Who Polices the Police?

Civics on the Rocks

Mack and Steve dive into various types of immunity. Also, we go off on rockets for a while.

References

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?”

Juvenal. Satire VI, lines 347–348.

Alan Moore wrote Watchmen.

Alan Moore (Author) and Dave Gibbons (Illustrator). Watchmen. (DC Comics, 1995).

That guy that cracked his head open because they just shoved him:

The Guardian. “Buffalo police cleared over pushing 75-year-old George Floyd protester.” April 10, 2022. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/10/buffalo-police-cleared-over-pushing-75-year-old-george-floyd-protester

The NYPD not arresting people to put pressure on the mayor and city government:

Ford, Matt. “The Benefits of Fewer NYPD Arrests.” December 31, 2014. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/12/the-benefits-of-fewer-nypd-arrests/384126/

Learn about Frank Serpico and the movie Serpico in one go:

Speicher, Jeffrey. “’Serpico’: How Does the Movie Compare to the True Story?” August 20, 2023. Collider. https://collider.com/serpico-true-story/

The park in Eagle Pass, Texas is Shelby Park:

García, Uriel J. “In Eagle Pass, a tense border standoff between Texas and the federal government is reaching a crescendo.” January 22, 2024. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/22/texas-border-patrol-immigration-enforcement-eagle-pass-park/

What’s federalism?

Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Federalism.” Updated January 2, 2024. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/federalism

The Border Patrol union supporting Texas governor, Greg Abbott:

Dobkin, Rachel. “Border Patrol Union Head Praises Greg Abbott After Military Blocks Agents.” January 15, 2024. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/border-patrol-union-praise-greg-abbott-migrants-texas-eagle-pass-1860837

The law passed by the Texas legislature that Mack referenced:

García, Uriel J. “Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill making illegal immigration a state crime.” December 18, 2023. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/18/texas-governor-abbott-bills-border-wall-illegal-entry-crime-sb3-sb4/#:~:text=Gov.%20Greg%20Abbott%20signs%20bill,Grande%20between%20ports%20of%20entry.

Unfamiliar with border checkpoints:

ACLU. “Know Your Rights: 100 Mile Border Zone.” https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/border-zone

Some info on internal affairs:

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. “Revisiting ‘Who is Guarding the Guardians’?” https://www.usccr.gov/files/pubs/guard/ch4.htm

Here’s a news story where a police officer caused harm to an innocent civilian:

Duncan, Jericka. “Police shoot unarmed man with hands up” [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRMYVFmEmx

Here’s a news story where a police officer caused harm to a civilian guilty of speeding:

Mckay, Rich and Trotta, Daniel. “Police release video of fatal shooting of Black man in Georgia.” October 18, 2023. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/police-release-video-fatal-shooting-black-man-georgia-2023-10-19/

Here’s a news story where a police officer shot someone unarmed in the back:

Burke, Minyvonne. “Police officers told Los Angeles man was unarmed moments before they shot him, video shows.” September 2, 2022. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/police-officers-told-los-angeles-man-was-unarmed-moments-shot-video-sh-rcna46035

Here’s a news story where a police officer shot someone unarmed in the front:

Beausoleil, Sophia. “Bodycam Video Showing Shooting of Unarmed Man Released, Former Wolfe City Officer Acquitted of Murder Charge.” September 28, 2022. NBCDFW. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/bodycam-video-showing-shooting-of-unarmed-man-released-former-wolfe-city-officer-acquitted-of-murder-charge/3084202/

Here’s a news story where the police did a search in the wrong house and someone reacted badly:

Matza, Max. “Kenneth Walker: Bronna Taylor’s boyfriend wins $2m settlement.” December 12, 2022. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63953359

Here’s a news story where the police did a search in the right house and someone reacted badly:

Edwards, Jeremy and Osborne, Mark. “Police officer Ricky Anderson charge with murder for shooting Black man in his bed.” August 4, 2023. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/police-officer-ricky-anderson-charged-murder-shooting-unarmed/story?id=102016997

Here’s a news story where there was no warrant, no search, just a woman in her home playing video games with her grandchild when a police officer shot her:

Silva, Daniella. “Trial begins for former Texas officer who shot Black woman through a window in her home.” December 5, 2022. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trial-begins-former-texas-officer-shot-black-woman-window-home-rcna60209

Want to learn more about qualified immunity:

Legal Defense Fund. “Qualified Immunity FAQ.” https://www.naacpldf.org/qualified-immunity/

Want to learn more about sovereign immunity:

McCann, Miles. “State Sovereign Immunity.” November 11, 2017. National Association of Attorneys General. https://www.naag.org/attorney-general-journal/state-sovereign-immunity/

Not the dessert:

American Museum of Tort Law. “What is Tort Law?” https://www.tortmuseum.org/what-is-tort-law/

The dessert:

Morrissey, Ellen. “How to Tell a Torte From a Cake—Plus Our Favorite Recipes, From Sacher to Linzer Tortes.” October 27, 2023. Martha Stewart. https://www.marthastewart.com/2124450/torte-linzer-torte-sacher-torte-explained

If you want to read up on the Federal Tort Claims Act:

Ohn, Gerald S. “Suing A Federal Governmental Entity Under The Federal Tort Claims Act.” November 2016. Advocate Magazine. https://www.advocatemagazine.com/article/2016-november/suing-a-federal-governmental-entity-under-the-federal-tort-claims-act

Want to know which states have a tort claims court:

Morton, Kendall; Bidwell, Anya; Jaicomo, Patrick; and Cairns, Megan. “50 Shades of Government Immunity.” January 25, 2022. Institute for Justice. https://ij.org/report/50-shades-of-government-immunity/

One example of a police officer who should not have been a police officer after his conduct was investigated by other police officers:

Lartey, Jamiles and VanSickle, Abbie. “’That could have been me’: The people Derek Chauvin choked before George Floyd.” February 5, 2021. The Marshall Project. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2021/02/05/that-could-have-been-me-the-people-derek-chauvin-choked-before-george-floyd

Cops are used as the catch-all janitors for cities:

Lopez, German. “One of the biggest problems with American policing: we rely on cops way too much.” January 24, 2016. Vox. https://www.vox.com/2016/1/24/10816536/police-reliance-melvin-russell

An article about the police receiving military training:

Rojas, Nikki. “Why police resist reforms to militarization.” March 3, 2023. The Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/03/expert-looks-at-how-and-why-police-resist-reforms-to-militarization/

Story that Steve referenced about a police officer who was fired for not shooting a suspect:

Lartey, Jamiles. “Police officer fired for not shooting black suspect wins $175,000.” February 12, 2018. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/feb/12/stephen-mader-west-virginia-police-officer-settles-lawsuit

What are rules of engagement:

Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Rules of engagement.” Updated January 2, 2024. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/rules-of-engagement-military-directives

Want to see what an MRAP looks like:

Oshkosh Defense. “Mine-resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP).” https://oshkoshdefense.com/vehicles/mine-resistant-ambush-protected-mrap/

Police stress and deleterious outcomes:

Otto, H. Douglas and Gatens, Alysson. “Understanding Police Officer Stress: A Review of the Literature.” May 24, 2022. Illinois Criminal Justices Information Authority. https://icjia.illinois.gov/researchhub/articles/understanding-police-officer-stress-a-review-of-the-literature

In case you aren’t familiar with the STFU ads:

Farah, Troy. “The Pot Brothers at Law Want You to ‘Shut the Fuck Up’ Around Cops.” May 28, 2021. Vice. https://www.vice.com/en/article/qj8kgw/the-pot-brothers-at-law-want-you-to-shut-the-fuck-up-around-cops

A little about false confessions:

Innocence Project. “False Confessions.” https://innocenceproject.org/false-confessions/#:~:text=It's%20hard%20to%20imagine%20why,lying%20about%20evidence%2C%20and%20more.

The interrogation technique used in the U.S. that we touched on is the Reid technique. Here is a brief overview:

Pumphrey, Jade. “Using behavioral analysis interview techniques to elicit confessions.” November 27, 2018. American Military University. https://www.police1.com/police-products/interview-recording/articles/using-behavioral-analysis-interview-techniques-to-elicit-confessions-hnqZVx2g4adqiIaD/

Here’s why it’s been criticized by a lot of people:

Science Direct. “Reid Technique.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/reid-technique

Here’s some info about plea bargains:

St. Francis School of Law. “What’s a Plea Bargain and How Does It Impact the Justice System?” December 5, 2022. https://stfrancislaw.com/blog/whats-a-plea-bargain-and-how-does-it-impact-the-justice-system/

How to make a sazerac:

Garret, Dylan. “Sazerac.” June 28, 2023. Liquor. https://www.liquor.com/recipes/sazerac/

Do you think these reasons are stupid:

Difford, Simon. “Why absinthe was banned.” Difford’s Guide. https://www.diffordsguide.com/g/1102/absinthe/why-absinthe-was-banned

What’s a pastis:

Overhiser, Sonja. “Pastis Drink.” A Couple Cooks. https://www.acouplecooks.com/pastis-drink/#:~:text=Pastis%20is%20an%20anise%2Dflavored,that%20is%20also%20lightly%20sweetened.

How to make a Cape Cod:

Graham, Colleen. “Cape Cod (Vodka Cranberry) Cocktail.” The Spruce Eats. https://www.thespruceeats.com/cape-codder-recipe-759287

Because you know you want to listen to the X-Men theme song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAkL2-vh2Sk

To make an X-Men cocktail (according to Polly Esther’s):

Make a Cape Cod and add a shot of Peach Schnapps. You’re welcome.

Not familiar with the X1:

Smithsonian. “Bell X-1.” https://www.si.edu/object/bell-x-1%3Anasm_A19510007000

Places Steve went in Washington, D.C.:

National Museum of the American Indian. https://americanindian.si.edu/

National Museum of African American History & Culture. https://nmaahc.si.edu/

National Gallery of Art. https://www.nga.gov/

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. https://www.nps.gov/mlkm/index.htm

Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. https://airandspace.si.edu/visit/udvar-hazy-center

And go ahead, geek out on the X-Wing:

https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/X-wing_starfighter

What Mack is reading:

Annie Jacobsen. Area 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base. (Back Bay Books, 2012).

Didn’t know there were human radiation experiments:

Atomic Heritage Foundation. “Human Radiation Experiments.” July 11, 2017. https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/ahf/history/human-radiation-experiments/

Yeah, so NERVA engines:

Arrighi, Robert (Editor). “Nuclear Rockets.” September 28, 2021. NASA. https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/historic-facilities/rockets-systems-area/7911-2/

Hear Freeman Dyson’s take on Project Orion:

PBS. “Freeman Dyson and Project Orion” [Video]. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/command-and-control-freeman-dyson-and-project-orion/

Here’s the book that Mack thinks everyone should read:

George Dyson. Project Orion: The True Story of the Atomic Spaceship. (Henry Holt and Co., 2002).

What Anne’s been watching:

White, Ryan, director. Good Night Oppy. 2022; Amazon Studios; 1 hour 44 minutes.

And the “neutral zone” is a reference to Star Trek. But you already knew that.