I've known a LOT of cops

[Savannahmann]

104. Nuts

How much does it cost to tell the truth? When a "good" officer sees a fellow cop going too far, does he say anything? No. That can't be chalked up to anything other than a code of silence which is all the environment that the "bad" ones need to continue victimizing the populace.

Second, the system itself. Even when presented with overwhelming evidence of police abuses, 99 times out of 100, the officer will be kept on the force, by the very system that wraps itself in the flag of protecting us, the citizens.

The police are their own worst problem, the fact that nobody watches the watchers is how the culture of abuse flourished. The culture of silence, when finally a bad cop is identified, and finally reluctantly punished, usually because of outraged howls from the populace, nobody who worked with him is in any way tarnished. Nobody who saw him perform other equally egregious acts and remained silent is punished in any way, shape, or form.

The idea of police may be good, and necessary for society to function. The reality is another story entirely. From blatant hypocrisy and double standards, to the abuse of and even murder of citizens. There is not a single police force anywhere in this nation that is not corrupt to some extent. As the good officers are if nothing else, silent about these abuses, then they can't claim to be blameless.

The argument that we need to pay more for those who are abusing us, is asinine. The idea that if we did pay more, the honest ones would come forward more frequently is also asinine. It cost nothing to tell the truth, and that is the problem, the Police, even the good ones, regularly tell lies to protect one another. Look at all those who have been harassed, arrested, and even sued because they dared to video the police in public, to show the world the daily abuses that the citizens endure. Honesty cost nothing, and the lack of honesty in the police means that they are deserving of no respect, and should not be forgiven as long as they maintain that code of silence.