What is your opinion of the police?

[quinnox]

It's interesting, one of the patterns I have noticed at DU is many stories are posted when it is negative about police, and no positive stories are posted. There are other patterns about other topics as well that I won't get into (the military for example, and religious people getting in trouble with the law) But in general, what is your opinion of the police? Generally favorable or unfavorable?

[annabanana]

1. A disciplined, well administered, professional police force

is a good and necessary thing. The pity is that it's such a rare creature.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. the police was a good band. serious, they are humans and some good and some bad.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. I'm intrinsically against authority.

As an american, I believe authority figures have a responsibility to be held accountable. I see the opposite in many if not most police departments.

As someone once said, the police motto is "To Protect and Serve" not "What the Fuck are You Looking At."

[quinnox]

10. that is what I expected

I think the majority of DU think this way. It's interesting from a sociological perspective and left/right politics.

[G_j]

67. I don't think it is so much a perspective as it is what

the Constitution and it's writers envisioned of Democracy : saveguards on every individual's freedom.

Did they really mean for one group to have so much power and authority over their fellow citizens whom they serve? Frankly, I don't think our present justice system is democratic.
It is not in balance with it's citizens. Why can't citizens smoke pot for instance?
Surely we don't need to have so many of our population in jails for nonviolent "crimes".
And are we really so "bad" a people that we need so much policing?

[rucky]

72. And the righties are pro-authority...

for everyone ELSE.

[glowing]

4. I think the day of having your friendly neighborhood cop who

helps you find your lost cat, old women across the street, and hero to the kids are over. Been to a protest lately? If they can act so outrageously against peaceful demonstrators, what do you think they do to someone who is a suspected criminal?

[Missy Vixen]

74. We're the exceptions, then

I got locked out of our house a couple of years ago in December. Yeah, we live in a small town, but I was told to call the cops before the locksmith -- which would have been very expen$ive late on a Sunday night. The police got me back into our house, and would accept nothing more than a "thank you".

Julie

[knight_of_the_star]

76. Those cops are the exception

Every single demonstration I've been to the police have been calm, professional, and disciplined individuals only there just in case things really got out of hand. They didn't even say boo at one march in San Diego where we decided at the end of the march to march right through Horton Plaza (big mall in downtown SD) even though mall security was freaking out.

[femmocrat]

5. Favorable for the most part.

But I come from a family which includes several policemen, past and present. And I have never personally had a bad encounter with a police officer.

[BobRossi]

6. The police in my town are the best.

I have gotten to know a few including the Public Safety Director (Chief). We have a Public Safety department so each officer is a Cop, a Firefighter, and an EMT.
Wouldn't trade them for the world, the typical response time is under two minutes if you ever need them.

[KG]

7. they are trained to protect power, not serve the people.

[Big Pappa]

37. Bingo.

The one I run into have small man complex.

[RedCappedBandit]

53. agreed.. sadly n.t

[tridim]

8. Mostly negative

Although I have met a few cops who were genuinely good people.

[YOY]

9. There are good cops and there are bad cops

You can usually tell which is which within a few minutes of conversation.

Pity they seem to protect each other even when the difference is obvious.

[mr_hat]

11. Loved their update of the power-trio format

and how they morphed it with the reggae beat.

Revolutionary New Wave band, IMO. Had the pleasure of seeing them on a Sunday night at Park West in Chicago for one single dollar. They had to play "Roxanne" twice to fill the time...

Disclaimer: I went to school (Millfield) with Stuart Copeland, so I'm a bit prejudiced. Hey, Stuart! St. Anne's rules!

[OHdem10]

12. Most police are good earnest people trying to do their jobs

As with any profession or occupation you can get some bad "apples".

As with most things, the fact that police do their jobs everday--
Not News.

When a Cop " goes bad" --this is what makes news.

It is like the airlines. Thousands of planes take off and
land with no problems everyday. Not News

Airliner Crashes or appears to be in trouble in flight. This makes Ness

[bullimiami]

13. from miami and the ftaa protester abuse, to new york and the republicon convention

abuse, to New Orleans and the cops shooting at people trying to cross the bridge out of hell, to LA and the beating of the immigration protesters....

Ive got to say I dont have a very high opinion of police in general right now.

[gravity]

14. I generally respect the police

My main beef is with some of the laws themselves.

There are some bad apples, but overall, I am glad that cops are around, and don't hold a grudge against someone whose goal is to protect society.

I'm white though, so my view could be a little bias.

[BarbaRosa]

58. gravity, heavy statement,

your last line

I'm a Canadian who has lived most of my life in the US. I've had a green card since '63. Up until the nutcase hit the WH this has been no problem. Now I must say I'm kinda glad I'm a white immigrant, who by now speaks American.

strange times indeed

[hyphenate]

15. A mixed bag

Partly, I think because my mom, especially, used to know some cops in one of our old neighborhoods, and her opinion of them was fairly negative. So I grew up with some criticism of them. I think, also, for a long time, the Boston police had an overall negative image in the 60s and 70s (which is where I grew up).

I appreciate them coming to my rescue a couple of times, but have resented them on several occasions as well, especially one time when I was living in SoCal and cars were whizzing by and he pulled me over, allowing cars going 10-15 miles faster per hour than me to keep going.

I am convinced that a few of the things my mom has always said are true: it does seem that they have a "per month" quote that they need to meet, and that they start stopping more and more people as they get closer to the end of the month.

[Kingshakabobo]

16. Every cop I've ever known has bragged about SOME sort of perjury or 'testilying.'

My best friend's little brother has been a Chicago cop for 4 years now. He tells stories about racial profiling, testilying and out-right physical abuse - bordering on human rights violations........besides that, he is a nice guy.

I think every cop should have to wear a wire and a camera every day they report for duty. The minute they strap on that badge and gun, they should have to start recording EVERY interaction with the public.......from arrests, to yelling at you for getting in the way of their favorite illegal parking spot in front of Starbucks.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. I live in a suburb and work in a city

The cops in the suburb are assholes. I got pulled over a few months ago for going 28 in a 25. They harass kids and racial profiling is their hobby.

But the cops in the city are awesome. Their response time isn't as good as the suburban cops where I live, but the city cops are infinitely more polite and well-mannered. And they are too busy solving real crimes to harass anyone.

[gravity]

30. Cops in the suburbs have nothing to do but harass kids

The difference between city and suburban cops is black and white. When you have real crime, you don't sweat the small stuff.

[knight_of_the_star]

78. Same experience here

Cops in Suburbistan San Diego county are a bunch of dicks although the CHP there isn't too bad, the San Diego PD and San Francisco PD big city cops are very laid back, very cool. They have bigger fish to fry than some kid who is assumed to be drunk, underage, and in possession (had that happen once) Never had problems with big city cops.

[dweller]

17. as long as they do their job

to serve and protect, i have no quarrel.

i suppose the boundries of the above distinction tho brings them into discussion/criticism.

i try to live w/out their interaction in my life, so i'm not perhaps a good judge. If i need them for a valid reason i would hope they would respond. If not, i would expect them to leave me be.

dp

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Generally unfavorable

Too many bad experiences.

[lvx35]

19. Totally Favorable. ( but there are bad cops. )

I have huge respect for clean cops who put their lives on the line keeping people safe. I just can't imagine what the hell people are thinking who are categorically against cops....Unless they themselves are part of a syndicate, are are willing to take care of business themselves. (something extremely rare with these folks to my experience.)

Frankly, it scares the shit out of me that almost every cop, every security professional, and almost every soldier I know are conservative. This is a terrible spot for us to be in.

[uppityperson]

20. Mixed.

[youthere]

22. I live in a small town in a rural area...

I know all the local cops and most of the Sheriffs. In fact, our county sheriff and my husband are close friends, and we spend a great deal of time with him and his wife.
All the active police I know right now are decent hardworking people of integrity...but there have been a couple in the past...whooo boy! Not too big on the brains department. Luckily they don't last too long on the local force or in the sheriff's dept.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Most cops are good pepple doign a job most of us don't want

there are some who are REAL ASSHOLES, and will use, err abuse their authority

but most cops are good people

On edit some departments have problems as in serious problems (LAPD for example), but we humans tend to condemm all for the ills of the few

[knight_of_the_star]

79. To be fair with the LAPD

They are also seriously stretched thin compared to most other big city PDs, this doesn't excuse some of the more outrageous shit they've done, but they aren't exactly living high on the hog either.

[Solly Mack]

24. guarded

[CrispyQ]

25. There are some occupations that just seem to attract the wrong types.

Law enforcement, politics, management. Occupations, where one has power & authority over others, seem to attract the types that want power & authority over others. It's a Catch-22. There are certainly exceptions, but it gets back to that absolute power corrupting absolutely thing. I look at Cheney & how much money he has & how little time he probably has & I wonder why he doesn't resign. Gotta feed his addiction.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

29. I have observed quite a few bullies in law enforcement.

Not all are bullies, but I think you are right that there are a certain number of people who want the power.

[Christian30]

26. I grew up with police officers in my family

I think on the whole cops are good people. I think that cops do themselves a disservice when they stand up for the few crooks in their midst. I also think that certain regimes (whether local or federal) bring out the worst in the officers by egging them on to more violence or laying some bullshit about "terrorists" or racial profiling on them.

[Marrah_G]

27. I have alot of respect for the men and women of law enforcement

I also know they are human. Some of them are fantastic, some are average and some are awful and shouldn't be on the job. The bad ones are the ones that make the news, so people have a field day talking about how bad all the "pigs" are. My very progressive, liberal, pagan former significant other has spent 15 years trying to keep people safe and he isn''t getting rich doing it. It is a thankless job for those who really love what they do. It infuriates me to see people slamming all law enforcement for the acts of a few. There are far more good then there are bad.

[karlrschneider]

28. I worked my way through college as a cop...in Tulsa and my opinion of most cops is

not very favorable. I overlooked a LOT of abuse (to keep the job...mea culpa)

But I recognize they're grotesquely underpaid for what they're expected to do. Hire cops on the cheap, you get cheap cops...it doesn't really get any more complicated than that.

[tularetom]

31. My son and son in law are both ex cops

Son has a mostly positive view of his years on the force. He left to do something tamer once he had kids. Son in law unfortunately for him was an office politician and shit stirrer. He pissed off some of the higher ups and they hustled him off the force under a semi bogus personnel rule violation. Too bad. He's never found a niche. I think he really liked being a cop but he couldn't keep his mouth shut. He's almost 50 and still trying to find himself the poor bastard.

As a whole the police around here are honest and generally not corrupt, but not really motivated either, which is what you can expect when you pay somebody $50,000 a year after 10 years on the police force.

[Oldenuff]

32. I'm not nearly as supportive as I used to be

Especially with the tendancy to send out Swat at the drop of a hat...what's next?Swat at traffic stops?

Seems to me that they have adopted a more military mindset.Most I have met had a haughty attitude,and that pi**es me off.

[DemGa]

33. I just try not to do anything to have them around me

Not fond of guns, sticks, cages, etc.

[Fox Mulder]

34. Say what you want about the police, but I'll be glad they're there when I need them.

[stillcool]

35. I did a lot of stuff...

as a young'un, but was fortunate enough to have been born into a family of cops...and partied hardy with many. I've never gotten arrested...the only time I've seen the inside of a jail was for an AA meeting...and in my fifty years got exactly one speeding ticket...so far. That said..I have an instinctual fear, and distrust of policemen.

[BlooInBloo]

36. I think there's a greater proportion of criminals in the cop population than the non-cop.

[Truthiness Inspector]

48. Now, that is an outrageous, and baseless thing to say

Police officers undergo intensive background investigations. And I mean intensive. Current and former neighbors/employers/teachers/friends/lovers/family are all contacted and interviewed at length as to the candidate's character. Of course the background includes a search of any violations anywhere. Anything you've ever done, real or perceived, is dug up and sniffed.

If you have any doubts, apply to a PD just for shits and giggles, and you'll see.

[BlooInBloo]

50. (a) I was asked for my opinion, (b) they can become criminals AFTER joining.

[Truthiness Inspector]

55. Well

You said you think there are more criminal cops than non-cops. And yep, you are entitled to that opinion however baseless.

I forgot to add that on top of background investigations, departments also require an extensive psychological exam, and many subject candidates to a polygraph.

Cops are subjected to VERY high levels of scrutiny, levels that many people would not or could not abide.

Do a *few* turn into bad seeds afterwards or slip through the cracks...of course. But your original premise fails.

[TransitJohn]

62. You don't have to be convicted to be a criminal.

Commission makes a criminal.

[Truthiness Inspector]

63. Your point? n/t

[TransitJohn]

84. Background checks

don't necessarily find criminals.

[Jed Dilligan]

87. Higher proportion, not more, is what the poster wrote

I would estimate that the percentage of the general population regularly committing jailable crimes--can we agree on this as a definition of criminal?--is somewhere between ten and twenty percent. Drop the pot smokers and drunk drivers and that goes down to five or six percent. Basically, the whole prison/parole/probation population plus a slightly smaller number who have never been caught.

Not only are police notoriously heavier drinkers than the general population, their position puts them at greater risk to commit crimes than people in general. There is nothing easier to do, for instance, than confiscate and deal drugs if you are a police officer. With various abuses of power not available to the general population, I wouldn't be surprised if the percentage was significantly higher, and with a much higher proportion of criminals who have never been caught due to their protected position.

[HeeBGBz]

38. Glad to hear they're touring again. n/t

[nolabels]

47. "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"

(snip)
THE POLICE lyrics - "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"

(Sting)

Don't think me unkind
Words are hard to find
The only cheques I've left unsigned
>From the banks of chaos in my mind
And when their eloquence escapes me
Their logic ties me up and rapes me

De do do do, de da da da
Is all I want to say to you
De do do do, de da da da
Their innocence will pull me through
De do do do, de da da da
Is all I want to say to you
De do do do, de da da da
They're meaningless and all that's true

Poets, priests and poiticians
Have words to thank for their positions
Words that scream for your submission
And no one's jamming their transmission
'Cos when their eloquence escapes you
Their logic ties you up and rapes you

De do do do, de da da da
(snip)
www.OldieLyrics.com

[janx]

69. That's what I was about to say!

Sting's OK.

[rasputin1952]

39. The police are necessary obviously, but like all aspects of

society, there is corruption. It is difficult to deal w/said corruption because of the secrecy that is somewhat inherent in PD's, as well as an abnormal protection policy that the police seem to have.

Some people should never have authority over others, and about 10% of the police officers fall into this category. Where I live, the local cops are OK, to a point, the Sheriff Deputies are a a tad more arrogant, but I have to say, the State Patrol has always been exceptionally professional. They are doing their jobs, and while I might feel like I was singled out for a ticket or something, my fight is in court, not w/the cops.

All things considered, they do a necessary job as professionally as they can...:D

[Rosemary2205]

40. I have a love/hate opinion of police in general.

I don't trust one as far as I can throw them, but if I get accosted I hope to hell one shows up.

Police and soldiers both joined for basically good reasons of wanting to making a living and serve the community at the same time. But I think sometimes they get a little carried away with "the ends justify the means" and "it's us versus them" type thinking and then innocent people get hurt.

Now if you ask me about Blackwater type mercenaries or private security cops (not moonlighters but private cops) or bounty hunters -- I think they are ALL asswipes in it for the sheer joy of pushing people around and with any luck getting to shoot someone dead.

[Straight Shooter]

41. I've always been on good terms with the police.

But I'm white, so that gives me a distinct advantage from the start. They don't negatively profile me.

I've also never taken part in a mass protest. I'm sure their attitude towards me would be different at that point.

But to answer your question, my opinion is generally favorable.

[Tara_NM]

42. like everyone else a few bad apples

I can't say I have ever had any problem with police action thus far in my life. Most of the ones I have seen or met are alot like anyone else on planet earth- human. They have good days and bad days and there are a few bad apple mixed in the bunch.

[treestar]

43. That there are good cops and bad cops and every shade

in between; that it is a tough job for those who try to do it well and sometimes a sinecure for the authoritarian.

I don't believe in generalizing about people based on their profession. All have their good and their bad and everything in between.

[whistle]

44. In Orlando FL the police have become taser happy thugs

[Truthiness Inspector]

45. Favorable

And you are right that good police stories rarely make the news, unless it's truly spectacular. The everyday good goes unthanked and unnoticed by many. So what if an officer wrestles a violent wife-beater and takes him to jail so he can't continue on and kill his wife? So what if an officer searches a house that has been burglarized and finds the burglar still there, taking him out of the house so that the occupant(s) don't have to met him face to face? Etc.

[ismnotwasm]

46. In my neighborhood?

Glad to seem them coming. There's been a few assholes. And there's been a few hero's. One asshole is now a dead hero. They made much of him in the news.

I don't think shoving police officers in one category is productive. I don't like the idea of a police state, and I like my police officers to be psychologically stable of course.

I see one around, handsome little guy, conservative. My husband and I give him shit, he gives it right back. Let us know he's a human being with opinions he'll defend, but he'll listen as well. He helped us when my youngest daughter was going through some VERY rebellious times.

One time, we had this field behind our house, back of the alley. Lots of drug dealing---the kind you don't want-- and prostitution, as well as other assorted crime, including violence and murder. The neighborhood was sick of it. The police came through for us. Long story, but the end result was the field was sold, the crime was cleaned up, and the drug dealers either moved on or became more discrete.

[Jed Dilligan]

49. Because of horrible things I've seen them do to people,

I think they should all be fired, every one of them, and replaced with a completely different type of person.

[Marrah_G]

52. So all the good ones out there who have served and protected for years should be fired?

You do realize that bad cops are only a small portion, the portion that gets the most press right? Exactly what sort of person you would like to see them replaced with.

[RedCappedBandit]

56. Every cop i;ve had the misfortune of meeting..

has been an arrogant pig. Sure they might do certain parts of their job well, but they sure as hell aren't serving the public interest imo.

[Marrah_G]

57. I'm sorry you've only met the bad ones. There really are good ones out there.

[Jed Dilligan]

59. The "good" ones have always protected the "bad" ones

Instead of thugs, we should have peacemakers.

[RedCappedBandit]

51. i've yet to meet a cop

who acts like a public servant

thats what they are, after all.

[libnnc]

54. I have one buddy who is a neighbor

and frequents our neighborhood pub. He's on the local police force and is a really cool guy. Is always very, very professional. A real sweetheart and he HATES cops who are jerks because he says it makes his job more difficult.

[Quantess]

60. Generally positive.

Police do great things for their communities every day, but, how is that newsworthy?

[Solo_in_MD]

61. Mixed

I lived for a while in a smallish town a long way from anywhere. Local cops all lived in town. Not a lot of BS from them and high quality neighborhood policing with the accountability that comes from living in a small town.

LAPD, NYPD, Wash DC police, etc can kiss my ass.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

64. Extremely Favorable. They Put Their Lives On The Line For Us Everyday. They Are Heroes.

Sure, some are pieces of shit, but the overwhelming number of them put their lives on the line for innocent people daily. That's more than most of us will ever do.

And I don't say that lightly. Fact is, I've been abused by cops, harassed by cops, stalked by cops and raided by cops. I have every reason in the world to loathe them with all my heart. But I'm not that closed minded to think my experience defines what law enforcement is. I'm just not that ignorant.

[chknltl]

65. A closed secretive society within our society with a little power.

First issue: I am not fond that they are the ones who police themselves. The opportunities for abuse from this power is always there and we hear tales often enough. Do we need cops? Of course we do. Should they be in charge of oversight on themselves? No more than we should allow the bfee that same power. It would be nice if there were an independent oversight group, non-political, who could keep an eye out for any shenanigans. Give them the power to remove cops temporarily from duty and total access to any material they need for investigations. Give the media access to them as well...but not so much access that investigations could be jeopardized. This would go a long way to cleaning up an image problem AND clean up the few bad apples out there. May I suggest forming a branch within the FBI for this duty.

Before anyone flames me here for any ignorance, there IS a problem with the system. I think most cops are aware of this potential for abuse as well. Perhaps they could suggest something better.

2nd issue, (related to first issue): I hear that the rate for spousal abuse is higher among cops as well. Perhaps an urban legend perhaps not. (Sort of like the one which says suicide rates among dentists are higher than average, again perhaps urban legend). This one makes sense to me but from a different perspective: I was a military brat. The military is a stressful job and at one point they offered a substantial bonus in pay to the married soldiers for each kid they had. Large families were common because of this back then. The rates of spousal abuse and child abuse and Alcoholism were extremely high among this group. The stress of military life combined with the stress of large family life was just too much here. Eventually this was recognized and fixed. Cops have perhaps an even more stressful life...they put their lives on the line for us often enough. I would not be surprised to see statistics which show they are more at risk for spousal abuse. That said I suggest that spousal abuse could easily be turned to victim abuse...the kind we hear about in the news so often.

I have suggested an oversight system but I fear the real root of the problem is in the stress that the thin blue line faces. I am not seeking sympathy for them here...just suggesting the root of the problem, and a better oversight solution to treat the "symptoms" of the problem. Those symptoms being power abuse, spousal abuse and victim abuse. Until the stress from doing this job is decreased, I fear public opinion of the cops will be less than warm.

[Greyhound]

66. Mixed, personal and second hand experiences have all been negative,

but I realize there must be good ones, I've just never met one or know anybody that has.

[madokie]

68. let me put it this way,

I sure as heck wouldn't want to live in a world without 'em

[progressivebydesign]

70. Personally? Favorable impressions. A few bad apples don't ruin it for me.

I am grateful that some people have it in them to do that job. Some do it for the wrong reason, but they are in the minority. The majority of police officers I've met entered the field because they wanted to help people, and wanted to do something for the community. Many have an idealized view of right and wrong. There are jerks, and some that started out with the right intentions went down the wrong path when faced daily with the dregs of society. I've had some police officer friends, and it is truly hard to have to deal with people who have no regard for human life, other people's pain, or property. I salute anyone that chooses to try and keep their community safe. A few bad apples do not diminish the respect I have for all of the good ones.

One friend in particular works for LAPD. He has for over 20 years, and in every department they have. There were so many instances where he and a partner, or others in his department, would bring food or other needed things to crime victims who were left with nothing.

People here on DU seem to be so anti-police. But honestly, every time I've needed help the police were there when I needed them. Many of my neighbors now are police, and they're very kind people with nice families.

[qdemn7]

71. Well let's see

It seems the bigger cities have more public troubles with their PDs. Example NYC, Chicago, LA. Right now the Chicago PD seems to be the most corrupt in the country. The smaller cities don't seem to have the same level of problems per capita. The Ft Worth PD seems like a good dept. Anytime I've had an encounter with them, they have acted very professional. Small towns (<10,000) seem to have either great or awful officers. I've lived in small towns before, so I know of what I speak.

IMO, my biggest complaint about too many progressives is that they don't like or trust law enforcement, but at the same time they don't trust the average citizen with guns so they can defend themselves. It seems that too many progressives don't seem to want ANY authority figures, and I don't anyone with either attitude.

[Missy Vixen]

73. Our hometown cops? Very positive.

I don't know how they do their jobs, even in a small town. They go out of their way to protect and serve, even people who are ungrateful and openly nasty to them. Are they perfect? No. They're human. At the same time, they err on the side of professionalism every time.

I would never, ever want their jobs.

Just a story about our police officers: They went door to door during the catastrophic December windstorms here for welfare checks. I'm sure they saved several lives by doing this.

My husband has a limited commission from another police department in the area as a volunteer. He writes tickets on those who park in disabled parking spaces without the appropriate placard. I've consistently been surprised to hear about those who believe they should not have a ticket for this, even those with a stolen or expired placard. After all, they're special. :sarcasm:

Julie

[entanglement]

75. Generally unfavorable - too powerful, too abusive, absolutely unaccountable

And largely immune from prosecution for their crimes / abuse of power. Consider, for example, the ugly and shameful history of police atrocities against minorities or immigrants or just plain brutal behavior (tasering people in diabetic shock).

[baby_mouse]

77. Depends on the cop, ranging from impressed to not very impressed at all.

Having worked in an Accident and Emergency department I've seen a reasonable amount of these guys at their best and worst. I have no opinion of them as a group, that's meaningless. They're people like everyone else. I judge people based on what I *see* them do.

Some of them are excellent. Some of them are idiots.

[lander]

80. With or without Sting?

Seriously, though -- I think it's necessary to separate the institution from the people. The cops I know are generally fantastic people; the police as an institution need to consider some basic questions about what they've become, like: why it is that they need to supply each officer with a taser gun, a nightstick, and a pistol? I mean, theoretically, don't you only need one of those? Should the police really be able to investigate themselves?

[Evoman]

81. I've hated every single cop I've ever met.

And I've met a lot (have some connections through my bro in law, who has lots of friends in law enforcement). A great percentage, in my opinion, are power hungry thugs without a strong moral center.

I think cops are treated TOO specially in our society. I think, for example, that off-duty cops should not have any special priviledges (off the job, your a civie...deal). Second of all, there should be civilian groups with power over the police. Any evidence of corruption and a cop is suspended, with a full investigation. Third of all, if a cop oversteps his boundaries...bam, your fired. You have to fully explain every tasering, every gunshot, and every warrant-less arrest, and if your found lacking, your gone, or arrested yourself if necessary.

[MrSlayer]

82. Generally favorable.

Most cops are good guys who believe in what they are doing. There is a small percentage that ruin it for the rest by being bullying, power hungry, assholes.

[H2O Man]

83. Interesting question.

I grew up with numerous relatives being employed in police work. And as an adult, my employment duties included working with police fairly often.

"Police" is a term that included everyone from the part-time village cop, who drives a school bus by day and a squad car nights and weekends; full-time city police officers; the county sheriffs departments; state police, including the BCI in NYS; and federal police such as the FBI.

There are problems with police that range from unstable individuals being issued a badge and a gun, to systematic corruption. In a village not far from me, there was a village cop who started taking out his gun during routine traffic stops, just to intimidate folks. He lost his position fairly fast. And, in the house I now own, a former occupant left the transcript of the trial where he lost his job; he beat a brown-skinned "suspect" up when the victim was in custody for a minor offense.

With systematic corruption, there was an evidence-tampering scandal in our state about 20 years ago. And older DUers will remember the book/movie "Serpico," and the Knapp Commission. But the best example remains the corruption that Hoover imposed on the FBI while he was the director.

Years before that, during a trial that involved a client I worked with, a defense attorney asked me about my relationship to a legendary investigator. I said he was my uncle. The attorney called him "the homicidal detective," and started to speak ill of him. I asked the attorney if someone in his family were the victim of a violent crime, who he would want to investigate it? He said, "Well, your goddamned uncle, of course!" I've always thought that response summed up some of the mixed feelings that people have about police.

In my employment, I developed some friendships with officers at different levels. I view them as not unlike the attorneys I came to know through work. They are men and women with a job to do. When life presents strange situations from time to time, it is nice to be able to call someone and know I can count on them to help me or my friends. And although I tend to be the definition of a hermit at this phase of life, I like to attend a family reunion every few years, and have discussions with some of the retired officers about things ranging from Bob Marley's music to crimes in the news.

[WeRQ4U]

85. As a person who works in criminal defense....

Most that I deal with are crooked.

My opinion is that they are less trustworthy than my clients. And that is saying something.

[KansDem]

86. Funny you should ask this question. Last week there was a crime committed in my neighborhood...

Actually, it began in Kansas City, Missouri: a truck was stolen and a police chase ensued. It ended near my home--a couple of blocks away. Anyway, my children and I were sitting in the living room when we hear 3 police cars come screaming down the street. I thought this was unusual and went out onto the porch to see what was going on. I saw a 4th police car drive by (no siren) and heard a police helicopter overhead. We thought something must be going on and went back inside. The next day I checked local news and saw that a pickup truck was stolen in KC, MO and was eventually stopped near my house and the malefactors arrested. But I thought to myself, "All this for a stolen pickup truck? We have thieves and murderers in the highest levels of government right now and there appears to be no accountability for their criminal acts. Oh, sure, a few hearings and non-binding proposals, but all-in-all the Bushistas are operating without interference. But steal a car and you have 4 police cars and a police helicopter on your ass...mucho pronto!

I know the police in this case were only doing their jobs, but still the contrast is striking. It's as if the higher up in class and the wealthier/more powerful you are, the less chance you have of ever being arrested for malfeasance. But if you're on the lower echelons of the socio-economic scale and steal a car and--WHOA-HO!!!--you ass belongs to the P.D.! YOU GO TO JAAAAY-EEEEL!!!