Are cops really the good guys?
0
-
Depends entirely on the Officer. Just like any other examples of Humans, how they act is Their Choice.
Some Police Officers, and Some Firefighters are liars and thieves. Some are Great People. Luck of the draw, which You get when You interact with one.
In general, I would rate both groups "better than average folks".0 -
It's the establishment in power that has to show they are fair and not bias in the everyday life with we the people. Not the other way around. But remember the organized always will use the disorganized.
That is not the give all or take all for a sound government.
serf0 -
The two best cops I know.
Cops protect the thugs and criminals more than the decent people.
Why do you think Antifa only demonstrates where cops are?
Why do you think BLM stays in town?
Who puts a bullet proof vest on a child killer when transporting?
Who shoots your little dog for barking at them?
I have three friends that are retired cops. Two SO, one Miami/Dade. They are welcome at my home. All are ex-military.
If I don't know them personally, I don't trust them. I would assist one in trouble as that's a civil duty, but the number one rule to live by is to never call the cops until the shooting is over, coffee is on and donuts are on the platter. [:p]
0 -
I damn sure teach my kids the cops are the good guys.
I damn sure stop and thank police officers when I cross paths with one.
Its an impossible job, with life and death consequences & below average pay.
Yes they are good guys.0 -
Most are, but there are some others. Our sheriff is one of the others. 0 -
Most. Some,not so much. 0 -
Bring Back Sheriff Joe! [:D] 0 -
Sadly, we have to investigate (and fire) some of our members when they've done wrong. In the past 12 years I can name six...Most were few and far between.
The last three (since 2016!!) involved a DUI (The guy was an ASS to the officers who arrested him, all on their bodycams), a guy who wanted another person to use the computer system to check on the legal ownership of a gun someone was selling him (Misuse of computers is a fireable/prosecutable offense. Had the other person not refused they both would've gotten the axe) and another one for DUI (.35 bac at 4 pm after leaving a vehicle race, lied about drinking, and then got his license suspended by the DMV for a year for refusing a blood/breath test at the station.
These are certainly minor compared to the stupidity some people do out there, but everyone gets painted with the same paintbrush when people do wrong. I am glad to say that at our agency we're mega-selective in the hiring process, we don't hire unknown/unproven new recruits (most applicants have at least 15-20 years already) and wash out fully 98% of applicants in our interview, background investigation and polygraph tests.0 -
it has been my experience that most are not. every police report I went back to look at has been blatant lies, some BIG lies worthy of a felony, cussed at me for no reason, so many jacked me around, even stole from me, in one instance tried extortion.
I personally heard one cop telling his buddy he was going to shoot a particular suspect they were after if he simply sees a gun. I personally witnessed (and have the pictures to prove it) a cop nearly break someone's neck (yes, literally break it with his hands, his head was bent backwards 90 degrees and he was also twisting it around to cause pain) because the guy was a loudmouth, while his buddy was shooing away witnesses and standing guard; later on when he was in the paddywagon I heard what appeared to be the police supervisor telling him that he was a bum from nowhere and remind him that nobody is going to miss him if he disappears.
about 1/3 of the cops I have encountered didn't give me a reason to think they were crooked; but those were brief encounters so I won't pass judgement on those. they didn't have a chance to do something crooked.
I know there are people that want cops to be good. more specifically, they want me to think that all cops are good, and repeat after them "cops are good! there are no bad cops!" but I do not listen to them. I know better, I have been there, seen it, had it done to me and seen it done to others. at least 1/3 are flat out rotten, 1/3 are not good, and I can't trust any of them. I don't care what anybody says. I know better.0 -
For better or worse...yes. 0 -
LEOs are still human beings- but the ones I have met in this part of the world consist of a much higher percentage of good guys than the general population.
It has been said that a community gets the police force it deserves- and vice versa. Our folks here are a respected part of our rural community. We lost one a couple of years ago in the line of duty. Wife and 2 kids, member of the local church, little league coach. They held his funeral at the high school. That was the only place that would hold the 2000 people that turned out for the funeral.
Our LEOs are not pushovers- if you want to fight one of them, he'll hand you your butt- but people speak to them when they are having lunch in a local restaurant, see them in the grocer's- hell, KIDS wave to them.
Sorry folks- it ain't paradise- but I DAMN sure don't want to live where some of you do.0 -
I will be 85 in less than a month and I can truthfully say I have never had a bad experience with any LEO...
Many years ago ,as a smart assed Teenager, I had a couple give me some very sage advice that has served me well over the years...
Anyone that gets pulled over and then displays an attitude, generally will have a bad experience.
I taught my daughters to call a cop when they don't feel safe...so yes I trust them...until given reason not to.
As a general rule, I am cautious when engaged with anyone I don't know, LEO or who ever.... it is called common sense.0 -
For the most part, yes they are. Police agencies try to weed out unfit applicants during the hiring process, but sometimes A holes get past the process. 0 -
Live long enough to have your day in court. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by 11b6r
LEOs are still human beings- but the ones I have met in this part of the world consist of a much higher percentage of good guys than the general population.
It has been said that a community gets the police force it deserves- and vice versa. Our folks here are a respected part of our rural community. We lost one a couple of years ago in the line of duty. Wife and 2 kids, member of the local church, little league coach. They held his funeral at the high school. That was the only place that would hold the 2000 people that turned out for the funeral.
Our LEOs are not pushovers- if you want to fight one of them, he'll hand you your butt- but people speak to them when they are having lunch in a local restaurant, see them in the grocer's- hell, KIDS wave to them.
Sorry folks- it ain't paradise- but I DAMN sure don't want to live where some of you do.
. I suspect that is the way it's for much of the country, it is true for theses parts. Dense urban area is a completely different story, especially Union organized.0 -
We do our best SG, this profession is made up of human beings and inevitably there will be some who shouldn't be here. The miscreants are the ones who receive all the attention, leaving the other 99% who just come in and do their jobs quietly in the background trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy in our society. There are always improvements that need to be made, anyone claiming otherwise is definitely ill informed. Are all LEO's perfect? Not by a long shot, but having been in this line of work most of my adult life I'll tell you that I've have the privilege of working with some of the finest people you'll meet anywhere. My point of reference on this subject comes from an entire adult lifetime working in a city made up of some of the poorest, toughest, most violent neighborhoods in the country, areas most would never (and rightly so) venture near on a bet. With few exceptions, keeping in mind that for every thug one sees on the corner or bad cop identified in the media, there are a multitude of decent folks afraid to leave their homes because of those idiots as well as tens of thousands of hardworking, decent, dedicated LEO'S doing their best to hold the line against those who would do us harm. At the end of the day, after discussing this subject, I'm betting, agree or not, that we could still sit down and have a coffee or adult beverage. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by yoshmyster
Live long enough to have your day in court.
Even then the jury will be bias against you unless it concerns there own fears of reprisal against themselves.
I had a jury trial once for speeding in a school zone ,a typical speed trap situation where a static sign speed zone enforcement hours posted with also an electronic flashing yellow light system on two other sides of the school.
The two systems of enforcement did not coincide in enforcement times and the static sign was a set up under the law. THE JURY COULD HAVE CARED LESS.
No the Jury system is flawed because the checks and Balance is always in favor of the state.
Sure you can appeal and pay more money but in the end you get as much justice as you can buy in America unless your a violent criminal and have too much money.
serf0 -
quote:Originally posted by serf
quote:Originally posted by yoshmyster
Live long enough to have your day in court.
Even then the jury will be bias against you unless it concerns there own fears of reprisal against themselves.
I had a jury trial once for speeding in a school zone ,a typical speed trap situation where a static sign speed zone enforcement hours posted with also an electronic flashing yellow light system on two other sides of the school.
The two systems of enforcement did not coincide in enforcement times and the static sign was a set up under the law. THE JURY COULD HAVE CARED LESS.
No the Jury system is flawed because the checks and Balance is always in favor of the state.
Sure you can appeal and pay more money but in the end you get as much justice as you can buy in America unless your a violent criminal and have too much money.
serf
Didn't you have a choice between a judge or jury?0 -
quote:Originally posted by Grasshopper
quote:Originally posted by serf
quote:Originally posted by yoshmyster
Live long enough to have your day in court.
Even then the jury will be bias against you unless it concerns there own fears of reprisal against themselves.
I had a jury trial once for speeding in a school zone ,a typical speed trap situation where a static sign speed zone enforcement hours posted with also an electronic flashing yellow light system on two other sides of the school.
The two systems of enforcement did not coincide in enforcement times and the static sign was a set up under the law. THE JURY COULD HAVE CARED LESS.
No the Jury system is flawed because the checks and Balance is always in favor of the state.
Sure you can appeal and pay more money but in the end you get as much justice as you can buy in America unless your a violent criminal and have too much money.
serf
Didn't you have a choice between a judge or jury?
A choice of one mind over six minds to decide? How many times have you sat in a jury selection process to understand the letter of the law and the spirit of the law is in the minds of we the people not the judiciary. Even then it's a crap shoot to win unless you get lucky.
Most citizens fear the law and that is the crux of this whole thread.Intimidation has many paths in this life and the rule of law is the greatest use of it unless you considered military force instead,that's why the military and law enforcement are joined at the hip.
serf0 -
I've had very few official interactions with the police. However, they have been good experiences and I've no complaints.
I would hope that anytime in the future, if I needed a cop, they'd be there and on my side...0 -
My any years of experience has gratefully given me only about a dozen contacts with law enforcement.
My experiences are mixed and mostly no problem. I have however run across a few officers who's badge went to their heads and started with an attitude coming forth quickly when encountering them .
The authority they carry can be a personality issue for some. In fact, although most are just fine, there are to many that carry a chip on their shoulder ,along with that badge on their chest.
In my opinion everyone deserves a certain level of respect until they have proven by their actions that they deserve more, or none. That goes for law enforcement, and our citizens they are employed to serve.0 -
And then again, there's this...
https://bearingarms.com/tom-k/2018/08/09/police-officer-busted-selling-guns-stolen-dead-mans-estate/0 -
I think, in general, the cops are good guys. Or at least they used to be. But then, there used to be a "code" that no longer exists. [:(] 0 -
I trust the ones here more than say ones in Brazil or New Oleans. 0 -
Yes they are the good guys. They are only human at times... 0 -
Some of you have really had plenty of run ins with cops it seems. I'm like most though, and have had maybe a half dozen interactions that weren't on a personal level in my entire life of almost 57 years.
I can only think of one instance where I would have liked to kicked the cops azz, and trust me,.....I filed complaints to everyone that I could. He didn't last long around here needless to say.
I have personally known a lot of cops in my lifetime, and yes,...they are like every other human in terms of weaknesses and failings, but by and large have always been stand up folks both professionally, and as friends in my eyes.
Two things I am seeing that I do not like at all is the growing militarization of even small town PDs, and a seemingly expanding 'us against them' mentality. It seems some of them can't differentiate between a clean cut, upstanding citizen, and a dirtbag drug user in their interactions with them. That did NOT use to be the case by and large.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
Some of you have really had plenty of run ins with cops it seems. I'm like most though, and have had maybe a half dozen interactions that weren't on a personal level in my entire life of almost 57 years.
I can only think of one instance where I would have liked to kicked the cops azz, and trust me,.....I filed complaints to everyone that I could. He didn't last long around here needless to say.
I have personally known a lot of cops in my lifetime, and yes,...they are like every other human in terms of weaknesses and failings, but by and large have always been stand up folks both professionally, and as friends in my eyes.
Two things I am seeing that I do not like at all is the growing militarization of even small town PDs, and a seemingly expanding 'us against them' mentality. It seems some of them can't differentiate between a clean cut, upstanding citizen, and a dirtbag drug user in their interactions with them. That did NOT use to be the case by and large.
Correct on all points, Mark.0 -
I can tell you it's the way to bet.
Sure every barrel has its bad apples, but for all I ever had anything to do with , I'd help them if I could.0 -
Over the years I'd have to say no better than 50/50. Many of the fuzz who weren't dirty were simply lazy. Given the opportunity to universally enforce the law, most often any enforcement was tempered by politics or money. 0 -
I had one SC state trooper that was a dick back in the 70s,but with that exception when I was young they treated me like I was their brother and now that I am old they treat me like am their dad. 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
42 comments