Deputy police chief questioned over suspected shoplifting in Hiroshima

Maybe is all part of a drill. Perhaps the crime rate in Iwakuni is soooo low, he thought it will be good idea to give the boys paperwork.

@tokyokawasaki, Yes, I think my rationale does apply to Japanese CEO's. They should be role models as should police. Unfortunately, many aren't. I think CEO's and policemen deserve a stronger punishment than say a homeless person or mom who can't support her kids. Why would you risk losing what you have for 1000 yen worth of groceries? A homeless man is really risking nothing. He has nothing to begin with.

@kwbrow2 - Does your rationale apply to Japanese CEO's?

@tokyokawasaki I think the job does matter. Most people would be more forgiving if we found the the thief was a homeless man or a child who has not eaten for a few days or a mom who can't pay her rent nor feed her kids. Knowing the persons profession helps put things in context. We expect more from people in high authority positions. While I agree all people should be role models, it is just human nature to show people more respect depending on their position.

Well, depending on his age, maybe he's slipping mentally. Dementia can manifest itself in many ways. One way is "attention getting behavior" like shoplifting.

This cop reminds me of my fomer boss who was making over 90k annually doing nothing and sitting pretty until he got busted in a sting operation soliciting prostitutes. What a BOZO, he lost his federal government job because of this.

Another idiot J cop!! Bakatarre!!

J-Cops salaries must suck if they got to shoplift food.

Model citizen

@tokyokawasaki as a member of the police, he is supossed to uphold the law and live by example. by that logic it would be ok for a minister to molest choirboys as long as he is of duty?????? or a fireman, who burns houses when he is off duty or a middle school teacher who collect girls high school panties. Yes the job matters!

Who is saying it was okay what he did? By being teachers, doctors, salarymen, OLs, parents... we are ALL supposed to uphold the law and live by example be it to our kids, out students, our coworkers... What does his job have to do with anything?? No, the job doesn't matter. It is did we wouldn't always be reading about greedy politicians who are supposed to look after the pubic, mother who beat their children...

These people should not be "on duty" 24 hours a day any more than YOU should be for whatever job it is that you do.

As for the comments about "dumb cops". Please. Do you think your job only hires the most intelligent. Do you think it is easy to do this job? I don't. Look at the snide comments of you all judging cops on a few bad apples. I suppose you cry though when all of us foreigners get tarred with the same brush.

This is a perfect example of perpetual motion. A cop commits a crime. Said crime is easily discovered and solved. Cops can present a good solved-case statistics. Therefore, Japan has good cops and is a safe country. Was he broke? Was he out of his minds? Did he have any unanswered complaints about his salary being too low? Odd story...

my favorite kind of deep news story

Many inexperienced Store Detectives tend to keep an eye on persons they consider to be needy, but it is rare that such citizens resort to theft. Shoplifting is more likely to be carried out by persons in a secure financial position, a crime commited by the greedy.These people come in all aspects of soceity, the legal sectors, proffesions and even the very wealthy. When caught they usualy attempt to avoid prosecution, thinking their position in soceity will deter Security and Management from bringing the Police into the situation.Obviously Management in this case were detemined to bring the arrest on suspicion of shoplifting of the Deputy Chief Police Officer to justice

@BlueWitch "keystone with no name? strange.... huh. Imagine all the measures they take to protect this 雑魚!" yeah they cover their own a--es dont they! as well as censorship.......

@ WilliB "This just such an archtypical Japanese thing. I mean, I read about corrupt cops in other places, but these outright weird behaviour of police... where do they find their recruits?" From the Keystone learning center....brought to you by the makers of Hiroshima...Enola...

Deputy Police Chief, not mr average... There is a problem here as committing such a crime at this career level shows either a complete lack of criminal law knowledge (bit of a worry) or a cry for help. Low level crime exasabated by the position the offender.

This just such an archtypical Japanese thing. I mean, I read about corrupt cops in other places, but these outright weird behaviour of police... where do they find their recruits?

@tokyokawasaki. Well I was trying to be fair. So here's my hOnest view. As kids are taught that those in power like teachers, doctors and policemen should be trusted without question, their opinions and actions carry abnormally high weight. If a construction worker or a dustman commits a crime it carries less moral weight than if a policeman or teacher does. The reason, because these people are expected to be trustable. (a construction workers moral obligation is to build a stable structure) Of course both are bad (as I can hear you screaming but a crime is a crime) but one of those commuting the crime had a social stereotype to uphold the law!! Not break it. The fact that you can not see this makes me worry for your future. What kind of society do we live in where we have to tell a child "yes do exactly as the policeman says, don't worry that he sometimes breaks the law he will hold you too without question" A policeman takes an OATH to uphold the law, not just when they feel like it. (a construction worker does not take an oath, to the best of my knowledge) That kind of society is where we are heading at present. I say name and shame them!! Let everyone know that corruption has infiltrated right upto the highest echelons and is festering there. I know you'll find holes in my logic but I don't have the space to cover every possible aspect of rebuttal and no should I need to! Common sense should prove my argument without question... But then you should always question and not follow blindly shouldn't you.

keystone with no name? strange.... huh. Imagine all the measures they take to protect this 雑魚！

@buggerlugs:

A police man should never really be off duty, they should always be diligent, uphold the law and be a trustworthy role model.

NO, NO, NO. Your morals and personality dictate whether or not you could be considered a role model. ALL decent people should be law abiding, diligent and trustworthy. You do not need to be in a position of authority.

I fail to see what his job has to do with what he does in his own time.

If all police should be role models and trustworthy, then I think most of the current force should be fired.

Unfortunately, in every job, 20% are incompetent(makes u think how this person got the job). Im just starting to realize this. EVERY JOB. 20% are amazing at what they do. 60% are average. Its scary knowing this. Doctors, teachers, lawyers, soldiers...

Usually I'd agree that the job is not important but in situations where the person is in a position of authority it is. A police man should never really be off duty, they should always be diligent, uphold the law and be a trustworthy role model.

@tokyokawasaki as a member of the police, he is supossed to uphold the law and live by example. by that logic it would be ok for a minister to molest choirboys as long as he is of duty?????? or a fireman, who burns houses when he is off duty or a middle school teacher who collect girls high school panties. Yes the job matters!

If he was off duty, he acted as a member of the public. Why bring his job title into it? It makes no difference if he was a janitor, doctor or policeman. Why? it makes for a better story...

Maybe he was just doing research? LOL!

But seriously, the difference between a cop and a criminal is less like a line and more like overlaping circles, one slightly off the center of the other. So many cops sign up for the power and relative impunity. Protect you? That is a rare cop.

Yes! Thank you JT, corrupt/criminal cop story has been overdue now for a while.

A Yamaguchi prefectural police spokesperson was quoted as saying that the incident was regrettable incident and that they will respond appropriately.

Yes! "regrettable"! That's right! Expectedly classic!

One word...Keystone!

Yeah its only regrettable to them that he got caught.

Jeez another one!! What is the character test to be a cop in Japan? Tester "are you honest?" Applicant "yes" Tester "well that's good enough for me" Tester "can I have my pen back please"

This thief was caught by the 万引きGメン (manbiki G men) security. Shoplifting sounds too easy, theft is a better word.He admitted to the crime.

Was he caught on a cam, or did some house detective nail him. Pretty stupid man, but I guess you have to be that way to be a copper here.