Lawmaker Calls for Annual Mandatory Mental Evaluations for Police Officers

By Matt Agorist
The Free Thought Project
Feb. 03, 2015

Portland, OR — An Oregon lawmaker made a thought-provoking request during a town hall meeting over the weekend.

Democratic Representative Lew Frederick appeared at a Portland town hall meeting Saturday and announced that he would like to see police officers undergo mental evaluations “once a year” citing one reason; Ferguson.

The meeting took place to announce a series of new laws inspired by the tragic incident in Ferguson, Mo in which 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.

"I want to have a regular psychological evaluation of every law enforcement officer," Frederick said to the many people in attendance, who responded with cheers.

Frederick suggested mental evaluations for police officers from once a year to once every two years.

"Why is this such a high priority? One word: Ferguson," Frederick said inciting more applause.

"The other thing is it's a personal situation. I don't know of a single black man in the country who has not had to deal with concern when they see the blue lights behind them. For me, I always begin to think, 'Am I going to die today?’" Frederick said.

Frederick also called for legislation mandating that all officers be equipped with body cameras as well as ensuring the citizens right to film police encounters.

The video is below:



Ironically, this call for police accountability was made during a call for gun control.

Holding the idea that there are corrupt officers who cause harm to innocent people while simultaneously calling for these very officers to disarm the population, is consistent with the definition of doublethink.

Doublethink is the act of ordinary people simultaneously accepting two mutually contradictory beliefs as correct, often in distinct social contexts. Not to be confused with cognitive dissonance which causes internal conflict, doublethink is notable due to a lack of cognitive dissonance. Thus, the person is completely unaware of any conflict or contradiction.

Calling for the disarming of citizens, which would ultimately be done through the initiation of government force vis-à-vis police action, is contradictory to the very “Freedom” these lawmakers wish to incite.













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