**** Michael A Wood JR Official Website - AMAZON
This posting will serve 3 series in this journal, which will focus on a compilation of interviews with former Baltimore police officer Michael Wood and what he has to say about the current policing condition in America, Michael had to retire due to a shoulder injury. I chose Michael though for the "Veterans Spotlight" series, for his service for America as a U.S.Marine ... and for the "Public Patriots" series for all that he is doing to bring awareness to our current condition with his work in speeches/ testimonies, writing instruction guides for policing and promoting change in recruitment as well as training ... since this get's to root of some of the excessive force, especially in black urban communities ... it will also be included in the "Police Brutality" series. He is also the kind of guy that need's to get more mainstream coverage, and even called on by folks like the President to give advice in places like Washington or wherever needed ... he explains the "Us vs. Them" mentality well too, pointing out the problem's with that and everything else in this polarized society. But first, some of his interviews below, then I will add some after.
Ex- Baltimore Cop Michael Wood On Racist, Abusive Police Culture- Interview w/ Cenk Uygur (edited) ... Thanx to THE YOUNG TURKS
Interview: Michael Wood Jr explains what he saw ... Thanx to WBAL-TV 11 BALTIMORE
***** THE WASHINGTON POST: An interview with the Baltimore cop who's revealing all the horrible things he saw on the job ... (newsread/ interview)
'Much outrageous police activity is actually legal'- Former Baltimore officer ... Thanx to RT AMERICA
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***** PD/ RCJ: "PUBLIC PATRIOT'S" PART'S 37 THRU 1
***** PD/ RCJ: "POLICE BRUTALITY" PART'S 21 THRU 1
***** PD/ RCJ: "VETERAN'S SPOTLIGHT" PART'S 40 THRU 1
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Thomas Hudson Pickering aka "Ranch Chimp", "Commie Tommie" & "Skool" (short for old school) to kid's locally
I have every reason to believe everything that he is saying in these interviews from my personal experiences in life and what I witnessed, and reason why I been writing about this since the start of this journal, as a matter of fact ... it is some of the most straight talk from Michael without beating around the bush that I have heard out of a police officer, what makes it better is coming from an officer that is a former well experienced military veteran, and as an officer with 11 years working in various divisions of the police department on the streets. I have heard some question his motives, as if it is to sell books or whatever business, as for me, I really dont care about his motives, I care about the importance of what he is doing. This should inspire others to come out and try to make needed change in their departments, because there are many officers out there that really dont like how things are and sometimes want to speak out or talk about it, but feel to stay in a closet and not go against the grain for various reasons ... whether it be intimidation, retaliation from others in the department, fear of losing their job or having their duties downgraded, etc. These folks that serve are doing their jobs only and trying to please those who are superiors in ranks ... many have families to support like those in any other career, Michael has a wife and young daughter ... to make a move like he did requires courage, strength and determination to do what is fair and needed.
Some of what he said is insane even, as far as training, to the point where even fellow police officers who are former military veterans like Michael, are in shock to some of the stings and raids that go down, the insane use of force (some even beyond what they seen in combat, and ridiculously staged), while upon entry actually pointing lasers at each other and innocents before thinking, as if was some Hollywood action movie! ... re- training is past due. There is too much reassigning and sort of multi- tasking going on in my opinion too, although it gives officers more experience like on different task forces/ divisions, there is not enough time to settle in and get to know your community if you're a rookie being shifted around too much. A key point that Michael brings up is the politics/ legislation, and as Michael sayz ... they make it all legal ... as I myself even point out like a broken record in this journal on related issues, and how difficult it is to even get a conviction or real justice on an officer who is CLEARLY in the wrong, even with compelling evidence and video ... so dont blame cops on that one ... blame the politicians/ law makers. Also the heavier than ever pushing officers to make quota's I think is a problemo too, I mean ... this isnt a manufacturing/ production job working on an assembly line! Michael stated how he basically was put in a situation to where he had to go to economically challenged urban area's to make busts/ collars just to make quota's ... this forces officers to make a collar for anything they can, regardless if it's actually a crime or not. There also need's to be reassurance from the upper ranks in the departments that those who voice on these problems have more support, especially from the IAD (internal affairs divisions) to secure information better.
Politically in this nation, NOT enough is done, they are voted in by us and given a decent salary and benefits, SO THEY have the POWER to change things and make legislation. I dont give a shit about campaign talk over things like "Black Lives Matter" ... until there is action out of our politicians with a record of performance, it dont mean shit ... bottom line. Baltimore for instance even had many black rep's in their government and law, courts, etc ... what the Hell good has it done, eh? ... this playz as well coast to coast ... and feeding this institutionalized racism ... when people raise Hell in the streets and do damage ... like in what I called the "Baltimore Resistance", IT IS JUSTIFIED as much as peaceful protest's. Thank goodness for movements as well like "Black Lives Matter" and all the splinters of things like the Occupy Movement, which I started pointing out in this journal early on, as being needed to inspire more anger, action and demands ... so it continues to grow, and much credits to those and especially social media's. I personally credit much of the problem to this fad culture of extreme corporate greed today, it dont matter if it's in finance, eliminating affordable housing to move millionaires in, dictating our politician's, to the war on our civil rights, to making the petty non criminal prison industry private and for profit only, or much else ... I mean ... shit rolls down hill, eh? ... which I look as another passing fad that will see it's mistakes in time when they themselves feel the results of what they created. This is the worst progress and stalling we had in this nation since the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movement.
That's the Reality ... Word Out ....
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Gary Hoey Live "Lunatic Fringe" ... Thanx to GARY HOEY ... a closing song I wanted to add originally by Red Rider (inspiring part of this posting's title) ... but redone/ covered here by an outstanding guitarist, that I alwayz liked his work ... Gary Hoey ... the lyrics are fitting. This will also be included in the "RCJ MUSIC/ ARTS HONOUR ROLL SOCIETY"
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Michael and wife
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***** RANCH CHIMP JOURNAL "WELCOME" POST
***** RCJ MUSIC/ ART'S HONOUR ROLL SOCIETY (my hand- selected music/ arts picks)
***** RCJ/ THOMAS PICKERING: GOOGLE+ (video posts)
***** THE RESISTANCE/ PERIL'S OF THE POWER POSSE (inspiration for hope & change) ... to be viewed as a "profit- see", not a "prophecy".
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