... but I could be wrong. I know there was a one-day "suspension" but I thought it was
with pay, not without.
It's irrelevant whether they got paid or not, but not a single one of the cops who removed their nameplates or badges deserves to keep their job. In a democratic society, we give a select few people permission to use violence on an as-needed, specific basis, to protect society at large from worse, more indiscriminate violence.
A person who is legally permitted to use violence must be held accountable for
ALL acts of violence they commit, under
ALL circumstances. That includes off-duty actions as well. Society trains these people to understand the use-of-force continuum, and to use it appropriately; if they act in an inappropriate manner, they should be given the chance to explain their actions, but nonetheless be held accountable for them.
However, each one of these officers refused to abide by this covenant, preferring anonymity over responsibility, and each and every one of them knew what they were pissing on when they became worse than the "mob" they were expected to "police." Any officer who decides he wants to go "outside the law" by making himself unidentifiable (and thereby, unaccountable) has no business policing anyone - that's the exact moment when the term "secret police" starts to apply, and replaces "police services."
The psychological term is deindividuation, but I'll use a simpler word - each and every one of these anonymous cops is a
coward, and doesn't deserve to wear the badge ever again, let alone receive a promotion. This disgusts me on so many levels.
Ok, cue the police apologists...
