"No one who wants to a policeman should be allowed to be one."

[Richardo]

Said by my high school Civics teacher in way back in 1974. It's one of the few actual lessons I can remember from high school.

I've thought about that quote many times in recent months.

[MineralMan]

1. Corollary: "Nobody who seeks a powerful office should be elected to that office."

Seems to be true in many cases.

[Richardo]

2. I'm sure Mr Rosa would agree with that as well.

Our Civics class included watching the Watergate hearings - live.

[MineralMan]

3. I imagine he would, too.

I've always wondered about using a random drawing method for selecting office-holders. Something like the way juries are selected. That would certainly eliminate the desire for power by people who should never have power.

It's impossible, of course, in this country, but it's interesting to think about.

[Little Star]

4. I think your teacher was very perceptive.....

Being a cop gives many people who shouldn't have power a lot of it.

My husband was a good cop because he really liked people and he always felt that he was there to serve them. He liked the people he served and they in return liked and trusted him.

It's just sad that he was in the minority when it came to serving and protecting instead of looking at citizens as the enemy.

[hifiguy]

5. I knew two guys in high-school who wanted to become cops.

They were two of the biggest bullies in a very large high-school.

Police departments actively seek out assholes of just that sort.

[BrotherIvan]

6. Very actively

They show up with all their war toys to impress the bullies and find those attracted to violence. Get on the force and have access to all kinds of steroid drugs which leads to extreme rage. Add in a culture of macho, take no prisoners attitude and it's a powder keg.

On the flipside, I've know quite a few firemen. All just as athletic and fit as police men (more so). The same type of organized, slightly regimented mind. But all very mellow, hard working, cool people who are also willing to risk their lives to help people. It's a completely different mindset and I would assume very different leadership.

This is the drug war and MIC coming together and creating a very toxic brew.

[hifiguy]

8. No one is

EVER worried when they see a firefighter. Firefighters are great people who want to serve the public. Many, many cops just want to act out their fantasies of power and control against people who can't fight back.

[BrotherIvan]

10. A change has to start with the leadership

Long time, corrupt, drug war police chiefs should be replaced. I can't believe that the citizenry has no control over our public servants.

[Capt. Obvious]

7. This guy wasn't allowed to be one

[CrispyQ]

9. It seems that occupations where one has authority/control over others

attracts a lot of the very types that should not be in that occupation. Law enforcement, politics & management come to mind.

[mopinko]

11. that's what my dad said 50 years ago.

my sister had a boyfiend that he couldnt stand. when she married someone else, he became a cop. dad said then that he just wanted a penis extension.

[Scuba]

12. Generalizations are always dangerous. I have three members of my extended family ...

... who are/were in law enforcement, two of whom wanted to be "on the cops" badly enough to earn degrees in law enforcement before applying. I believe all three to be honorable men who treat the citizenry fairly. Then again, they're all part of my family, so perhaps I'm biased. Certainly none fit the mold of "brutish thug". One is perhaps the most compassionate man I know.

That said, there are way too many cops who are out of control, and there's a culture of protection that discourages good cops from properly dealing with bad cops.

Your civics teacher was correct though, that many enter law enforcement because they want to hold power over others. Once "on the cops" that power can manifested in various ways, virtually all of them unfair, unpleasant and un-called for. Law enforcement has been attracting - rather than weeding out - this type forever. That needs to change.

[Richardo]

13. Of course. Thankfully there are exceptions.

But this was a startling and thought-provoking remark in the early 70s, with the political landscape being what is was then.

It certainly provoked MY thought process, little conservative that I was back then.