I’ll say one thing in defense of the men (and women) of the East German Stasi, the Soviet-era KGB, the Red Guards – and other such like throughout the history of totalitarian regimes: They had little real choice. It was either brutalize their fellow citizens – or join the ranks of the brutalized.

The United State is not quite there yet. It is merely at the late Czarist Russia – or Weimar Germany – stage.

Point being, one doesn’t have to sign up for law enforcement work as a Hail Mary way to avoid poverty, or the gulag . . . or the gas chamber.

So, what sort of person chooses to become a law enforcer – and remains one – when it is still possible to avoid such a dirty occupation? An occupation that, as a matter of routine, puts one in the position of rousting – and caging – people who’ve done nothing that can be characterized as causing harm to others (or their property)?

Who have merely run afoul of “the law”?

There seem to be four general types:

The well-intended type.

He thinks he’s going to go after Bad Guys – but finds the majority of his time is spent enforcing Bad Laws. Bad, because there’s no harm done. Well, no harm done by those he goes after. He, on the other hand, harms them. He extorts their money; he seizes their property. He throws people in cages who’ve done nothing more than cross an arbitrarily decreed distinction between one form of recreational intoxicant and another. Etc.

He is required to do things to other adults that he’d never dream of doing on his own absent the sanction – and the overwhelming “back-up” implied by his special costume, the gun on his hip and the sanction of the state – like hector other adults about things that are none of his business.

Like whether they’re wearing a seatbelt.

It may occur to him one fine day that the majority of the people he pulls over, puts in cuffs and takes to jail didn’t deserve it – because they hadn’t done anything (except, of course, violate “the law”).

At this point, he either has a come-to-Jesus moment and quits in disgust . . . or graduates to our next “type.”

The “just doing my job” type.

This is guy is a cynic – and a nihilist. He knows, at some level, that much of what he does is ridiculous – and even, perhaps, wrong. But it’s become his living, his meal ticket. He’s got 10 years invested and knows that to quit now would mean the loss of a juicy pension after another ten – not to mention the loss of the free car to drive and all the free cups of coffee (and free meals) that flow the way of a uniformed enforcer.

He does what he is told – and expects you to do as ordered. For him, all that matter is “the law” – regardless of the law’s inanity. He may even agree with you that a given law is preposterous. But he’ll ticket – or arrest – you nonetheless.

Because, of course, it’s the law.

He does not question anything he does – and shows either boredom or annoyance when you do.

The upshot is this type of cop is basically a bureaucrat and – usually – only bad to the extent that the laws he enforces are bad. There is a limit. He usually won’t exceed the law or go beyond what he is ordered to do. That would be against procedure.

He is rigid and thoughtless, perhaps – but not usually deliberately vicious.

Which brings us to our third “type.”

The Bully.

As the system becomes increasingly (and obviously) brutal – brutal people gravitate toward the profession.

This one enjoys wielding arbitrary, unaccountable power over others. Making them feel afraid. Humiliating them in front of their spouse – or their children. His greatest satisfaction lies in forcing people to submit. It makes him feel like the tough guy he’s not. And the surest way to arouse his fury is to question his authority – or refuse to submit.

This type of cop is narcissistic and entitlement-minded. He is incapable of feeling empathy. He may be an outright sociopath.

Given the opportunity he will assault – and possibly even kill – you. He’s looking for that opportunity. Here’s a recent for-instance:

The cops in this video are the sort who would have eagerly lined people up in front of a ditch.

Or manned an oven.

And they’re becoming typical types – replacing the dwindling numbers of our final “type” . . .

The old school cop.

He is usually old – literally. Pushing 50, with the years and the perspective they give him all-too-apparent in his actions. Which harken back to a United States that was extinguished at some indeterminate point in the past.

He is a relic of the days when cops didn’t expect immediate submission – and when cops were expected to treat citizens with respect. He tries to be decent – within the boundaries of what’s possible given “the law” and current law enforcement culture. He’s close to retirement, though – and doesn’t want to make too many waves. He’s also rare.

You might get him one out of ten times these days.

Expect to see much less of him in the future, too.

The old-school cop type is being screened out, actively and otherwise. The increasingly militarized “law enforcement” agencies of the United State seek order-followers (and order-barkers) as new recruits. Luckily, there is a school for such – and a steady flow of graduates.

That school is the military of the United State – and its classrooms are located in places like Kabul and Baghdad (and soon, perhaps, Damascus). Dehumanize the recruit, destroy his individuality, turn him into an automaton – it is the object of military training – then have him dehumanize others. First, strange brown people in strange brown lands.

Then, bring him back to The Homeland.

It’s telling that American law enforcement has a military rank structure. The head enforcer is often festooned with a general’s stars or a colonel’s silver eagles. The rank and file wear menacing black BDUs, complete with flak jackets and body armor. The only difference nowadays between Fallujah and Boston is dark blue vs. cammo pattern.

Even way out here in Boonie Land.

I live in an extremely rural part of southwest Virginia – in a county that has literally one traffic light.

Yet even here, courtesy of the Heimatsicherheitsdeinst apparat that sprouted after the latter-day Reichstag fire on nahhnlevven, there is now a bulletproofed “command post” in town and all the accoutrements of a fully militarized “law enforcement” department. Shaved heads, black sunglasses; a Humvee-like armored assault vehicle.

Local people have noticed that the new crop of cop is crew cut and unforgiving. Andy Griffith need not apply. His type’s not wanted anymore.

Of course, Andy wouldn’t want any part of this mess anyhow.

Would you?

Throw it in the Woods?

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