--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We should start with the basics: Police…" description: "\"We should start with the basics: Police officers are unlikely to be held accountable if the prosecutors investigating and potentially prosecuting them ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/chesa-boudin-16248_basics_we-should-start-with-the-basics-police-o_1482309.jpg" --- # We should start with the basics: Police officers are… ![“We should start with the basics: Police officers are unlikely to be held accountable if the prosecutors investigating and potentially prosecuting them feel indebted to them.” quote by Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/chesa-boudin-16248_basics_we-should-start-with-the-basics-police-o_1482309.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/chesa-boudin-16248_basics_we-should-start-with-the-basics-police-o_1482309.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/chesa-boudin-16248_basics_we-should-start-with-the-basics-police-o_1482309.jpg) > “We should start with the basics: Police officers are unlikely to be held accountable if the prosecutors investigating and potentially prosecuting them feel indebted to them.” [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accountability is compromised when prosecutors feel indebted to police, undermining justice. **In simple terms:** Indebted prosecutors hinder accountability. Key Takeaway Ensure independent oversight. Themes justice accountability law enforcement prosecution conflict of interest Mood critical concerned Type analytical advocacy When to use this quote - policy reform - law enforcement oversight - public trust Key Concepts Legal ethics systemic bias Questions to Reflect On - How can independence be safeguarded? - What reforms reduce bias? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex institutional relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basics/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Police officers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police-officers/) [Prosecutors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosecutors/) ## Related quotes > [People say I've had brushes with the law. That's not true. I've had brushes with overzealous prosecutors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/people-say-i-ve-had-brushes-with-the-law-that-s-not-true-i-ve-had/) [Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/) > [The reason I like the criminal justice system is there aren't Republican or Democrat victims or police officers or prosecutors. It's about respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/the-reason-i-like-the-criminal-justice-system-is-there-aren-t/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > ['CSI' has not only remained a top-rated show through seven seasons; it has had real-world consequences. Police and prosecutors complain of a 'CSI' effect'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/csi-has-not-only-remained-a-top-rated-show-through-seven-seasons-it/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [Most of the prosecutors I know are good people who are committed to protecting us from those who would prey on us. But these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-darden/most-of-the-prosecutors-i-know-are-good-people-who-are-committed-to/) [Christopher Darden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-darden/) > [Look at the Chandra Levy case. It's become a Star Chamber. The major networks, the cable networks, they're being prosecutors. They're judges and jurors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/look-at-the-chandra-levy-case-it-s-become-a-star-chamber-the-major/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [ “\[smart scientist (Climberg??)\] and his team built an artificial intelligence system. They fed it the same information that prosecutors had given judges in those… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/smart-scientist-climberg-and-his-team-built-an-artificial/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [It's not a cost of doing business when the corporation executives go to jail, and that's why they fight so hard to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/it-s-not-a-cost-of-doing-business-when-the-corporation-executives-go/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [We shouldn't tell prosecutors to 'pick and choose' what laws to uphold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gaetz/we-shouldn-t-tell-prosecutors-to-pick-and-choose-what-laws-to-uphold/) [Matt Gaetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gaetz/) > [I respect very much the role of the media in our society; I think they can be very, very helpful. They serve as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/i-respect-very-much-the-role-of-the-media-in-our-society-i-think-they/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [“There’s a common perception, partially true, that rich people are above the law. It’s true for a lot of us, but I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-james/there-s-a-common-perception-partially-true-that-rich-people-are-above/) [Ella James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-james/) > [The 5th Amendment guarantees that defendants can't face 'double jeopardy,' which means the government can't prosecute a person a second time for the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-shapiro/the-5th-amendment-guarantees-that-defendants-can-t-face-double/) [Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-shapiro/) > [I am asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorneys general to expand our investigations into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-am-asking-my-attorney-general-to-create-a-special-unit-of-federal/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A large portion of American citizens, especially people of color, have lost confidence in our criminal justice system. Many have called for appointing special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-large-portion-of-american-citizens-especially-people-of-color-have/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Prosecutors have absolutely no control over what witnesses say when they leave the grand jury room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/prosecutors-have-absolutely-no-control-over-what-witnesses-say-when/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [He decided to plunge on with pardons over the department's objections, or where he knew that there would be objections if he had let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-olson/he-decided-to-plunge-on-with-pardons-over-the-department-s-objections/) [Barbara Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-olson/) ## More by Chesa Boudin > [Different victims, different survivors of different crimes will choose to pursue different paths. And hopefully, over time, we can collectively transform our culture into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/different-victims-different-survivors-of-different-crimes-will-choose/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [My earliest memories are going into prisons. Going through metal detectors, getting searched by guards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/my-earliest-memories-are-going-into-prisons-going-through-metal/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [All it takes is a single person coming into or going out of the jail or prison with COVID-19, and the entire jail will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/all-it-takes-is-a-single-person-coming-into-or-going-out-of-the-jail/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [Being a foreigner - especially a white and relatively wealthy one - in poor, underdeveloped countries is inherently fraught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/being-a-foreigner-especially-a-white-and-relatively-wealthy-one-in/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [By incarcerating someone who is homeless or addicted or who suffers from mental health challenges, we only further destabilize that person and create situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/by-incarcerating-someone-who-is-homeless-or-addicted-or-who-suffers/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [“somewhere along the dust-chocked Guatemalan road between...and ...was where I confirmed that I preferred traveling around the slow, bone-rattling way: by bus,with ordinary people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/somewhere-along-the-dust-chocked-guatemalan-road-between-and-was/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [I want to give every victim of every crime in San Francisco the right to participate in restorative justice if they choose to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/i-want-to-give-every-victim-of-every-crime-in-san-francisco-the-right/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [As a law-enforcement official, as a politician, you are always going to have in the back of your mind the fear that someone you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/as-a-law-enforcement-official-as-a-politician-you-are-always-going-to/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [I don't expect to ever put my family background to rest but I do expect to be taken seriously as a scholar, a writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/i-don-t-expect-to-ever-put-my-family-background-to-rest-but-i-do/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [Local prosecutors must use the power and discretion afforded them to carry out sweeping reforms that will protect the public - especially Black communities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/local-prosecutors-must-use-the-power-and-discretion-afforded-them-to/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [My father, David Gilbert, is in prison in New York. He is lucky that he has a single cell, not shared with another person.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/my-father-david-gilbert-is-in-prison-in-new-york-he-is-lucky-that-he/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [If police departments won't remove officers who lack integrity, prosecutors should ensure that no one is prosecuted based on those officers' unreliable accounts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/if-police-departments-won-t-remove-officers-who-lack-integrity/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [Our criminal justice system is failing all of us. It is not keeping us safe. It is contributing to a vicious cycle of crime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/our-criminal-justice-system-is-failing-all-of-us-it-is-not-keeping-us/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [Stop and frisk - whether done while walking down the street or while driving a car - is a civil rights violation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/stop-and-frisk-whether-done-while-walking-down-the-street-or-while/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [The problem with money bail, for those who aren't familiar with it, is that it puts a price tag on freedom. It says to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/the-problem-with-money-bail-for-those-who-aren-t-familiar-with-it-is/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) [Explore all 40 Chesa Boudin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) ## More Basics quotes > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [I learned tabla for three years when in school, then started picking up the basics of the acoustic guitar when in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/i-learned-tabla-for-three-years-when-in-school-then-started-picking/) [Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/) > [The only way you can stay on top is to remember to touch bottom and get back to basics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/the-only-way-you-can-stay-on-top-is-to-remember-to-touch-bottom-and/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [To succeed, you will soon learn, as I did, the importance of a solid foundation in the basics of education - literacy, both verbal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/to-succeed-you-will-soon-learn-as-i-did-the-importance-of-a-solid/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [I see film as a real opportunity to examine the human condition. No matter where the technology goes in the future, the basics don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schultz/i-see-film-as-a-real-opportunity-to-examine-the-human-condition-no/) [Michael Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schultz/) > [Sometimes we think that the more expensive brands will be more effective. Sometimes if you stick to the basics, that's what really matters. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pia-wurtzbach/sometimes-we-think-that-the-more-expensive-brands-will-be-more/) [Pia Wurtzbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pia-wurtzbach/) > [As hundreds of millions of Chinese have improved their standard of living, this has put enormous pressure on natural resources, raw materials, and food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lubetzky/as-hundreds-of-millions-of-chinese-have-improved-their-standard-of/) [Daniel Lubetzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lubetzky/) > [Move quickly. Sound, calm mind. Be light in body. Have a clever mind. Master the basics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gogen-yamaguchi/move-quickly-sound-calm-mind-be-light-in-body-have-a-clever-mind/) Gogen Yamaguchi > [After almost exactly three hours, we rolled into a small hole of a town that had one traffic light and a resturant simply marked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/after-almost-exactly-three-hours-we-rolled-into-a-small-hole-of-a/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [When you're a dancer, you start with the basics. You don't all of a sudden do a grand jete and pirouette. You start with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/when-you-re-a-dancer-you-start-with-the-basics-you-don-t-all-of-a/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [There are huge misconceptions about people on benefits. They are labelled scroungers or cheats. The reality is that many who need that level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/there-are-huge-misconceptions-about-people-on-benefits-they-are/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [It's just lovely to be involved in a movie that does go back to the basics - characters and great writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/it-s-just-lovely-to-be-involved-in-a-movie-that-does-go-back-to-the/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [“When life gets confusing, go back to the basics. The rest is noise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-shelasky/when-life-gets-confusing-go-back-to-the-basics-the-rest-is-noise/) [Alyssa Shelasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-shelasky/) > [We have to stick to basics. Sometimes, you expect that miracles will happen, but it does not work out that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-afridi/we-have-to-stick-to-basics-sometimes-you-expect-that-miracles-will/) [Shahid Afridi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-afridi/) > [I don't think that you can write music if you don't know how to play an instrument. You have to know the basics, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alber-elbaz/i-don-t-think-that-you-can-write-music-if-you-don-t-know-how-to-play/) [Alber Elbaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alber-elbaz/) [Browse all 345 Basics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We should start with the basics: Police officers are unlikely to be held accountable if the prosecutors investigating and potentially prosecuting them feel indebted to them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chesa Boudin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/we-should-start-with-the-basics-police-officers-are-unlikely-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/we-should-start-with-the-basics-police-officers-are-unlikely-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/chesa-boudin-16248_basics_we-should-start-with-the-basics-police-o_1482309.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/chesa-boudin-16248_basics_we-should-start-with-the-basics-police-o_1482309.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/chesa-boudin-16248_basics_we-should-start-with-the-basics-police-o_1482309.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We should start with the basics: Police officers are unlikely to be held accountable if the prosecutors…” — Chesa Boudin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Chesa Boudin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We should start with the basics:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/we-should-start-with-the-basics-police-officers-are-unlikely-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/we-should-start-with-the-basics-police-officers-are-unlikely-to-be/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```