thankyou alomba, this is true. i work in criminal prosecutions and we have a name for the 'ground troops'... im not sure i should repeat it here, because noone in law enforcement will wanna hear we call them this!!
basically uniformed *ahems* have a role, it aint one where brains are at the top of the list and though she did show initiative and intelligence above and beyond what most cops do, she wasnt even out of training. she was in NO position to do the advanced forensics work she was asked to do, professionally or emotionally.
PLENTY of solid cases against known murderers have been thrown out of court because evidence was tainted, tampered with, incorrectly collected or treated etc etc. even worse, juries will ACQUIT which means there is no way to get that person again, not until someone else is killed. theres a well known child murderer in the country i live in who is free as a bird because the 'ground troop' cops simply screwed up the case start to finish. eeeeverybody knows who killed that child, and noone can do jack about it.
for the purposes of the film, her role was to be hot and steamy angelina, and she did that very well :D
reply
share
Panterken
17 years ago
Amelia wasn't a ground troop because she didn't have the brains to get a promotion...she didn't want a promotion because of her father's suicide. I suspect her father couldn't handle the emotional pressure that comes with the murder investigations and she was affraid she wasn't going to be able to handle it either.
At least that's my take on it. Almost all other cops are displayed as idiots...for one thing they failed to recognise the obvious pattern in the killings( how can you not spot a killer's trademark like that).
I'm not saying a ground troop would be in charge of a forensic investigation in real life, but in the film it made sense since Linc has so much influence in the PD.
Just my take... you're welcome to disagree.
reply
share
lifelike001
17 years ago
she WAS ground troops because she was still in training - you have to make the logical progression in the legal way. start at the bottom before you branch out into whatever speciality. she didnt lack brains at all, but most of those fulfilling the role of 'beat cop' who never specialise do.
rhyme sure aint ground troops either.. he was a forensics specialist, something very different, both at the time of his accident and when we meet him.
in the film it made sense because rhyme was USING HER. literally, to be his eyes and ears. sounds very noble until you remember he has the years of experience, the personal inclination and fortitude to be able to do that work AND sleep at night - she doesnt. it was profoundly abusive, in the guise of doing her career a favour.
it also would have been quite illegal, in my country at least. but america might be wacky like that, letting unqualified cops all over crime scenes collecting evidence which they will never be able to present in court, ensuring that case will be a matter of simply Nolle Prosequi because all the physical evidence was collected by, effectively, a civilian *LOL*
reply
share
Panterken
17 years ago
I think we kind of agree on the point that Rhyme was using/abusing her. His motives for doing so aren't explained in the movie but maybe in the book? Maybe someone who read the book can help us out here.
We also agree on the point that it probably could never happen in real life ( in or outside of America, btw I'm not American either). But in the film it makes sense, seeing that the other cops are idiots and Rhyme has a great influence. May not be 100% realistic but it didn't bother me in such a way that I was unable to enjoy the rest of the movie.
reply
share
lifelike001
17 years ago
hey, it had unnecessary violence and angelina jolie. all my cinematic needs were met :D
reply
share