“Only if you promise not to use it in the house.”
It’s tough to control riots when the police have their hands tied.
Which is precisely why police “resources” have been preempted
Meanwhile in Detroit on Friday the Hon. Laurie J. Michelson, United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan followed in the footsteps of judges in other jurisdictions, (Seattle, Portland, Chicago) and issued a temporary restraining order that enjoined the Detroit Police Force from:
- Using striking weapons (including, but not limited to, batons and shields), chemical agents (including, but not limited to, tear gas and pepper spray), or rubber bullets against any individual peacefully engaging in protest or demonstrations who does not pose a physical threat to the safety of the public or police;
- Deploying chemical agents or a sound cannon against persons peacefully engaging in protest or demonstrations without an audible warning and a reasonable amount of time to disperse;
- Placing in a chokehold or ramming with a vehicle any individual attending a demonstration;
- Tightening the zip ties or handcuffs placed on any individual to the point that the restraints cause physical injury, including loss of circulation or change in color;
- Arresting any demonstrators en masse without probable cause.
Sorry, that qualifies as a “striking weapon.” Unless it’s wielded by a “peaceful protestor.”
Hmm, that seems to leave the police with only water canons, and…bullets.
That doesn’t seem quite right. Thankfully Detroit’s police chief, James Craig, is more thoughtful and level-headed than I. He said that since the judge's order bars action against “peaceful protesters,” his officers needn't change what they've already been doing.
"The judge’s order is no different than what we’ve always done," Craig said. "Every time we've had to use less-than-lethal force, it's been to address violence by protesters, resisting arrest, or when they've tried to take over an intersection in violation of the law. Technically, nothing has changed."
I tend to agree but when I hear a crowd chanting “Every city, every town, burn the precinct to the ground” I assume they are inciting violence have malevolence in their heart and are hell-bent on being anything but peaceful. Especially when they come armed with rocks, bricks, railroad spikes, and frozen water bottles.
Chief Craig has no intent of letting the thugs take over his city:
"When they try to take over an area like they did in Seattle, that's not going to happen," Craig said, referring to authorities in Seattle who allowed protesters to occupy several blocks for about two weeks until clearing the area in late June.
Unfortunately so do most “peaceful protests” these days.
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