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Title: Police Unions Say Cops Have The Right To Take Steroids So ‘They’ll Have the Upper Hand’
Source:
Counter Current News
URL Source: http://countercurrentnews.com/2016/ ... so-theyll-have-the-upper-hand/
Published: Jan 6, 2016
Author: M. David
Post Date: 2016-01-06 10:35:29 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 2206
Comments: 17
Police departments all over the world have physical fitness requirements for new recruits. Their argument is that strength and fitness are necessary for the job of policing. But as time goes on, the standards for officers keeping in shape are usually not maintained, making it curious why the standards were put in place at all for new officers. But over the past decade, an increasing number of officers – even seasoned ones – have been doing a lot more than keeping in shape on the job… they have been getting pretty huge. Now some people are wondering if there could be a connection between this and incidences of police brutality and violence happening all over the United States. Steroid use among officers could account for the side effect of “roid rage” so common with abnormally high levels of testosterone. In one case, Susan Donaldson James of ABC News spoke with a six-year veteran of a Pennsylvania police force “patrolling an area encroached upon by urban crime.” Matthew and his partner said that they “struggled for nearly seven minutes to subdue the crazed youth, who was high on PCP and had another officer in a head lock.” It was shortly after that close call, that Matthew turned to illegal anabolic steroids “for both strength and self-esteem,” he said. “Matthew’s case is just one example in an increasing trend among urban police officers working tough beats. In New York City this week six police officers are being investigated for allegedly using illegal prescriptions to obtain anabolic steroids for bodybuilding,” James reports. But this is far from an isolated incident. “According to law enforcement experts, Matthew is the prototypical steroid user — in his 30s, white and worried about competing. In Matthew’s case, he was trying to stay on top of a job that constantly forced him to face younger and stronger criminals.” “I look back on that and other scuffles, and I was not nearly as tough and strong as I once was,” Matthew said. “It scared me to think how easily things could go wrong,” he continued.. “I kept thinking I am only getting older, and the criminals will always be young. I was looking for an edge.” Police departments say they are investigating the growing number of incidents involving uniformed police officers using steroids – and their connections to incidences of police brutality. Steroid abuse has been associated with several brutality cases. On particularly disturbing example was the 1997 sodomizing of Haitian immigrant Abner Louima in New York City. Without a prescription, the use of anabolic steroids is illegal. Listed as a Schedule III substance along with morphine, opium and barbiturates, they can be just as psychologically addictive and dangerous. A common side effect of steroid use is violent, aggressive behavior that can contribute to poor judgment and even police brutality, according to medical experts. James reports that Gene Sanders, a Spokane, Washington police psychologist, says that nearly 25 percent of all police officers in urban settings with gangs and high crime use steroids. That’s one in four officers you see downtown – they’re using steroids. Is it any wonder why they are so aggressive? Yet police officers are refusing drug tests, claiming that they are “unconstitutional.” Can you imagine why? “How do I deal with people who are in better shape than me and want to kill me?” Sanders said. Sanders worked as a street cop in Los Angeles back in the 1970s. He said steroid use by cops soared since the 1990s. “Steroid use is on the rise, and not just among weight lifters and other athletes. An estimated 2.7 percent of all high school seniors have used steroids at least once, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, many of them women,” James reports. Of those 2.7 percent, many are athletes. One former officer we spoke with said that he comes from a family of police officers, going back to his grandfather. He eventually retired from the force in his 30s after becoming disillusioned with the job. He told us that “cops hire cops who are like cops.” He said that means that more than anything else, the police want to hire people who they can get along with, talk about common interests with, and have a drink with. When we asked him what sort of interests, his answer was simple: “football.” “Most of us played in high school. Many were like me – real hot shots who just wanted to chase people and tackle them. When someone comes into an interview with a force, they are going to be asked about their interests, hobbies, if they played sports in school,” he continued. “If the answer leads to some light discussion about football, you can bet that guy will get the job over someone who was in the chess club.” But officers who may have tried steroids while on a team in school don’t say that they want to use the substances. They claim they “must” to “survive.” This fear, Sanders says is in many cases “imagined on the part of the officers involved: fear, anxiety, wanting to do a better job.” He said the temptation is for a “quick fix” – and that temptation is always present. Typically, he said, departments “turn a blind eye,” to steroid use. The International Association of Police Chiefs Association has so far refused to return any calls for comment on this issue. But Ruthie DiTucci commented on The Morning Brew radio show that heads of police unions support steroid use among officer who chose to use it, “so they’ll have the upper hand.” “The body feels really comfortable and likes [the hormones],” Sanders said. “You feel better, feel more buff and feel more able to take on the bad people.” Matthew claimed that “maybe I was a little edgier. The kids got me upset a little more and I was less tolerant, but never to the point where I would physically do anyone harm.” Maybe. But that degree of self control on steroids clearly does not extend to all officers who abuse the substances. “They can go from being calm and collected to raging bulls,” Sanders explained. “There is also a subcategory of these folks like the crazy Vietnam veteran. They think that if they appear crazy, people will back off.” “When they are used in excess, the individual crosses the line from adding muscle mass to rage or aggression or suicide,” Dr. Robert S. Gotlin, director of orthopaedic and sports rehabilitation at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City explained. “Suppose that person is carrying a gun.”
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#1. To: Deckard (#0)
I'd rather have a big cop wrestle a bad guy to the ground than a out-of-shape cop being forced to shoot him.
Yeah, that would be the wiser choice. Si vis pacem, para bellum Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. There are no Carthaginian terrorists.
Ironic for cops who are taking illegal drugs to be busting civilians for taking illegal drugs.
Hypocritical would be a better term. It's par for the course for these scumbags. Narcotics Cop Who Ruined Countless Lives for Weed Possession, Busted with $2 Million in Marijuana In a Cop Culture, the Bill of Rights Doesn’t Amount to Much You're saying you want cops who routinely break the drug laws to enforce drug laws on the public. IOW, you prefer corrupt cops. And that corruption will not stop with steroids either. I would rather the cop be forced to shoot (bullets, rubber bullets, tasers) than allow them to use steroids. Even though you might have fewer injuries short-term, healthcare costs for cops will be much much higher if you wink at their illegal use of steroids. Small men and women simply are not suited to police work outside a safe station house.
I'd like to know how many of his previous busts will get overturned. He had to be doing it a long time.
They're not illegal with a prescription. Sure. IF a cop is taking an illegal drug, any drug, it is ironic.
What about whizz powder? Tuco has the upper hand’
Maybe you are. I'm not. I said that I'd rather have a big cop wrestle a bad guy to the ground than a out-of-shape cop being forced to shoot him. It makes no difference to me if the cop gets in shape with or without LEGAL steroids. I don't support the use of ANY illegal drug. "Small men and women simply are not suited to police work outside a safe station house." I agree.
HE ruined their lives? Seems to me THEY ruined their lives by a) possessing marijuana and b) being stupid enough to get caught. But you blame the cop, huh?
Whose fault is it if the cop is out of shape? Maybe the corpulent, out-of-shape pigs should lay off the Krispy Kremes. It doesn't surprise me however that you see nothing wrong with cops using ILLEGAL drugs while they arrest others for doing the same thing. Cop hypocrisy is just "part of the job" to you and the rest of the fetid, badge-worshiping ilk who infest this site. In a Cop Culture, the Bill of Rights Doesn’t Amount to Much Steroids are legal now? When did that happen? I don't support the use of ANY illegal drug. Unless it's a cop using ILLEGAL steroids. I bet you'd make the same argument if a cop took speed to stay awake. Fucking drug warrior hypocrite scum. In a Cop Culture, the Bill of Rights Doesn’t Amount to Much With a prescription, yes.
With a prescription, yes. Right - so cops can get a prescription just like that? Attaboy!! I knew you'd come up with some bullshit to make cop usage of steroids appear legitimate. Anabolic steroids are used to build muscle and replace diminished testosterone in specific, limited medical cases, not as a body building or performance enhancement product. Anabolic steroids are a form of synthetic testosterone that may be prescribed by doctors but are illegal for use without a prescription. They are classified as a Schedule III controlled substance with possession carrying a $1,000 fine and a year in prison, according to federal law. Trafficking carries up to a $250,000 fine and five years in prison for a first offense. It should be noted that when we discuss illegal steroids, we are talking about anabolic steroids rather than corticosteroids, which are prescribed to reduce swelling and prevent overactive immune response. In a Cop Culture, the Bill of Rights Doesn’t Amount to Much cops are people love If you ... don't use exclamation points --- you should't be typeing ! Commas - semicolons - question marks are for girlie boys !
Cops can get a prescription just like assholes like you.
Tuco was terminated by Walt's brother in law.
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)
#2. To: misterwhite (#1)
" I'd rather have a big cop wrestle a bad guy to the ground than a out-of-shape cop being forced to shoot him. "
#3. To: Deckard (#0)
#4. To: TooConservative (#3)
Ironic for cops who are taking illegal drugs to be busting civilians for taking illegal drugs.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#5. To: misterwhite (#1)
I'd rather have a big cop wrestle a bad guy to the ground than a out-of-shape cop being forced to shoot him.
#6. To: Deckard (#4)
Narcotics Cop Who Ruined Countless Lives for Weed Possession, Busted with $2 Million in Marijuana
#7. To: TooConservative (#3)
"Ironic for cops who are taking illegal drugs to be busting civilians for taking illegal drugs."
#8. To: Deckard, misterwhite (#0)
(Edited)
#9. To: TooConservative (#5)
"You're saying you want cops who routinely break the drug laws to enforce drug laws on the public."
#10. To: Deckard (#4)
"Narcotics Cop Who Ruined Countless Lives for Weed Possession ..."
#11. To: misterwhite (#1)
I'd rather have a big cop wrestle a bad guy to the ground than a out-of-shape cop being forced to shoot him.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#12. To: misterwhite (#9)
It makes no difference to me if the cop gets in shape with or without LEGAL steroids.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#13. To: Deckard (#12)
"Steroids are legal now?"
#14. To: misterwhite (#13)
"Steroids are legal now?"
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#15. To: Deckard (#14)
they have rights
they're not sport players
boris
#16. To: Deckard (#14)
"Right - so cops can get a prescription just like that?"
#17. To: A Pole (#8)
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