Thread

1. thinkcontext · 1790086576 · focus · HN ↗

   > Last week, the [state] agency sent a letter to the city notifying it that its five-member police department would be closed effective Sept. 18. Law enforcement duties will be transferred to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office until a permanent solution is found.

   > The agency said its investigation found the department failed to meet minimum standards and failed to provide sufficient evidence that it provided a "public benefit to the community." The department also failed to provide resources to its officers, including bulletproof vests and an evidence room.

   The US has many thousands of little law enforcement jurisdictions like this. The argument for it is local control but in practice you too often get situations like this one. Poor quality, abuses, corruption, good-old-boys network, lack of accountability, frequent unnecessary use of force, etc. Large police organizations are certainly not w/o problems but at this point there are accountability mechanisms and modern standards.

   The WaPo did an excellent article a few years ago looking at the fragmented LEO landscape

   "Most police departments in America are small. That’s partly why changing policing is difficult, experts say"

   <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;archive.li&#x2F;05zA7" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;archive.li&#x2F;05zA7

   1. jagged-chisel · 1790087754 · focus · HN ↗

      Given the size of the US, and the variety of local populations, I argue that local enforcement is necessary. Adherence to larger enforcement standards is also necessary. I fear that larger, “cohesive” enforcement runs the risk of bringing more political laws and regulations from other jurisdictions. No one wants to be subjected to some remote jurisdiction’s idea of “lawfulness” especially when religious ideals get mixed in.

      1. astrodust · 1790118210 · focus · HN ↗

         Why is it so ridiculous that the state can provide police where and when they&#x27;re needed, and it&#x27;s only when you have a sufficiently robust metropolitan area that can afford their own police force that you then have &quot;local&quot; cops?

         Or are we all about locally-sourced, artisanal law enforcement now?

         1. jagged-chisel · 1790120780 · focus · HN ↗

            Who said it’s ridiculous? If that’s how you want your locality to obtain law enforcement, go for it.

            Are you suggesting that your way is The Way everyone else should go? That is what I’m arguing against. Let locals decide.

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