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Small business owners say they're pressured to hire off-duty cops for security

minnesotareformer.com

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Re: Small business owners say they're pressured to hire off-duty cops for security

#41

Post by dd82 »

h2odragon wrote: post #33

I know of a local Volunteer fire Dept that went that way; started having the head guy and a couple of his big cousins go around and tell people how much the VFD needed support, and how flammable their house or business looked. Couple months after that started, the guy's house burned down. I heard the trucks came out twice, the second time there were more people responding and the police got into the guy's barn with a…

So basically Marcus Licinus Crassus strategy for money making is still alive, 2000 years later.

Re: Small business owners say they're pressured to hire off-duty cops for security

#42

Post by bilbo0s »

mlinhares wrote: post #35
varispeed wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You would think that > about corrupt police shaking down small business owners under threat of losing their business license. would be a crime...

It’s only a crime if someone is willing to prosecute you for it.

It's still a crime if you're not prosecuted for it.

That just means the DA's likely in on it and the criminality is systemic. Doesn't mean the activity becomes legal.

Re: Small business owners say they're pressured to hire off-duty cops for security

#43

Post by MattGaiser »

DonnyV wrote: post #30

The DOJ has to start actually doing its job and completely dissolving these corrupt police departments and rebuilding them. Thats the only way we're going to get rid of corrupts cops like this.

Given the shortage of cops, I am not sure there is the appetite for this. Politically, cops shaking down businesses people associate with trouble seems more palatable than exacerbating the police shortage.

Re: Small business owners say they're pressured to hire off-duty cops for security

#44

Post by Eisenstein »

willcipriano wrote: post #28

You have to scroll far past the accusations of racism and outrage to reach the story here: > Here’s how the off-duty work program works: Some businesses — like large nightclubs — are required by the city to have security, which until 2020, sometimes had to be off-duty Minneapolis police officers. Nightclubs often are required to have security beacuse they are a nuisance to the surrounding area and the taxpayer should…

> Nightclubs often are required to have security beacuse they are a nuisance to the surrounding area

How many night clubs are located in non-urban residential areas? The commercial properties near them would be closed because, you know, they operate during the day and night clubs don't.

> the taxpayer shouldn't be picking up the tab because you decided to overserve your customers

The solution to overserved customers is to not overserve them, not to have off-duty cops or security there to manage them after the fact. This is quite easily remedied by having the cops come by and fine them until they stop doing it. The fines will pay for the enforcement, so the taxpayers will be fine. By paying off-duty cops to manage overserved customers you are making real law enforcement improbable and making the problem worse.

> The off duty cop requirement is the only odd part here

Strange to qualify with 'only' when it is a major point of the piece.

Re: Small business owners say they're pressured to hire off-duty cops for security

#46

Post by lacrimacida »

bilbo0s wrote: post #29
NotGMan wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Childish reductionism. I'd like to see how well you handle 100 people ganging up on you and your family if true Mad Max style anarchy starts.

if true Mad Max style anarchy starts. and at the same time criticizing the Childish reductionism ?

Right on. And even if the 100 madmax thugs ganged on you, what’s an off duty cops gonna do, call 911?

Re: Small business owners say they're pressured to hire off-duty cops for security

#47

Post by droopyEyelids »

h2odragon wrote: post #33

I know of a local Volunteer fire Dept that went that way; started having the head guy and a couple of his big cousins go around and tell people how much the VFD needed support, and how flammable their house or business looked. Couple months after that started, the guy's house burned down. I heard the trucks came out twice, the second time there were more people responding and the police got into the guy's barn with a…

Firefighter arson is a relatively well known phenomenon.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/fires-set-by-firefigh...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefighter_arson

Re: Small business owners say they're pressured to hire off-duty cops for security

#48

Post by mywittyname »

MattGaiser wrote: post #43
DonnyV wrote: post #30

The DOJ has to start actually doing its job and completely dissolving these corrupt police departments and rebuilding them. Thats the only way we're going to get rid of corrupts cops like this.

Given the shortage of cops, I am not sure there is the appetite for this. Politically, cops shaking down businesses people associate with trouble seems more palatable than exacerbating the police shortage.

Solving the corruption problem will solve the shortage problem.

Re: Small business owners say they're pressured to hire off-duty cops for security

#49

Post by thedaly »

> Santamaria was later required to come up with security plans outlining the number of officers needed per night. The officers insisted on getting paid cash, she said. She feared if she didn’t oblige, she’d lose her license.

> Eventually, another officer helped schedule off-duty work: Derek Chauvin. He worked security at her club for 17 years.

> ...

> She sold the club in 2019. When Santamaria saw Chauvin pinning George Floyd on the pavement in the video that shocked the world, she recognized both, because Floyd worked as a bouncer inside the club in 2019.

That is an interesting connection. I didn't know that they worked together.

Re: Small business owners say they're pressured to hire off-duty cops for security

#50

Post by brightball »

bilbo0s wrote: post #42
mlinhares wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s only a crime if someone is willing to prosecute you for it.

It's still a crime if you're not prosecuted for it. That just means the DA's likely in on it and the criminality is systemic. Doesn't mean the activity becomes legal.

If it's not prosecuted, it's defacto legal.

What we really need in this country is a way to prosecute which bypasses the DA since this type of thing seems to be becoming more common.

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