[Goober5000]

This is darkly amusing.  Isn't it always the police who say that if you're doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide?

LOS ANGELES -- Dozens of anti-gang police officers across the city are quitting their assignments over a requirement to reveal personal financial information under strict anti-corruption rules, The Associated Press has learned.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/10/AR2011011006954.html

[Mongoose]

"Sap morale" my ass.

[Kosh]

So does this mean he's sitting on another Rampart Scandal?

[BloodEagle]

The article mentions that they're only required to show a portion of their personal financial records.  I'm curious as to what that actual portion is.

"Sap morale" my ass.

It most certainly would.

[General Battuta]

GOOBERMINT SAPPIN MAH MORALE

The Thin Blue Line strikes again.

[Nemesis6]

This is darkly amusing.  Isn't it always the police who say that if you're doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide?

I wonder whether police actually believe that phrase, or it's just like a meme they spout, you know, like mudkips or battletoads.

[BengalTiger]

I thought it was those dudes who want the government to control everything (for our safety and benefits) that came up with the if you're doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide thingy...

[Scotty]

I thought it was those dudes who want the government to control everything (for our safety and benefits) that came up with the[/color] if you're doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide thingy...

No, that's just the persuasive efforts of cops who really want to search you but don't have probable cause.  Remember, refusing to consent to search does NOT give probable cause.

[Mongoose]

"Sap morale" my ass.

It most certainly would.

My point is that it's a pretty transparent excuse for "Oh **** we have all sorts of crap we want to hide but we don't want to say that because that makes us look bad."

[General Battuta]

"Sap morale" my ass.

It most certainly would.

My point is that it's a pretty transparent excuse for "Oh **** we have all sorts of crap we want to hide but we don't want to say that because that makes us look bad."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[NGTM-1R]

The sad thing is the LAPD has, for the most part, seriously cleaned themselves up from '91 and Rampart. Public confidence in them is up way up, the department's demographics at least resemble the people they're policing, and LA's rate of violent crime and particularly murder per capita is lower than the norm in the US.

[BloodEagle]

"Sap morale" my ass.

It most certainly would.

My point is that it's a pretty transparent excuse for "Oh **** we have all sorts of crap we want to hide but we don't want to say that because that makes us look bad."

My point is that it would create a hostile work environment, regardless.

[General Battuta]

"Sap morale" my ass.

It most certainly would.

My point is that it's a pretty transparent excuse for "Oh **** we have all sorts of crap we want to hide but we don't want to say that because that makes us look bad."

My point is that it would create a hostile work environment, regardless.

Well I think that's a fair bit better than a corrupt, unaccountable department.

[BloodEagle]

"Sap morale" my ass.

It most certainly would.

My point is that it's a pretty transparent excuse for "Oh **** we have all sorts of crap we want to hide but we don't want to say that because that makes us look bad."

My point is that it would create a hostile work environment, regardless.

Well I think that's a fair bit better than a corrupt, unaccountable department.

Did I say that it wasn't?  :/

[General Battuta]

"Sap morale" my ass.

It most certainly would.

My point is that it's a pretty transparent excuse for "Oh **** we have all sorts of crap we want to hide but we don't want to say that because that makes us look bad."

My point is that it would create a hostile work environment, regardless.

Well I think that's a fair bit better than a corrupt, unaccountable department.

Did I say that it wasn't?  :/

No no, good sir, our points are not incompatible.

[BloodEagle]

"Sap morale" my ass.

It most certainly would.

My point is that it's a pretty transparent excuse for "Oh **** we have all sorts of crap we want to hide but we don't want to say that because that makes us look bad."

My point is that it would create a hostile work environment, regardless.

Well I think that's a fair bit better than a corrupt, unaccountable department.

Did I say that it wasn't?  :/

No no, good sir, our points are not incompatible.

RAINBOW TEXT!!!

[karajorma]

Stop that right now.

[FUBAR-BDHR]

Hate to say it but I agree with them.  The day we have to give up private info just to keep a job is the day to leave that job.

[Klaustrophobia]

while such action can't help but raise eyebrows, it doesn't necessarily mean they are corrupt.  i find it perfectly understandable that some would prefer a different assignment over having such disclosures mandated.  best way to handle it too, no whining and crying about "bad policy" or whathaveyou and throwing litigation around or generally causing a scene. 

[Flipside]

Without more details on what those 'personal finances' are, I really am not sure what to say, after all, submitting your expenses is standard practice for pretty much anyone else, especially when that money is coming from the Taxpayers' pocket, it was a failure in that system that led to the UK's expenses scandal, but then I can understand if it is stuff like personal bank details etc.

I suppose what concerns me is that this is as much about keeping officers alive as about funding, if an officer is recieving bribes or is a 'bad cop', then that not only compromises the Force itself, but places at risk the lives of other officers, it might be an invasion of personal privacy, but then, I'm not sure whether the Police are as heavily funded by the Government in the US as they are in the UK.