Can Political Violence Exist in a Democracy?

The spread of political unrest in countries across the world has prompted fears about the growth of political violence in democratic societies.

There is a theory that political violence is the sort of thing a democracy is supposed to prevent and if it occurs it will be remedied by the exercise of voting, the protection of individual rights by the courts or by civil disobedience.

The examples of Jamaica and the US dispel this proposition.

JAMAICA

Since the 1980’s there has been a long-standing feud between right-wing and left-wing elements often escalating into violence. The violence has now morphed into economic crimes fueled by the drug trade in south Florida.

Successive governments have used states of emergency to combat surges in crime because, according to National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang, unless Jamaica becomes a police state, states of emergency are necessary. A police state is one in which excess power is exercised through the power of the police force.

Democracy is still intact but the costs have been high. Jamaica was listed in a recent report as having the highest rate of homicides (including killings by the police) in the Americas and the Caribbean http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20210131/jamaica-tops-homicides-latin-america-and-caribbean.

UNITED STATES

The summer of 2020 saw protests and sporadic violence in a number of American cities following the killings by police of African Americans George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

Some people including many who are now protesting in the streets argue that American policing is incompatible with democratic ideals.

The new president Joe Biden was installed in a celebration surrounded by a sea of barbed wire and 26,000 heavily armed soldiers. Military soldiers parade the streets as police officers, SWAT teams execute nightly no-knock warrants (particularly in communities of color) while people from these communities are disproportionately absorbed by the world’s largest prison system.

To stop the exacerbation of Trumpism we have seen internet censorship and regulations on the media and some on the left even recommend new dramatic terror laws and even policies to deprogram the minds of Trump supporters.

It remains to be seen if the 2020 demonstrations will resolve the long-standing issues of racial injustice or escalate into a civil war. Two factors indicate that the trend favors the former:-

First, today’s protesters are more interracial than those of the past comprising African Americans, Latins and Whites as the police target all races with rubber bullets and tear gas.

Secondly, the geography of the violence is different today as wealthy downtown malls and global chains are under attack and not just low income neighborhoods

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re8jUhGOZu4.

Armed militias, censorship and acts of police brutality carry associated costs such as loss of life, damage to property and accelerate additional violence. To mitigate these costs politicians are tempted to invoke emergency powers but these are necessarily short-term solutions. What is needed are more investments targeted towards communities that promote democracy and build community resilience.

Victor Dixon

February 27, 2021

Defence Vehicles That Offer an Unmatched Off Road Experience

Defence vehicles are known to handle rough climate along with dealing with dangerous operations. The reason why there are different vehicles being used, and not the ordinary ones because, they are born tough for any rough and tough event. We are always curious to know about the police vehicles, as their performance is what makes them distinctive then rest of other vehicles.

Are they just rumoured about their high performance or made out of some rocket science? Well, the truth is that they are indeed made with expert technology which makes them powerful machines as it is must requirement in their field.

All police and defence vehicles are based on the standard models of automobiles, but the performing features are certainly different to that of regular vehicles. There are no precise auto manufacturers that only makes and designs police vehicles. Instead these auto manufacturers make special defence versions of certain auto models.

Sometimes, police or defence department will purchase regular vehicles, and later on customize them for the certain use. You must be wondering that that would be doing this customization job, since; we are not talking of any James Bond movie scene here where there is an Einstein scientist that customizes his car. This is in real we are talking, which means there are certain auto manufacturers which specializes in this kind of job in making snowmobiles, police vehicles and many such similar vehicles.

What makes these vehicles different from others is they are typical police profile fit vehicles with plenty of trunk space, large engine and large back seat. In many countries SUVs and trucks are used as defence vehicles. Some sports cars are also used as chase cars by police departments.

Police vehicles are known to take more abuse than any other average car. It requires having more speed limit and more powerful engine in chasing the suspects. Also; it requires handling the rough terrain or being used as a battering ram. On the other hand these vehicles require operating perfectly under harsh climatic conditions such as heavy snowfall, rain, chilly winters and harsh summer heat. These vehicles must be able to turn on a dime, and jump to hot pursuit in a minute. There are certain companies for instance speaks of its ability to provide these types of vehicles.

Like said before, there is no exclusive brand of car manufacturers that designs these types of vehicles. The usual car brand manufacturers are the people designing these exclusive defence vehicles. It provides all-terrain vehicles which will not limit its use, but will open new usage in other sectors such as agriculture etc. These vehicles are specially built for extreme sturdiness and performance thus; they are used in different industries such as defence and police.

These are the best suitable for anti-naxal, anti-insurgency, and anti-terrorists operations. It wants to create a new market, keeping in mind its consumer’s requirements by offering best possible mechanism when it comes to recreational vehicles such as Snowmobiles, Ranger, and ATV etc. Achieving the impossible has become possible with the range of range of defence vehicles.

Law Enforcement Officers Can Be Helped By Chiropractic Care

Law enforcement officers are a uniquely positioned profession in many ways. We all know that they are exposed to many risk factors. But few of us are aware that police officers tend to have an increased risk of lower back pain. This article will discuss the prevalence, cause and management of lower back pain of law first responders.

A recent study in the February 2017 edition of the Spine research journal looked at lower back pain in members of the profession of policing. Questionnaires completed by 3589 law enforcement officers revealed that almost 70% reported lower back pain symptoms in the last 12 months. Almost 97% of them felt the presence of their lower back pain was partially or totally linked to their work in the police force. Nearly 30% of the respondents lived with chronic lower back pain. These officers were more likely to report a reduction of work activities and lost workdays in the past year due to their pain.

Causes of low back pain in the police community are from a variety of factors.

Many in law enforcement are required to spend long hours driving in vehicles. As these vehicles are used for longer periods by different drivers the driver’s seats start to break down. The upholstery may become unevenly compacted. If this is the case the driver will be sitting in an unbalanced awkward position for many hours. When this occurs it places physical stress on the lower back and the joints of the pelvis.

Another cause of back conditions is due to the sheer physicality of the job. Police enforcement officials are required to physically chase suspects, climb over and around obstacles and restrain offenders. At times, a police officer is the first person to arrive at a medical emergency and may have to be in a posturally demanding position to administer CPR, resuscitation, stopping blood loss or moving a victim from a hazard. Inevitably, again, physical stress occurs to the back.

A sometimes overlooked cause of back pain is the officers duty belt. A duty belt is worn around the upper hips and not only holds a firearm but many other items such as handcuffs, a baton, a radio, a TASER and a pouch for latex gloves. Duty belts can be heavy, awkward to wear and apply mechanical stress to the lower back.

There are certainly other causes of stress to the lower back but one gets the overall idea with the examples mentioned.

Whatever the cause of the injury and complaint a physical solution and care from a chiropractor can generally be of help to a physical problem. Chiropractors focus on helping patients who have lower back pain. Many back conditions are caused by misalignments and improper movements of the bones of the spine and the pelvis. Chiropractors can assess the police officer during a physical examination and determine if realignment by the chiropractor performing a chiropractic adjustment will help in the correction of the cause of the back pain.

Chiropractors are experts at treating injuries of the low back. Many law enforcement officers who have developed back ailments due to their line of work have been helped by chiropractors. In addition, many police officers see chiropractors on an ongoing basis for maintenance care to avoid experiencing an injury and to enjoy a long healthy career.

Key Benefits of a Digital Radio Scanner When Looking For a Handheld Radio Scanner

When you are searching for a handheld radio scanner, you will find many different choices, including a digital radio scanner. Here are some basics that will help you decide if one of this type is right for you.

A radio scanner, or police scanner as it is often called, is a receiver that can be used to monitor VHF and UHF radio systems. Any type of information transmitted by two way radio can be heard with these scanners. Most offer a feature that can be set to ignore or accept transmissions from specified departments.

In the past, scanners could only monitor a few different channels. Depending on which you select, a mobile radio scanner is now capable of monitoring hundreds of channels between 30Mhz and 3Ghz. The VHF to UHF is between 300Mhz and 3Ghz and is used by public service agencies with their two-way radios.

Very high frequency (VHF), ranging from 30 MHZ to 300 MHZ, is used for FM radio broadcast, television broadcast, land mobile stations for emergency purposes, military, business, amateur radio, marine communications, air traffic control communications, and air navigation systems.

Other than being used in law enforcement agencies, police scanners are also used for high frequency communication in corporations and in emergency services to keep their information private.

Because of the rise in the number of intrusions taking place in their communication devices the corporations began to broadcast digitally. This move opened up the market for digital scanners as technology kept pace with the advances made by the corporations.

A digital radio scanner is the latest version of popular scanners. They are designed to receive and process digitally encoded signals transmitted between various two-way radio systems in public use.

The reason these scanners are called “digital” is because they are designed to be compatible with radio signals transmitted in digital mode rather than the conventional analog mode, although older analog signals and newer digital transmissions are both in use. Most of the digital scanners will still process the analog signals too.

Digital signals are less affected by interference and noise, and deliver usable information better at the extremes of their range when analog signals become unpredictable. Some digitals also come equipped with the trunk tracking feature to make use of trunk lines. Most police and fire departments use radio frequencies and channels that are tied together through a trunk system.

When you are looking at a handheld radio scanner, more than likely you will come across the phrase APCO P-25. This is a set of standards for digital radio communications used by the federal, state and local public safety agencies in USA for communication between them. Non-encrypted digital signals meeting the APCO P-25 standard can be processed by digital radio scanners.

Special – Rogue And Bad Cops – What Makes Them What They Are?

Greetings,

It’s me again. Some of you hate to see my articles, for obvious reasons. But some are happy. Those of you who are bad police officers or the relatives of bad cops hate my guts. Those of you who are plain citizens or even maybe the family of good and honorable cops have no problem with me.

In case you don’t know me, or this is the first time you’ve read my articles, I’m the revealer of rogue cops. I have dedicated my life to this cause.

Earlier this evening, I was speaking with author Steve Peach ( Good, Bad Corrupt Officers ) another revealer of rogue cops in California, an ex swat officer (glad I’m not alone). We were discussing why we have taken on this dangerous mission as well as rogue cops and their superiors. The answer is quite simple: a strong sense of duty to correct that which is simply wrong. Steve was not rogue, I was, but the end results are the same. He hated rogue cops and I hated myself.

What is it that causes a police officer to violate his oath? To violate common decency? To travel the same road as a common criminal? To rape, kill, unlawfully cite or violate his fellow humans?

Surely you will say power or some other connected issue, but the main reason might surprise you–low self esteem and worth! That’s mainly why he joined the force (yes, me too). Most of these officers had no solid family structure or values. In many cases no parents, a lack of a parent or no loving parents. They also were never held accountable for their actions and in some cases, were commended either verbally or silently when they did something wrong.

And then comes the problem when they reached the age to become an officer. They searched for a vocation or job that would let them compensate. They desired to fit a mode of respectability and honor, so some chose to become police officers or attached themselves to any law enforcement agencies (yes, the FBI, sheriffs, state cops, or even some security guards are rogue).

I know this is a deep subject I’m speaking of, but trust me, if you or your children ever run into these people, your life will never be the same. Their unfair tactics and procedures will cause a good citizen to resent law enforcement and the law in general.

If you’ve read my book called COPOUT, you will see clearly how I was raised and you could also see where I was going. I was reared by my grandmother, a loving lady who did the best she could with nine siblings. But she was too old, too frail, and too sickly to fully do the job.

There is a simple reason why parents were meant to have children while they are young. The parents should be vibrant, active, healthy, and youthful to keep up with a younger version of themselves. Sure, some children do well as adults without a stable home or family, but that’s the exception, not the rule. Usually they had some other role model or some guideline to set the example.

So in closing, in my humble opinion, fathers, love your children and give them the assurances they need. Mothers, embrace your children and never forget to say these three words: I LOVE YOU!

If you don’t, don’t expect God to love you. If you can’t love what you see, how can you love what you’ve never seen (GOD)?

And finally, to all rogue cops, it’s never too late to change. Change now or you will pay the price later. I did!

The Kill Game

The “Kill Game” is a romp of a police novel with its primary setting in Las Vegas, Nevada with a side trip to Northern Nevada, Idaho and Utah, all of which interesting to those familiar with these western states. The “Kill Game” is an easy summer read about a cold case Las Vegas murder that three retired Nevada police detectives accept after 22 years of no leads and closure. It is not an intense or heavy plot.

The three detectives, two male former partners and a female work well together in their effort to solve the old Las Vegas murder case. There is the mystery of finding clues in the cold case and a romance begins to blossom between two of the detectives, but nothing racy.

Even a person not in law enforcement will notice some improbable events and serious over sights when the case was fresh and think that investigators weren’t trying very hard to work this. Then 22-years later, with a little bit of looking, things begin to quickly fall into place and the case is solved in a surprising twist.

The writer uses locations that those familiar with the community will recognize and be able to place themselves in some of those locations, such as the Bellagio Café, where the detectives often eat. There is also mention of professional casino poker tournaments. However, for readers who have spent very much time in Las Vegas, they will also note the lack of accuracy of some of the locations and other details related to the city. There are several mentions of the Las Vegas chief of police. Las Vegas does not have a chief of police. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Force falls under the direction of the elected sheriff.

For those who do any amount of reading, they will note that the writer, while entertaining, does not write tight. There are strings of sentences filled with unnecessary words. Because of this, the book could likely be edited more and cut by three quarters and be a tighter less waste read. The “Kill Game” is entertaining enough that I would read the next in a series that this writer, Dean Wesley Smith, has written. But keeping in mind it is light reading and a good pick to take and read while traveling or anywhere where meaningful concentration is not available.

How Does a GPS Car Tracker Work?

How Does the GPS Car Tracker Work?

Often times vehicles are stolen and prospective buyers of smart devices ask whether GPS car tracker works. There are several GPS trackers on the market and the extent of their effectiveness depend on the individual features of the device. Some will automatically shut down the vehicle after driving for a certain distance, while others automatically alert the police while its GPS capabilities allows the vehicle to be tracked. If one is operating on a budget, purchasing an intelligent car tracker might be the best decision to make as a motor vehicle owner. Here are few important features one should look for when deciding whether to purchase a GPS car tracker.

Alert System– Your system should be able to immediately alert you if your vehicle moves without your permission. Having the number for the nearest police station is always suggested or if you know a police officer, have his or her number on speed dial. Often times car thieves are caught in their tracks while in transit or when being pursued by police officers.

Tracking – The only way to retrieve a stolen vehicle is to know where it is located. The GPS car tracker should have the latest computer aided chip that is designed to connect with a GPS satellite to give the exact whereabouts and directions to the stolen motor vehicle. It is also suggested to have the device discreetly installed in a socket in the vehicle so that it cannot be easily detected and removed if the vehicle is stolen. As soon as the vehicle is picked up on the tracker, the police should be informed immediately.

Analytics– So the vehicle is identified and is tracked but what took place between the time it was taken and when it is retrieved by the police? There might be further clues as to the whereabouts of persons involved based on the stops made during theft. The intelligent sensors should be able to monitor and record abnormalities that happened to your vehicle’s system. If there are missing parts, it should highlight the discrepancies.

Safety- Although identifying and nabbing car thieves sounds like a good thing, it could pose a threat to one’s life. If there is an engine demobilizer attached to the GPS system, it is suggested to have a delay mechanism which allows the vehicle to drive for a period before it is disabled. In the event someone is carjacked, there should be some distance between the owner and the getaway driver. This short time will allow the owner to seek help or move away to a safer and more secure spot.

The Overall Purpose of a GPS Car Tracker

If one’s vehicle is out of sight he or she will have peace of mind- knowing where it is and who took it. It also provides an alert system that notifies security personnel or the owner. Another purpose of the GPS car tracker is that thieves are normally discouraged when they believe there is a GPS car tracker installed in a vehicle. Once there is a GPS tracker, the chances of reclaiming the vehicle before it is dismantled are significantly increased.

Additionally, with a GPS system in your vehicle you can gather information about how designated drivers used the vehicle. If you have teenagers driving your vehicle one is able to monitor speed limits and whereabouts of the car. It also helps in locating your vehicle if you have forgotten where you parked!

Know Your Rights – What to Do and Not Do When Arrested

The police are always watching, sometimes even when you don’t know they’re there. They might be waiting for the perfect moment to arrest someone who they think is a criminal. However, what happens if you get arrested? Should you just give up and do whatever the cops say? Absolutely not!

You have rights, and it’s important that you know them so that you can protect yourself from being wrongly arrested or taken advantage of by authorities. Read on to learn more about your rights when arrested in America today.

You Have the Right to Remain Silent: This is probably one of the most well-known rights that people have when arrested. You don’t have to answer any questions posed by the police, and you can ask for a lawyer if you want. You can also remain silent even if you are not under arrest. In other words, you don’t have to talk to the police just because they stop you on the street and ask what you’re up to. Remember, anything you say can be used against you in court, so it’s best to keep your mouth shut until you’ve talked to an attorney.

You Have the Right to an Attorney: You might not know this, but you can ask for a lawyer if you find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance of being arrested. The court also provides lawyers to those who absolutely cannot afford one. You should always take advantage of this service. You will definitely need someone on your side when it comes time to defend yourself against criminal charges and accusations.

You Don’t Have the Right to Resist Arrest: Many people think that they have the right to resist arrest, but this is not actually the case. If you try to fight back or run away from the police, you could be facing additional criminal charges on top of whatever you’re already being charged with. It’s best to just go along with the arrest and save yourself some trouble. You can always dispute any charges later in court.

You Have the Right to Privacy: One of the most important rights that you have when arrested is the right to privacy. The police cannot search you or your belongings without a warrant unless they have probable cause to believe that you’re carrying drugs or weapons.

If the police do search you or your belongings without a warrant, any evidence found can be thrown out of court. Make sure to keep this in mind if you ever find yourself in this situation.

You Have the Right to Make a Phone Call: Another important right that you have when arrested is the right to make a phone call. This applies whether you’re in jail or just being questioned by the police. You can use this phone call to contact a friend or family member, and you can also use it to reach out to an attorney. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of this right if you need to.

Knowing your rights is essential for navigating the criminal justice system without any difficulties. If any of these rights are violated, make sure you report them to your attorney.

911 – How to Get the Police’s Attention When You Need It

Those of you that have ever listened to a 911 call recording will know that it’s not always easy for the dispatcher to understand what is going on at the other end of that line.

It comes down to bad reception, bad language skills, bad organization and a lack of understanding on both ends of where the other is coming from, so to speak.

Every day, 911 dispatchers get unintelligible calls that are either hysterical, disjointed or spoken in a language or dialect the operator can’t understand, resulting in the sad fact that the person who has called 911 won’t get the help that is needed. Small matters tend to get prioritized down, even if the resources are there to deal with them, and that is mostly to blame on the caller. So how are you supposed to get the dispatcher’s attention, and get them to send you some assistance? Just a few small steps to think about will get you a patrol car or two even if resources are stretched, and here they are.

– Always speak calmly. If you don’t, you might come across as hysterical, and even if your emergency is real, being hysterical will only get you penalty time.

– Follow a logical step-by-step progression in everything you are saying. Start with a salutation, i.e. “Good morning”, “good evening” or similar. You get the picture.

– State your name – “My name is … “.

– Give the person at the other end 2-3 seconds to respond. If they do not, state in a calm voice what your problem is, and where.

Do it in this sequence: Where, what and when. For example; “I am at Hill Road and Main junction. A large tanker truck has collided with a bus, and both vehicles are on fire. There are persons in both vehicles, number unknown. The collision was approximately four minutes ago.”.

– Trust the dispatcher. He or she will know what type of response is appropriate. Never argue with or interrupt the dispatcher.

– Always comply with the dispatcher’s instructions. If you are not able to comply, state why quickly, and let the dispatcher give you new instructions.

– Always thank the dispatcher before you or they hang up the phone.

A quick “Thank you” is enough.

Prepare for the next time you have to call 911. Write a small “cheat-sheet” that you can use, and keep it in your wallet or purse. It should read something like this:

1: Salutation

2: Name 3: Where – What – When

4: Listen to instructions or questions

5: Thank you

This little “how-to” will help you with anything from a cat up a tree to tanker trucks on fire in the street. Or even if you’ve been mugged or drugged or robbed or if there’s a strange noise outside your window.

The Three Phases of DUI "Detection"

Contrary to public belief, it is not illegal to drink and drive. It is illegal to drive while under the influence of alcohol, drive while intoxicated, drive while impaired, or drive in a condition that your state says is illegal. Believe it or not, police officers are trained to recognize when a driver is in that condition. Now, before I get too far, I want to point out that I am a DUI attorney in Maryland, Virginia, and DC. But this is not legal advice. It is merely information, and is not specific to any situation. If you need legal advice or professional assistance for your own situation, then you should contact an attorney that is licensed in your state.

For purposes of uniformity, throughout this article I will use the abbreviation “DWI”, but you could easily substitute “DUI”,” OUI”, or “OWI”. Police officers are trained to divide DWI detection into three phases: vehicle in motion, personal contact, and pre-arrest screening.

1) Phase 1: Vehicle in Motion.

In phase 1, the police officer is trying to answer the question of whether to stop the vehicle. It begins with the initial observation of the vehicle and the manner in which it is being driven.

2) Phase 2: Personal Contact.

In phase 2, the police officer is trying to answer the question of whether to ask the driver to exit the vehicle. It begins with the initial contact with the driver and the observations of the police officer. During the personal contact phase, there is an opportunity for the officer to observe and speak with the driver.

3) Phase 3: Pre-Arrest Screening.

In phase 3, the police officer is trying to answer the question of whether there is probable cause to arrest the driver for DWI. The bulk of the pre-arrest screening is the field sobriety tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a division of the Department of Transportation, recognizes three standardized field sobriety tests: the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, the walk and turn test, and the one leg stand test. Additionally, officers often administer a preliminary breath test or other non-standardized field sobriety tests.

Throughout the three phases, the police officer is trained to look for certain clues that increase the likelihood that the driver is impaired. The officer is also trained to include each clue in a police report. Sometimes, all three phases are not present in a particular DWI stop. For example, if there is a collision involved or the stop took place at a roadblock, one or more of the phases may be absent.

Of course, the next logical question becomes what to do when armed with this information. That is what your DUI attorney is for – to use this knowledge and any other evidence to assemble your best defense.

Freelance Web Designer | WordPress Developer | Hong Kong