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

[fredwiggy]

3 hours ago, koele2 said:

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.

And he got a life sentence then committed suicide in jail.

[papa al]

2 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

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. 

NO!  QI does not apply to criminal prosecution,  

Rather the personal liability to civil money damages when rights are violated.

Prosecutors usually give pigs a break cause they are on the same team.

u dum

[DarthChuckler]

On 6/12/2025 at 3:00 PM, 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

 

 

 

This is true the world over. People protect their own. Police brutality, corruption, always starts the same.

[Scouse123]

And that slogan is the reason why there will never be justice in Thailand, either from the Police or in the courts.

 

They are a well-organised group with little to no desire for change.

 

The sum up what, in essence, is the meaning of Mafia.

[Scouse123]

8 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

And he got a life sentence then committed suicide in jail.

 

 

Only because somebody had the brains to videotape him and upload it to youtube and make the case against him irrefutable.

 

OItherwise, he would have walked free.

[sqwakvfr]

8 hours ago, papa al said:

NO!  QI does not apply to criminal prosecution,  

Rather the personal liability to civil money damages when rights are violated.

Prosecutors usually give pigs a break cause they are on the same team.

u dum

Yes. It does apply in civil matters as well. This is because as long as the officer is witihin department policy then the employer will indemnify them.  "pigs" ok. Now I know where you are coming from. 

[Bundooman]

First class report and an excellent exposee of what we all suspected/already knew. 

Good to see it laid out in a calm and reasoned manner.

 

And about time too!

[papa al]

1 hour ago, sqwakvfr said:

Yes. It does apply in civil matters as well. This is because as long as the officer is witihin department policy then the employer will indemnify them.  "pigs" ok. Now I know where you are coming from. 

I've been handcuffed when I was silently breaking no law what-so-ever.

This is minor though compared to what cops are seen doing on videos.

Beating, killing frail old people, disabled people, people in diabetic shock

and so much more.

Falsifying charges and perjury sending innocent people to prison.

Common.

Killing 10,000 dogs per annum.

QI applies to civil actions only.

Not criminal.

I'm not surprised you don't understand.

Most cops are very ignorant of the laws the enforce.

Sorry about the pigs thing ...

shouldn't insult farm animals.

[kiwikeith]

My brother in law was a high ranking police officer in the diplomatic squad, he told me that policy was look after your own 

[NoshowJones]

17 hours 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 …

"CERTIFIED departments require the sworn officers or deputies take a physical fitness tests monthly and or yearly".  I watch police movies and TV series all the time, and many times see some of them obviously overweight, I know they are only actors ie Tosh Lines in the old UK police series The Bill. What I am trying to say is I do not believe real police officers take regular monthly fitness tests.

[sqwakvfr]

3 hours ago, papa al said:

I've been handcuffed when I was silently breaking no law what-so-ever.

This is minor though compared to what cops are seen doing on videos.

Beating, killing frail old people, disabled people, people in diabetic shock

and so much more.

Falsifying charges and perjury sending innocent people to prison.

Common.

Killing 10,000 dogs per annum.

QI applies to civil actions only.

Not criminal.

I'm not surprised you don't understand.

Most cops are very ignorant of the laws the enforce.

Sorry about the pigs thing ...

shouldn't insult farm animals.

Ok. From a former "pig" who has never falsified evidence, never been sued,  never been the focus of a criminal investigation so i am a common "pig".  Do you really think that eliminating QI would solve the problems of "pigs"?  Maybe or maybe not.  So let me take your position for a minute and say any police officer could  be sued for anything.  What do you think would be the end result?  The purpose of civil litigation is to be awarded a financial judgement?  It is not about Justice. 

 

How much money did the George Floyd get from Derek Chanvin? Not much because Chanvin was not worth much. He is even worth less now that he is rottiing in federal prison. But the city of Minneapolis paid out over $20 Million.

 

How much money did Rodney King get from Stacey Koon, Ted Briseno, Tim Wind or Laurence Powell?  How much money did Rodney King get from the city of Los Angeles? Millions.  Lawyers do not sue people or entities that have littlle. Instead they sue cities and states because they have big pockets.  

 

Elimination of QI would havea definite result: Fewer Police on the streets. Maybe this is the end goal? If that is then maybe America will be better and safer place?  

Also, what is "slightly" breaking the law? Either you are or not.  But that is not relevant to this. 

From a former "pig".