Quote:
I think everyone understands the need for police. No one's questioning that. However, can we also accept that there are always some cops who are waaaaay too overbearing in the way they think they should enforce the law?
You know I'd honestly like to thinkso but then we see these shining examples of stupidity:
Meeko wrote:
The police were created to protect the wealthy.
This is by far so distant from the truth I honestly laughed hard for a moment. Mainly because I've only heard thru the grapevine people thinking this, never actually saw someone state it.
Quote:
There's a town here in San Diego that I regularly refer to as "gestapoland", specifically because the police department there is notoriously overbearing. One specific incident there comes to mind. I was parking in front of my home (had just started renting there that day in fact), when suddenly I've got a spotlight on me. Realize that this is about 2 in the morning. The cop was not driving behind me (or if he was, he had his lights off). So. I've got a cop literally kneeling behind his door, pointing his gun at me and giving me step by step instructions on how to slowly exit the car and walk to the back and put both hands on the trunk.
He then proceeds to question me about why I'm there and what I'm doing. Um... I'm parking in front of my new home. No. I don't remember the address off the top of my head, but it's *right there*. The biggest thing was his attitude. He just assumed that I was doing something wrong the entire time, no matter how sensible what I was actually doing was (I worked swing shift and it was delivery night, explaining why I was coming home so late, not that it's a crime when I get home in any case). As he's basically harrassing the heck out of me, I can hear reports coming in on his radio. Turns out that three guys had robbed a store just down the hill from where we were and had fled on foot. Of course, I'm by myself and in a car, but apparently that was close enough...
Then, I overhear on his radio that another patrol unit has located the three criminals. Instead of appologizing for his treatment of a completely law abiding citizen, the cop just snapped his gun back in the holster, tossed my keys back on the trunk of the car and said "You got lucky" and rushed off. As though I was "lucky" that I wasn't involved in any way in a criminal act? Hmmm...
Bottom line this was wrong, and this officer didn't deal with being "wrong" essentially very well. You weren't the "bad guy" so his hopes were low and his attitude showed it. I would have asked for his badge# and made a complaint. It's cops like this or cops in small extremely low crime rate towns that everyone remembers, simply because those asshats are bored 10 hours a day and a random pull over is probably the most excitement they get for 15 mins that whole week. Guys like me and my squad, we patrol heavily infested gang and drug territories, not the rich and posh areas of Phoenix and such. So thinking we were "Created to protect the rich" is hilarious to me, when the richest suburbs from where we patrol is most likely a modest 50-75k yearly income (total household) and these neighborhoods are about 35 miles away, yes the "ghetto" does span out in some areas, and I highly doubt the criminals will go to extensive lengths to hit those neighborhoods and swing back.. Very unlikely.
Quote:
Most cops are really good guys. They work hard. They work in a dangerous field. And they are largely underappreciated.
Bottom line, thank you. It's nice to see this actually be said once in awhile. It's always been easier in life for people to comment and harp on the negativity in their lives and negative encounters. No one remembers the police officer that let them off on a ticket with a warning without constrewing it as "he was an *** about it" usually. Those that complain or hate police are those who simply have had bad lots with the law.
"The fu
cker said I was speeding so he ticketed me!!"
My response, "And how fast were you going?"
"45 in a 30, but no one was around!!!" So I see this as..You broke the law and you were caught, and this makes someone a ******** for doing their job? There's always a bigger picture that we drown out, that cop pulled you over..What if he/she didn't and at your rate of speed you blow a tire and your car flips or something random along those lines? Your dead or in a hospital for awhile. Sure you got a ticket but the bigger and more dangerous issues could have been deflated down to minimal risk.
And in response to:
Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Most cops don't care but if you **** us off, well hey we get our digs in if we're bored. I don't do it unless someone seems offended by it
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So you're a prick cop who swings around his shiny badge when it tickles your fancy. Using an authority given to "protect and serve" for your own jollies is precisely what makes you a douche. You seriously wonder why people don't like the police? Here's to you getting shot by a coke dealer, cheers.
Here let me reiterate for clarification.. No I don't abuse my badge, we live in a complaint loving society. Would I like to at times? Yes I would, but those thoughts are left at that.. thoughts only. It's not worth me deciding to be a prick and lose my job to some moron I pulled over and I decided to go the extra mile with for instant satisfaction, only to later get burned. If your going to hate cops, get a semi decent reason, not because they do things in your eyes that are unfair to you. You were drinking and driving? Well you were caught.. Speeding? You were caught. Mouthing off to someone using foul language and a lack of common sense? You were caught..
I will wholeheartily agree we have officers who come in with the "Rambo" mentality and somehow get thru the psych exam process. And also I will agree that some develop it overtime.. But to use an all encompassing mentality to EVERY police officer.. Thats just lack of intelligence and ignorance at it's finest.
I'd bother to actually to reply to everyone seeing it's been two days, but
fuck it I'm tired.
Edited, Thu Mar 2 22:43:31 2006 by Sindarek