Comment by causal

Comment by causal a day ago

18 replies

I think such a tool could be useful for ensuring all the facts get included, but I hate the idea that some departments could start highering illiterate officers if this tech goes far enough.

hollywood_court a day ago

This may be news to some, but many departments already hire officers that are borderline illiterate. It’s especially true here in the south.

My mother enjoyed a ~30 year career in law enforcement while being able to read at a junior high level. And that’s being generous.

Of course that’s just one anecdote, but just spend some time with deputies in rural Alabama and you’ll see what I mean.

  • jjtheblunt a day ago

    never have been in Alabama, and i find that super interesting.

    how does anyone end up borderline illiterate in the US for the last several decades? can kids drop out without passing reading, like drop out as grade schoolers?

  • qingcharles 20 hours ago

    I've read thousands of police reports. I would say this is true about their literacy, and their typing skills are equally horrible. They also generally really hate writing reports (which are almost universally never read) and tend to make them as short as possible.

  • kortilla 18 hours ago

    Being able to read at a junior high level is literate. The average reading level in the US is 7-8th grade so she’s right in the middle.

viraptor a day ago

> could start highering illiterate officers

I love this mistake.

  • hodgesrm a day ago

    That really should be a word: kind of a portmanteau that combines hire and raise up/promote.

  • alganet a day ago

    Can you elaborate a little bit more?

    • teamspirit a day ago

      “Highering” should be “hiring”

      • alganet a day ago

        I asked for viraptor's elaboration on what he thinks of it.

        Thanks for your perspective though.