Why does every drunk in America think it's OK to hit a cop? (a rant)

[Padraig18]

Tony just walked in the door about 15 minutes ago, which is MUCH earlier than he was expected; I looked as he entered the door and the 1st thing I notice is a HUGE 'shiner' and 3 stitches in his eyebrow! He was called to a local tavern to escort a 'gentleman' out and, as he opened the door for the guy, the guy punched him in the face---blammo!

Tony's gonna be fine--- no damage to the eye itself, and no broken facial bones--- but JEEZUS FOOKIN' KEERIST! What the hell is wrong with people?

Tony just sorta laughed it off by saying "Instant ass hole--- just add alcohol."

:grr:

[Dookus]

1. Can only chalk it up to drunken stupidity...

last year at our town's downtown New Year's Eve celebration, some friends and I were right next to a couple that got into a serious fight. Cops showed up immediately (the place was crawling with 'em) and I watched the man, being held from behind by a cop, jerk his head back hard to head-butt the cop. My friends and all simultaneously said "that was stupid" and before were finished saying it, he was on the ground with five cops on top of him.

He could've gotten a talking to and gotten released, but I'm sure he spent at least New Year's Eve (and probably a few days after that) in the local jail.

Drunken stupidity. Hell, I learned even in my drunk days that "yes sir" and "No sir" are the only answers to give to a cop.

[Padraig18]

2. Yeah.

As Tony says, tell him the truth, or nothing at all, but don't lie to him; he's also big on 'act like a decent human being and I'll treat you like a decent human being. :)

[5thGenDemocrat]

32. Amen, Padraig

My brother Chuck was a cop for ten years or so until a drunk driver ran him over at an accident site on US-41 in Bradenton, FL. Broke four ribs, his clavicle, shattered his leg in four or five places and put him in a coma for three days. Needless to say, it ended his police career (he's now a paramedical instructor at a college here in Michigan and doing well, thanks).
Anyhow, Chuck once told me that what pissed him off more than anything else was having someone say they didn't do something that he just saw them do.
John
Glad to hear Tony's okay. Dealing with assholes day in and day out does take a toll on cops (and on all of us, I suppose), to say nothing about the physical abuse they suffer regularly. Tell him a cop's brother sends his kindest regards.

[kixot]

22. Cops have had a bad name since the 60's and on into the 90's

Unfortunately, to the carefree drunk, they are seen as oppressors. I know, I know, not all cops abuse their position and antagonize citizens but there are enough out there to make an impression. Very unfortunate because I know there are honest officers out there with hearts of gold and care about their community.

[GOPisEvil]

3. Ooooh...assaulting a police officer...

I hope he enjoys his time in the pokey.

[Padraig18]

4. Yep, he's in DEEP shit.

Aggravated battery on a police officer requires mandatory jail time upon conviction, and our SA doesn't plead the cases down, if the officer requires medical treatment.

The guy messed up.

[ProfessorGAC]

33. Hey, Paddy

What town? We had a similar deal just a weekend ago. Some guy causing trouble in a bar, cops show up, he takes a swing, gets baton pounded into the pavement. Dumbass!

Important Safety Tip: Never swing at a guy with a gun, a stick and badge.
The Professor

[GOPisEvil]

10. Forgot to mention that I am glad Tony is pretty much OK.

That could have been much worse. :scared:

[Padraig18]

11. Thanks from us both.

:)

[TXlib]

18. You KNOW why the call it the 'pokey', right?

Serves the drunk fucker right!

[roguevalley]

5. I was on a jury once that involved a couple of brothers who beat

a cop resisting arrest. The idiots were guilty as sin.
What we had to decide was degree of guilt. Two fat heads
on the jury actually argued that they get paid to get
beat up, cops all suck and deserve it and you can't change
my mind.

A utility company guy, a teacher and a housewife and myself
spent eight hours wearing down the jury to get justice. Finally
it was us and one of the yahoos -the other finally shame-
facedly said he deserved the multiple drunken arrests he
got that formed his opinion and changed his vote- and the
other was actually pinned against the wall by the eleven
of us.

He finally changed his mind when it was obvious the evidence
was significant- witnesses and troopers and others. It was
a big brawl.

I would hate to have my life depend on a jury. There are
so DAMNED many lunkheads out there.

Hugs to you and yours,

RV, whose dad got sucker punched by a drunk when he was
called out on a tow and had to get facial reconstruction
surgery. Watch the bones around the eye, honey. They are
delicate. The stuff you see, the beatings people take
in the movies? They aren't real. You would be dead.

[Padraig18]

6. He's got to go see an opthamologist tomorrow.

Departmental regs, plus the ER doctor wants to be sure there isn't any 'hidden' damage or fractures he didn't see.

I just got Tony a nice jameson's to wash down his Tylenol w/codeine. maybe I'll take advantage of him later, to make him feel better. :evilgrin:

[DS1]

16. uhh, Tylenol and booze is bad, m'kay

[VelmaD]

20. Sounds like you know the cure...

for what ails him. ;-) Have fun.

Oh, and I'm glad he's gonna be ok. Hugs to you both. :hug:

[ronnykmarshall]

35. MMMMMM!

You go !

All them hot cop fantasies are flying through my head right now.

[oldcoot]

7. I am glad that Tony is okay

Some people just don't think. I would much rather be escorted out of bar than go to jail for assault.

[Padraig18]

9. Thanks!

What gets me is that the only thing that was going to happen to him was being escorted out and told to go home and sleep it off. His reaction made no sense at all... :shrug

[SOteric]

8. Oh, my word!

I'm glad he's okay, but how frightening for you.

[Padraig18]

12. It definitely gave me a start!

He looks rather like an alley cat that's gotten into a fight...

[Sentath]

14. (gruff) Hey

No sex threads ( ;

rlg (who is glad we can be this light hearted about it)

[joeybee12]

13. I think that "think" is the operative word here...

...they don't think.

I'm glad your friend/hubby/lover will be ok!

[WealthAndDemocracy]

15. I have a relative that turns into an "instant asshole" with alcohol

took a piss in front of a cop once. I tell him he deserves to spend the night in jail if he acts that way around a cop.

[Bertha Venation]

17. Wow.

You have my admiration, Paddy. Being married to a cop can't be easy. :hug: for you both.

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. Holy cow, Padraig. I'm glad he is okay. Hope that guy gets what's

coming to him. It has to be pretty scary letting him go out on the streets to face that crap.

Hugs, Laura

[blondeatlast]

21. Glad Tony is okay, more or less.

People are so damn stupid, but perhaps Mr. Moron will learn a lesson from this.

Give Tony our love.

[MrSlayer]

23. Cops get a really bad rap.

Shit pay, no respect anymore and treated and observed as if they are the criminals. Do your job and all of a sudden you are a thug. Let's see You try to take down a 250 pound maniac whacked out on PCP without beating the living shit out of him. Even that sometimes isn't enough. It's a really tough under appreciated job done by guys who truly want to help people in need and protect the community. A few rotten apples ruin the name of some damn good people.

[alwynsw]

24. I once got into a fistfight about a cop

I'm in the Winn Dixie. A kid about 4 or 5 is having a toddler fit. Pop points to a cop in the deli section and tells the kid that he either straightens up or pop is going to have the cop take junior to jail.

Just what we need. Another asshole teaching his kids to fear cops, and by extension, all people in uniform. The fear can very easily turn to hate as the child grows. Just what kids need - fear of cops, firemen, etc. - the ones they can turn to for help at any time.

I called the father on his remarks. The cop hadn't heard it. Pop said something about me being a "Nosey motherfucker" and threw a punch at me.

Guess who went off in handcuffs? Not me!

Cops are mostly good folk in my book.

on edit: Tony's in the catch 'em biz. I used to be in the keep 'em biz - supervisor at a max security penitentiary. OK, so I'm partial to cops.

[Don_G]

25. Yes Sir, No Sir

And 10 fingers visible on the steering wheel at all times or the fender when requested.

I'm on the cop's side when they're doing their job.

[JVS]

26. It is the only form of anti-authoritarian expression that is not ridiculed

Sorry to hear that Tony got punched. We Americans are an angry and unhappy nation.

[mitchum]

27. Because sometimes a spouse is hard to find?

Bad joke
Seriously, I'm glad that your SO is okay.

[BackDoorMan]

28. No, I think at this druken point of the night...

I want to hit you!

[Padraig18]

29. Update: Mostly good news

He just got back from the opthamologists, and the eye itself is OK, but there is a small non-displaced fracture of the supra-orbital ridge; he is being put on paid sick leave for 2 weeks, at which time he'll be re-evaluated for return to active-duty.

:)

[Bertha Venation]

30. dude...

...will he go stir crazy at home for two weeks? :hug: for you and :hug: for Tony.

[Padraig18]

31. Thanks!

I've put him to work here at the shop, so he doesn't get TOO bored. :)

[LynneSin]

34. Because COPS says so

I swear that's all they show on that TV show - drunks hitting cops

:shrug:

[Cuban_Liberal]

36. It happens more often than people realize.

This isn't the first time I've been hit, it's just the first time I've been injured enough to be placed on inactive duty. No biggie, though--- I'll be fine. :)