News and Politics | September 29, 2008 | 29 comments

Police union shirt: 'We get up early to beat the crowds'

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pigmonkey
Denver's police union is facing criticism for printing a commemorative T-shirt that makes light of the use of violence by police, particularly in the wake of 154 arrests during the week of Democratic National Convention this past August.

"We get up early, to beat the crowds," the shirt reads, followed by "2008 DNC." The words flank a grinning police officer holding a baton and wearing a hat with a crossed-out number "68," presumably making reference to activist organization Recreate 68, which staged several anti-war demonstrations during the convention.

"The people of Denver were assured by the city that it would respect First Amendment rights during the DNC, and that that police officers were being trained to do so. The actions of police during the DNC, which involved numerous violations of people's right to freedom of speech and assembly, put the lie to those promises," said Recreate 68's Glenn Spagnuolo. "And now this appalling, tasteless t-shirt shows why. The members of Denver's police union clearly have no respect for the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution. The Denver Police Department Operations Manual includes a Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, which begins, 'As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind, to safeguard lives and property, to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice.' The creation of this t-shirt makes a mockery of that statement."

Detective Nick Rogers of the Police Protective Association said that the union predicts sales of about 2,000 shirts in addition to the ones given free to Denver police officers, and also told KMGH that he hadn't received any complaints about the shirt.
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29 comments // Police union shirt: 'We get up early to beat the crowds'

  • arlogu3
  • Moopak
    • 0
      Moopak  
    • I get it, they probably think its funny. Too bad the shirt makes me lose respect for any cop who wears it.

      A shirt that said something like "we get up early, to protect the masses" even with the same picture, would be more respectable and show that a cop still sees the honor in their job.

      Sweet power trip guys, real sweet. Way to 'NOT' represent

    • 3 years ago
  • ScreamingDinosaur
  • aliquid_
    • 0
      aliquid_  
    • So I guess someone now can pratice their first amendment too by making t-shirts saying "Denver cops kissed my ass at the DNC !!"

    • 3 years ago
  • maasanova
    • 0
      maasanova  
    • I generally don't like law enforcement even though I have a close family member who was a Ranger. He told me he quit because of stuff like this.

    • 3 years ago
  • perlpunk
    • 0
      perlpunk  
    • Seriously on one hand its funny.. coming from a cop, mostly just arrogant. We could stand to let this go, freedom of speech... everyone gets theirs some day.

    • 3 years ago
  • uppityprogressive
    • 0
      uppityprogressive  
    • Its funny till it all in YOUR face. Ha ha, take that. Roll down your window lady, sprays of pepper in the face. The police are never better or worse than their command. Hold them accountable, the chief, the mayor, the governor.

      They work for the people, the people must demand accountability.

      The big hole in accountability in this nation from the Oval office to the small town police station is the media.

      Impeach the media! Take back our airwaves. Kick the bums out. Out-law political commercials, make elections publicly funded, and end for-profit news. All news media should be licensed and overseen by community boards who check the facts and provide accountability. Media is beating out religion for being the most murderous force on the planet.

    • 3 years ago
  • khromadjo
  • RojoGatto
  • khromadjo
  • michelleie
    • 0
      michelleie  
    • it's kind of embarrassing, really. being from a family with a lot of history in the police department, i'm really ashamed. it just makes a potentially great organization look bad on behalf of people like this is. it's not only offensive to people of the united states, but anyone in law enforcement.

    • 3 years ago
  • Humdrum
    • 0
      Humdrum  
    • Someone needs to take those arrogant ****s down a few notches.
      It's not their job to be trampling on people's rights; they are supposed to be promoting them.

      I feel rather insulated, having not experienced this sort of crap from police officers, ever.

    • 3 years ago
  • keeshii768
  • WoodyShrimp
    • 0
      WoodyShrimp  
    • My grandfather was a police officer in upstate New York, he would turn in his grave if he saw this. This is truly grotesque!! I think our police officers forgot the "serve" part of their oath. How often do you see anyone being helped with a flat tire? THAT'S THEIR JOB!! GET TO IT!!

    • 3 years ago
  • Betico
    • 0
      Betico  
    • NYPD also have t-shirts not too far from the ones the shown as well. just an fyi...someone needs to disarm this gang before they kill or hurt more people.

    • 3 years ago
  • shakeydeal0
    • 0
      shakeydeal0  
    • Honestly, that's quite a clever play on words. And obviously this play on words is quite offensive to people. If shirts similiar to this or with similiar plays on words than people would only be wearing shit from the Gap, or damn Hollister.

    • 3 years ago
  • simplecj
    • 0
      simplecj  
    • Why doesn't it say RNC?? The RNC had a lot more police brutality that the DNC had... maybe someone should make and RNC one?

    • 3 years ago
  • Moopak
    • 0
      Moopak  
    • simplecj:

      Yea that's what I was thinking.

      Maybe the Denver cops are just trying to look like they had it rough during the DNC. Sadly they are probably jealous the RNC cops who got more brutality actions.

    • 3 years ago
  • metalcookiesxy70
  • drcodygoforth
    • 0
      drcodygoforth  
    • while the shirts do make light of something they shouldn't, it's absolutely ridiculous to say that officers shouldn't be able to wear them... if they want the public trust they won't. it's actually pretty funny anyway

    • 3 years ago
  • RoBot_rOcKer
    • 0
      RoBot_rOcKer  
    • where do i get one?

      maasanove typically smart people look for a real career HAHA!!

      but really from what ive heard from my brother most police officers were outcasts who were bullied time and time again and are looking for a way to get back at society.

    • 3 years ago
  • maasanova
    • 0
      maasanova  
    • Some police departments will not hire smart people. This may be a generalization, but it seems that they want the scum of the earth on the force. I've actually spoken to a policeman on another forum and he special ordered one.

    • 3 years ago
  • phoenixtoo
  • 1percent
  • Yoshi1
    • 0
      Yoshi1  
    • Image
    • Here is the actual t-shirt in question.

      It shouldn't just make you sick it should scare you. There should be a personality test to become a cop so that you don't end up with scary/crazy cops.

    • 3 years ago
  • synclaire
  • liveBK
  • itdango
    • 0
      itdango  
    • Yoshi1:

      a family friend was the secretary for the psychologist that performed the personality screenings for officers attempting to get hired in the district. she said it was way too frequent that candidates would admit their desire to possess a gun, excitement of having "power over people", and other quotes that scared the wits out of me.
      what she said scared her, however, was that just about anyone with half a brain knew that they were looking for "red flags" like that. those are the ones abusing their power.
      protect and serve or collect and unnerve?
      (and yes, i may have peaked in the rhyming dictionary to complete that line)

    • 3 years ago
  • pigmonkey
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