Kristian Williams - Our Enemies in Blue - Police and Power in America

standing of those with power-those at the top. So long as they serve in thisrole, they are likely to be given a free hand in pursuing these ends and a greatdeal of leeway in pursuing other ends that they identify for themselves. Thelaws may say otherwise, but laws can be ignored.In theory, police authority is restricted by state and federal law, as well asby the policies of individual departments. In reality, the police often exceedthe bounds of their lawful authority, and rarely pay any price for doing so. Therules are only as good as their enforcement, and they are seldom enforced.The real limits to police power are established not by statutes and regulations-sinceno rule is self-enforcing-but by their leadership and, indirectly,by the balance of power in society.So long as the police defend the status quo, so long as their actions promotethe stability of the existing system, their misbehavior is likely to be overlooked.It is when their excesses threaten this stability that they begin to face meaningfulrestraints. Laws and policies can be ignored and still provide a cover of plausibledeniability for those in authority. But when misconduct reaches such a level asto prove embarrassing, or so as to provoke unrest, the authorities may haveto tighten the reins-for a while.141 Token prosecutions, minimal reforms, andother half-measures may give the appearance of change, and may even serveas some check against the worst abuses of authority, but they carefully fail toaffect the underlying causes of brutality. It would be wrong to conclude that thepolice never change. But it is important to notice the limits of these changes, tounderstand the influences that direct them, and to recognize the interest'> thatthey serve. Police brutality is pervasive, systemic, and inherent to the institution.It is also, as we shall see, anything but new.25