Getting Away With It
Incidental casualties in the name of the War on Drugs are to be expected. Apparently, police officers like Joe Chavalia who are “just doing their job” need not worry about having to suffer any consequences for their reckless actions.
Even if you buy into the fact that the police are just doing their job and accidents will happen, this incident should make it very clear about the cost of a “war” on drugs. Are you willing to sacrifice your life in the name of a slightly more drug-free society than there was yesterday? If we can take out a couple crackheads every day, are you ok with your wife, husband, or child being “accidentally” slaughtered by a scared, heavily armed officer?
Those in power continue to get stronger and continue to exert more violence with impunity. On a more cynical day, I would say that incidental casualties are welcomed by government as part of keeping the populace in a state of fear.