American cops are on a dangerous power trip

[Dustlawyer]

53. I used to work with police and would go on ride-a-longs with them.

I made friends with a very good patrol Sargent and had a discussion with him about different kinds of cops and why so many behaved badly and abused their authority. His answer makes sense. He said that a large percentage get into law enforcement to be able to excercise power over others. Another were the steriod, body builders with much the same attitude. Still others were the HS jock type that liked being part of a team, while some just have a good sense of right and wrong and want to help (yes they exist too).

Having spent time on the job with them gave me a much better understanding of how the job can change one from good to bad as well. They are lied to and cursed every shift they work by John Q. Public. For some officers, they lose the distinction between good and bad folks and develop an "us against them" mentality. People wonder why the "good ones" don't cross the blue line when fellow cops do bad shite. It is because they know it will cost them their jobs and/or career, as well as jeopardize themselves and their families. It is a huge cost for doing the right thing, just Google "Serpico."

Community policing is one proven method of helping in this area, but I would suggest that groups like Black Lives Matter go on ride-a-longs and engage the officers they are with because it can be a two-way learning opportunity.