Analysis Slogan Turned Trap: The Enduring Damage of “Don’t Betray Your Own” in Police Culture

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

In a modern society yearning for deep-rooted judicial reform, one aspect that cannot be ignored is the institutional culture within the police force. A seemingly innocuous motto has become a deeply embedded ethos among many generations of Thai police officers: “Don’t kill your junior, don’t report your superior, don’t betray your friend.”

 

At first glance, the phrase appears to promote loyalty, solidarity, and a strong organisational bond. But a deeper analysis reveals it may well be a core obstacle to the rule of law and to true justice in Thailand.

 

Twisted Loyalty?

 

“Don’t kill your junior” suggests shielding subordinates who have committed wrongdoing, whether due to mistakes, misconduct or mutual benefit. Rather than ensuring accountability, it implies a collective effort to cover up faults so the individual can continue to serve without consequences.

 

“Don’t report your superior” is interpreted as an unwavering loyalty to those higher in rank, even if they violate ethical or legal boundaries. This fosters a rigid hierarchical loyalty that stifles internal scrutiny and breeds a culture of silence.

 

“Don’t betray your friend” means turning a blind eye to a colleague’s misconduct. In a law enforcement context, this effectively becomes complicity in breaking the law itself.

 

The Justice System Needs Truth, Not Blind Loyalty

 

The police form the starting point of any justice process, from investigation and arrest to interrogation. If officers are more committed to protecting each other than to uncovering the truth, investigations are skewed, evidence goes missing, offenders go free, and innocent people can suffer.

 

Worse still, this culture allows certain circles to exploit their positions for personal gain, reinforcing a network of protectionism rather than public service.

 

Real-World Consequences

 

This motto has directly contributed to instances of police brutality, torture during interrogation, false or exaggerated charges and even extrajudicial killings. Officers who try to expose wrongdoing are often ostracised, transferred or labelled traitors. Such consequences destroy any mechanism of internal accountability and further alienate the public from accessing justice.

 

Time for Change

 

The Royal Thai Police must reflect honestly on its internal culture. Organisational unity should never come at the expense of integrity and legal principles. Internal whistleblowing must be encouraged, not condemned as betrayal.

 

If an officer witnesses a colleague abusing a suspect, they should be commended for speaking out, not punished or cast aside.

 

This long-cherished motto may once have served as a morale booster, but in the context of modern reform, it now symbolises silence, protectionism, and impunity. To regain public trust, the culture must evolve.

 

A New Ethos for Police

 

In a genuine democracy, the police are not rulers over the public, they arethe public. Their role is to shield society from unjust power, no matter its source. Upholding the law fairly and honestly forms the bedrock of a society governed by justice and order.

 

If loyalty to individuals continues to outweigh loyalty to legal and ethical standards, meaningful reform will never take hold. A sustainable, trustworthy system can only be built on clear principles, not unspoken pacts.

 

A modern police culture must rest on three critical pillars:

 

1. Transparency and Accountability

Officers must be subject to public scrutiny in a real and practical sense, not just on paper. Open channels for complaints and public feedback are essential for meaningful progress and restored trust.

 

2. Impartiality and Equality Before the Law

The law must be applied equally to all, regardless of status, nationality or wealth. Only then can citizens truly feel protected rather than preyed upon.

 

3. Compassion and Respect for Human Dignity

Police should not presume guilt. Suspects, the poor and the marginalised must be treated with dignity. That is the mark of a civilised and moral society.

 

Reforming Culture for Economic and Social Gain

 

Police culture is not just an “internal” matter. It has a profound impact on the economy and international image of Thailand.

 

If tourists feel safe and confident they will not be extorted or profiled by officers, they are more likely to visit, boosting an economy heavily reliant on tourism. If investors see Thailand as a country where the law is fairly enforced, not manipulated for political ends, foreign investment will rise.

 

At home, public faith in the police encourages crime reporting and legal cooperation. It helps reduce violence, civil unrest and paves the way for peaceful coexistence.

 

The time has come to retire outdated notions of loyalty and forge a new police identity, one based on justice, accountability, and public service. Only then can Thailand build a law enforcement system its people can truly believe in.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-06-13

 

 

 

[dinsdale]

BIB is simply an embodiment of the endemic nature of corruption in Thailand which can be found from top to bottom. 

[papa al]

Gang culture.

Same same USA.

[sqwakvfr]

4 minutes ago, papa al said:

Gang culture.

Same same 

Gang culture? So which USA gang were you in? I must have been in the Police Gang culture because I was in a police gang for 2 decades?  Give me some specfics. 

[ikke1959]

The RTP should be totally being reformed and educated.. and surely start to work, doing their job 24 hours a day instead of a job from 9-5. And if the knowledge is missing, bring some foreign officers in to educate and train them...

 

And to tackle corruption, let the Revenue Department check all assets and income and spendings of all police officers. It would show who and how corrupt they are

[JoePai]

Sack 'em all - from the top down, and start again = the only way

[wozzlegummich]

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

And to tackle corruption, let the Revenue Department check all assets and income and spendings of all police officers. It would show who and how corrupt they are

 

[papa al]

6 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

Gang culture? So which USA gang were you in? I must have been in the Police Gang culture because I was in a police gang for 2 decades?  Give me some specfics. 

Were you a cop.?

If so did you ever observe any sketchy behavior by other cops.?

Did you arrest them.?

 

That's what I thought.

Blue line gang.

Tens of thousands of  videos on Youtube document cop atrocities.

[sqwakvfr]

11 minutes ago, papa al said:

Were you a cop.?

If so did you ever observe any sketchy behavior by other cops.?

Did you arrest them.?

 

That's what I thought.

Blue line gang.

Tens of thousands of  videos on Youtube document cop atrocities.

Yes, Yes, I did see and intervened.  Suspect was handcuffed and one of the yahoos with a badge was going to body slam the suspect. I stopped this attempt at excessive force and this yahoo was my enemy for the rest of my career.  It went nowhere because it was my word against his and the suspect would not say anything. This was way before all the body

cams were in place.  We did not have gangs in blue.  We had some people who should have never been hired.  That is the actual not problem and not "gangs in blue". I can only

speak about my experience as an American police officer and I have no experience as to what occurrs at RTP. 

 

"That's what I thought". Yes you know virtually nothing about me and I know nothing about who or what you are. Nor do I care to ever know. I simply answered your question. Police misconduct means a higer level agency must make the arrest and not a fellow officer on the same departmetnt  Sometimes even the FBI has investigated local police and made arrests.  But of course you knew that, righ? 

 

Only 10,000 vidoes of police misconduct? No the number is much higher.  Considering there are at least 900,000 active police officers in the US the number is much higher.  Of course you knew that as well?

[Captain Flack]

A couple of off topic posts have been removed, to stop further deflection of the topic.

 

Existing posts are left, but please discuss the topic.

[Baba Naba]

Thin Blue Line.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thin_blue_line 

[newbee2022]

On 6/13/2025 at 5:00 AM, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

In a modern society yearning for deep-rooted judicial reform, one aspect that cannot be ignored is the institutional culture within the police force. A seemingly innocuous motto has become a deeply embedded ethos among many generations of Thai police officers: “Don’t kill your junior, don’t report your superior, don’t betray your friend.”

 

At first glance, the phrase appears to promote loyalty, solidarity, and a strong organisational bond. But a deeper analysis reveals it may well be a core obstacle to the rule of law and to true justice in Thailand.

 

Twisted Loyalty?

 

“Don’t kill your junior” suggests shielding subordinates who have committed wrongdoing, whether due to mistakes, misconduct or mutual benefit. Rather than ensuring accountability, it implies a collective effort to cover up faults so the individual can continue to serve without consequences.

 

“Don’t report your superior” is interpreted as an unwavering loyalty to those higher in rank, even if they violate ethical or legal boundaries. This fosters a rigid hierarchical loyalty that stifles internal scrutiny and breeds a culture of silence.

 

“Don’t betray your friend” means turning a blind eye to a colleague’s misconduct. In a law enforcement context, this effectively becomes complicity in breaking the law itself.

 

The Justice System Needs Truth, Not Blind Loyalty

 

The police form the starting point of any justice process, from investigation and arrest to interrogation. If officers are more committed to protecting each other than to uncovering the truth, investigations are skewed, evidence goes missing, offenders go free, and innocent people can suffer.

 

Worse still, this culture allows certain circles to exploit their positions for personal gain, reinforcing a network of protectionism rather than public service.

 

Real-World Consequences

 

This motto has directly contributed to instances of police brutality, torture during interrogation, false or exaggerated charges and even extrajudicial killings. Officers who try to expose wrongdoing are often ostracised, transferred or labelled traitors. Such consequences destroy any mechanism of internal accountability and further alienate the public from accessing justice.

 

Time for Change

 

The Royal Thai Police must reflect honestly on its internal culture. Organisational unity should never come at the expense of integrity and legal principles. Internal whistleblowing must be encouraged, not condemned as betrayal.

 

If an officer witnesses a colleague abusing a suspect, they should be commended for speaking out, not punished or cast aside.

 

This long-cherished motto may once have served as a morale booster, but in the context of modern reform, it now symbolises silence, protectionism, and impunity. To regain public trust, the culture must evolve.

 

A New Ethos for Police

 

In a genuine democracy, the police are not rulers over the public, they arethe public. Their role is to shield society from unjust power, no matter its source. Upholding the law fairly and honestly forms the bedrock of a society governed by justice and order.

 

If loyalty to individuals continues to outweigh loyalty to legal and ethical standards, meaningful reform will never take hold. A sustainable, trustworthy system can only be built on clear principles, not unspoken pacts.

 

A modern police culture must rest on three critical pillars:

 

1. Transparency and Accountability

Officers must be subject to public scrutiny in a real and practical sense, not just on paper. Open channels for complaints and public feedback are essential for meaningful progress and restored trust.

 

2. Impartiality and Equality Before the Law

The law must be applied equally to all, regardless of status, nationality or wealth. Only then can citizens truly feel protected rather than preyed upon.

 

3. Compassion and Respect for Human Dignity

Police should not presume guilt. Suspects, the poor and the marginalised must be treated with dignity. That is the mark of a civilised and moral society.

 

Reforming Culture for Economic and Social Gain

 

Police culture is not just an “internal” matter. It has a profound impact on the economy and international image of Thailand.

 

If tourists feel safe and confident they will not be extorted or profiled by officers, they are more likely to visit, boosting an economy heavily reliant on tourism. If investors see Thailand as a country where the law is fairly enforced, not manipulated for political ends, foreign investment will rise.

 

At home, public faith in the police encourages crime reporting and legal cooperation. It helps reduce violence, civil unrest and paves the way for peaceful coexistence.

 

The time has come to retire outdated notions of loyalty and forge a new police identity, one based on justice, accountability, and public service. Only then can Thailand build a law enforcement system its people can truly believe in.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-06-13

 

 

 

When I read the first sentences I thought it's about US 😕

[Halnodeya]

This is obviously an opinion piece with a lot of textbook solutions and 'should do' statements. We all know the issues and know what should be done, but we also know it's not going to happen. I  kept reading this expecting to see some sort of announcement that something (even a tiny think) was going to be done about it, but no, it was just another post that didn't tell us anything new.

[norsurin]

On 6/13/2025 at 8:31 AM, papa al said:

Were you a cop.?

If so did you ever observe any sketchy behavior by other cops.?

Did you arrest them.?

 

That's what I thought.

Blue line gang.

Tens of thousands of  videos on Youtube document cop atrocities.

Ur right.US cops r crazy.But what else can u expect after few weeks police training and given a gun and start their career.Police in the US is the profession with the most alcoholism and domestic violence.

I seen many videos on YouTube that shows how crazy they behave against people.

[Terry Juhlin]

On 6/13/2025 at 6:29 AM, papa al said:

Gang culture.

Same same USA.

Bull<deleted>, stop with stereotyping crap!!! 

[sqwakvfr]

33 minutes ago, norsurin said:

Ur right.US cops r crazy.But what else can u expect after few weeks police training and given a gun and start their career.Police in the US is the profession with the most alcoholism and domestic violence.

I seen many videos on YouTube that shows how crazy they behave against people.

Hmm, "a few weeks"?  Maybe the "officers" in those small agencies in rural areas parts of the south but in CA and other states the minimum is 4 to 6 months in a police academy and 4 months of Field Training Officer by an experience FTO.  I have never suffered from alcoholsim or battered any of my domestic partners.  In states like CA anyone who is convicted of a domestic violence assault (Misdemeanor or Felony) that person is no longer legally authorized to possess a firearm.  AKA one cannot be a police officer if one cannot carry a firearm. So "US" cops?I believe "some" US police in some US states and cities might fit your statement but none of the people I worked with come even close.  

[koele2]

Still remember the cop who accidentally killed a drug dealer by suffocating him with a plastic bag because he wanted money from the criminal.  And then we found out he had over 20 luxury cars.  Pretty impressive for a policeman.

[Magictoad]

On 6/13/2025 at 6:13 AM, dinsdale said:

BIB is simply an embodiment of the endemic nature of corruption in Thailand which can be found from top to bottom. 

And isn't that why we're here?

[dinsdale]

1 minute ago, Magictoad said:

And isn't that why we're here?

What? We're here because corruption is endemic from top to bottom in Thailand. What does this even mean?

[Terry Juhlin]

11 minutes ago, norsurin said:

Ur right.US cops r crazy.But what else can u expect after few weeks police training and given a gun and start their career.Police in the US is the profession with the most alcoholism and domestic violence.

I seen many videos on YouTube that shows how crazy they behave against people.

Where’d you find your BS information besides on YouTube videos?    

                                                                                           

You need to lookup the hiring process and what it takes to become a State Certified (licensed) police officer or a law enforcement officer. Nowadays most police departments or sheriff’s office require a college degree and most require you to take a PT (physical training test) and a written exam. All CERTIFIED departments require the sworn officers or deputies take a physical fitness tests monthly and or yearly. You have to go through and successfully finish your state’s law enforcement academy and then the department that hired put you through their FTO program. We aren’t even talking about Federal law enforcement here either. The only excessively high rate attributed to LEO is the high divorce rate. You work 5-eights, 4-tens or even twelve hours shifts.You have two or threes days off which rotate per pay period (two weeks).  You work holidays, birthdays, anniversary, your family life suffers because you are always broke so you work extra shifts, you become a slave to overtime just to pickup extra cash. The job takes its toll on you both physically and mentally. You really have no idea of the ugliness of life most law enforcement officers see and how you can easily you can become cynical, jaded and frustrated.

 

I can easily continue my tirade if you’d like but I will close this out by saying if you think you can do a better job, I’d say go for it, put your application in, take the tests and  see if you have the cajones to do the job …

[Nickcage49]

Nice idea. Never gonna happen. And it's not unique to Thailand. I've talked to former US cops who were on the take and hid hundreds of thousands of dollars. Of course, you shared it with your superiors.

[Surasak]

 I have been here few years now, and am close to the end of my time, 'Possibly'. I really do not think I will ever see this kind of change? I wouldn't expect to see any change in maybe two hundred years, because the mind set is too ingrained.   

[hotchilli]

On 6/13/2025 at 5:00 AM, Georgealbert said:

A seemingly innocuous motto has become a deeply embedded ethos among many generations of Thai police officers: “Don’t kill your junior, don’t report your superior, don’t betray your friend.”

 

Den of thieves

[Ubonian Canadian]

On 6/13/2025 at 6:36 AM, sqwakvfr said:

Gang culture? So which USA gang were you in? I must have been in the Police Gang culture because I was in a police gang for 2 decades?  Give me some specfics. 

A simple google search for corrupt police officers will show thousands of cases where the police have been shown to be corrupt and their brethren defending the blue line. If immunity was taken away for many of these cases I think you would see a decline in all the corruption. Even when sentenced they seem to get off more lightly than the average Joe.

[norsurin]

1 hour ago, Terry Juhlin said:

Where’d you find your BS information besides on YouTube videos?    

                                                                                           

You need to lookup the hiring process and what it takes to become a State Certified (licensed) police officer or a law enforcement officer. Nowadays most police departments or sheriff’s office require a college degree and most require you to take a PT (physical training test) and a written exam. All CERTIFIED departments require the sworn officers or deputies take a physical fitness tests monthly and or yearly. You have to go through and successfully finish your state’s law enforcement academy and then the department that hired put you through their FTO program. We aren’t even talking about Federal law enforcement here either. The only excessively high rate attributed to LEO is the high divorce rate. You work 5-eights, 4-tens or even twelve hours shifts.You have two or threes days off which rotate per pay period (two weeks).  You work holidays, birthdays, anniversary, your family life suffers because you are always broke so you work extra shifts, you become a slave to overtime just to pickup extra cash. The job takes its toll on you both physically and mentally. You really have no idea of the ugliness of life most law enforcement officers see and how you can easily you can become cynical, jaded and frustrated.

 

I can easily continue my tirade if you’d like but I will close this out by saying if you think you can do a better job, I’d say go for it, put your application in, take the tests and  see if you have the cajones to do the job …

In Europe countries the police must have 2-3 years in police academy after a college degree before their allowed to start working.How many hours of Psychology training do u have?How many hours about human rights?How many hours about law?What about deescalate tactics?

In my country is 3 year education for being a police officer.

 

[norsurin]

5 minutes ago, Ubonian Canadian said:

A simple google search for corrupt police officers will show thousands of cases where the police have been shown to be corrupt and their brethren defending the blue line. If immunity was taken away for many of these cases I think you would see a decline in all the corruption. Even when sentenced they seem to get off more lightly than the average Joe.

Right.Dont even need google for seeing this.

[sqwakvfr]

50 minutes ago, Ubonian Canadian said:

A simple google search for corrupt police officers will show thousands of cases where the police have been shown to be corrupt and their brethren defending the blue line. If immunity was taken away for many of these cases I think you would see a decline in all the corruption. Even when sentenced they seem to get off more lightly than the average Joe.

I don't dispute that  I think you are using the term "corruption" to define all law enforcement misdconduct.  Excessive force that results in the serious injury or death is a crime and not corruption. Is accepting a free cup of coffee from 7-11 corruption? Coud be.  What about cases of false accusation? Do you believe there are cases of false accusation against police officers? i was falsely accussed.  Once I was accussed of punching a suspect I had arrested in the face.  Just one problem was that he was in a cell behind bars and the jail camera  exonerated me immediately. If that camera had not been working it would have resulted in an Internal Affairs investigation and possibly more because the suspec had intentionally rammed his face against the concrete floor of the jail cell. His nose was bleeding and he looked like he had been punched. One of the reasons for Qualified Immunity (that is the correct term) as a defense against false accusations.   If an incident is captured on body cam, dash cam or station cam most accusations presently are adjudicated quickly. Unfortunately not all departments have these cameras. My experience was with a large department in a large CA city so our Internatl Affairs was aggressive (at times too aggressive) and we were on our toes to do the the right thing at all times.  No one wanted to be called into IA. Does this mean all behaved properly while on duty? No of course not and  that does not happen anywhere. But "the thin blue line" conspriing to protect each other does happen today but I have never seen or been part of it.  It does not happen as often as some have portray it to be, I can only speak based upon what my experience was and others will disagree.  I know of a former officer who shot her lover  in a jealous and got 15 years in state prison.  The former boyfriend recovered even though he had he had been shot 4 times.  Does this  sound light to you? Of course she was fired rather quickly after the DA filed charges against her. Lastly if Qualified Immunity was terminated then very few would stay on the job.  In my day if QI was terminated then I would have found  another line of work. All police chiefs and sheriffs know this. 

I also believe many have misunderstand what Qualified Immunity is. QI means if the actions of the officer is within the scope of the law then he or she is immune from prosecution. Who decides this? The District Attorney, state Attorney General or in some cases a special proscutor appointed by a governor.   However if the actions of the officer is determined to be not within the scope of the law then his or her immunity is revoked and is now subject to prosecution.  Once again the ball goes back to the prosecution and not the "thin blue line". 

[DUNROAMIN]

On 6/13/2025 at 6:13 AM, dinsdale said:

BIB is simply an embodiment of the endemic nature of corruption in Thailand which can be found from top to bottom. 

 

53 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

I don't dispute that  I think you are using the term "corruption" to define all law enforcement misdconduct.  Excessive force that results in the serious injury or death is a crime and not corruption. Is accepting a free cup of coffee from 7-11 corruption? Coud be.  What about cases of false accusation? Do you believe there are cases of false accusation against police officers? i was falsely accussed.  Once I was accussed of punching a suspect I had arrested in the face.  Just one problem was that he was in a cell behind bars and the jail camera  exonerated me immediately. If that camera had not been working it would have resulted in an Internal Affairs investigation and possibly more because the suspec had intentionally rammed his face against the concrete floor of the jail cell. His nose was bleeding and he looked like he had been punched. One of the reasons for Qualified Immunity (that is the correct term) as a defense against false accusations.   If an incident is captured on body cam, dash cam or station cam most accusations presently are adjudicated quickly. Unfortunately not all departments have these cameras. My experience was with a large department in a large CA city so our Internatl Affairs was aggressive (at times too aggressive) and we were on our toes to do the the right thing at all times.  No one wanted to be called into IA. Does this mean all behaved properly while on duty? No of course not and  that does not happen anywhere. But "the thin blue line" conspriing to protect each other does happen today but I have never seen or been part of it.  It does not happen as often as some have portray it to be, I can only speak based upon what my experience was and others will disagree.  I know of a former officer who shot her lover  in a jealous and got 15 years in state prison.  The former boyfriend recovered even though he had he had been shot 4 times.  Does this  sound light to you? Of course she was fired rather quickly after the DA filed charges against her. Lastly if Qualified Immunity was terminated then very few would stay on the job.  In my day if QI was terminated then I would have found  another line of work. All police chiefs and sheriffs know this. 

I also believe many have misunderstand what Qualified Immunity is. QI means if the actions of the officer is within the scope of the law then he or she is immune from prosecution. Who decides this? The District Attorney, state Attorney General or in some cases a special proscutor appointed by a governor.   However if the actions of the officer is determined to be not within the scope of the law then his or her immunity is revoked and is now subject to prosecution.  Once again the ball goes back to the prosecution and not the "thin blue line". 

Thares always one bad apple in every barrel, in Thailand its full.

[fredwiggy]

4 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

Hmm, "a few weeks"?  Maybe the "officers" in those small agencies in rural areas parts of the south but in CA and other states the minimum is 4 to 6 months in a police academy and 4 months of Field Training Officer by an experience FTO.  I have never suffered from alcoholsim or battered any of my domestic partners.  In states like CA anyone who is convicted of a domestic violence assault (Misdemeanor or Felony) that person is no longer legally authorized to possess a firearm.  AKA one cannot be a police officer if one cannot carry a firearm. So "US" cops?I believe "some" US police in some US states and cities might fit your statement but none of the people I worked with come even close.  

A lot here look at videos and think they know all about the US. They also think this is some kind of paradise when it's one of the most corrupt areas on earth. There are bad police everywhere as some get the job just to be in a position of control, but they do have to be held accountable and a whole force isn't going to be corrupt and silent. I've seen some pretty shi**y policemen in New Jersey and Texas, but many more that were good cops.

[fredwiggy]

4 hours ago, norsurin said:

Ur right.US cops r crazy.But what else can u expect after few weeks police training and given a gun and start their career.Police in the US is the profession with the most alcoholism and domestic violence.

I seen many videos on YouTube that shows how crazy they behave against people.

6 months at academy and 4 months on the job. What you don't see are videos of them doing their job and saving lives, because it happens every day of the year.