[Pxtl]

This, to me, is the real problem. Not that they investigated an accusation of a crime, but that they immediately resorted to serious threats of violence.

Police officers are trained to do this. The level of fear they carry with them is massive, and so they have an absolute need for control. Watch some police training videos and you'll see, many of them follow the same template of "officer managing mundane situatGUNFIRE!!!", driving home that any suspect could attempt to murder the officer at any sudden snap moment. So the officers are trained to be paranoid and demand complete constant compliance. Every unchoreographed, unexpected movement by the suspect could be preparation to kill, so the police must demand control of every possible movement of every person involved. Imagine how terrifying it would be to be, for example, in a suspect's house with many uncontrolled people wandering around, with that mindset.

I understand that police are trained to control every situation, but the level of violence we read about constantly is disproportionate and ludicrous. It also colors every other interaction with the cops - even when an officer attempts to "control" the situation with the firm voice and glare that we've all seen, what should just be an attempt to project authority is instead an implied violent threat.

With that in mind, it's no wonder that spot-checking/carding programs are getting banned across many major cities. Many police forces have created the impression that it is simply not safe to even have the casual interest of an officer.

[fsloth]

So the police act as if targeted by guerrillas at all times? Sounds strangely of actual class-warfare.

As an extreme counter example, I've understood Norwegian police are unarmed and pick guns only if situation obviously requires it. So there is nothing intrinsic in the role of a police officer that would require this level of aggression. Is US really that violent?