And yet the deputy kept on using the machines ... knowing full well they were 4-F.
I didn't read that, did you?
It could be the agency was told that the device was fixed. Maybe not. The state calibrates the machines and certifies them, not the local agency. They have to rely on the state's process and certification. if they say it is working, and the individual officer has no reason to believe otherwise, then they use them.
And cops 100% of the time will just say "oh well, I tried" instead of saying "heck no, I refuse! and I am bringing this to the public's attention".
Pure B.S. Sorry. Happens all the time that officers report things out of whack to their superiors. Of course they do not go to the public, who does? They report the matter up the chain as they are expected to and which is the responsible thing to do. Going to the newspaper that a device might have a problem would not only be irresponsible but would do NOTHING to resolve the problem unless the newspaper contracts with the FDLE to calibrate or fix the machines.
No officer brought this issue to the public's attention and all knew about it.
I must have missed that statement in the article ... could you highlight it?
Plus, as mentioned, they are not obligated to bring the issue to the PUBLIC's attention. They bring it to the attention of those responsible for getting the issue fixed. If we went to the paper for every problem, what would that accomplish?
What, you don't like the facts concerning police behavior? Then start cleaning up your fellow officers !
Your "facts" are little more than isolated news articles and anecdotes that are no more valid than articles or anecdotes to say that any of us can find about any group of people and cite them as "proof" that said group is evil, foul, ugly, nefarious, or whatever adjective we want to place on them.
I know you have seen hundreds of improper activity by other officers and you have remained silent, right?
You know this? Really?
When I have seen improper activity, I have acted on it. As a supervisor I am legally responsible for that activity so I have to address it. Most "improper" activity merely requires correction. Some requires discipline of some sort. Almost none require a call to the media ... heck, I can't think of one that I have heard that did. When the media might be a last resort is when there is a cover-up at the higher levels or some malfeasance that is not being addressed by the powers-that-be. And it could very well be that such a call was made to the news media or the people in the article that brought the issue forth in Sarasota.
Look at Ruby Ridge, Waco, Rodney King, the list is endless ..
Huh? They are disparate incidents with differing fact sets and a lot of MIS -information that has been turned into populist myth in many regards.
I think its just a result of having too many police officers - your ranks are filled with psychotics & lunatics & normal minded cops just say "eh, what you going to do lalalala .. I hope my pension goes up more"
Again, not true at all.
Perhaps you might prefer a site that hates cops or believes anarchy should reign. This sort of vitriol and baseless attacks on law enforcement has no place here.