Policeman robbed of ID, badge by 4 men in Fukuoka

Friday 06th June, 07:15 AM JST

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Latest 15 of 29 Total Comments Show All

doedel at 12:19 AM JST - 6th June

The first comment by "capone" was gold! Besides that, I learned a new job title today, "plain clothes policeman". Plain clothes probably make them look like nothing special at all (besides the ID badge). Well, ... now we have a "plain clothes crime syndicate member" running around who is special 'cause he got a keystone badge in his trophy room. So, ... if you get pulled up by somebody with a (pathethic btw.) "badge", make sure to ask them for something showing their real identity! LOL
KitsuneYoukai at 12:55 AM JST - 6th June

Strange how it is automatically assumed that if you are carrying a gun you must belong to a syndicate of sorts as the reporter stated here. Anyone willing can find a way to get a hold of a gun and put on ski masks. Doesn't necessarily mean they are from a syndicate. The reporter sure did a bang up job on this article.

I was approached by 2 plain clothes police officers while I was in Japan last September at a train station. One asked me where I was from. I don't speak fluent Japanese but the people I was with did and told me to tell them my name and where I was from. They apparently had never seen police officers in plain clothes. Since I'm from the states I had spotted them easily. They wore their badges on a cloth/leather necklace. Like the movies/TV shows. He had made eye contact with me but I thought nothing of it till I felt someone tap me on my shoulder. I figured a foreign lady did something really bad and they were in search of her. During the inquiry 2 more plain clothes cops showed up. Whe I gave them my info they apologised and let us go. We then had to run for the train towards Kamakura since we were already late.
rizaric at 03:11 AM JST - 6th June

"At the time of the incident, the plain clothes policemen were attempting to inspect a suspicious vehicle at the parking lot and the four men got out of a car about 10 meters away and asked them, ‘‘Which syndicate do you belong to?’’"

If you READ it properly, it's the 4 men who asked them what they were doing, and what 'syndicate' they might be from, not the police.
timorborder at 05:45 AM JST - 6th June

I am with romulus here. For all the big talk, I don't think the local fuzz can be blamed in this one. Even with a blackbelt in whatever, you have to know when to pick your fights. Taking on somebody with a steel bar is a pretty hairy exercise, unlike the movies, blocking with your arms in real life tends to get them shattered. Furthermore, with regard to the cops not carrying guns, I also think that it is probably a good thing. You have to remember that if you carry a gun, you have to be willing to use it. For all the tough talk, not that many people are able to pull a weapon and drop somebody without hesitation. Also any firearms in this case would have been stolen. Finally, from what I know about the yakuza situation down south, at the current time there is a fair bit of tension on the streets, as certain groups from Honshu are looking to establish themselves in Kyushu (this has been happening over the last 10-15 years or so). The locals of course are resisting the idea. I have also been told by somebody who knows the situation quite well that there is currently a fair bit of tension regarding increasing prices in the anphetamines business.
dany505 at 07:21 AM JST - 6th June

I know japan is not pro-gun. but the idea of cops especially seasoned cops not carring guns is upsurd. You have to be able/willing to meet force with force. Criminals with guns vs cops with out.= Criminals 1 Cops 0. They are luck to be alive. they might as well have been school girls out there with jump ropes. These guys should have just thrown there badges like throwing stars they would have had a better chance. Japan needs to wake up and realize that crimie is real and criminals are dangerous, but armed crmininals are deadly
Fair dinkum! at 03:26 PM JST - 6th June

Danny505, allow me to point out to you that there are many countries where police do not carry at all, The UK and New Zealand are two. Guns don't kill people! People kill people! I think these police had no choice in this situation and they are lucky they weren't injured. Furthermore, if they were carrying guns the guns would probably have been stolen too.
Nessie at 03:36 PM JST - 6th June

Yeah, 4 on 2. Sho ga nai.
Nessie at 03:38 PM JST - 6th June

Badges? We don' need no stinkin' badges. Well, on second thought...
Reicheru at 04:04 PM JST - 6th June

timorborder: You said that, "for all the tough talk, not that many people are able to pull a weapon ... without hesitation." I can assure you that most people, when faced with an immediate and credible threat of grave bodily harm or death, would not hesitate in brandishing a firearm to defend themselves. I speak from experience as a civilian girl who stands at a mere 5'0". I'm sure that a trained and seasoned male police officer would be confident enough in the use of his firearm to use it when necessary in the course duty. I think that some distinction should be made here between "most people" and police officers.

You also state that, had the officers been armed, "any firearms in this case would have been stolen." This statement is not based on any of the facts provided in this article, but your own pessimistic assumptions about the police officers in question. Had these officers been armed and adequately trained in the use of a firearm, 10 meters would have certainly been enough of a buffer distance for them to react appropriately to this situation versus one armed (possibly armed) suspect. I can assure you that had this ordeal played out in the US (involving armed and trained police officers), it would have had a much different outcome.

Although I can understand why Japan wants to keep guns out of civilian hands, it baffles me that their police force is not armed. It simply puts their officers at the mercy of any petty thug; whether they be armed with a pipe or a gun.
Raymasaki at 11:30 PM JST - 6th June

Guns are not allowed in Japan, illeagal. the police dont carry guns ( NOT on them ) But the Police force does have some only for emergency. it keeps Japan safe. But when i criminal has one yeah its Not good. with Guns Not in circulation theres alot Less. people have used Knifes to commit crime. Japanese police should have stunn Guns or tazers. keisatsu wa yonde kudasai! call the Police!
jinjapan at 12:02 AM JST - 7th June

the police in japan "do" carry guns. not all of them, but many. guns are also allowed in japan, although under very strict watch, for hunters. they hunt the wild boar, deer & bear.
borscht at 11:46 AM JST - 7th June

I think it's interesting that many koban cops and traffic patrol cops carry guns but these two did not. Why? I'm guessing the koban and traffic cops are packing heat 'in case of emergencies.' But these two plainclothes guys are investigating a crime. Would it not occur to them that an emergency might arise?
USNinJapan2 at 11:49 AM JST - 7th June

Raymasaki

That's a laugh. Exactly which Showa decade are you describing?
KaptainKichigai at 07:43 PM JST - 7th June

Hwy Nessie, without web searching it, what movie is that from?,,,,
blvtzpk at 07:45 PM JST - 7th June

KK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinking_badges