Hilarious punishment for Thailand cops who break the rules.

[_Ground_Zero_]

I laughed for 2 minutes when i saw this.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070806/ap_on_fe_st/odd_hello_kitty_cops

BANGKOK, Thailand - Thai police officers who break rules will be forced to wear hot pink armbands featuring "Hello Kitty," the Japanese icon of cute, as a mark of shame, a senior officer said Monday.

[john_childs]

It's funny.

But you also have to realize that Thailand just went through a military coup and the new government is rather heavy handed. If that's how they control their police force, imagine how they are controlling the citizens. There are lots of censorship, human rights problems, travel restrictions, and other issues with the new government.

Wikipedia: Thailand after the 2006 coup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand#After_the_2006_coup)
A military junta overthrew the elected government of Thaksin Shinawatra on 19 September 2006. The junta abrogated the constitution, dissolved Parliament and the Constitutional Court, detained and later removed several members of the government, declared martial law, and appointed one of the King's Privy Councillors, General Surayud Chulanont, as Prime Minister. The junta later wrote a highly abbreviated interim constitution and appointed a panel to draft a permanent constitution. The junta also appointed a 250-member legislature, called by one critic a "chamber of generals".[11][12] The head of the junta was allowed to remove the Prime Minister at any time. The legislature was not allowed to hold a vote of confidence against the Cabinet and the public was not allowed to file comments on bills.[13]

Martial law was partially revoked in January 2007. The junta continues to censor the media and was accused of several other human rights violations. The junta had also banned all political activities and meetings until May 2007.

Thailand remains an active member of the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

[johnfoss]

I think that would be a great idea for U.S. cops. Maybe not Hello Kitty, but something our cops would consider more "wussy." Of course we would have to start off with the concept that it's *NOT OKAY* for cops to break minor laws. Unfortunately this does not seem to be the case. If only they could be good role models...

[john_childs]

The LAPD has decided to video their officers during major incidents to document their behavior, and hopefully keep them on their best behavior. That after some rather controversial confrontations and crowd control methods by LAPD officers.

LAPD to record its officers at incidents (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lapdtv3aug03,0,3874714.story?coll=la-home-center) (LA Times article)

A department camera crew will follow police at major events to prevent a repeat of the May 1 melee.
By Richard Winton, Times Staff Writer
August 3, 2007

In the wake of the MacArthur Park melee, LAPD Chief William J. Bratton had decided the best way to avoid future problems is for his department to produce its own brand of reality television.

A Los Angeles Police Department camera crew will follow officers through major incidents, recording their actions from the early roll call to the after-incident report.

"Every 15 minutes or 30 minutes, the incident commander will narrate what is occurring at the event," said Deputy Chief Mike Hillman, the new head of the department's critical-incident training bureau, who developed the idea.

Officials hope the camera will provide a solid record of what happened — and keep officers on their best behavior.

During the May 1 immigration rally at the park, TV cameras recorded officers swinging batons and firing less-than-lethal weapons at protesters and journalists.

The officers behaved badly during the MacArthur Park incident. And this is the result.

Hello Kitty emblems on the riot gear of officers who have misbehaved in the past would be funny and let people know who to stay away from. :p

[johnfoss]

That LAPD idea seems to work well as seen on the TV show COPS. The main un-reality aspect of the world's best "reality TV" show is that, due to the presence of the camera and sound, officers are always on their best behavior. Often I applaud them for being much more patient than the situation seems to call for. Those are true professionals.

But when they're not being monitored, I see cops speed and drive recklessly/sloppily all the time, among other things. It would be so much nicer if they could be the ones setting the example.

[Catboy]

Best punishment ever. I'd show up late to work every day if they'd give me free Sanrio gear to wear.

Hello Kitty pwns.

[johnfoss]

Catboy will never be a cop.

[wickedbob]

Best punishment ever. I'd show up late to work every day if they'd give me free Sanrio gear to wear.

Hello Kitty pwns.

+1. People don't suspect a bomb, porn, chopped up people or such items in a hello kitty book bag.

Edit: Weed for you right?

[john_childs]

Catboy will never be a cop.
There is still hope. The FBI has changed its hiring standards and will now accept people who have dabbled in marijuana during their youth.

FBI drug standard lowered for hiring (http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-08-01-fbi_N.htm)
By Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Aspiring FBI agents who once dabbled in marijuana use won't be barred from getting a job with the elite crime-fighting agency, which has loosened its drug policy amid a campaign to hire hundreds of agents.

The bureau's pot-smoking standard, in place for at least 13 years, was revised after internal debate about whether the policy was eliminating prospects because of drug experimentation, said Jeff Berkin, deputy director of the FBI's Security Division. The policy disqualified candidates if they had used marijuana more than 15 times.

But then in the sidebar it says:
Under the FBI's revised drug policy, applicants are disqualified if they have used:

Any illegal drug, other than marijuana, within the past 10 years or used marijuana for more than just "experimentation."

Marijuana within the past three years or for a substantial period of time.

Source: FBI
That part doesn't bode well for Catboy. So a future in the FBI as a computer forensics expert or cybercrime expert may be out of the question.

[Into the blue]

Aww...

[maestro8]

Catboy will never be a cop.
I agree, he's overqualified. I've seen him breathe with his mouth closed.

[BillyTheMountain]

I laughed for 2 minutes when i saw this.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070806/ap_on_fe_st/odd_hello_kitty_cops

Should we use this at NAUCC for rule breakers? Even for those who are judged to include offensive music in their FREE style routine????

[hobo_chuck]

I agree, he's overqualified. I've seen him breathe with his mouth closed.
actually, thats a requirement, along with being able to justify shooting somone because they are half asleep and don't drop a soda can when they are told.

[brendan]

i dont know about you but i dont think that this kind of punishment should be allowed. But thats my two cent. however it is quite funny i'll give you that. I still think its wrong.

[monkeyman]

Why do you think that, Brenden?

[brendan]

Why do you think that, BrendAn?

Well i think its like putting a dunse hat on the kid with the worst grades at school.

Ridicule shouldnt be a deterrant to mistakes. Either they commited a real offence and should be judged with a fine/prison sentence - wotever is appropriate - or just a telling off by the officer. But i dont think parading them around the street in stupid clothing is a good idea.

I mean then people might start getting ideas like "lets go beat up the pink cop..." or the other way round etc....

[GILD]

The officers behaved badly during the MacArthur Park incident.
Are you telling me they finally found out who left the cake out in the rain?

[johnfoss]

Brendan,
The Hello Kitty armband is to be worn only in the office/police station, and seems to be a public notice that the person committed *remedial* misdeeds. They haven't committed any crimes. They are not having academic trouble, but crossing the line in areas they're supposed to know about (and respect). In other words, it's not like a dunce cap.

I still think it would work for our cops as well, but maybe with Powder Puff Girls or something more recognizable...

[dudewithasock]

But the Power Puff Girls are actually cool. They kick ass.

[john_childs]

Are you telling me they finally found out who left the cake out in the rain?
:D That was quite an unfortunate incident. It was a one of a kind cake.

I should have called it the MacArthur Park May Day Mele (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Los_Angeles_May_Day_m%C3%AAl%C3%A9e) since that is what the particular incident I was referring to is commonly called.

Here's a quick YouTube video of a newscast about the mele (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFdNkXJMH9A). At the end you can see the police throw a news reporters expensive video camera to the ground. The whole thing was the LAPD out of control. It doesn't matter if you're pro Mexican immigration or anit Mexican immigration, that video should make you angry about the LAPD. Every time I see video of that police riot I get pissed. Fucking pigs.

[unipsyche]

Best punishment ever. I'd show up late to work every day if they'd give me free Sanrio gear to wear.

Hello Kitty pwns.

Hey when are we going to go riding. You can bring your HK backpack.

I was downtown yesterday entertaining the crowds.

[brendan]

Brendan,
The Hello Kitty armband is to be worn only in the office/police station, and seems to be a public notice that the person committed *remedial* misdeeds. They haven't committed any crimes. They are not having academic trouble, but crossing the line in areas they're supposed to know about (and respect). In other words, it's not like a dunce cap.

I still think it would work for our cops as well, but maybe with Powder Puff Girls or something more recognizable...

yeah although that doesnt sound as bad as what i thought - i still think its stupid. If they arrive late it is only between them and their boss. No one else needs to know.