What is your opinion on U.S. police officers?

[ZombieHorde]

Poll question: What is your opinion on U.S. police officers?

[havocmom]

1. All of them? Am I supposed to have a general opinion of ALL based on the ones I know?

Isn't that a gateway to bigotry?

[ZombieHorde]

13. Step one: figure out how many you know.

Step two: figure out how many you like, dislike, or neither like nor dislike.

Step three: if you like a majority of them then vote for the first option, if you dislike a majority of them then vote for the third option, if you neither like nor dislike a majority of them then vote for the second option.

[anonymous171]

2. 90% just like waving their authority around and lording it over everyone.

Most of them were bullies in high school and became police officers so they would have the authority to bully people in civilized society.

The other 10% are good people who are trying to improve their communities.

[imdjh]

23. 90% of them are people doing the best they can with what they have.

No one likes to be policed, everyone likes to be protected.

Most of the complaints about police in the US come from police culture and policy- both of which have evolved considerably in the last 125 years, especially the last 50 years.

One thing that contributes nothing to the discussion is dragging out old stuff every time new stuff comes up. This is akin to a family dispute where you are dragging up stuff that happened 30 years ago and saying "You always do this!" when in fact I haven't done that since I was 15 years old.

Breaking the old-boy system of the police culture was the hardest thing to do, but one can hardly claim that tremendous success has not occurred in this regard. There are those who accuse the modern police forces of having joined the "old boy network" and these types of complaints generally come from people who object to police doing their job. The new black, female, gay, indian, or black and irish gay female police officer has not joined the old-boy network, she is doing the job of a police officer and it just so happens that smoking pot on the street is illegal. As it was, she let me go after grinding my joint into the sidewalk.

[Dreamer Tatum]

3. WTF is a "US police officer?" We don't have a national police force.

I know about my local cops, who are distinct from the cops two towns over.

[hfojvt]

11. I have lived in more than one town

:P

Don't they come from the same state police academy?

[ZombieHorde]

14. Police officers who work in the U.S. as opposed to police officers who work in Mexico or Canada.

[old mark]

4. I think generally they do a great job but there are some, like in every other

field, who should never have had that job. Problem is they have a lot more opportunities to really screw other people and thing up than most of us do - Kind of like doctors.

mark

[Ohio Joe]

6. +1 - nt

[hfojvt]

5. Okay, I gave them a C

since the choices are A, C, and F. Might have gone with B if that was an option. Maybe some of the Fs would be D-minuses, if that was an option.

[Marksbrother]

7. Thug with a badge

Police: N. armed force for protection and participation.

[Birthmark]

8. Meh.

There does, however, seem to be an increase in incidents involving officers acting outside the law. But that could be merely my perception.

I will say that the amount of power given to the police has increased dramatically in the last 30 years or so. It is a development that is dangerous to democracy and the Constitution, imo.

[konnichi wa]

9. None of the choices suit me...cops in general are no better or worse than the population.

I will say, however as a person who WAS a policeman - I worked my way through college as a cop- that I think we pretty much get what we're willing to pay for - which is not much. Same goes for teachers.

[ZombieHorde]

15. That would be the second option. nt

[Chulanowa]

10. I think they're legal gangs

I've had friends involved in street gangs. Some were alright people, they just had bad friends. Same with cops. They're a criminal organization that occasionally includes decent people.

[proteus_lives]

34. Really?

Tens of thousands of men and women across the nation and they are all part of a criminal organization?

[Chulanowa]

92. Nope, I sure don't

I think tens of thousands of men and women across the nation are part of many, many criminal organizations. Precinct by precinct, city by city.

[proteus_lives]

111. Prove it.

Show me the evidence that every police officer in every city and precinct is part of criminal activity. Until then, all you're doing is making stereotypical statements.

[Name removed]

115. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[proteus_lives]

117. So I'm a pig now?

Well, we've established that you're rude.

Let me be clearer, please provide proof that each organization/precinct is engaged in criminal activity. Can you do that, Mr. "Defy Authority"? :eyes:

[timtom]

162. How about a significant number of incidents, nationally?

For the past few years, news reports of brutality and murder at the hands of the police have abounded. I know you have the intellectual wherewithal to google them and see many videos highlighting the criminal behavior.

But, here's the latest one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN4BjzPD9r4

[Speck Tater]

12. That's like asking "What's your opinion of dentists?"

Is there some principle of the Universe which makes it possible for all members of a particular profession to be described with a single broad-brush judgment?

So what's your opinion of DU posters?

[ZombieHorde]

17. "So what's your opinion of DU posters?"

I like DU posters.

Is there some principle of the Universe which makes it possible for all members of a particular profession to be described with a single broad-brush judgment?

I suspect you did not read my poll answers.

[etherealtruth]

16. They're human ....

.... they fall into the ranges most human beings do. Some are wonderful, some are horrific and most fall somewhere in between.

[mrcheerful]

19. Actually its not really the officers themselves but the legal system as a whole that is

just plan bad. Cops have quotas they need to fill and often take the easiest way out.

[ThirdWorldJohn]

18. Usually a cop is standing by watching a cop break the law and testifies for the bad cop at trial and

is not charged with being complicit in the bad cop's crime.

[Marr]

20. To be perfectly honest, I've noticed the police contain a disproportionate percentage of

men (and women) with dick issues. You can find those sort of people anywhere, or course, but if you throw a rock in a crowd of a civilians, then throw a rock in a crowd of policemen, I think you'd find that your odds of hitting someone with a masculinity complex go up sharply on the second throw.

I've known several cops. Some are good friends, and I like them a lot. But they do have dick issues.

[tom_paine]

21. As with nazification, Bushification means increased corruption and lawlessness from Police.

Trickle down Tyranny. It's the only part of Trickle-Down that works.

I answered in the middle, neither love nor hate them as a whole. However, only a fool could miss what is happening to law enforcement as the entire nation Bushifies, and I think Obama's election changes little of this long-term trend (sadly).

Law Enforcement and the judiciary becomes evermore corrupt and cruel under Bushification/Nazification. I have read "Defying Hitler" by Sebastian Haffner and the crepy way he describes the Nazification of judiciary and law enforcement bears more than a few creepy parallels to our own current situation since at least 12/12/2000.

One scene, which reminds me so much of the corrupt "Bush Judiciary" is where Haffner is serving as a functionary in a local court in 1933, and the way the Nazi Attorney comes in an dominates with, as Haffner put it, "legal justifications that would have gotten us severly lectured and failed in our Referendar examinations" (Referendar was the title of the lowest rung of the German court officers at the time).

Look at John Yoo, our own Nazi, and his justifications not just for torture but the ones which would have, had they dared to implement them, fully nazified legal jurisprudence in America and removed all rights from the citizenry.

They, too are full of legal justifications that would get a first-year law student laughed out of their class.

And yet, like the Nazis, they stand.

Which is a lot to say that, as our nation continues it's descent into Bushification, law enforcement and the judiciary become more and more corrupt, criminal enemies of liberty. And thus more to be feared as the corruption spreads and Bushification/Nazification cements itself.

[Dr Fate]

22. I've met many, many cool cops, and a couple of jerks.

So I voted for the 1st option.

[XOKCowboy]

27. Same Here...

My cousin and good friend was a cop. He went in as a shithead and came out a good cop. One of the reasons he retired was his department's emphasis on targeting young potheads. Thanks to him I've got to hang around with a lot of cops in their off hours. As you said most were honorable people doing a very tough job. They talked about the head knockers and jerks but didn't hang out with them.

[Bluenorthwest]

155. Honorable people do not target youthful pot smokers

While allowing real crime to go unaddressed. No meth in that precinct? Of course there is, but meth heads are scary. Teenaged pot smokers are not. No honor in that at all. None. Sorry I find it to be a scummy way to eke out a living on the public dole. And note that they knew about the 'head knockers' and took no action against them. Again, no honor. None at all.

[walkaway]

24. I live in NJ and am a 5'8" woman....all of the police officers here are tiny men!

I'll never forget my first trip to DC as an adult and being amazed at how tall and fit the federal police were.

The police in my town are all shorter than I am and those I know were kind of wimpy in high school. Not the brightest bulbs in the pack but connected enough to get a job that pays a lot better than mid-management retail.

They hang out at home for most of their shifts, do as little as possible and don't get out of their police cars when it's cold or rainy.

[Bonhomme Richard]

25. What I told my kids. The police are NOT your friends. n/t

[ThomWV]

30. You are absolutly right about that.

I have never in my life had a good experience with a police officer. Bunch of fucking thugs if you ask me.

[proteus_lives]

36. So you're teaching your children to be bigoted?

I'm glad you're teaching them to smear and stereotype a entire group of people.

I shudder to think what you're teaching them about other groups/races/religions/cultures that you don't like.

[DaveinJapan]

87. but it's not "an entire group of people"

it's a chosen profession. And certain professions attract certain types of people.

Your comments are akin to calling someone a bigot for telling their kids to beware of loan sharks and never trust a bookie.

[proteus_lives]

97. Really?

Would you say the same thing about nurses, soldiers, teachers? You comment means that the police attract "bad" people, why don't those other professions attract "bad" people? Seems confusing given the reports we see on nurses killing their patients, teachers fucking their students and sleazy lawyers.

Yes, it's a chosen profession but there people of every race/creed and both genders in that profession. Are you really comfortable lumping all those people together?

[Raineyb]

94. No he or she is teaching the child what needs to be taught to reduce the odds of the child being a

victim of the police. I told my nephew the same thing just last week. The police are not your friend.

[proteus_lives]

98. You're doing your nephew a disservice.

Can you really not see it? Just replace "police" with black, jew or latino.

Do think every police officer in the nation walks out their door thinking, "Man, I can't wait to victimize someone today."

[WeDidIt]

104. HE's teaching his nephew the TRUTH. Cops are professional liars

That's what they're paid to do.

[proteus_lives]

109. Once again, prove it.

Show me the evidience that all cops are liars.

Until then, you're just another bigot.

[WeDidIt]

126. Here's yhour proof

All cops will tell any suspect they pick up lies to get the suspect to talk to them. If they are two suspects, they break them up and tell both of them, "your friend already told us everything, so you might as well tell us everything you know."

It's part of their training.

They are ALL professional liars. Every last damned one of them.

Never trust any cop. Doing so puts your life at risk.

[proteus_lives]

129. Silly.

It's called tactics not lying. People who commit crimes rarely admit to them up front. And when police interrogate someone, they operate under specific guidelines. Do cops lie in all other situations? You offered a an example that supported your stereotype (even though it really didn't.)

Once again, show me proof. Your still just acting like a bigot with a chip on your shoulder.

[conscious evolution]

154. Lying is the tactic

Cops don't lie in all situations.
They only lie when interrogating someone and in court.

[WeDidIt]

163. No, it's lying

Calling it anything else is, well, you figure it out.

[Obamanaut]

132. Dude, you watch entirely too much teevee. nt

[WeDidIt]

164. I watch almost no "teevee" n/t

[Hawkowl]

120. You're nuts

Really. Poor little coppers. They were just born that way. The police are NOT your friends. Their jobs is to catch scapegoats and imprison them. They don't give a shit about the truth or justice. The vast majority that is.

[Raineyb]

168. I'm protecting my nephew from people who would shoot first and ask questions later

Black men in this country do not get the benefit of the doubt from the police even when said black man is a cop himself. I do my nephew a disservice if I allow him to think otherwise.

BTW, and you're analogy of police officer as a profession being on par with one's race is offensive.

[endarkenment]

161. It is simply a fact. When you are interacting with a police officer

you are in danger of losing your freedom. If you do not assume that the police officer is NOT your friend you can harm yourself. This is not about prejudice against 'a(n) entire group of people', it is a fact about the nature of law enforcement. Ask any criminal defense lawyer, or any honest cop, about how you should interact with police officers, and they will tell you to minimize your interactions, to volunteer no information about yourself or any of your acquaintances, and to assume that your interaction qualifies you as the subject of a criminal investigation.

[notesdev]

26. Too many have become

revenue agents

It should be a cop's job to protect and serve, not to become an impromptu tollbooth wherever they happen to set up. Other than the color of law, I am having trouble saying just what distinguishes cops from any other violent armed gang.

[HopeHoops]

28. The level of professionalism I've seen generally corresponds to position.

Most state troopers I've encountered have been very professional and I would give them high marks (well, other than that asshole in Texas).

County police are typically similar, but I don't think the training is as good.

Local police are a mixed bag. In some places I've been they are really great people and there is little hostility. In others, there is a tendency toward assholishness.

Mall cops and other rent-a-cops are below the bar here. I don't expect too much from them.

[onehandle]

29. DU hates cops. Loves weed and guns.

We seem to be inhabited by the stereotypical bad guys from most Dirty Harry movies.

[Webster Green]

31. Most of them are power freaks, just trying to ruin someone's life..

I don't like 'em. :grr:

[Raine]

32. Thugs with a badge

is my opinion of them. x(

[tularetom]

33. The ones around here are generally lazy and incompetent

I don't think they are necessarily on the take, but they aren't especially good at interaction with the people they are supposed to serve.

They aren't encouraged to get to know the citizens or to learn about the area they are supposed to be patrolling.

I don't live in town but my suggestion would be to get some of those city cops out of their patrol cars and have them walk a beat. In addition to improving relations between the citizens and the PD, it might get some of the lard off those cops butts. Plus it might save on gas.

And don't even get me started about police services in unincorporated areas. Around here, they basically do not exist. I'm not sure why we even have a sheriff's department.

This isn't an indictment of every "US police officer". It really isn't even an indictment of our local cops. It's more of a reflection of a lack of leadership in their departments and a lack of recognition on the part of the politicians and chiefs as far as what the responsibilities and duties of a police department actually is.

Disclaimer: My son and son in law were both on one of the local police forces in the past. Son left after a few years because he got a better job offer, son in law was encouraged to take early retirement because he was a malingerer and a hypochondriac.

[SoCalDem]

35. There are good ones, and bad ones.. like in any profession

It's a tough job, made tougher by modern technology & record-keeping. Most probably, do a great job, but the ones we hear about, are the ones who screw up..e

[proteus_lives]

37. This poll will lead to the typical anti-police bullshit.

I don't see how anyone can judge an entire group of people. But some DUer's make the good old college try.

[nosmokes]

38. a bumper-sticker popular in the '60s read * if you call cops pigs next time you need

help call a hippie!*

I always thought that was a fantastic piece of advice. there are very very few situations that the cops make better.

[Confusious]

39. What About

I try to avoid them after robbing a bank?

Or

I don't call them after my Meth lab gets stolen?

Opps, that second one tags me as too smart to be a criminal.

[krispos42]

40. All my interactions with them have been positive, even when I was arrested

In fact, when I was arrested and didn't have the money on my to post bond, one of the deputies went to the ATM for me to get the rest of the money out.

I've gotten a couple of tickets, gotten out out of a couple more, never had any officers act anything but professional.

:shrug:

[steelmania75]

41. They can find give you a parking ticket when you're 5 min late, but....

...you can never find/get them to help when something serious happens.

[Quantess]

42. It may depend on what city, or what precinct.

[vadawg]

43. the way it works with me is that it takes a lot more effort for me to be an asshole

so i only go into asshole mode if you act like one, if i ask you a question be honest, dont try to lie to me as i am not going to write you a ticket for going 5 over the limit but if you lie to me, then i will, take the lecture its free and the ticket isnt. Remember i am trying to go home at the end of my shift so if you decide to fight me i am going to try to stomp a mud hole in your ass, and the county gives me lots of shiny objects to help me win, all in all it all comes down on your attitude when stopped ny the popo, i may be having the worst day imaginable (recovering someone from a crash, death notification etc) so at least try to be polite to me, and no saying you honky motherfucker is not friendly even if said with a smile.

[rug]

44. Poll closed.

"i am going to try to stomp a mud hole in your ass, and the county gives me lots of shiny objects to help me win"

[vadawg]

48. as opposed to if you fight me i will let you win and hurt me, possibly kill me

im not sure where you are going with this one.

[rug]

50. You think someone who is not deferential to you is going to kill you?

BTW, who do you have in mind that is going to call you a "honky motherfucker"?

[vadawg]

52. okay im going to put it down to you misreading my post

just before the bit you quoted i distincly say if you fight me, ie get ina fight with me etc etc etc, and my favourite criminal in the world always refers to me as the honky motherfucker and to him he s being respectful and i take it as such.

[rug]

53. I'm going to put it down that you're a racist asshole with a badge.

Sorry about the attitude.

[vadawg]

55. i feel sorry for your attitude as well, seems you have issues that are beyond my help

hope you have a great day. lol

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[vadawg]

58. lol i know ill regret this but i take it bull is derogatory....

[rug]

65. Theophilus Eugene "Bull" Connor? Not at all derogatory.

[Obamanaut]

68. Democrat, wasn't he? nt

[rug]

70. As is your namesake.

[Obamanaut]

72. Are you comparing or contrasting the two? nt

[rug]

73. I'm observing that they're both Democrats. What are you doing?

[Obamanaut]

82. Wondering if you are comparing or contrasting the two.

edited to add

Also wondering why you would say Bull as in “Bull” Connor is not derogatory when addressing someone as such. Many people would think otherwise - bigot, segregationist, some say KKK member. Just wondering.


http://www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus/web14/features/bio/B15_2.html

Theophilus Eugene Connor was born in Dallas County, Alabama, in 1897. "Bull" Connor was most famous for his staunch defense of racial segregation and for ordering the use of police dogs and fire hoses to disperse civil rights demonstrators in Birmingham during the spring of 1963. He is shown here reading papers at his desk.

[rug]

85. Were you comparing Bull Connor to the Democratic Party?

[Obamanaut]

90. Were you? I said he was a Democrat, which is true. You suggested

calling someone "Bull" as in "Bull" Connor is not derogatory, but many would disagree with that.

You said that my namesake is likewise a Democrat, which is true. I asked if you are comparing or contrasting the two, and you have only obfuscated.

[backscatter712]

93. These days, I prefer the name Joe...

as in Joe Arpaio.

Thug cops tend to be Republicans these days, as opposed to civil-rights-era Dixiecrats.

[vadawg]

69. no idea who he is mate. but i guess someone you dont like

[rug]

74. Here he is. You may like him.

[Name removed]

75. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rug]

76. OK, Martin, watch out for your favorite criminal.

[vadawg]

77. lol you really do have issues, i hope you get them worked out,

[rug]

78. You're right. I think everyone who doesn't answer my questions is going to kill me.

[vadawg]

79. you also need help reading and probuably in feeding yourself, plamf

[rug]

81. plamf? Yes, I do need help reading that.

[Raineyb]

95. Delete

I should finish threads before posting.

[XOKCowboy]

54. You left out the first part "If you fight me". I wonder why?

If I was ever stupid enough to try and fight a cop I'd expect to get my ass whipped.

[rug]

61. You left out the next part, "it all comes down on your attitude when stopped ny the popo"

If you're stupid enough to let the outcome of a traffic stop depend on a man with a gun approving of your attitude, move to va.

[XOKCowboy]

80. I'm not stupid enough to challenge a police officer...

There are other avenues if you think you've been wronged. As has been stated here they don't know who's in the car they're approaching, they have to deal with many things that most of us wouldn't be able to stomach and most have been to several funerals of fellow officers. I would never want to be a cop but I'm sure glad that they're out there.

[Heidi]

119. With all due respect, XOKCowboy, people CHOOSE to become police officers. They're not drafted.

Why should I automatically confer hero status to _anyone_ on the basis of what they freely choose to do for a living, knowing full well the risks and rewards when they signed on? I try to treat EVERY person I meet with respect, whether that person has the authority and tools to stomp a hole in my ass or not -- not BECAUSE that person has the authority and tools to stomp a hole in my ass.

[Joe the Revelator]

45. Here here

Its a thankless job, so thank you for doing it. This poll is a sad reflection on DU.

[Obamanaut]

62. Agreed. nt

[Obamanaut]

59. I can relate to what you said. I was stopped one day. I knew it was

me he was after as soon as I saw the patrol car move. I pulled over and waited, even before the blue lights came on. He asked me if I knew what the speed limit was and/or how fast I was going. I knew the answer to both and gave correct responses (I was doing 45 in a 30 zone). He asked why and the answer was I was listening to the Gators stomp Fla A&M and wondering why they were in the same stadium. He asked me why I wasn't wearing a seat belt, and asked the score of the game. I gave the answer to both. He told me I could protest the ticket in court and I asked why - I was in fact going over the limit, and did not have my belt fastened. He grinned, I signed the ticket, and we parted company in a friendly fashion.

I have been a prison guard. I knew where the (supposedly) bad guys were. Police officers never know for sure what will greet them at a car window. Why should we make the job more difficult than it already is?

Most, nearly all, of the police officers I've ever known, and most of the prison guards as well, have been nice people. I think they are representative of people as a whole - most good, some not so much.

[vadawg]

63. i work both in the jail and the street, its a good contrast and stops you getting jaded

my only problem is i curse a lot which works in the jail but granny dosent like it when you muthafecker her at a traffic stop without realising it. As i said it all comes down to your attitude towards me, im getting paid whether i give you lecture and have a nice day or ticketing and towing.

[Obamanaut]

64. 28 years in the Navy plus 7 as correctional officer - wife would not

tolerate either vocabulary. I'm pretty docile now, and can converse with real people in most any situation.

edited for spwlling

[vadawg]

67. lol culturally i am a million miles form my wife and cursing is compulsary when i grew up

ive even had inmates write request forms asking if they are in the shit because ive cursed so much, its a bad habit but 16 years as a soldier and a few years doing this havent helped.

[Bluenorthwest]

158. So what happens at a stop is up to the citizen stopped

and you can not even control your own language to the point that convicts are intimidated by your speech? If you can not manage your own lexicon, you are not managing your own mind. If you swear when it is not appropriate to do so, such as at 'granny at a stop light' you are not much of an officer. Nor much of a man. Hence the guns and the attitude of arrogance.
Reading your posts makes me want to change my vote to something far worse, like they are all inhuman and out of control people who shout 'motherfucker' at old ladies in traffic.

[WeDidIt]

102. My attitude to you in a traffic stop will be completely feined

I have yet to meet a cop at a traffic stop that had an attidue of anything better than an ego trip with a gun strapped to their side.

And cops sometimes wonder where the purgorative "pig" came from.

So yeah, I'll give you a "yes sir" and "no sir", but inside, there's not a lick of respect.

[vadawg]

121. i dont care if inside theres no respect as long as you are polite to me, i will be polite back

even if i believe you are the biggest piece of crap on the planet, in fact i dont really care if you hate me beyond all hate, i dont get paid to have you love me i get paid to enforce the laws and get involved in shit that no one else wants to do.

[nini]

148. My dad was a LAPD homicide detective

he told me many stories of these assholes of which you speak. He also told me the hardest part of the job was NOT becoming the asshole you're dealing with when having to do so. An episode that haunted him was when the daughter of a fellow officer was raped - when the suspect was brought in it was all they could do to not kill the guy on the spot. However, they controlled the ones that needed it and protected the suspect as they should have. He believed in not being the judge and jury. He was a great officer.

He was absolutely heart broken when the Rodney King episode happened because he saw the breakdown of what officers taught to do and succumbed to their adrenaline and didn't control the fellow officers who needed it. He had tears in his eyes over all that and I felt so sorry for him. I will add he also said he never would have gone into police work this day and age - it's just too crazy out there.

My dad died 11 years ago and on this father's day I will say I am very proud of his service as an officer. It takes a very special person to be able to walk that fine line needed to control that adrenaline and those that do it are invaluable to our society.

Stay safe out there.

[flvegan]

46. Defintely Option 1

[BlooInBloo]

47. Not a fan of terrorists.

[Greyhound]

49. After 40 years of being converted from public servants into paramilitary thugs,

I have no respect left for them. There are a few good ones, but even they cannot/will not stand up to the criminality that pervades departments across the nation.

[earth mom]

51. Our family had a horrible experience with a cop who publicly slandered my mother when she was killed

by a drunk driver. He didn't even know my mom, but he was friends with the killer.

It was a horrible experience to be grieving over my moms death and have that fucking asshole say shit like he did.

I wanted to sue his ass off, but my father wouldn't allow it. :grr:

The good cops are few and far between IMO.

[tabbycat31]

57. I think highly of them in general

sure there's a few bad apples but that's the case in every occupation.

The local police here can best be described as eye candy, which is always a plus. I like having the protection there should I ever need it.

[WI_DEM]

60. Maybe some of us should become police officers since obviously we would be so much better than those

now serving.

[norepubsin08]

66. 99.9% of them a bunch of arrogant worthless

assholes!!!!

[libodem]

71. I'm a child of the 60's

I've never been keen on authority. I was taught the police are your friends and there to help you. From about Jr. High on I did things that I didn't want to be caught at.<- (If you have ever seen worse sentence structure raise your hand) I was a police hater. We were the junior hippies of the era. We experimented with everything even protest marches against the Viet Nam war. We called the police pigs. We hated narcs. Still people need protection and traffic enforcement. Cops have a scary job but they don't need to be scary to do it.

[Indy Lurker]

83. We have great cops in my town.

Can't speak for other places.

As with any organization, there is a culture that develops over time. It's very hard to change the culture of a group, especially if they have been doing it wrong for 30 years.

I am fortunate to live in a town where the culture is good, and an effort is made to train the new recruits to do things the right way.

[sendero]

84. I live in Dallas..

... virtually every encounter I've had with Dallas police has been positive.

On the other hand, most encounters I've had with the numerous suburban cops (Richardson, Garland, Frisco) well not so much.

[Maru Kitteh]

86. I think for the most part we have a very good, highly underpaid force doing the shittiest job I can

think of. Police officer for me ranks right there with general studies high-school teacher. *shudder*


I would like to see a two year degree required for the job. It would eliminate lots of problems.

[Bluenorthwest]

159. They are Union workers

in Los Angeles a new cop with just a high school diploma starts at $56,500. That is much, much more than any other gig with just high school. That does not seem like 'highly underpaid' for a 19 year old with no college.

[ismnotwasm]

88. In my neighborhood?

I'm usually very glad to see them

Thankless profession if you ask me. When I doubt the value of a police force, I think of what my personal version of vigilante justice would be like if I was in control. Not pretty. I appreciate a certain amount of structure, although some of our laws are fucked.

There was a time in my life when I couldn't stand the police. Now I see them as human beings like any other, with a very tough job.

[Hekate]

89. The ones I saw today at the Solstice Parade were looking very buff in their bicycle shorts...

Yum!

Oh, wait--that wasn't what you meant?

Look, I can't answer a 3-question survey like yours -- words like "fantastic" and so on are fairly meaningless in real life. In our city and county we try to keep the cops and sheriffs connected with their sense of honor and decency, while they are called on for tasks as diverse as drug busts, gang activity, murders, happy parades and angry anti-war parades. During our vigorous anti-war protests, the only cops assigned were bicycle cops plus a few patrol cars. Yes, they took pictures of us, but essentially that is part of their job too. For our part we got parade permits.

They're not perfect, but I know people who are actively involved in citizens' groups keeping tabs on various law enforcement issues.

I read stuff here about cops in other areas and it turns my stomach. Where's the civic outrage in those regions? Where's the civic involvement on commissions and the like? When granny and the kindergartener can be Tasered on the same day, that's just sick.

Hekate

[backscatter712]

91. Can't tell the good ones from the Basiji-wannabes, so I have to assume they're all bad.

The greatest danger to anyone's life, liberty and property in this country comes from the police.

Never trust a cop.

[proteus_lives]

99. It always amazes me.

Just replace the word "police" with black, jew, mexican, etc.

Does it feel good have some group to hate?

[BlooInBloo]

101. That's so fucking stupid. It's difficult to describe just how fucking jackass stupid that is.

BiB: "I hate rapists!"

PL: "Just substitute black/jew/whatever for rapist - why are you a bigot"?

:rofl:

[proteus_lives]

103. Is it really so hard to understand?

You can't lump an entire group of people together. And you can't compare a criminal to police officer. Rapists never benefit anybody or anything but police officers do, just like other legitimate professions.

Why do you hate police officers? Did one mistreat you? If that's the case do you have prove that every other officer in the nation was "in on it"? Because what would be the only way you could justify your views.

Come on cupcake. Show me what you got. I love when people try and justify their bigotry.

[WeDidIt]

105. Sure you can. Some of the bigget criminals ARE police officers

So don't play that bullshit with me.

The only difference between a cop and a criminal is the badge.

[proteus_lives]

108. prove it.

Show me the evidence that every cop is a criminal.

Until then you can, go back to eating that shit sandwich of yours.

[WeDidIt]

127. You need to learn how to read. n/t

[backscatter712]

110. I never stated all cops were Basiji wannabes. Just you can't tell the thugs apart from the rest.

That means that every time you have an encounter with a cop, you're in a game of Russian Roulette, and the stakes being gambled are your life, limbs and liberty. Maybe nine times out of ten you'll get one that behaves professionally, but all it takes is one bad cop, and your entire life is turned upside down, maybe ended. Maybe he'll plant a bag of weed on you because you pissed him off, and you'll get to spend months or years in prison. Maybe you'll get a cop keyed up from a previous encounter, and he'll beat the shit out of you for no reason, then have you charged with "resisting arrest". Or maybe you'll get the big whammie like the person at that BART station that was cuffed, thrown to the ground, then shot in the back of the head. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXWSgG-KNng ) Just a few days ago, there was a cop in the Denver area that got pissed off because a fast food joint was too slow for him while he was going through the drive-thru, so he drew his sidearm on the employees.

One bad cop, and your entire life could be ruined. Or ended.

You don't know when you might bump into a bad cop. So you've got to act accordingly. We have to assume all cops are bad because a few assholes spoil it for the rest of them.

For the cops in this thread: Don't like it? POLICE YOUR OWN!!!

[vadawg]

122. So i take it you are ok then with all cops treating all (insert group here) as assholes because

a few people in (insert group here) are assholes, i guess in your world its easy to broadbrush but in the real world assholes are not confined to any one group and you gotta discern who the assholes are and treat accordingly or your not gonna have chance in life.

[WeDidIt]

165. Here's an idea

Stop the culture of "cops don't snitch on cops" and clean up your own house.

We can talk after that.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

118. Dumb anaology.

Cops choose to be cops, but blacks, Latinos, etc. are born that way.

[proteus_lives]

128. It's that hard to understand?

It's ok to judge an group of people? People who share an occupation but are different men and women and can be of every race and creed. So you're ok with stereotyping people you've never met?

What other occupations would you so similarly judge?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

133. If they don't want to be stereotyped, they can quit their jobs.

If blacks, Latinos or other minorities don't want to be stereotyped because of their race, they can't do anything about it.

People who share an occupation but are different men and women and can be of every race and creed. So you're ok with stereotyping people you've never met?

Officers are being stereotyped because of their actions, not their skin color. They are publicly funded and are supposed to be held to a higher standard, particularly because they use the full weight of the law in their profession.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

140. So you must hate all teachers too

Because they are all running around fucking their students, right?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

142. I also yell at puppies.

Your stupid strawman aside, teachers can't use their authority and the full weight of the law to falsely imprison or hurt people.

And I don't hate all cops. I hate the bad ones, but the problem is I don't know which ones are good and which are bad.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

143. Strawman, eh?

Teachers are publically funded, expected to be held to a higher standard, have been know to use authority granted to them in schools and as an "adult" in a child's world to blackmale or intimidate them. Within the bounds of a school, they can have a tremendous impact, and sometimes that is all they need.

They can also choose their profession, of course.

The difference is, I've come to know who the good ones and the bad ones are, both teachers and cops. Drop the shell, and maybe you can too.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

149. A cop can screw up someone's life far easier and with far more bad consequences than any teacher.

And cops can screw over anybody. Their jurisdiction covers people of all ages, not just students.

The difference is, I've come to know who the good ones and the bad ones are, both teachers and cops. Drop the shell, and maybe you can too.

Wow, you've met all of them? :eyes:

[Raineyb]

96. Thugs with badges.

Acting like asses under color of authority. Lazy, greedy and corrupt as hell not to mention the jackasses who apparently come in from Long Island and act like an occupying army.

At least that's the NYPD for you. I make it a point to avoid the lying sons of bitches.

When the so-called good cops stop covering for the murderous, thieving, rapacious assholes then maybe we can start talking about having some respect for the force. Until then, I will say this, the police are not your friend.

[Oldenuff]

100. I don't much care for them either..

It's a shame too,as being a police officer used to carry with it a certain amount of respect when I was growing up.It has become so militarized now,that I fully expect Swat to be called out for a noise violation.

Ever try to engage a police officer in polite conversation?It used to be easy to simply talk to one years ago,but they all have the superior attitude nowadays.

Maybe it's like being a politician.Once they are elected/hired,they take on that untouchable/unaccountable attitude.

[WeDidIt]

106. There once were a few good apples in the barrel

but the bad apples spoiled them all.

[MrSlayer]

107. I'm a big supporter of the Police.

It's a tough, dangerous, thankless job. I'm glad to have them around.

[Renew Deal]

112. I like US Americans

:D

[crimsonblue]

113. In the words of N.W.A.

Fuck tha police.

[liquid diamond]

131. Ditto. I live in Los Angeles...enough fucking said. I hate cops.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

146. I'd say fuck da people.....

...if they are going to set cars on fire every time their team wins.

[liquid diamond]

166. Is that Shirley in your sig? She is sooo fucking hawt!

[Bluenorthwest]

156. LAPD sux

it is a criminal and corrupt department and has been since the start. From harassing of Okies at the Nevada Border, to their daily trampling of the Constitution, the LAPD has never known their place, nor kept to their charge. They function with impunity, fully covered by their rotten superiors.

[nini]

151. I know one of the found members of the NWA

He's the biggest pussy cat you'd ever want to meet and a huge marketing genius. They're not all angels, but you'd NEVER know this guy was who he was by the way he handled himself.

[Balbus]

114. Unfortunately, that job attracts the personalities that should not have that job.

And the people that would really be good at the job don't want the job.

[PufPuf23]

136. Nail on head.

Those that enter the field that would be good at the job are corrupted or leave.

My BIL was a corrupt Chief of Police for 30 years and caused great damage to my family by his greed and criminal behavior.

He retired and paid no price. He was a toad for the powerful and a bigot as well as a local Promise Keeper leader.

Those that self-select the profession tend to a certain personality type and then self-select into a band of brothers.

I have had close to zero positive experiences with law enforcement in my nearly 60 years as a citizen and a former professional in an agency with some law enforcement personnel.

[Dem_4_Life]

116. The majority of cops I have met have been really cool good people

And then you have a few jerks like my ex (who I heard he pulls over girls to flirt with), and a cop my Mom turned in when she saw him tripping someone on purpose on a drunk video.

[Enthusiast]

123. I didn't answer

I suspect around 38% of our police force, nationally, are seriously flawed. I hate to say this. Maybe the number is lower but I fear it is not. Take my surrounding area, for example. The police are forever arresting small time drug dealers but they never ever arrest anyone bringing in the large amounts of drugs, ir drug wholesalers. I believe they are paid off. No one with connections is ever arrested for DUI or any crime of significance really. And I know of instances of extreme and unjustified violence by the police force. Mucho general incompetence also.

[shadowknows69]

124. Mucho respecto for the ones actually "On the job"

Frankly though, as of late, I think they recruit too many Iraq/Afghaistan veterans before they've had time to properly decompress.

[quickesst]

125. We like them when...

..they protect us, and catch bad people. We hate/fear them when we look up and see one in our rear-view mirror. I call it a necessary evil. You have to think about what would happen if they all suddenly quit. I'm glad they're on the job, although I wish we didn't need them. Edit to add, we'll never be that good. Thanks.
quickesst

[Mudoria]

130. I think 99% are great... the other 1% are assholes

Probably the same ratio as the people on DU

[KG]

134. underpaid, undertrained, overmilitarized and forced to enforce too many stupid laws

[elmaji]

135. My police do nothing but write traffic tickets

When poeple broke into my home, leaving fingerprints everywhere, and I do mean EVERYWHERE, they didn't even bother to lift fingerprints, or take any evidence, or do anything for that matter.

Fuck those guys.

[mwooldri]

137. I'm up for a real test of the US police. Disarm most of them.

If firearms are involved have a rapid deployment firearms response unit but general patrol officers should not be armed.

Personally I think they do have a tough job and are underappreciated. Respect the individual and the force, but don't trust 100% because there are bad eggs out there and they do taint the whole image of the police force.

[ZombieHorde]

138. I wish I would have added some locations to my poll answers, such as North West or South East. nt

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

139. Yeah, this won't end well

Saying all cops are thugs/crooked/bigots/assholes is one of those dumbass prejudices that DU permits. Like the way Freepers hate all teachers.

[armyowalgreens]

141. It really drives me crazy...

This hatred of cops is hypocritical on so many levels.

And whenever I come to show support for police, I'm labeled a sheep or right wing infiltrator.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

144. Only in certain threads

The endless "Asshole cop tazes grandma" threads that turn into a claim that every cop in that state lined up to take a shot at the woman, then every cop in the country did it, etc........if you try to bring in any rational thought to those threads, you are barking up the wrong tree, just like wearing an Obama buttom to a teabagger party.

[armyowalgreens]

145. I counter protested at a tea party...

I had people threaten to kill me.

Sometimes people get their heart set on an idea and refuse to be reasonable.

It's just annoying when my own side does it.

[proteus_lives]

153. You're not the only one.

I've never understood lumping an wntire group together. I got called a pig myself upthread.

[Raineyb]

169. Perhaps that had to do with your rather offensive analogy.

Because equating someone's job with being a racial minority (especially when it is the cops who so often victimize racial minorities) is just patently offensive.

[proteus_lives]

172. Why are they being offensive themselves?

I find using the acts of individuals to judge and stereotype every member of a profession offensive.

I also find it necessary to point out that anti-police hatred is one of permissible bigotries on DU. I don't understand that.

[DefenseLawyer]

147. My biggest problem with police forces in general

is that most police forces operate more like a college frat or the masons (not in a conspiracy theory way just as a very loyal private group) than as a governmental unit that is part of the community they serve. There is too much of an "us against them" mentality that permeates most police units. There is too much of an attempt to emulate a military unit instead of thinking of themselves as keepers of the peace. It means that those who are first and foremost loyal to the group will prosper. That in turn fosters the blue wall of silence and an end justifies the means mentality. If a guy goes out every day with the mentality that he is at war and everyone he meets is "the enemy", it becomes pretty easy to justify lying to make a bust or to protect a fellow officer no matter what he or she has done. Part of the problem of course is that it is a very hard job, the pay isn't great and therefore a lot of the people who gravitate toward the job do so for the wrong reasons (i.e. gun nuts and bullies) but the culture surrounding most forces is a bigger problem in my opinion.

[cherokeeprogressive]

150. 90% of my experience with law enforcement has involved L.A. County Sheriffs Deputies.

Had plenty of experiences in S.E Los Angeles County. Never had a bad experience, even after rear-ending one while .16 BAC. THAT was a night, but a story for a different time.

[Juche]

152. They really need to demilitarize the police

There are so many hardasses and grizzled war veterans in the police force when police work generally involves having good social skills so you can extract information, diffuse tense situations and enforce the law without alienating the public.

I can see some situations where being a war veteran would come in handy. The SWAT team in a high crime neighborhood for example. But most of police work involves trying to navigate complex social and emotional situations without alienating the community and crime victims. Some 23 year old ex-marine full of testosterone can't do that.

[mucifer]

157. Here in Chicago, many police tortured African Americans into false confessions that

under the direction of police commander john burge. This eventually became part of the reason the death penalty was suspended in IL.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-burge-storygallery,0,5366476.storygallery

Yes, not all Chicago police are like john burge and those under him who tortured, but it's bad here in Chicago.

[baldguy]

160. The good ones are really good; the bad ones are very, very, very bad.

[votingupstart]

167. i would say 95% great and 5% knuckleheads

i just keep running into the 5% :)

[strategery blunder]

170. Difficult to tell.

Yes, I understand that the nature of a cop's job is to deal with the worst elements of society constantly, without much interaction with the better actions humanity is capable of, and that such experience tends to skew a cop's POV towards cynicism, that s/he doesn't know whether the person s/he's about to pull over is a saint whose cruise control somehow disengaged and therefore, without realizing it, ended up doing a few over the speed limit, or the guy who is wanted for three grisly murders and whose crime spree is on the evening news every night.

I've never been pulled over by one. Granted, my attitude about cops is this: Always drive at speed limit or maybe one or two mph below, and there's no need to troll for speed traps, and I can focus more attention on other hazards if I'm not devoting special attention to picking out which parked cars on the side of the road are unmarked police cruisers. Yes, I'm almost always in the right lane unless I need to turn left soon, so the speed demons can pass me :)

Fortunately I live in a part of the country where I can drive speed limit without getting rear ended by tailgating assholes. I am a law abiding person to the maximum extent that I can be one, so I haven't attracted a cop's unwanted attention before. Of course, I am cognizant that I am white, and therefore not guilty of "Driving While Black (or insert other minority here)."

Do I regard cops as my friend? Not particularly. Enemy? Not particularly. As others have pointed out, if I *do* get pulled over, I have no idea whether I will get a professional law enforcement officer, or a jackbooted thug. Unfortunately the jackbooted thugs tend to make the media more often; police brutality makes for good ratings, I guess. I won't pull out my wallet or cell phone in the presence of a cop because of the cases of cops mistaking such for weapons and shooting first, asking questions later.

I have really mixed feelings about cops. I don't particularly trust them but I don't hate them either. When I learned to drive, I went to a drivers' ed school that was taught by cops, and those cops were OK and professional; I could respect them. When I was a kid and my mother was a domestic violence victim, they were likewise (mostly) professional. So my experience with cops has tipped towards the good side I suppose.

I still hear enough about "the bad apples" to be wary and keep my distance, however.

[Just Saying]

171. Nobody likes the hall monitor,

but somebody has to be the hall monitor. We have to have laws and those that enforce them have a shit job. Sure, some cops are assholes just like in the rest of the population! I have a theory that a certain percentage of any group is bad, but I haven't figured out the percentage yet! LOL

I appreciate the police and the tough job they do! Thanks to any leos here at DU!