What has become of our American police? Part 2

\On July 15, 1912, a notorious gambler in New York City by the name of Herman Rosenthal walked out of the Metropole Café on West 43rd street and was shot to death by several men waiting just outside. This murder would later be referred to by some as the "trial of the century" and resulted in the trial, conviction, and execution of a New York Police Lieutenant by the name of Charles Becker, for his role in the death of Rosenthal. This would also become the first American police officer to receive the death penalty.

Last week, I talked about some of the new types of criminals we are seeing today and what could possibly be a contributing factor to such violence, like television, and video games (and many other things); but the criminals are not the only ones that have been affected, and they are not the only ones that have changed.

In the early 1900s, corruption was out of control in the streets in almost all cities. There are still issues of corruption and there are problems now that may not have been as big of an issue back then; but the gangs, mobsters, and even the police like those of the NYPD that openly ran illegal operations and collected money for doing so, have been greatly halted over time.

Problems such as corruption in law enforcement have been largely gotten under control, however other problems have arisen. All of the factors that contribute to violence for criminals today are also there for law enforcement, because criminals and cops are growing up in the same society.

If we attribute the types of video games and movies being produced as one of the things leading up to violence in criminals at a young age, I think it is possible that it can also affect some members of law enforcement when they are trying to do their job, even if there is no "bad intention" like those who commit crimes.

Charles Becker was accused of deliberately having someone killed for trying to expose the money he brought in from allowing illegal gambling operations all over the streets of New York City. This was a deliberate act with criminal intentions.

With some of the media attention law enforcement has been getting lately, many people are asking what has happened to police to make them like they are?

I would venture to say if you look at issues in law enforcement from the early years in American history, you would find there have always been issues; they were just different issues.

Today, we have some young people who attend a police academy where they learn how to defend others, protect life and property and when necessary, use deadly force to achieve that goal.

But when you have someone who has been used to seeing death, violence, and has spent hundreds of hours shooting realistic looking people on a large TV screen, could that cause problems when that same person a few years later is making the decision of whether or not to use deadly force?

I think one of the issues for both sides could be the simple fact there is a growing problem in the newer generations of respecting life and how precious it really is. If you take a criminal and cop that both grow up in the same area, they will speak with the same accent.

One may wish to harm others while the other is willing to give his life to stop him, but neither one will think the other sounds funny when they speak. It is how they grew up and it is what they know.

I think the issue with violence and what children at a young age are introduced to will continue to get worse, but I think if we can promote and encourage more family interaction, morals, and values, we can still make a difference in the lives of those who will come after us.