23 votes

Iowa Police chief caught selling machine guns says "every cop" is guilty

19 comments

  1. [19]
    Eji1700
    Link
    Lock him up and throw away the key. Machine gun laws should be heavily enforced and there’s lots of good reason to do so.

    Lock him up and throw away the key. Machine gun laws should be heavily enforced and there’s lots of good reason to do so.

    17 votes
    1. [18]
      chocobean
      Link Parent
      Not just him. According to his statement, we should lock up every single cop in the country. According to this review: There's at least 50 cops to lock up. And while we're at it, maybe also lock...

      Not just him.

      According to his statement, we should lock up every single cop in the country. According to this review:

      A nationwide review found at least 50 cases of police illegally selling weapons over the past two decades, with many going to gun enthusiasts and another cache ending up in the hands of violent felons and used to commit crimes including drug trafficking, international arms dealing, and fatal shootings.

      There's at least 50 cops to lock up.

      And while we're at it, maybe also lock up the guy who says he'll give blanket immunity from prosecution please.

      16 votes
      1. roo1ster
        Link Parent
        After reading that, it strikes me that economics may be highly resistant from trickle down, but corruption has a strong affinity for it.

        After reading that, it strikes me that economics may be highly resistant from trickle down, but corruption has a strong affinity for it.

        10 votes
      2. [12]
        skybrian
        Link Parent
        It's apparently widespread, but a criminal saying "everyone does it" isn't exactly a reliable source.

        It's apparently widespread, but a criminal saying "everyone does it" isn't exactly a reliable source.

        12 votes
        1. [10]
          Promonk
          Link Parent
          I'm not quite sure what you're hoping to accomplish by pointing out that the dude who got caught abusing the public trust for personal profit is not trustworthy, but you're correct, for what...

          I'm not quite sure what you're hoping to accomplish by pointing out that the dude who got caught abusing the public trust for personal profit is not trustworthy, but you're correct, for what that's worth. That's why CBS (a source cited in the piece) checked other sources to make their claims.

          The nice thing about honor among thieves is that it usually goes out the window when a thief's skin is on the line. That's a time-honored tactic of LEOs, and there's a certain poetry to the thought of using it against their own worst members, don't you think?

          8 votes
          1. [9]
            skybrian
            Link Parent
            Yeah, I think the article shows it to be a real problem. I'm just doubtful about the headline - it seems like an exaggeration.

            Yeah, I think the article shows it to be a real problem. I'm just doubtful about the headline - it seems like an exaggeration.

            4 votes
            1. [7]
              DefinitelyNotAFae
              Link Parent
              The headline is quoting him. It is probably hyperbolic in that not literally every cop is in fact guilty, but this feels like a weird nitpick

              The headline is quoting him. It is probably hyperbolic in that not literally every cop is in fact guilty, but this feels like a weird nitpick

              9 votes
              1. [6]
                skybrian
                Link Parent
                Maybe it shouldn’t have quoted him in the headline? Why give a crooked cop a platform?

                Maybe it shouldn’t have quoted him in the headline? Why give a crooked cop a platform?

                3 votes
                1. [2]
                  NoPants
                  Link Parent
                  It doesn't matter if he isn't a reliable source, or if he is exaggerating, he is still the former police chief. He is the primary office holder supposed to reduce corruption in the police force....

                  It doesn't matter if he isn't a reliable source, or if he is exaggerating, he is still the former police chief.

                  He is the primary office holder supposed to reduce corruption in the police force.

                  It points to a systematic problem, with a single point of failure.

                  Sure, it is a very attention grabbing headline.

                  But it's not a platform that helps him.

                  His defense attorney would have told him to avoid saying anything about this, because it will ultimately damage the chances for his appeal.

                  6 votes
                  1. skybrian
                    Link Parent
                    It matters because people might actually believe it, and it's probably a lie. Or more accurately bullshit (he could not possibly know this.)

                    It matters because people might actually believe it, and it's probably a lie. Or more accurately bullshit (he could not possibly know this.)

                    5 votes
                2. [3]
                  DefinitelyNotAFae
                  Link Parent
                  Because that's the news story. Sure they could have not reported on it at all, but then is that just covering up police misdeeds? It remains an odd complaint to me.

                  Because that's the news story. Sure they could have not reported on it at all, but then is that just covering up police misdeeds?

                  It remains an odd complaint to me.

                  3 votes
                  1. [2]
                    skybrian
                    Link Parent
                    There are several possible news stories. One is "crooked police chief caught selling machine guns." Another is "crooked cop says something outrageous." (Those are both in the headline.) Also, the...

                    There are several possible news stories. One is "crooked police chief caught selling machine guns." Another is "crooked cop says something outrageous." (Those are both in the headline.) Also, the subhead says something different: "A report finds dozens of law enforcement members across more than 20 states and regions illegally selling firearms."

                    I think the things there are evidence for are more important than what outrageous thing somebody said.

                    It's like reporting on whatever outrageous thing Trump said without explaining why it's almost certainly wrong.

                    The reason it's outrageous: there are apparently about 3800 police chiefs and more than a million police in the US. How much could this guy possibly know about them? People just say stuff sometimes.

                    5 votes
                    1. DefinitelyNotAFae
                      Link Parent
                      He was convicted and sentenced already, that isn't the current story, there are likely past stories about that. And the reason his statements are the story are in the story itself You'll note they...

                      He was convicted and sentenced already, that isn't the current story, there are likely past stories about that.

                      And the reason his statements are the story are in the story itself

                      An investigation conducted by CBS News gives weight to Wendt’s hyperbolic statement. The outlet uncovered dozens of law enforcement leaders — sheriffs, captains, lieutenants, chiefs of police — buying and illegally selling firearms, including weapons of war, across 23 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.

                      You'll note they call it hyperbolic, because it is. But it's relevant and followed by additional reporting. I don't think using it as the headline is outrageous. But we clearly just disagree

                      2 votes
            2. Promonk
              Link Parent
              It seems like the rantings of a cornered idiot: "if I'm going down, you're all coming with me!" Policing reform is a difficult issue for me to contemplate. There are few issues outside of maybe...

              It seems like the rantings of a cornered idiot: "if I'm going down, you're all coming with me!"

              Policing reform is a difficult issue for me to contemplate. There are few issues outside of maybe immigration reform where the need for it is so great and so apparent, yet the simplest, dumbest counterarguments always seem to carry the day.

              It kinda seemed for a minute that we might actually see some movement, but the asinine insistence on "defund police" as a rallying cry put that to bed right quick. It's really one of the more maddening developments of the past five or so years.

              5 votes
        2. chocobean
          Link Parent
          Yes, bad cop no honest. But the conservative number of cops to lock up is thus between 50 and all of them.

          Yes, bad cop no honest. But the conservative number of cops to lock up is thus between 50 and all of them.

          1 vote
      3. [4]
        sparksbet
        Link Parent
        It's fun when even the cops themselves are saying ACAB.

        It's fun when even the cops themselves are saying ACAB.

        6 votes
        1. [2]
          chocobean
          Link Parent
          Highly consistent with the ideology of "everyone else not on my team doesn't matter", though. Badge no badge, whichever side of whatever colored line, it's "my side good your side bad".

          Highly consistent with the ideology of "everyone else not on my team doesn't matter", though. Badge no badge, whichever side of whatever colored line, it's "my side good your side bad".

          4 votes
          1. sparksbet
            Link Parent
            Yeah, my initial comment was tongue-and-cheek but the rationale behind this cop's actual argument is essentially that cops are good people, good people don't do bad things, and since cops do this...

            Yeah, my initial comment was tongue-and-cheek but the rationale behind this cop's actual argument is essentially that cops are good people, good people don't do bad things, and since cops do this thing it can't be a bad thing. It's much easier to discard the premise "members of group X are good" if you're not a member of group X.

            3 votes
        2. public
          Link Parent
          It's been a joke that the ATF inspires your local donut-munchers to blast NWA in their squad cars as long as I've been aware of the ATF's existence.

          It's been a joke that the ATF inspires your local donut-munchers to blast NWA in their squad cars as long as I've been aware of the ATF's existence.

          4 votes