See Something, Say Something
When I saw this image on Facebook today, two feelings hit me at the exact same time. One feeling was triumph of the people over abusive authority. The other feeling was fear for the abuse of "The People" over police officers who are really just trying to do their job. 
Quite frankly, I think that this poster helps to reinforce that most frightening image of police in a way that is not at all useful. The imagery sets up a violent, reactionary urge against the cops. It's visceral. If you don't stop to analyze the way you feel when you look at the poster, it can simply push your emotional buttons so that you feel more ill will toward all police. That in turn makes them feel more defensive, and therefore more dangerous.
I know a lot of people who hate cops -- all cops. I know that there are a lot of negative interactions between law enforcement and the public, and I've certainly been on the receiving end of a police officer's bad day or bad attitude. Worse yet, I've seen through the eyes of my dark-skinned, dark-haired Latino son what police racism looks like, and how quickly things can turn from a normal interaction to a very scary one.
I also know a few cops and ex-cops and at least one future cop. I've seen a couple who turn into Mr. Hyde when they put on that uniform, but most of them are the same person in uniform as they are in civvies. There are some really good and conscientious men and women who go out every day, putting their bodies and souls on the line, in order to protect the rest of us.
When the main image that the general public has of the police is that they are all evil, abusive power junkies, it makes it much harder for the police to do a good job at all. What's more, when the main image that the police have of the everyday citizen is that they are all trying to get away with something and are probably criminals if you scratch the surface, it makes it very hard for the ordinary people to have any positive interactions with them at all.
Here's the thing:
People live up to or down to your expectations.
Sure, sometimes people disappoint you. Sometimes you really expect one thing and you get something completely different. I'm not talking about those aberrational moments. I'm talking about over the long haul. If you see a person as being generally good and generally well meaning, you will interact with them in a way that encourages them to be just that.
Right now, in the midst of the Occupy movement, we're seeing some very good and very bad behavior on both sides of the law enforcement line. Some of those negative images are overwhelming -- like the video from Oakland on November 5th of the photographer getting shot with a Less Lethal Round for absolutely nothing. There are a some videos out there of police officers doing their job exactly right, too, but those don't get repeated so much.
The thing that I fear is that Occupiers as a community are going to lose sight of the fact that the police do serve a very important purpose, not just for the corporations and those who want to "keep you down", but also for the safety and security of each and every one of us. It is absolutely necessary to keep the police -- like all portions of our government -- under careful scrutiny and public control so that the power that they wield is not abused. But that scrutiny should not start from a foregone conclusion that law enforcement officers are nothing but violent, evil stooges bent on beating innocent civilians to get their jollies.
If you see police acting badly, by all means, video it, call it in, don't let it slide. But walk the line of justice when you do that. Do not unleash vengeful dogs against them. Do unto them as you would have them do unto you. Use the law. Use the courts. Use the framework of the system of checks and balances we have.
Don't break the system. Make the system work right.
