You know not all cops are bad!

[Shell Beau]

We actually need cops. They don't make the laws just enforce them. Sure you have your cocky asshole cops, but those are the ones getting attention. There are many many cops who just want to make a difference and make communities better and safe.

My brother is a state trooper and an agent (of which I will not say because it requires anonymity). He used to be a cop. He puts his life on the line every day and does it for the right reasons. I respect him very much for it.

I am just sayin'! All of the bad ones make the good ones look bad too.

[Bunny]

1. Yep, most cops are okay.

The bad ones really make the good cops look bad, and that's a shame.

[Shell Beau]

2. It is a shame. And I hear a lot of cop bashing

and it pisses me off because my brother has come so close so many times to really getting hurt trying to do the right thing. And there are tons of cops out there who have done the same. They don't all go taser crazy!

[billyskank]

3. But you need the bad ones!

Otherwise they can't do that good cop, bad cop thing. And then where would we be?

:hi:

[Shell Beau]

4. I want to play to bad cop!

:P

[billyskank]

6. Only if I can be the good cop.

:*

[Shell Beau]

7. But of course!

;)

[SeattleGirl]

5. Unfortunately, the bad ones always grab the spotlight.

I hate seeing all the cop bashing that goes on on this board. I used to date a cop, and hung out with a lot of them. They hate the bad apples among them, because they know it makes them all look bad.

[Shell Beau]

8. Absolutely true!

[Evoman]

75. Then why don't they ever fucking SAY ANYTHING.

The good cops cover for the bad cops, they defend the band cops, and they never tell the bad cop "Hey, stop being so rough" or "Thats enough Tasing".

That makes the good cops bad cops. I've seen it too many goddamn times. A polite cop is not a fucking good cop.

[Shell Beau]

86. You don't have a clue if they say anything or not! What a joke!

[Evoman]

87. I personally know people who have been abused by the police.

And I know that those cops have never been disciplined or even investigated.

Don't tell me what I know.

[Shell Beau]

90. And I personally know people whose lives were saved by the police.

And I also know that many cops have died trying to save people or get bad guys off the streets. But that doesn't count. Who cares if you are doing the same thing you blame them for doing. And I also know that they don't publicly state what disciplinary actions or investigations they take. So yeah, you don't know all you think.

[Evoman]

95. Fair enough.

But I can't negate my experiences, just because yours are different. What if neither of us is right?

[Shell Beau]

97. I just take this personally sometimes. My brother was a cop.

Now a trooper/agent. He has seen people die. He has found a little girl's body in a dumpster. He has had to go tell parents that their children were dead. He has had to shoot and kill a man who killed his girlfriend and then took his mom hostage and killed her. He had a hit out on him for arresting the head of a gang. He's had his ass beat by a former NFL linebacker who was selling crack. He's had to take down a bad cop that was stealing from crime scenes, a person whom he befriended. He's had people call and threaten to rape his 3 year old daughter. These things definitely weigh on him. It ain't easy not to take the job home with ya.

This is just some of the stuff he's had to deal with. And I am guessing they all do. It is a lot of times a thankless job.

I have already lost one brother. He is all I have left. He chooses to do this job to make a difference. And a lot of men and women go into this job for the same reasons. A lot don't. A lot are cocky meatheads who want to be in control. I know that. I just want to good ones to be respected. That is all.

[Evoman]

99. Understood.

And if it makes you feel any better, you have had some effect on me. I pride myself on being rational and unemotional, but when it comes to policeman, I have some issues that I need confront. And my experiences may be negating my rationality, to some extent.

This post has made me mull over what I know and what I think I know.

[Shell Beau]

100. That does make me feel good! But just so you know, I do

not hold your opinions against you. I got a little heated I admit, but we all have a right to feel what we do. And it really isn't always the best idea to discuss something that you really hold personally.

Definitely no hard feelings! :)

[Evoman]

102. That's where your wrong.

The ideas that we hold most personally, and the ones that make us strike out in frustration and anger, are the ones we need to think and talk about the most. When you strike out at somebody, then I think thats the best time to turn inwards and try to determine the reasons behind those emotions.

"Why am I acting like this? Am I afraid that someone who opposes me has a point? Where do these emotions come from?"

Thank you for pointing out a blind spot in my views. I will think on this tonight.

[Shell Beau]

104. Well what I meant was that sometimes things you hold

personally can sometimes blind you to others thoughts and opinions. I don't ever want to be so blinded that I can't see other options.

[datasuspect]

108. they are all part of a sacred fraternity

and each cop is a brother.

the public are merely "citizens."

don't believe it? get involved in some FOP functions.

you start to see the seriousness with which they worship each other and the fallen, and cover each other's backs.

[Shell Beau]

109. There is a brotherhood. They all know they may not come home at the

end of each day. But they do not all support each other. Like I said, my brother took down a cop he thought was a friend.

When my brother first started being a trooper, he had to ride along for 90 days. The guy he was riding with was known for being a total ass. Especially to the newbies. My brother didn't feel like a newbie. He'd been a cop for 7 years and an agent for 3. They pulled over a guy who was coming home from work. He had stopped to get a beer. He drank the beer. 1 beer. The trooper insisted my brother give him a DUI. My brother refused because the guy wasn't drunk. He was 2 miles from his house and had 1 beer. The guy wrote my brother up. Tried to get my borther in trouble. My brother went to the head and told his side of the story and how they asshole wanted to write tickets for everyone. The asshole trooper got desk duty for 3 months for his actions.

They don't always stick together. Especially when one is doing bad things.

[datasuspect]

113. my point is, if you are a member of a "target" constituency

you aren't human to them.

and yes, cops are people, i just try to avoid any unnecessary contact with them.

[Shell Beau]

115. That is true for SOME of them, yes.

[Tafiti]

9. I hear ya.

My brother is a police officer, and my brother-in-law is a state trooper. They're good guys, too.

I couldn't do it. My brother constantly tells me stories about some of the domestic calls they get, even in a small town. It's depressing to know how badly people treat each other, especially their own family members. I'd hate to experience that on a daily basis, it'd be hard not to lose my faith in humanity sometimes.

[Shell Beau]

10. Exactly! My poor brother found a missing little 6 year old

in a garbage dumpster. That would tear me up! How do you keep going?

[EstimatedProphet]

11. Cops have a tough job

It's not one I'd want. They're always going to piss off someone.

[Shell Beau]

14. Yep! This one gal was bitching about a cop giving her a speeding

ticket. I get pissed at that too. But this gal was going 90 in a 35! I said you deserved it dummy!

[Rosie1223]

12. Is your brother Agent Mike?

:)

My uncle was a Missouri University cop for 20 years. He's a great guy too.

[Nevernose]

44. What the hell is wrong with you?

DAMMIT! How many times have I told people not to mention Agent Mike's name!?! What the hell is wrong with you people?

Do you want to blow his cover? Threaten Mike's family? Watch the homeland burn in radioactive fire, survived only by those mutated by hideous biological weapons?

Don't you love your country?

And without Agent Mike, who else would monitor the many, many, MANY subversive Lounge posts?

You should be PRAISING Agent Mike for his dedication!

[Kutjara]

48. Don't worry, his real name isn't Mike.

It's Kevin. So his identity is still safe.

Oops.

[RedCappedBandit]

13. I have yet to meet a courteous cop

:shrug:

[Shell Beau]

15. What have you been doing? You've been very bad!

No, really my brother is very courteous. But I have no idea what kind of attitude you must have while in the field. They see and hear everything!

[auburngrad82]

60. The one who arrested me was very courteous and professional

but then I didn't give him a reason to taser me, either.

[Shell Beau]

61. Uh oh!! What did you do?

:P Kidding! You don't have to tell me! I can say that I have never been arrested. Even though, my brother who is a cop has!!! Funny!

[auburngrad82]

62. I had a wee bit too much to drink one night

many years ago

[Corgigal]

16. thanks for the thread Shell Beau

My hubby is a retired traffic homicide detective, aka Cop. He is a nice guy and always got in trouble for not writing enough tickets every month. He just didn't do it unless the person was reckless.

I went with him on a call where a dog was found with a metal chain was embedded into his neck. He got a tool out of his trunk and cut that chain off and picked up the dog and took him to the emergency vet. Me loved him from that moment on. I know DU'ers don't always believe this but not all cops get off on screwing people over, some really just want to help.

Thanks and I wish your brother well.

[Shell Beau]

17. Sounds like a very good man!!

My brother is all heart! He doesn't deserve what a lot of cops get!

:)

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

18. Is it true what they say:

Not all cops with a mustache are gay, but all gay cops have a mustache?

[Shell Beau]

19. It must be true! See for yourself!

:P

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

21. It looks like all the Village People have real jobs

(Indian chief is a job, right?)

But what does the leather man do?

[Shell Beau]

23. He runs the biker joint?

:shrug:

:P

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

26. Shit yeah, he does.....

:D

[Orsino]

20. There's almost nothing better than a good cop. n/t

[texanwitch]

22. I do not like cops.

Twice I was almost killed and I hadn't done anything.

The first time was at the last Halliburton protest in Houston, a mounted cop tried to kill me with his horse because I had a video recorder and had been recording the cops breaking the law at the protest.

The second time I was walking the two dogs in the railroad yard an the cops were looking for a male with a shotgun.

They surrounded me and I saw my life flash in front of my eyes, they had there guns out and pointed at me.

If the dogs would have had gotten away from me and I know they would have started shooting.

No I don't like cops, at all.

The action of the cops in Houston at this protest made me sick, they broke the law.

They were taking people off the sidewalks and then arresting them for not being on the sidewalk.

I now hate cops.

[Shell Beau]

24. It sucks that you had a bad experience, but don't blame

all cops for somes bad behavior.

[texanwitch]

27. The good cops need to stand up to the bad cops.

To many cops are thugs and bullies, and good cops look the other way.

That so called thin blue line looks after each other.

The only reason I came home alive from that protest is because another protester pulled me out of the way just in time.

The Houston cops belonged to Halliburton that day, my video tape was given to the lawyers and all charges were dropped against the protesters.

Two women had their feet broken by the mounted cops, I can still hear the women screamning in pain.

We were in a battle that day, and we won.

The cops were trying to break up the protest and it didn't work, we stayed.

[Shell Beau]

29. Again I am sorry you had a terrible experience, but

all cops didn't do that to you. I know my brother didn't. He has saved lives before. He deserves better than to be hated.

[ThomCat]

117. When there's a protest, and hundreds of cops are there "following orders"

then, yes, all cops do that. There are no good cops when the good cops stand around and let the bad cops hurt people.

Your brother might be a wonderful person, but if so then he's one of the exceptions. Once you put on the uniform and the badge, you become part of the gang. And it is a gang.

[Shell Beau]

123. Yeah, whatever.

I have pretty much said what I can say about all of this. I do think it is a shame to feel that way.

"he is one of the exceptions" Right? I guess I should now expect that to be the way dems feel. And what a shame that is.

[datasuspect]

73. the professionalism of HPD is similar to that of a 3rd tier security guard firm

back in the 70s, they did lots of fucked up shit and mostly got away with it.

i watched a guy get pinned between a wall and a stop and go. the cops hopped the curb and ran into the fucking guy just to shake him down on "suspicion" of something.

the bad apples spoil the bunch. and the bad apples outweigh the good ones disproportionately.

drive IH-10 from houston to new orleans: whole families of black people sprawled out on the ground by state troopers; you NEVER will see a white family stopped and searched like that.

IH-10 is an almost zero tolerance heavy interdiction route between san antone and florida.

DWBs are handled as a matter of routine.

[Shell Beau]

83. You do realize that many of those state troopers are black.

And how do you know who gets arrested? And for what reasons? State troopers have extremely dangerous jobs. When my brother graduated from trooper academy, it was almost 50/50 for blacks and whites graduating. It really isn't always about race. It is about enforcing laws. And a lot of drug moving also goes on that interstate. I am certainly not insinuating anything racial, I am simply saying that there is a reason why that interstate is heavily guarded.

[Oeditpus Rex]

25. Don't post this in GD

Unless you like being called a fascist, authoritarian Freeper cop apologist. :eyes:

[Shell Beau]

28. Trust me, I know better!

[Oeditpus Rex]

30. I can't believe the cop hate in GD

Pisses me off. :grr:

[Shell Beau]

31. I know there are some asshole cops. And they get into that

line of work just to bully around people. But for every asshole cop, there is one who is all heart. And will risk his/her life for you! Pisses me off too! I know what my brother has gone through. He has seen people die, he has rescued people from dying, he and others deserve more than they get. Especially the hate. That is the worst.

[Oeditpus Rex]

36. I've known quite a few cops

There've been a couple I'd even call friends. (One of 'em once pulled me over — siren and everything — to go have coffee with him.) There was another who was famous for being an asshole, but that was kind of an act he put on to put the fear of the law into teenagers. He gave me my first ticket at 17, and it was quite awhile before I got another one.

I've encountered only two cops — detectives, actually — who were real assholes, and they were later charged with something like skimming money and/or drugs from drug busts. The rest were just people — people who do a job that most of us wouldn't. Like you said, considering what they have to deal with every day, I think we should afford them more understanding and respect.

[Shell Beau]

37. Exactly! They have to put up with a lot of political mumbo jumbo.

My brother went undercover and befriended a cop who was thought to have been stealing from crime scenes. He hated doing this because he became friends with this guy in a way. Had dinner with the family, the whole nine yards. But this was a bad cop. Taking drugs, jewelry, money, etc. He had to be the one to bust them. Sort of a Donnie Brasco deal on a much smaller level. He hated doing it but knew it needed to be done. I could never EVER do that. I would end up feeling sorry for the guy. But we can't have people like that being cops. He took him down and somehow the guy thanked him! WTF? Their jobs are hard. Sometimes we think they just write tickets and taser people, but that isn't true. My brother doesn't know any cops that have used the taser. Although they have all been tasered.

[ThomCat]

118. Then why is it that people so rarely ever run into those good cops?

Where are there? :shrug:

[Shell Beau]

124. So many people do. They just don't feel the need to call the news

and tell their story. Because that is their job.

[TZ]

32. I've met some good ones and some not so good ones

But its unfair to stereotype all members of a profession based on the bad eggs that get the lionshare of the attention.
And as a member of the biopharmaceutical industry I well understand how a few jackasses who get public attention can smear the whole industry...

[trof]

33. 2 jobs I wouldn't take: 1. Cop 2. Real estate tax appraiser

whew

[Shell Beau]

34. I would never want to be one of those people who have to repossess stuff!

:scared:

[trof]

35. Yeah, repo man.

[Downtown Hound]

38. Yes they are

They're bad boys, bad boys, watch you gonna do? Watch you gonna do when they come for you?

[Chovexani]

39. One of my best friends in the world is a cop

NYPD Sergeant. Huge dork. He's the one that got me into Buffy & Angel, and we regularly got together to geek out over Dune.

He used to have a Pokeball on the dashboard of his squad car, before he got promoted, and one time he arrested this guy for disorderly conduct (this is when he was still working Central Park). The guy decided to be a smart ass and go "oh, what, do you have Pikachu in there?"

My buddy turns around, looks him in dead in the eye, and says, "what are you, fucking stupid? Pikachu never goes in the ball!" :rofl:

God I miss him.

[sasquatch]

43. "what are you, fucking stupid? Pikachu never goes in the ball!"

:rofl:

[Taverner]

40. My dad was a cop

Cops can be good people, but I did see the bunker mentality that happens. Any cop will testify this is the case.

[mainegreen]

41. Most are nice. Growing up my neighbor was a cop.

He was really nice. Sometimes they would invite me over for dinner just to be neighborly (usually if my mom had to be away for an evening).
Generally, I like cops.

There are bad everything: bad cops, bad accountants, bad car mechanics, bad customer service reps, bad contractors, bad salesmen, bad executives, bad lawyers, bad politicians, bad doctors, bad morticians, bad everything! But rarely are they the majority.

[Book Lover]

89. Yeah, I had cop neighbors, too

Thus my antipathy.

[sasquatch]

42. But the Jackbooted thugs that are police officers are never held accountable

Because the goods ones sit silent and never hold them accountable. The chiefs refuse to hold them accountable because sometimes they're just as corrupt. The lady of justice is often raped in this country because good men do nothing to stop evil men with power, hence evil prevails and order must be restored. Either good cops can subvert the power of evil ones and help those victimized by bad cops or they cannot be suprised when the people of the community they work for turn their backs on them and villainize them.

[Nevernose]

45. It's not the "jackbooted thugs" that anger people

It's the thin blue line that so many are so unwilling to cross. And I have a suspicion that's just as much about bureaucracy as it is loyalty.

To a certain extent, you're right on.

[sasquatch]

46. That as well, I should've included that in my post

But alas this is a message board not a book.

[Shell Beau]

51. You know that just isn't true! My brother took down a bad cop that he

befriended. They do not turn their backs. Have you ever been a cop to back that up? Because I can tell you they don't want the bad seeds among them. They have enough shit to deal with.

[sasquatch]

53. Good for your brother, but what about that MO kid that keeps getting harrassed

Sometimes the Good Ol' Boys club is so chummy that corruption breeds like roaches in it. In my City of Dayton, Ohio we had a case where they tortured a suspect and lied about it in both a court of law and to a (Draws blank but it's a person that people often see to settle lawsuits that isn't a Judge but their judgment is final and can't be appealed). Your brother is the exception to the rule and thank christ for that. But many cops will tell you that it's highly unlikely for another cop to rat out another cop or step in when another cop has stepped over his boundries.

[Shell Beau]

54. I think you are wrong. You are talking about cases where it has happened.

There are tons and tons of times when it hasn't. Many cops don't want asshole cops to be part of the group. Don't get MOST confused with the ones you hear about. You never hear of good stories on the news. It is only the bad things that they do. And I know this from my brother's and all of his friends (throughout the country might I add) experiences that I hear about. There is a camaraderie and brotherhood amongst them. But that doesn't mean that they lose their morals when one goes ape-shit crazy. And my brother is NOT the exception. The shitty cops are.

And I posted this just because of the thread about the harassment of the MO kid. I am fed up with people thinking cops are shitty. They put their lives on the line EVERY day. They never know what the day will hold. They are who you call when you are in danger. Like I said earlier, for every bad cop you have, there are 10 more good ones.

[rustydog]

47. A cousin of mine and a nephew are police officers...

[BlooInBloo]

49. Yes, not all. That is literally true...

... But any cop is bad who either (a) commits a crime, or (b) doesn't come forward against a cop whom he or she knows committed a crime.

That covers about 95% of them, I figure.

[Shell Beau]

52. 95% of them? Okay yeah maybe speeding would count as

breaking the law, but where do you come up with your numbers? That sounds ridiculous to me.

[bridgit]

50. agreed...

[datasuspect]

55. their professionalism is directly proportional to the amount of accountability

they might suffer if some constituency or other they deal with can come back and bite them in the ass.

a vast MAJORITY of cops are disciplined LIARS who fuck with evidence, plant evidence, and create contexts to make illegal arrests legal.

that's why criminal defense lawyers make good money: they get many cases thrown out in the pretrial phases because the cops usually do something illegal and prosecutors know there is no case.

i'm sure there are some good cops, but i have rarely met one.

most are supercharged rambo types with military pretensions. they like to bust shit and fuck people up.

[Shell Beau]

56. I really hate that you see them that way.

Evidence getting fucked up, yeah that sucks. But rarely do they do it on purpose. They are human. It does take a certain personality to be a cop, but I wouldn't say Rambo. I think your opinion of cops is wrong. But that is your opinion.

[datasuspect]

57. it probably depends on the jurisdiction

and the population being policed.

poor people, minorities, and other traditionally powerless and voiceless constituencies are more often than not mistreated by the police.

[Shell Beau]

59. I guess we just won't agree because I don't believe that at all.

[Solon]

68. Wait, WHAT?!?! What fantasy world do YOU live in?

Seriously, racism in police forces, including racial profiling and brutalization of minorities and the poor is not only widespread, its systematic, so much so we have had riots in major cities over this very issue. You can't honestly say, with a straight face, that it doesn't exist.

[Shell Beau]

69. I live in the real world. And I didn't say it DIDN'T exist.

I said it doesn't exist througout EVERY police force in the country. That is absurd. I would love to know what you base your opinion on. What facts do you have to back that up? What you see on TV? Because that sure as hell doesn't cover all police out there. There are TONS of great police officers out there and they deserve respect for putting there lives at risk every day and having to deal with bullshit lies that people believe about ALL of them. Kinda like what you are saying.

[Solon]

121. I said it was systematic, which is true...

Black men in particular are more likely to get pulled over, arrested, harassed, beaten and incarcerated longer than white men. These disparities are well documented, NATIONWIDE, why not do some research of your own for once?

[Shell Beau]

126. You've got to be kidding me! Do some research of my own?

I have a brother who LIVES it. And has friends all over the country who LIVE it. That is research enough! Ha! Almost funny really!

[Solon]

129. Oh, I see, so the FACTS don't matter to you, is that it?

Let's see, according to an article I found, one surprising thing was that the pull over rates were about the same between whites, blacks, and Hispanics, however, both blacks and Hispanics were more likely to be handcuffed and force used against them than whites. This I find interesting.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/08/29/BL2005082900813.html

But don't let FACTS get in the way of your rose colored world. :eyes:

[Shell Beau]

130. Trust me, my world ain't rose colored. I have had

way too much tragedy in my life to think the world is all great. And don't think I don't keep up with the news. But I also am not too naive to think they report the good that cops do.

I think I have said about all I can say on this topic. Please read all that I have written. Goodbye!

[Solon]

132. All I can say is that your worldview is skewed...

Seriously, you discount the negatives and want to only say the positives, saying that its just a "few bad apples" that are the problem. However, the facts and reports that exist directly contradict that assertion. When you have cops in Seattle that, in 1999, assaulted WTO protesters for no reason, that's a systematic problem. Cops in Miami, in 2003, repeatedly shot rubber bullets at a SINGLE protester, a local businesswoman, who was over 50 feet away and held a single protest sign. And just this year we had cops, AFTER an immigration protest in LA on May Day, attacked reporters of all people, for doing absolutely nothing, and the fucking police chief defends those actions. Never mind the fact that a woman had her arm broken and a cameraman suffered a concussion, among other injuries. But no, all that you dismiss, because your brother is a "good guy", excuse me while a puke.

[Left Is Write]

58. Yeah, I have friends who are cops. There all plenty of good ones out there.

[Skittles]

63. the ones who have given me speeding tickets - very nice

very fair - otherwise I have little interaction. It occurs to me that all those tickets made me slow down too so yes, even by giving tickets they provide a service

[Shell Beau]

64. I do hate to get a ticket. Especially if I am going somewhat the limit!

But hey, gotta slow down sometimes!!!!

[seemunkee]

65. My neighbor is pretty cool and laid back

He's a supervisor for a DC gang squad

[ellisonz]

66. 146 Rubber Bullets

According to lawsuits filed, the LAPD had approximately 600 officers on the scene, outnumbering the subset of protesters who threw "plastic water bottles and oranges" by about a 15 to 1 ratio.<3> Altogether, police fired 146 foam-rubber projectiles,<4> 27 marchers and 9 members of the media were injured, 5 people were arrested,<5> and at least 50 civilians filed complaints with the LAPD regarding mistreatment by officers.<6>

---

The incident has received considerable attention from news media because many reporters were also pushed and beaten, notably Christina Gonzalez from L.A.'s Fox 11 News (KTTV)<9><1>, and Telemundo's National Evening Broadcaster, Pedro Sevcec. Sanjukta Paul, a National Lawyer's Guild observer, was beaten repeatedly by a LAPD officer, including a blow to the kidneys, as she attempted to separate police from the crowd. <10> CBS 2/KCAL 9 (KCBS, KCAL-TV) reporter Mark Coogan and his cameraman Carl Stein, were also accosted. Stein was struck on the ribs by LAPD batons. <2> Patricia Nazario, a reporter for KPCC, was beaten in the ribs and back, before being struck over the head with a baton. ABC 7 (KABC-TV) reporter Sid Garcia was hit by a rubber bullet, but it ricocheted off him. <11> Patti Ballaz, a camerawoman for KTTV who was injured, filed a claim for unspecified damages against the city and the police department. <12>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Los_Angeles_May_Day_Melee

[Book Lover]

74. Silence from the OP, I see

[Shell Beau]

78. Excuse me for stepping away from the computer!

:eyes:

[sasquatch]

91. Nice post Hitler, I thought this was a progressive site

:D
Yes, I'm feeling frisky today.

[Shell Beau]

92. Better watch out!! I am feeling very frisky too!

;)

[Shell Beau]

76. Well if the LAPD do it, then they must ALL do it!

What about all of the positive things they do? Oh, wait! They don't put that on the news.

[ellisonz]

134. Yes they do...pro-cop programs are all over television.

The LAPD is just a high profile example of behavior that permeates law enforcement in urban areas:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rampart_Scandal

[Sequoia]

67. Off topic but.....

How'd that haircut go?

[Shell Beau]

77. Ha!! Love it! Husband says it is sexy!!

:)

[Generic Brad]

70. I've never met a bad cop or seen one misbehaving in person

But if I routinely broke the law I suspect my viewpoint would be considerably different.

[Shell Beau]

79. Good point!

[ThomCat]

119. Yeah, because everyone who dislikes the cops must be a criminal.

:eyes:

It's usually the cops that are the criminals. If they didn't have badges and that blue wall of silence I'm sure half of them would be in jail.

[Shell Beau]

125. Right! You make lots of sense.

That is why they risk their lives. Yep! Because they are criminals!

:eyes:

[Evoman]

71. Lol...I would be very interested to see if there are any minorities here who love cops.

God knows I don't. I fucking know better.

[Shell Beau]

80. Well considering many minorities are on police forces....

I forgot that one requirement to be a cop was to be racist! :sarcasm:

[Evoman]

82. It helps.

Makes you a better crimefighter, I guess :shrug: Although it has more to do with the fact that minorities are powerless, rather than racism per se.

[Shell Beau]

84. I know the first question they must ask a before you can be a cop

is are you racist? :eyes: That is extremely ridiculous and sad if that is what you believe. Yes, they are powerless, so why not join in in the racism. :sarcasm: I am sure many minorities who are cops would find that statement very uneducated. You give them such credit for standing up for themselves.

[Evoman]

85. Do you think some minorites in the police force negates systemic racism in the police force

and the justice system in general?

Do you think that there is a possibility that because you are white person with family in the police, that your experiences with the police may not be typical?

I am not convinced that there is this great group of cops with some "bad apples" among them. I think that the police are a bad crop of apples with a couple of edible ones in the mix.

I've seen too much shit...people beat up at protests, friends treated like dirt because of their race, my family abused by the police....not to be wary.

I know what your going to tell me....."the bad ones ruin everything". But I've never seen supposedly good cops stand up to bad cops. And I'm not naive enough to think that because a person is nice to me, that they are not capable of doing sketchy shit. And I'm certainly not naive enough to think that when the shit hits the fan politically, that the cops will do anything to defend people like you and I.

[Shell Beau]

88. You can think whatever you want. Yeah I am white! My brother is white.

Half the men he works with and for aren't. They happen to like their jobs. And in a lot of the communities here in MS, they aren't the minority. You can be a cop hater all you want. I am obviously not going to change your opinion. And maybe I don't want to. Just remember the next time you are in danger and need some help, it will be the cops who will put their life on the line for the likes of you. I hope that never happens. But if it does, I hope you are sure to tell them that they are all pieces of shit.

[Evoman]

93. Hmmmm

That is fine, and I'm not likely to change your opinion either. But let us leave on good terms. Don't worry, I don't think your some sort of evil supporting white person, and I certainly am not accusing you, nor your family, of being racist. I don't go atound hating cops, despite what you may think....but right now, for me, its a choice between believing the people who tell me most cops are good and my lying eyes.

And I also hope that I don't have cause to go to the police (I don't think its fair for you say something "the likes of me". I'm not a bad person, and I have never committed a crime).

[Shell Beau]

94. Fair enough!

:)

[hippywife]

105. Actually the cops present at the protests we've held

here have all been very respectful except one guy who was a macho ass. When Cheney was here a few years back speaking at a dinner that was a fundraiser for Tom Coburn, some of our group was protesting on the sidewalk directly in front of the hotel he was in, while the rest of the group was on the side walk across the street facing the hotel. The Secret Service came out in a real snit and told the folks directly in front of the hotel they were to move across the street or they would have them arrested. They refused and when the SS tried to get the Tulsa Police to arrest them, the mounted officers told them no. They told the SS that the protesters know their rights and they were within them as they were on public easement.

They have always been very nice to us and even assisted some of our group when some rednecks became violent at one of our corner protests. We've always communicated with them exactly what we were going to do and have handled ourselves accordingly, and they have appreciated that even showing up to make sure we were safe from any undue actions of passersby.

Even during acts of civil disobedience, they have been courteous while arresting those who participated.

[Shell Beau]

107. Thanks for telling your positive experience. I truly believe

that for every negative experience, there are more positive ones!! :)

[ThomCat]

120. And yet, racial disparities in how people are treated by cops

are documented over and over and over again. Racial profiling is still common. Minorities still get stopped more often, searched more often, arrested disproportionately to their numbers, and report more harassment and abuse.

Right, so because those cops say they're not racist, and because some of them are black, that means there's no racism in law enforcement. Wow.
x(

[Shell Beau]

127. Yeah wow!That is right! You are being as judgmental as the cops you

claim!! Way to go!! :applause:

[Tektonik]

72. All cops aren't bad,

but when one hears stories of abuse of power (like the recent case where a guard in a school broke a girl's arm for dropping cake), they're not likely to think sweet thoughts regarding the police.

[Shell Beau]

81. Which is my point. All of the bad ones make the rest look bad.

It sucks. You won't hear positive stories on the news. It doesn't sell.

[datasuspect]

111. a good cop IS a bad cop if he or she in any way is complicit in keeping silent ANY police abuse

one of my many bottom lines.

the good cop: the one who told the other cops to stop beating my brother in the parking lot of the police station.

this "good cop's" testimony to the state's attorney: my brother was "resisting." while handcuffed. AFTER being transported and beaten en route.

and yeah, he made sure they took my brother to the ER, made sure he got a few smokes, and was probably a decent enough guy.

but when it came time to talk to the legal system: he clammed up and played ball on the side of the corrupt system.

[Shell Beau]

114. I am sorry. That does suck. He should've stood up for what

he saw.

Some actually do though.

[Wapsie B]

96. My son had taken off several years ago

with one of his friends. There was a car wreck near Decorah in the middle of the night involving another friend. My son's friend was called and they both took off. Their cars were almost empty on gas but dear old Dad's car was gassed and ready to go. Son grabbed his Mom's duplicate set and took the car without my permission. Thankfully I did find out which direction they were headed. I called up the police dept. in Decorah and the guy there was like a saint through it all, checking with the hospital and area agencies about accidents, doing a search for the van. He even called me several times with updates with what he was finding out. My hats off to the cops in Decorah, Iowa.

[Shell Beau]

98. I am sorry you had to deal with that. That sounds really tough.

I am glad to hear about a positive experience. :hug: I hope all is well now!

[Wapsie B]

101. Yes all is well with that part of life.

He and his friend have matured just a bit anyway. Thanks.

:hug:

[Roon]

103. I had a cop buddy once,as much as I hate cops

He worked for the Aurora PD and his name was Kennedy. Officer Kennedy. We used to watch "COPS" in vacant rooms at the crack motile that I worked in. He used to make his busts and he would carry a piece of glass that had some coke on it.Me and my workers would approach him and he would say,"No!! you can't lick the glass!!" He knew what was up and and he was cool. He was always smiling, even when he was arresting you. When he was featured on cops, he never smiled, not even once. I have moved and got another job since then, but I am going to kick his butt!! He had a nice smile and a nice personality that made people like him. In his scene of cops, he was being a total jerk. And I know that is not officer Kennedy's style.

[Shell Beau]

106. Well I do have a problem with people arresting others for what they do themselves.

If he was snorting coke but arresting others for drug possession, etc., I think that is wrong. You shouldn't be a cop and hold yourself above the law that you are there to enforce. Although, I am sure your friend was a good guy. I just don't like double standards.

[Roon]

110. Nah, he wasn't doing coke

he was just securing the evidence,..he was an older guy when I knew him 20 years ago. So I am sure he is long retired.

[Shell Beau]

112. Oh!! Sorry for jumping to conclusions!

My brother one time had so much evidence in his car, I could have gotten high off of the pot fumes! I wanted to jump in and have some!! :spank: But of course it had to be turned in!!

He was never the goody goody! But he never even experimented with any drugs. I only did with pot, but I just stood near his car hoping for a little contact high!! ;)

[bamacrat]

116. I'm sure there are some okay cops out there, but...

there are so many that are in it for the power trip, I think it is at best 50/50. I'm on NWA's side on this one a lot of the times. It may be just my experiences or where I live but I'd have to say for every good decent cop there are at least two shityass bastard cops. But, que sera sera.

[alarimer]

122. The cops around here are assholes

And the police chief is the biggest asshole of them all. He was accused of raping an ex-girlfriend but that was thrown out of court. I actually believe he was in the right this time- they had consensual sex and she accused him of rape. BUT this was AFTER he had proposed (in public) to his other girlfriend. So, while he is not a rapist, he IS an asshole for screwing someone else while engaged. But the worst of it, she MARRIED HIM ANYWAY! What the hell is wrong with some women?

But I digress, my upstairs neighbor is a cop and he has been harassing me since they moved in. Calling the cops on me whenever the movie was a little too loud for them, while they play their music at volume. I can't call the cops on him, since they would never do anything to another cop. Fascist piece of shit.

Every cop I have met (with one exception) has been a complete asshole. Rude, hostile, you name it. Fuck the cops. I have nothing nice to say about any of them. Give some people a uniform and they become like the SS or something.

[Shell Beau]

128. I am sorry you have had terrible experiences. I think a lot have.

Because hate to be told what to do. But hate all you want. It does no good. They do the shitty things that you and I aren't willing to do. Like risk their lives. But yep, they all deserve to be hated.

Except those who ran into the twin towers. It is funny how people will bitch about cops. But then they will turn around and say they are heroes! It is a joke really.

[Shell Beau]

131. I am going to request that this thread be locked.

I feel as though this topic has been dicussed as much as it can be without really turning ugly. And that wasn't the intent here. I thought I could state some positive things that cops do. But I really see this turning more ugly than it already has become.

[Danger Mouse]

133. I don't even have to look at this thread to tell it turned into a flamewar, and that makes me sad.

Cops (and any authority figures, especially doctors) scare the shit out of me, but it doesn't mean I don't respect what they do and appreciate their necessity.
There are bad cops, but for those people who hate ALL cops so badly...try living without them. If someone robs you, hurts you, steals from you. Maybe then, you won't be so flippant?