So that police cruisers can enter/exit the police station and you know, respond to emergencies, has zero to do with the "moat" around the station? Gotcha.
Thanks for posting this, Dominic. This is controversial, but I chalk much of this up to imperial rot. We're seeing the tactics used to suppress populations abroad come home, in the form of militarized police tactics and constant surveillance, to name a few.
You can thank Occupy Wall Street for this. Neo Anarchists will always flock to large marches, they love to stir up a shit storm and have no problems turning a peaceful protest into a chaotic situation for their own amusement.
@1, @5 yes, I could see your point about emergency egress if the police were still using horses and semaphore flags instead of "motorized vehicles" and "wire-less radio." The report is correct: this is another example of the counter-insurgency model that police have used for 20 years. Maybe you didn't get the memo.
@4, Sort of unfair to blame Occupy. The anarchists though is probably quite correct (and probably the ability to get in and out unobstructed (emergencies/anarchists?). It's actually kinda depressing to see the moat with that thought in mind. But this is somewhat matter of fact pragmatism on the part of SPD. So no Randy Rowland, it isn't you they don't trust. It's the jackasses that might co-opt your peaceful demonstration.
@13 I get what you're saying, but if a few anarchists are enough to push us towards this kind of stuff, that isn't their fault. Seriously, does this seem like the best response - to justify their critique of all government legitimacy being at core based on violence? Maybe the problem is that they're right.
Ian Awesome, Slog is also filled with people like you who make wild accusations that the SPD caused local lunatic Jennifer Fox to lose her baby. Then when pressed to provide evidence, you just pull a different colored gerbil from your ass, make a new fauxhawk and go into hiding like the pussy you are.
I'm pretty sure the SPD is racist and out of control. But not because of this. It's not even 9 yet and we've possibly got the dumbest Slog post of the day.
11: yes police have radio cars (and bicycles) but they dont have matter transporters. Cars and vans require a fair amount of street to move quickly in (1 lane) and out (1 lane).
Not saying that's the reason (seriously I dont know) but it is a possible reason.
Did you bother to ask SPD about this? Or your BFF Mayor? Perhaps they would have a reasonable explanation; or would that be too much journalistic effort?
Seriously. A lane so emergency vehicles can get in and out is not a "barricade" and 8 guys standing around with their hands in their pockets is not a "platoon of officers".
Not going to get worked up over this either.
The "anarchist" brats have a long history of fucking up peaceful demonstrations so this is no surprise. I'm actually more surprised they didn't try anything on MLK day.
The police station needs to have a lane clear for emergency response vehicles to get through, as would a fire station or hospital.
Though judging by the comments I can see why the police would fear a large hostile crowd. Seems funny that the same people who understand why the president has armed guards do not understand why a police station would need to be protected.
Did they go around counting how many people there were? They love that kind of harassment. If you don't have enough people you can't protest, clearly the constitution was about protecting the police's right to tell smaller groups of protesters to fuck off but this big group needs to know who's boss. Remember last year at the MLK protest when...wait...
Hate crime and violence is all over
the country and I just finished reading a book about it. White Girl
Bleed a Lot: The return of racial violence to America. http://whitegirlbleedalot.com/.
It's about hate crimes, racial crimes, mob violence, violence against
gays.. etc. It's a collection of violence mostly have videos. You might
not believe it but it's really happening. So scary. I think there's
more than 50 cities.
Douche. Report better next time.
Did mom forget to send the rent money?
Not saying that's the reason (seriously I dont know) but it is a possible reason.
The "anarchist" brats have a long history of fucking up peaceful demonstrations so this is no surprise. I'm actually more surprised they didn't try anything on MLK day.
Though judging by the comments I can see why the police would fear a large hostile crowd. Seems funny that the same people who understand why the president has armed guards do not understand why a police station would need to be protected.
the country and I just finished reading a book about it. White Girl
Bleed a Lot: The return of racial violence to America. http://whitegirlbleedalot.com/.
It's about hate crimes, racial crimes, mob violence, violence against
gays.. etc. It's a collection of violence mostly have videos. You might
not believe it but it's really happening. So scary. I think there's
more than 50 cities.