Thats different, when the shooting starts, I want a bazooka!

 

http://www.policecrimes.com/policeprotection.html
The cop is not there when you get robbed, mugged, shot, run over by a car. They come after the fact. This leaves you to protect yourself.
If there isn't a decent pay scale, those who would better qualify move on to better paying jobs. This leaves the shouldn't be's. Perfect example, New Orleans.
I have a little experience also, and of my dealings with the police, the ratio goes more to the disrespectful side of the cops. Texas State Troopers seem to be the worst. I went to the drivers license office not long ago, and damn, what a bunch of grumps, even the women working there were bitchy. I guess it rubs off. jd

 

I considered becoming a police officer - opted for engineering instead. Have no doubt I could have made it and probably done pretty well in it.

I have known many cops and am friends with several. Some are great guys, some are a-holes. But, some are nice guys who happen to be cops, some are a-holes and would be no matter what they do.

Cops in my state do great working paid details to supplement their salary - in almost every city and town the cops are the highest paid employee and routinely make $100k+. State cops start at around $90k and some make $200k with OT and details.

I respect the job they do but forgive me for not worshipping them as we are supposed to now post-911. I respect firefighters and hate when one gets killed doing their job. But joining the police or fire department doesn't automatically get you hero status in my book. Do something heroic first. JMO of course.

 

What about pursuing these criminals you noted after the fact? I would consider that protecting the public from the criminal acting out again.
Police don't have to catch a criminal in the act. It's the majority that alot of these criminals are caught after the fact.

Exert taken from the same webiste:

* As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice.

Once again, that's up to the recuitment process to weed out all these "shouldn't be's" By no means is any recuitment process perfect. Not every Tom, Dick, and Harry can become a police officer.

 

The recruitment process of a low paying city like New Orleans can only deal with what they get. Last I heard, the FD was starting guys at 19000. I'm sure that the PD isn't far off. You can't live on that.

You are not going to recruit and retain quality people with that kind of salary.


Mike

 

That is what I said, after the fact. That is where they do their job.
That doesn't help the person who is shot dead, robbed, mugged in the first place. Of all the crimes comitted, few of the perpetrators are caught.

Exert taken from the same webiste:

Quote:

* As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice.

Quotes and oaths are meaningless. They may make one feel good, but performance is what counts.
If the salary isn't there, no recruitment process can overcome this. Dedication is wonderful, but a man has to eat. Also, those who accept these low salaried positions are subject to enticement from other areas, as happened in New Orleans. It got so bad, the feds had to come in and clean it up. I don't think things are much better now. jd

 

No argument with your statement (although the creditability of the link might be suspect), but I submit that the presence of cops on the street reduces your chances of being robbed, mugged, shot, run over by a car.

 

apparently you've never been pulled over by the NY State Troopers!

 

I dont think I could be a cop. I dont know that if I had an instance where some scumbag raped and murdered a young girl or where some piece of trash beat his wife that I would be able to restrain myself and resist the urge to be judge, jury and executioner.

 

I know I couldn't be a cop. I'd kill someone before I finished my first yr. As for respecting cops.I think the cop should earn my respect. The ones I've met in my city are a bunch of dicks. If I saw one of them on fire I wouldn't stop to help him. Everyone here I've met was on a power trip. They don't protect anyone. They show up after the time for protection is over. I'll protect myself & they can figure what to do with the body after I finish protecting myself.

 

it seems the places with the most crime always have the most cops.

 

HECK NO....Why would i want to be?

So i can act above the law and push people around?

maybe there is a reason police don't get any respect these days, maybe when the cheif of police comes into the bar i used to work in, gets hammered and then drives off. or has even gone so far as to call an on duty officer to follow him home because he's so drunk. Grabbing girls chests when his wife goes to the bathroom. I wonder why they get no respect?

in the past month, there have been two police stories in the paper, the first is about an officer under investigation for harrassing poeople in the town I work in.

the second is about an officer who ran a man off the road after a high speed chase and then shot him in the head, all of this while he was drunk.

again i wonder why there is no repect for officers these days?

obviously there are very good officers out there, but there are also alot more that aren't any better then the people they are trying to put away.

like i said, there are some very good people in that position but it's really hard to tell when you get pulled over if this cop is going to give you a little ****, and let you go on your way. or if he's gonna pull his gun and put a bullet in you because he's all hoped up on dope.

 

My cousin was recently discharged (honorably) from the army due to a knee injury that is much less severe than mine. lemme list what ive done...

Shattered the bone that protrudes from the inner side of the knee
ive stress fractured the joint itself
torn my miniscus
ripped my ACL
torn cartilage more times than id care to count. there is so little left that every time i step, a small amount of bone clicks together...and lemme tell you, that is not a pretty feeling.

ive spoken with recruiters, and the all say no way.

 

just the Army recruiters? the Navy and Air Force is not physically demanding like the other services. that is why i was figuring if you can pass the police physical you could easily pass their physical.

recruiters are not always right, if you can physically do everything fine, then i do not see why they would not let you in. if you really are serious about being in, then i would push it, they give waivers for about everything.

 

by recruiters i meen army, navy and air force... i know people who have done both and say that the police entrance is much less intence on the body than BT (basic training), but you never know, soldiers are becoming a hot item so they may lower the standards yet...