[thorntonbf]

This is a problem at the top and the bottom of the department, and it won't get fixed until both sides are held appropriately accountable.

The beat officers don't care because their management stack doesn't care. This should be pursued criminally, and would be were it anyone else messing with municipal equipment.

This is a departmental corruption issue first and foremost - and it's the senior management that should be held to account. Unfortunately, the problem won't be fixed until some of them go to jail and/or are made to make compensation for the damages and time spent repairing the system. Only then will the policies change to where the guys on the street quit damaging equipment.

[ihsw]

It extends out of the department as well -- look no further than the DA and the stable of state prosecutors for another cesspool of laziness and neglect.

[thorntonbf]

Agreed. And, that's actually pretty scary.

When it comes to Ferguson-type departmental corruption, it shows just how institutionalized the racism is - and how far it extends outside of the departments.

We should likely spend more time on this, as in this light, it doesn't matter what changes are made at a departmental level - there's no path to success on their own.

Change is going to have to be at the elected official level - but those systems are so gerrymandered, and so corrupt that it presents a really difficult problem.