Standing Watch for St. Louis Officers

"I called to express my concerns about the hostile state takeover and try to find out why this association is supporting it. I was met with absolute hostility and a refusal to explain why the STL POA supports a state takeover. I asked what the state will do to improve the situation and the dude who answered the phone had ZERO answers. It's all political and they don't want any accountability to the people of this city. Unacceptable."

""The gesture has become synonymous with assertions that Michael Brown was innocent of any wrongdoing and attempting to surrender peacefully when Wilson, according to some now-discredited witnesses, gunned him down in cold blood," the police association wrote. I do not believe that is what the gesture is synonymous with at all. I believe that the gesture represents the fear many have of law enforcement - the reality is White kids don't get shot. The CO theater shooter conducted a massacre, came out holding a weapon and wasn't shot. No one I've heard has said Mr. Brown didn't commit a crime but a shove and stolen cigars doesn't merit death. Was the officer in fear for his life should have been a question for a jury. As for discredited witnesses, it is novel that the DA sought to discredit the very witnesses he normally would have bolstered. His job was to speak for the victim not Darren Wilson however he seemed to have confused those points hence discrediting the State's witnesses. Back to the point though, NFL players freely "speaking" by raising their hands to show solidarity with those who are expressing discontent shouldn't warrant condemnation by your organization. As a matter of fact, it seems you all as officers of the law should be able to recognize protected free speech. Wanting an apology shows how absolutely tone deaf you all are to what is happening in your community and that you don't understand freedom of speech. There are many good law enforcement officers in this country, some I'm sure within your organization, but your stance is misguided and smacks of whining and finger pointing when you need to be focused on rebuilding your community. It's the us vs. them mentality that seems to have started your issues to begin with."

"I guess I am not surprised that the police officer association is sticking up for the officers in Ferguson and others in St Louis! You don't give a dam about the people the officer claim to protect and serve! You do not have the right or power to make these players apologize! If there was not such a big problem with offices all over this country acting like thugs and criminals assaulting people, lying and killing you never would have seen them do that. These players are standing with fans and many fans are peacefully protesting. The fact that you are lumping protesters with the ones that where vandalizing just proves you see us all as criminals and this is why so many officers treat the general public like crap. I suggest you take a breath, back up and make an apology of your own as you are violating there free speech. They are not backing the looters and you know it. Your just all hurt that they are not backing the police department and more and more people hate you. The answer is to solve the problem not get all pissy over nfl players not taking your side. Change is coming and if part of that change is taking some powers from officers and ending police unions so be it. Your part of the reason why police departments can not fire violent punks wearing the badge roaming the streets like a street gang!"