General Discussion

jazzimov

(1,456 posts) Thu May 30, 2013, 09:47 PM May 2013

I've known a LOT of cops [View all]

a couple were guys I went to school with and ran into later. A lot of them I got to know because I worked in several Convenience Stores, many times during 2nd and 3rd shift (free coffee, free food, anything to keep a cop car parked in your lot as long as possible...).

A couple were "run-ins" (and, yes, there was usually a girl involved - ).

One thing I have learned, is that Cops are PEOPLE. some are complete a-holes who only wanted a badge to make them feel "big". Some are the nicest folks you'd ever want to meet. And everything in the middle.

I've seen a few posts here trying to broad-brush "cops" as face-less puppets of a Police State. But they are PEOPLE. They are only doing what they have been ordered to do, by the people that they trust. Yes, some of them relish in asserting their authority by beating up defenseless victims. Some of them care enough to bring milk to babies, or stop a high-speed chase to lead ducklings out of the middle of the road. Some of them react out of fear. Most of them are over-worked. Many of them suffer from PTSD but just "shake it off" because that's what they perceive is expected of them.

But, bottom line - they are PEOPLE.

153 replies

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Highlight:

I've known a LOT of cops [View all] jazzimov May 2013 OP

Here's one of my local inhuman cyborgs MannyGoldstein May 2013 #1

Clearly on his way to waterboard a perp with milk. nt onehandle May 2013 #2

Milkboard. Common Sense Party May 2013 #68

Notice the expression. Is he out of breath? Or pissed because he's bringing milk to someone? AnotherMcIntosh May 2013 #5

He totally volunteered, and was cool with it MannyGoldstein May 2013 #13

Faith in humanity telclaven May 2013 #110

He looks tired and worn-out to me alittlelark May 2013 #15

If people took random pictures of me throughout the day Downtown Hound May 2013 #55

I knew someone would post that pic mokawanis May 2013 #26

How do we know he's not confiscating the milk? JaneyVee May 2013 #59

Who said that? FrodosPet May 2013 #79

I think the point is more that sibelian May 2013 #83

Lots of Media in Boston at that time. They took advantage of the Free PR bahrbearian May 2013 #106

IMO, this is just a massive misunderstanding of the issue. Bonobo May 2013 #3

Maybe I live in Japan? MannyGoldstein May 2013 #8

Yes, I think there is a contract implied. Bonobo May 2013 #16

I put up a poll. MannyGoldstein May 2013 #19

I think there are subcultures within the police Bonobo May 2013 #23

In poor areas, at least where I grew up, they hate the poor and call us "scumbags" Dragonfli May 2013 #37

Yes, that was it. Scumbags. Bonobo May 2013 #39

I guess it's not just the Buffalo Cops that hate us for breathing and use that term of endearment. Dragonfli May 2013 #42

Northampton, MA Bonobo May 2013 #44

The weird thing is Buffalo is a very liberal City, even if it is growing poorer each year Dragonfli May 2013 #45

It is the attitude, not the facts on the ground. Bonobo May 2013 #46

Even if there are dangerous drug addicted offenders all over, "they" are at best apathetic about ... LooseWilly May 2013 #76

I grew up in Burlington and had two cops living on our street. R. Daneel Olivaw Jun 2013 #153

Chicago cops refer to poor black people as "mules". Hassin Bin Sober May 2013 #98

Exactly every fucking cop I have ever encountered gopiscrap Jun 2013 #152

This message was self-deleted by its author AnotherMcIntosh May 2013 #20

I don't think that's a real photo MannyGoldstein May 2013 #21

In all honesty... Bonobo May 2013 #25

"New World Police?" lol Dash87 May 2013 #51

Something bad has happened. zeemike May 2013 #31

+1000 peace13 May 2013 #50

+1 villager May 2013 #54

A friend of mine was burglarized while living in Japan. Kablooie May 2013 #72

That's a really funny story! Bonobo May 2013 #73

It was back around 1985. Kablooie May 2013 #74

Japanese attention to detail is impressive. Bonobo May 2013 #78

I was in Jordan and was amazed at the attitude of the police SwissTony May 2013 #77

I think the OP is more of a counterpoint to the "all cops are pigs" thing... sibelian May 2013 #84

Excellent gopiscrap Jun 2013 #151

People with a badge, a gun and often virtually no oversight on what they do with those things n/t Fumesucker May 2013 #4

The blue wall of silence, go along to get along. The good cops are scared and keep quiet. xtraxritical May 2013 #58

The Waffen SS was people, too. tabasco May 2013 #6

You say, "Some of them care enough to bring milk to babies". One did. ONE did. AnotherMcIntosh May 2013 #7

He *volunteered* to do it. MannyGoldstein May 2013 #9

Only ONE volunteer? The OP seems to think that "some" (meaning more than one) do this. AnotherMcIntosh May 2013 #10

He was getting paid as part of his job. Not volunteer work. n-t Logical May 2013 #24

It wasn't a requirement of his job, AFAIK MannyGoldstein May 2013 #28

I've known a lot of cops, and I agree bhikkhu May 2013 #11

agreed, they are generally no better or no worse than anyone else arely staircase May 2013 #12

Which is the biggest problem. They have a lot of power to be average. n-t Logical May 2013 #27

no argument here arely staircase May 2013 #35

Until they get the badge and gun perhaps. Bonobo May 2013 #40

i will accept always the possiblity that I am being naive - about anything arely staircase May 2013 #47

OK, I absolutely take your word for that. nt Bonobo May 2013 #48

they are people who are not policing the ones who are giving all of them a bad name, for one niyad May 2013 #14

Good post...you can replace cops with: Waiter/waitress-RN, Doctor, salesman rustydog May 2013 #17

"you can replace cops with: Waiter/waitress-RN, Doctor, salesman"? In such occupations, they will AnotherMcIntosh May 2013 #30

Yeah, but the waitress won't shoot you if you spill your coffee at her restaurant. n/t backscatter712 May 2013 #32

Spill coffee? Maybe pipi_k May 2013 #109

As a favor to DU, would you poll your law enforcement friends Heidi May 2013 #80

That's what I want, too... but... sibelian May 2013 #86

People with guns and tazers damnedifIknow May 2013 #18

Cops, who have the power to shoot and arrest people need to be held to a much higher standard. I.... Logical May 2013 #22

A-fucking-men! These people literally have the power of life and death. backscatter712 May 2013 #33

So true. Normal people get fired. Cops do not. n-t Logical May 2013 #36

mainly due to government unions Niceguy1 May 2013 #136

Then there needs to be a mechanism to hold them to it sibelian May 2013 #87

In my parts, they'll take any dumbass off the streets to be a sheriff's deputy tabasco May 2013 #97

All cops are people. Some people are assholes. Robb May 2013 #29

99% of police officers give the good ones a bad name. n/t backscatter712 May 2013 #34

bottom line... wundermaus May 2013 #38

Cops can be good or idiots, like everyone else. The problem is... thesquanderer May 2013 #41

^this n/t LadyHawkAZ May 2013 #56

garbage in, garbage out Shankapotomus May 2013 #43

My local police are corrupt doofs that constantly break their own laws. Dash87 May 2013 #49

I think you must be my next door neighbor. kag May 2013 #69

I agree with the FBI damnedifIknow May 2013 #52

I miss this show... Spitfire of ATJ May 2013 #53

Yes, they are people. People that cover for the crimes committed by other people that wear Egalitarian Thug May 2013 #57

As in every demographic there are good ones and bad ones. rl6214 May 2013 #60

First and foremost they are cops. Iggo May 2013 #61

The Gestapo were "just people" too. If it oinks like a pig, 99th_Monkey May 2013 #62

Agree, they are people. Savannahmann May 2013 #63

THey are people, yes, only people. People should not act like angry petulant Gods. Cronus Protagonist May 2013 #64

Except, these "people" universally cover for the crimes MsPithy May 2013 #65

+1 Savannahmann May 2013 #66

The day I see cops start arresting their own is the day I'll stop broad brushing them TekGryphon May 2013 #67

Well said. n/t Laelth May 2013 #101

Problem is the disconnect between what people think they are for and what they are really for. mahina May 2013 #70

jassimov, I'm _so_ glad you're here! Would you ask your many law enforcement friends Heidi May 2013 #71

Yeah, people with power over other people RedCappedBandit May 2013 #75

Yes, you will find the good, the bad, and the avebury May 2013 #81

Gotta agree here. ANY police dept. that supports a law that makes it illegal for citizens Nay May 2013 #99

Certainly deserves to be re-iterated. sibelian May 2013 #82

I think the problem with modern law enforcement is that it's being militarized justiceischeap May 2013 #85

"...one criminologist found a 1,500 percent increase in the use of SWAT...teams Heidi May 2013 #89

Thanks for providing data for my comment, appreciate the leg work. nt justiceischeap May 2013 #90

Good morning, justiceischeap! Heidi May 2013 #92

It makes me wonder if the militarization is tied to ex-military justiceischeap May 2013 #93

There are plenty of ex-military folks getting out all the time, Heidi May 2013 #114

I used to have a 100% positive attitude towards the cops until about 6 months ago steve2470 May 2013 #88

I've learned one thing about ALL COPS, B Calm May 2013 #91

So are corporations lame54 May 2013 #94

Ninety percent of cops make the other ten percent look bad. MrScorpio May 2013 #95

I don't even like the term "cops." yellowwoodII May 2013 #96

Many "Hard" and more dangerous jobs out there damnedifIknow May 2013 #105

I have worked 6 of the jobs on that list..... RedRocco Jun 2013 #150

One bad apple does spoil the bag sorefeet May 2013 #100

They're not just following orders. Orsino May 2013 #102

Nuts Savannahmann May 2013 #104

It can cost a *lot* to tell the truth. Orsino May 2013 #107

The German Defense at Nuremberg Savannahmann May 2013 #108

You think no police officer has ever done anything worthy of respect? Orsino May 2013 #113

Trolled? Savannahmann May 2013 #117

Are you walking this back? Orsino May 2013 #119

Not at all. Savannahmann May 2013 #122

That's still coming across as rather confused. Orsino Jun 2013 #139

No, I don't. Savannahmann Jun 2013 #140

Thank you. That is very clear. Orsino Jun 2013 #142

Very clear zipplewrath Jun 2013 #143

That second paragraph is a good one. Orsino Jun 2013 #145

Citizen review boards zipplewrath Jun 2013 #146

"They are only doing what they have been ordered to do, by the people that they trust." Zorra May 2013 #103

I think it depends on what kind of cop they are. leftyladyfrommo May 2013 #111

Look, let's cut to the chase here. Savannahmann May 2013 #112

they are PIGS and they are the enemy datasuspect May 2013 #115

before i forget: datasuspect May 2013 #116

Let's look at cases shall we? Savannahmann May 2013 #118

I think people forget they are working class just like Cleita May 2013 #120

Yes and people commit murders and other horrible crimes. Rex May 2013 #121

But those nice people we mention, enable the monsters with their silence. Savannahmann May 2013 #123

Well it really warps the meaning, 'TO protect AND serve". Rex May 2013 #124

Depends where you are One_Life_To_Give May 2013 #125

CORRECT Skittles May 2013 #126

And even if you follow the rule of law your entire career Rex May 2013 #130

I have known some as well, and all but a couple were decent, ordinary people. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2013 #127

they are people who WE pay to do a job noiretextatique May 2013 #128

Let me know when they start arresting each other for breaking the law. n/t L0oniX May 2013 #129

I don't doubt that many cops are good people... Mojo Electro May 2013 #131

I'd agree with most of your sentiment. Savannahmann May 2013 #132

Most definitely! Mojo Electro May 2013 #134

Thank you Savannahmann May 2013 #135

You're welcome Mojo Electro May 2013 #137

I know some very, very nice cops gollygee May 2013 #133

i think it all depends on where, and what neighborhood you live. dionysus Jun 2013 #138

My cousin is a former police officer and now works private security. Initech Jun 2013 #141

Define power trip zipplewrath Jun 2013 #144

Agree - some are simply wonderful people while some are completely nuts aint_no_life_nowhere Jun 2013 #147

It's a profession that tends to attract authoritarians. alarimer Jun 2013 #148

+1, K & R Lady Freedom Returns Jun 2013 #149