See The Shocking New Rules DOJ Just Imposed On Cleveland Police Officers

Obama Attorney General – Loretta Lynch – has waded into the artificially-created controversy concerning police behavior in this nation.

First, she determined to investigate racism in Baltimore’s police force after the Freddie Gray incident.  This despite the fact that 3 of the 6 officers charged in Gray’s death are African-American.

Now, she has mandated the police in Cleveland, Ohio behave differently as they do their jobs.  CNS News reports:

The Obama Justice Department intends to “transform” the Cleveland police department “into a model of community-oriented policing,” by restricting officers’ use of force to subdue suspects.

The consent decree announced on Tuesday requires Cleveland police to use “de-escalation techniques” instead of force “whenever possible and appropriate.”

And who’s to decide what’s “appropriate”?

A civilian, someone with no experience in subduing dangerous suspects, will be placed at the head of the police department’s Internal Affairs division to ensure that complaints of police misconduct are “thoroughly and effectively investigated.”

This sounds like a liberal fantasy land solution to real world problems. 

The Cleveland police now have to use “kid gloves” when dealing with potentially dangerous suspects. 

And, if they don’t some civilian with no police or law enforcement experience will have the authority to have them fired or worse.

Boy, does this sound like a recipe for disaster or what?

CNS News goes on:

In a section called “Bias-Free Policing,” the agreement says Cleveland police will “deliver police services” in a “respectful” manner, free of unlawful bias, in a way that inspires confidence: “CDP expects all officers to treat all members of the Cleveland community with courtesy, professionalism, and respect, and not to use harassing, intimidating, or derogatory language.”

Another key element of the agreement — a favorite of the federal government — is “data collection and analysis.” This means the police department must keep detailed notes on officers’ activities when they respond to calls involving the use of force — including whether they have unholstered a firearm during an encounter with someone.

According to the consent agreement, the new rules are intended to ensure that officers “use techniques other than force to effect compliance with police orders whenever feasible; use force only when necessary, and in a manner that avoids unnecessary injury to officers and civilians; de-escalate the use of force at the earliest possible moment; and accurately and completely report all uses of force.”

Perhaps the Cleveland police should just invite potentially dangerous suspects to Dunkin’ Donuts to have a cup of coffee.

CNS News lists some of the new guidelines including when and when not to use a firearm in the line of duty:

Much of the agreement involves use-of-force policies. Here are some of the new guidelines issued to officers who sometimes must make split-second decisions in potentially life-threatening situations. The words come straight from the consent decree, except where noted.

Another sections of the report lists the new rules for pulling a gun, including the following:

— Officers will not unholster and display a firearm unless the circumstances create a reasonable belief that lethal force may become necessary.

— Officers will not fire warning shots.

— Officers will consider their surroundings before discharging their firearms…

— Officers will not discharge a firearm from or at a moving vehicle, unless use of lethal force is justified by something other than the threat from the moving vehicle;

The new guidelines also include restrictions on the use of Tasers, pepper spray, and other self-defense techniques traditionally employed by police.

The Department of Justice used to be concerned with prosecuting federal crime – drug dealers, terrorists, mobsters, and bank fraud. 

But, under the Obama/Holder/Lynch regime it now appears the Justice Department is transforming into a big social welfare outreach agency designed to make criminals feel more comfortable about their activities instead of fearing the “long arm of the law.”