Elliot Stabler - bad cop

[hedgehog]

If you've watched Law and Order (and who hasn't?) you've seen Elliot Stabler rough up suspects as he arrests them, threaten them in interrogation and cover up crimes by his daughter. You've also seen other cops make excuses for him. Of course this is all OK because Elliot never arrest the wrong person.

[Principled Peter]

1. Yeah

But I never noticed Chris Meloni's fictional character exhibiting racism.

[Recursion]

2. They arrested the wrong person nearly every episode

And Stabler crossing various lines he shouldn't was a frequent topic. The one guest starring Matthew Modine went into that pretty thoroughly.

[pinboy3niner]

3. TV writers are so good they can turn even a serial killer into a hero

Stabler's a piker compared to Dexter.

[Sherman A1]

6. Agreed

and one needs to remember that "it's just a TV Show". The other point worth making is that it none of these shows would be on very long if they did not make the audience happy and maintain their ratings.

I think L&O SVU has in a small way done good in highlighting sexual violence and hopefully bringing those who have suffered it some help. I know that Markisa Hargaity has worked on it through her http://joyfulheartfoundation.org

That said, I do not feel that the character's brutality was ever necessary to portray. It was a decision of the writers and producers of the show to do so.

[Live and Learn]

4. Unfortunately, it seems to be recreating the truth about officers.

I can't stand those shows.

Lying and assaulting people should never be allowed by "peace officers." But it seems to be the norm these days and citizens seem to accept it.

[DesertFlower]

5. it's not just elliot. i record all the

old "law & order" reruns. cops tend to rough people up frequently.