Is it any wonder so many don't trust the police?

Two recent reports of police misconduct have me seething.

1. A policeman in Crestview, Florida has been fired and is under investigation for planting evidence to justify a search warrant - allegedly at the instigation of his supervisor.
2. A complaint by several Nevada Highway Patrol officers alleges that 'drug-sniffing dogs ... were intentionally being trained ... to alert their handlers by cues, instead of by picking up a drug's scent by sniffing ... When a dog gives a false alert, this resulted in illegal searches and seizures, including money and property'.

These are two more examples of how the War On (Some) Drugs has corrupted many police forces, sheriffs' departments and other law enforcement agencies, by offering them a financial incentive (i.e. seizure of drug-related property) to find evidence with which to convict suspects.  Radley Balko has reported many more such incidents over the years, including this one.

I suggest that we remove that incentive as soon and as completely as possible.  If law enforcement agencies don't profit from increased arrests, they won't be tempted to short-circuit the Constitution and laws of this country in order to help themselves.

Peter