olfordsnstone
Well said!!!!!!

 

Starting Comment removed by FTE

More than once I've seen cops hit the lights and sirens to beat traffic lights just to get to diners and donut shops sitting across the street....where's the equality with the rest of us who must obey the light when they do that?
They hold themselves above the law, and don't even try denying it. I've seen it too many times- just like when an off duty cop gets into a bar fight, knowing he won't be held accountable.

I also know of more than one cop who cheats on his wife regularly-real upstanding role models those ones are
Plenty of cops do drugs as well, and I do mean PLENTY.

What about entrapment? You know, like when a cop rides your rear end on the highway- knowing that subconsciously many people will end up speeding to put a little distance between themselves and the harrassing officer.

And then there's other instances where cops deliberately make criminals out of people. Cops around here train kids who are a year or so below the legal drinking age to entrap innocent store cashiers into breaking the law. These kids are developed into deviant little masterminds by law enforcement, they are taught how to behave, what to say in order to distract the unwary cashier, what to wear, and what type of alchohol to buy. They are given an ID that shows the proper year for tobacco purchases
and they know exactly how to pull off this professional con act- the poor unwary cashiers(many of whom have never even been in trouble before) don't stand a chance the minute the little professional con artist walks in their store.

I know a kid who became a cop- it changed him almost immediately. He was a friend of my brothers, and the last I'd seen him he was still himself and had yet to go through the PA.
Next I saw him, he was just out of the PA about a year or so, I asked"Hey bud, whats up?".....no answer.
"Hey man, you hear me?"....just a look.
"What'd they start you at over there?"....at this he grabs his hip, and says, "Can I help you?".......
At this point I told him that if so suddenly he thought himself so high and mighty as not to be able to even acknowledge me, he could take his new found atitude and prestige and stick it right- you know the rest. He didint bother with me and let me go my way- cause unlike most cops who dont know me- this guy knows what I've been through, and what I'd do to him right then and there if he crossed me...he is flesh and blood same as I am.
Ashame it had to come to that though, at 21 I guess he was still too immature to deal with all his authority in the right manner.

I'm 30 years old and I have been through alot in my life so far, I saw my dad break his neck and become quadreplegic right in front of me, I saw him waste away three months in a nursing home, and I was'int there the day he died, I had to work for my kids and my wife. My mom's been in and out of the hospital for many things the worst of which was a quadruple bypass. I've had three brothers die. I've been with a girlfriend who was raped, and I could not take her pain away anymore than I could give my fathers body back to him. All this, and I still havent got life figured
out...so tell me please, how is it that a 21 tear old cop who's never even known the responsibility that goes along with having a family, supposed to be trusted to be responsible with his authority? Their not. At that age their like everyone else in their age group - they've got something to prove. There's one important difference though..unlike their peers, the law says it's ok for them to prove things to themselves, they know that they can get away with almost anything they want because there is no way in heaven, earth, or even hell it'self that any judge is going to take the word of an ordinary citizen accused of breaking the law over that of a police officer.

Most kids that age still live home with mom and dad, and I'd say that rule applies to most cops that age also...these kids know nothing about life..yet they are given so much authority over the lives of others.

Becoming a police officer did nothing for my brother's friend's personality. Lots of cops consider themselves the personification of the law, and consider themselves exempt from it- just like parents are exempt from home rules that children must be obedient to.

Firemen don't go around doing ANY of these things - there is no comparision between the two..and I've had my rant.

 

Anyone who puts their life on the line on my behalf is a hero in my book.

 

I guess I don't believe in heroes. I feel it is the job of any decent human being to help someone out, lifethreatening or not.You can't say all law enforcement is bad. Granted, I've seen my fair share of badboysbut that is not the majority. They definitely get away with alot more than the average joe.Female cops have always been nice to me. They don't have that male ego.

 

sinister73
There are bad eggs in every profession.. There are Firemen who have set fires too... but you cant label a bad egg to an entire dozen...
I bet that everyone here has had a ticket or some kind of run in with the poilce but by and large they are here to help and I know a lot of cops too and none fit your description and I live in the big bad LA....
Theres good and bad in everything just remember that... I am sure there are things that we would not want to hear about fireman too....Someday you will need a policeman and I hope for your sake he does right by you...

 

It is ashame that there is almost 50% negative reaction to police here - but that is really the sign of the times.

Those that have had to teach "plenty of cops" lessons are bullies themselves. Look in a mirror - decide to be different and walk away.

I liked that one about turning on the lights to make it to the donut shop...

When it is mentioned the there are plenty of cops cheating on their wives - show me a profession that doesn't - including the ministry.

Doing drugs? Well I suspect that while there may be some - the precentage is far less in our profession than others. BTW - if you know of a cop doing drugs and YOU don't report him to Professional Standards - then you are either supplying him/her and don't want to turn in a buyer or you are doing the drugs with him and in reality are no better. It is tough to live in a glass house.

Biases can only be changed in two ways.
1 - shock. You need help real bad and to your surprise a cop saves you or a loved one. Now you sit back and reflect and say - ya know, maybe they aren't so bad after all.

2 - Long term exposure. This is unlikely to happen with most here. Long term exposure may occur where you become placed in side by side employment with an officer. Over a period of time your biases may fade.

Firemen never have to break up a DV situation, removing the bread winner because the law forces us too.

Yes firemen are great we just have different form and function...

 

BTW - we don't eat donuts anymore. The new cops eat bagles. Same visual fix but less fat and sugars. Got to look out for out health ya know...

and if you need some help and don't want to call a cop--- call a terrorist...see what you get then.

 

Maybe a shame, but too bad so many cops put themselves in the negative spotlight. I don't know about the donut shop, but I have witnessed law enforcement in my city light up the roof to meet at mcdonalds.He came off a little strong but I see where he is coming from.It's a profession one chooses. Nobody gets forced into it.I have pounded on a couple of off duty cops. Sometimes they forget the laws apply to them too.

 

 

Well said DougD, although, Im still a donut man though hehe

Sinister, brother I'd agree, you seem to have you fair share of problems, hm... its a shame, however, if you think that it is entrapment for a cop to "follow" you, its not, perhaps your just the Ted Kazinski looking type, or Jeffery Dahmer looking type (understand, I do not at all mean to criticize you, that is not what I'm doing)? Something happens as a Policeman, you get this "sensation", a "feeling" if you will about certain people, and a Policeman will run the plates of the vehicle (which can take more than 30 secs. sorry dude) to see how it checks out. I can assure you that Policemen can find something better to do w/ their time then following you and other people around and wait for you to do something wrong, I mean, there are on average like 2 donut shops per city in the country, hehe . And as stated earlier, there are bad people in all professions. Trust me, I know, I've had opportunities to meet people off all professions, and I dont think I've been to one that atleast one person has'nt cheated on their wife or husband. So there "buddy", I believe that your senerio has been explained fairly well by us all.

olfordsnstone: I do appologize, I do not mean to embarress you at all, and I hope that I have not done so. Your right, everybody, no matter what profession has the obligation to be a "hero". I guess I just wanted to know why Policemen dont appear to be very appreciated (not that Firemen or even school teachers for that matter are all that appreciated) aside from the obvious "the pig gave me a ticket" kinda junk.

 

Oh I see,.......

If I don't hold to the notion that cops are by and far the living paragons of virtue, then somehow I'm the type who would rather call a terrorist for assistance?

Did'int you read my post? These things I've mentioned are real life, and as an officer of the law you should know this even better than I.
I never even mentioned the fact that statistics have shown that of all occupations law enforcement is behind only to construction workers and fast food personnel for highest rate of alcoholism.

Many cops are good citizens first and good cops second. Being good citizens is what makes them good cops - the best are family men. Many cops were punks, and are now punks with badges.

I'm sure there are bad apples in the fire departments aswell- but I've never met one, and it wouldint matter if I did because the state/county/city, gives them no authority over me.

I am a good citizen. No more and no less. I swear by God I do go out of my way to help people. I have parked my truck many times and crossed highways on foot to help stranded motorists - I do this everytime unless I'm really pressed for time over something extremely important. I've pushed many an old lady's car into a parking lot when all anyone else would do is drive by and stare.

I poured sweat for an elderly couple stranded in an intersection who were blocking up traffic. Their son was mechanically inclined and was on his way, but all the cops on the scene would do was call a tow truck. I went over to the corner convenience store and got permission to put the car on their lot for a few hours. Then I got a black guy there to help me push the car. I think the cops were a bit put off with this, I rather enjoyed making them feel like jerks. What could they do? They could have ordered me to stop helping the couple, but what kind of order would that be? They ended up calling off the tow truck and driving off, the old man offered me a tip that I refused to take - maybe if anything ever happens to my mom when I'm not around, God will be kind enough to send someone like me to help.

BTW, I'm a big city boy myself, and I now live in Marion County Florida, look up Sherriff Ken Ergle - he was GOD around here until the feds busted him for dealing in confiscated narcotics - enough to buy a new helicopter. He got a year in a country club prison and a long probation sentence - let any average joe get caught dealing in those amounts and he's be doing some seriously HARD TIME.
Oddly enough, corruption, arrogance, and attitude problems seem to be a bigger problem in the sticks than they are in the big cities - though it's still everywhere.

 

Over the years I have seen the best and some not so good. The best generally the state troopers, the other end would be the small town wannabes. Then there is the short man syndrome only it is ten times worse when it is short cop syndrome. The shorter the cop the worse the attitude. I will say I had a brother in law that was a city cop for about a year and a half. He worked hard to get on the force and spent a couple years just doing crappy duty like rock concerts. When he got killed hunting coyotes out of his airplane, those guys treated my sister like a queen. They took care of everything for her until she moved and remarried. Her lawn never needed mowed, her kids always had new bikes, they just couldn't do enough for her. Just folks no more no less.

 

Okay man... I do want you to know that nobody is coming down on you, not at all.
Look, I agree w/ you, there are jerks in law enforcement. But think of this... how would you start to treat people if people were constantly trying to argue w/ you? Trying to say that you were wrong, trying to quote their rights from the United States Constitution, when unfortionatly, they do not even understand it enough to do so (which I think is a terrible thought). Or everytime that you show up for work, you look on the wall and see a plaque of a father or mother of 2 w/ a loving wife or husband that didnt deserve to die, or look down at a locker that used to belong to that Officer or Fireman? It is going to effect you, I dont care who you are. Now thats not an excuse for any person, regardless if they are a Policeman or not, to treat anybody wrongly, but dont you think that if that happened to you everyday, that you might grow a little sour towards people, and have a very low tollorance for people that want to argue over something that they very well could have avoided? Look, I am certainly glad to read that you do try to be a great and outstanding citizen of this great country, and I really do mean every bit of that statement, and I can only hope that there are more people like ourselfs that are willing to cross a 4 lane interstate to help that elderly couple (or even very healthy young adult for that matter). Bottom line, I guess what I am trying to say, is just remember, that Policeman that pulls you over tomorrow or whenever (hopefully never) may have just gotten off of a domestic violence call, or even an officer down call, cause remember, when that kind of stuff happens, they dont get to immediately go home and cool down, and unfortionatly, some Officer's choose to take that out on people (especially those that wont cooperate).

Hope this makes since, been a rough day, and this is day 49 strait of 7 12 hour days a week, so please bear w/ me. Thanks.

 

I'm sure there are bad apples in the fire departments aswell- but I've never met one, and it wouldint matter if I did because the state/county/city, gives them no authority over me.

Really? I've seen on the news more than once how a homeowner with a small fire that he felt capable of putting out himself got in a lot of trouble for not moving aside and giving firemen complete control of his property.

I was annexed into a small city about 10 years ago, and it wasn't made clear to me that I now needed a permit for small, controlled brush fires. I learned it the hard way - my property was invaded by a group of arrogant volunteer firemen.

I guess I'm the reverse of most here, I've had bad experiences with firemen (another one or two that I won't go into here) and had absolutely no problem with any Policeman I've ever talked to. I've always thought that one of the biggest reasons policemen have some public relations problems was their dutiful attempts to enforce the 55 mph speed limit - a law that the majority of the public didn't agree with.

marc

 

when was the last time a fireman gave ya a speeding ticket?? need i say more
besides firemen will sit there and drink kegs of beer with ya the cop will bust your butt when ya try to get back in your truck and drive back home afterwards
it is also a known fact that women prefer a guy with a hose as opposed to handcuffs