The Trump Administration Is Giving Cops Unprecedented Power

[Stellar]

Forget the white working class; his base is the Fraternal Order of Police

MORE :Alternet.org

The Donald Trump administration is off to a rocky start, with multiple damaging reports emerging from the White House alleging disorganization, incompetence and infighting—but that hasn’t stopped the new president from making good on his pledges to the country’s police officers. By branding himself the law-and-order candidate who would use his bully pulpit to take down criminals and fight crime, Trump earned himself the support of several police groups, most notably the Fraternal Order of Police, the country’s largest police union, which boasts more than 330,000 members.

Trump has already met with several law enforcement groups to make it clear where his priorities lie. Recently, while speaking to the Major Cities Chiefs Police Association (and after whining about a federal judge ruling that blocked his Muslim ban), Trump launched into a speech about what he believes cops in this country care about: crime in cities populated with black people, Mexican drug cartels, undocumented immigrants, and his desire to build a wall along the Mexican border. During the speech he claimed that undocumented immigrants in gangs cause the problems in Chicago and that building a wall along our southern border would stop drugs from “pouring” into our country.

Two weeks after signing two orders on immigration, President Trump signed three orders on crime and law enforcement, including one that targeted transnational drug cartels. Although immigration and drug enforcement have their own federal agencies, many cops seemed eager to jump into the fray, setting the stage to begin rolling back modest gains made in holding police accountable.

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Yawn

All the big cities pretty much have Democratic mayors and the cops are still at the mercy of the city budgets.

And ANYTHING that crosses state lines is federal and not local, so this thing about giving local cops extra-judicial power is ridiculous.

[Stellar]

3. So, I guess we will be going back to court if 45 crosses the line again?

The Fraternal Order of Police already has major power in Chicago.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Most likely

But then it has always been the case where the left always has to fight the right in court.

[Stellar]

7. Then ACLU will be getting more of my money again this month.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. 👍

[Blue_true]

8. I agree. Cities hold them responsible. nt

[BumRushDaShow]

10. Especially if the cities get sued for millions.

Getting hit in the pocketbook over and over and over because of rogue cops is getting old fast.

[Eliot Rosewater]

2. Fuckface and bannon want to turn on the tv and see cops killing brown people

[BainsBane]

4. I don't think that amounts to unprecedented power

Local police forces are regulated by municipalities and state law. Trump can authorize new powers for ICE, but it's not so easy with local police forces. Courts have ruled that the federal government cannot strip states of existing funding, only new funds.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. Exactly.

[tavernier]

5. Is this the real FOP

or the phoney one that calls and solicits money?