using what, to the audience safe in their home, appears to be excessive force. You rarely see the person who fled as they careen through the streets, running red lights, endangering pedestrians, causing other vehicles to crash, damaging property, etc. I try to view these incidents from the perspective of how would I feel if my family were out on that day. Even if they weren't hurt they would still have been put in danger. All because someone refused to act like a responsible adult and not driven off.