Poll: How do you feel about cops?

[SmartIdiot]

Hmm. My attitude of not judging all by a minority is what keeps me from saying 'pigs is pigs'. I've had a couple of run-ins with the law and generally I don't get along with cops, we just see too differently (if a law is stupid, why obey it?).

However, I am aware that they are just doing their job like everyone else and at times get more stick for it than they deserve. But of course, those few honest/non-petty ones hardly balance out the ones looking to make a mountain out of a molehill instead of catching real criminals.

To sum it up, I'll be civil to cops as long as they do the same for me. But I will never trust them as far as I can throw them.

 

[stabnex]

I was gonna vote but you seem a little jaded on the subject. I for one appreciate cops considering the bad neighborhoods all the stores I work at are located in and oddly enough every single crime that ever occurs in our stores are perpetrated by African American teenagers (ranging from 12 to 21) all with guns (I fucking kid you not), I find the constant sight of both local and state police extremely comforting.

Also there's a crime in one of our stores every day.

And not one stays in jail more than a day.

And they always come back saying they'll get us back for turning them in.

And then we turn over more extremely easy to produce surveillance footage of their threats to the cops.

And then they shoot out our windows, get caught on camera yet again, get out in a day, come back and swear more revenge and get arrested on the spot, get out in a day, come back, etc, etc.

Fuck you. Crime. Doesn't. Pay. Especially when you know you're going to get caught over and over and over and over and over and over.

[small]not racist[/small]

Long Rant Short: Cops Rule. Criminals are stupid. Learn it.

 

[Borrowed Time]

That must get old after a while hrm? Especially since you don't bring it up almost every post like some other individuals I know who are aligned with a certain political ideal. *cough*

I'm tired so I can't tell sarcasm at the moment if you are being sarcastic.

No, no sarcasm, I'm actually saying that it must get old to constantly have people reference your political ideals to anything and everything you post. I see it quite often, people baiting you into an argument/discussion. It would irritate the crap out of me personally, but I guess that comes with the territory.

 

[sephiroth1991]

I think they target certain sterotypes, in England anyway. I won't be checked when on my own but when i'm with my african freinds they may stop us and check us.

 

[Woodsey]

You've just had an exceptionally bad experience - 2 or 3 doesn't represent however many millions of police there are in the world.

I chose "I like them" because:

a) I don't understand how you could be "neutral" towards the police

and

b) They hold an important job, which everyone gives them horrendous amounts of grief for - apparently police are supposed to be some form of demi-gods, in which every action and decision they make should be perfect.

EDIT: Police are like teachers in that respect actually.

 

[GodsAndFishes]

I like them, and would probably try to join them if they weren't being crippled by red tape and regulations.

 

[Woodsey]

I haven't met so many cops, but here in Norway, almost all cops I've met were nice people, but then again I live in a city with 4-5000 inhabitants, not that big city crap.

Being a police officer is a job people choose, because someone must make the world a little safer, think how it would've been without cops.

I once read, in response to a news article on some crime, that someone thought we should get rid of the police and each deal out our own form of vigilante justice (he was being serious).

I was laughing so hard, a little bit of wee came out I think.

 

[Borrowed Time]

My dad I will admite prolly deserved that two years it did help for awhile but he sliped back into bad habits. My mom again was on probation for... surprise pot. The thing is that nether of my parent never hurt anyone and this cop seem to think other wise and decided to harrase are famliy, what happen to the cop though was he was moved to a differnt station because the other cops did not like him. Due to this incedent my mom still has not been able to move pass it she should have gotten off probation 3 years ago, while the police don't enforce it she still has to deal with that hanging over her head. The cop should have been throwen in jail or atleast loss his job.

Ok, so you at least admitted that your dad deserved it, which I give you props for and upped my respect for you quite a bit. Still, your mother was on probation for a drug crime as well and she refused to show up to a probation meeting (I don't care if it was her birthday or not, and neither do the courts). She agreed to show up to all probation meetings and be at the beck and call of her probation officer at all times in order to get put on probation. She broke the law, plain and simple. Now, that doesn't justify the police officers assault on her, but then again we still don't know the whole story unfortunately.

Your home was found to have multiple repeat offenders of illegal drug use; yes, the cop is going to keep a close eye on your family. Personally, I don't want drunk divers on my streets putting my family at risk with their stupid behavior. Nor do I want idiots who are high on pot driving around doing the same thing. I love it when cops make it harder (by being present in an area and detering crime, whether you call their presence in an area harassment or not) for people to break the law like that. I can guarantee you that I would have a hard time not committing a crime of passion if someone high on pot or drunk on alcohol hit my wife or one of my kids with a car and heaven forbid killed them.

I once read, in response to a news article on some crime, that someone thought we should get rid of the police and each deal out our own form of vigilante justice (he was being serious).

I was laughing so hard, a little bit of wee came out I think.

Oh that would be sooo bad. I'd have to have my 12 gauge shotty and 30.06 rifle taken from me and locked away... That... would not be good... As I said earlier in my post, I'd already have a hard time not being involved in a crime of passion if my wife or kids were hurt or killed. Having vigilante justice being legal would... :shudder: That would open up a Russia sized can of worms.

 

[Korolev]

I like most of the police officers that I have met. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that I don't break any laws (no, I do not litter. I have never littered even ONCE in my life on purpose. Once a bit of paper got loose and blew away in the wind and I spent about 5 minutes trying to get it back). It might also have something to do with the fact that I dress and behave in a pleasantly non-threatening manner. I do not get drunk, I do not speed, I do not wander around shirtless threatening to punch people in the face and I do not use any non-medicinal drug. In short, the police have no problem with me, and I have no problem with them.

Yes there are bad cops. There are probably plenty of bad cops. Innocent people have been arrested and abused, and people have even gone to JAIL due to police officers being corrupt and lying on the stand in court.

But you know what? COPS ARE PEOPLE. No police system is perfect, no government is perfect, no company is perfect and no population of anything is perfect. We should always demand higher standards from our police officers and we should never tolerate corruption or abuse of power, but neither should we throw the baby out with the bathwater.

What would you put in place of police? No one? If you do that, I can guarantee you that within 45 seconds you'll have roving gangs wandering around, pushing people about. Take away the police and you get something just as bad (likely even much worse) as the police. The minute you get rid of the police, a whole bunch of armed factions will come rolling around asserting their rights, and boom you've got civil war.

There will always be police, even if they don't call themselves police. At least in most Western nations, the police have some sort of check against their power. Go to a place like Somalia in which gangs are the law and are not restricted by anything, and you'll quickly realize just how much worse it could be.

That is the troubling thing I've noticed about people in the West - we always complain yet we don't realize just how good we've got it. Things could be a LOT WORSE than they are for people in the US, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, etc.

 

[Aesir23]

There's a bad grape in every bunch, so it's not a good idea for anyone to classify an entire group as good or bad.

Generally though, I am very fond of the police force. The few that I've met (parents of friends, guest appearances at my old school for lectures, etc) were incredibly nice people and one used to live a few houses away from me. He really helped me out on more than a few occasions. (I used to wander as a child and got lost a few times. >_>)

 

[dark-amon]

I think that cops are more likely to be douchebags in some countries depending on the laws they serve. I have never met a "bad com". I have met some who were strict when I violated the law but they always seem profesional in their work. There have been some cases of corupted policemen that I know of, but they don't have the same power and authorety as in many other countries due to the fact that it ain't necesary.

 

[sms_117b]

They're a serious disappointment to me. Held back by too much red tape and they would rather go after simple "criminals" of petty crimes (like not being able to afford counsel tax) rather than chasing robbers and murderers.

 

[probunk]

I live in small town, which I've found often produce more nasty cops. During my Law class in high school we had alot of cops and officials and at least four were clearly just loving to fight, dick with underage drinkers and genearlly be morons. I've known plenty to just take people's alcohol, go straight to fisticuffs and call bullshit on everyone who defends themselves or etc. So no, I've not had great experiences with cops despite never being charged with anything.

 

[Gunner 51]

While I agree with them in principle, I have found that they simply don't work for me. When a druggie tried to mug me they couldn't do anything, when someone had swiped 600 quid from my bank account - I solved the crime days before they did.

So when I hear tales of homeowners injuring burglars for the police to arrest the homeowner and victim - it just makes my faith in them die a little bit more.

But having said that, they have had some good successes in fighting crime - they may not have my faith, but when push comes to shove - they will always have my support.

 

[Deleted]

I wave to cops every morning, but I hate them so I only wave one finger.

 

[Lazy Kitty]

Said Ted Bundy.

Ted Who?

 

[joschen]

Those of you that have any quarrel whit the police do probably have trouble to see things in a different view.

If you feel mistreated by the local police i suggest you take it up whit the local authority so that they can investigate into the matter. If this do not work, bring the story to a newspaper.

Or you could just go whine about it and only show your own side of the story on the Internet, this will not get you anywhere of course.

 

[molester jester]

Basically i like them, well most of them. They do need to step up the good old fashioned police brutality a bit and beat down some of the idiots running about, a little bit of fascism goes a long way, but that's just my view. Better with than without. Plus even if it was not a violent crime drug offenses are still a crime you do not get two years for possession, at least not where i live, if you are going to deal you have to accept that you might spend some time in jail

 

[purplepixie]

As with most jobs, there is going to be the odd twat who ruins it for the rest. On the whole I like the police and tbh you have to respect that they do a pretty rubbish job for fairly substandard pay. How many of us would wanna spend our shifts dealing with junkies lying and stealing, drunks every friday and saturday night yelling and starting fights, little brats trying to be all tough by driving round stolen cars etc etc. I would much rather have a flawed police force then none at all.

Also any of us in the Western world should be grateful, in the UK (at least) you have the best chance of a fair trial then a lot of other countries out there. E.g that bloke who got executed in China recently. Whilst he might of broken the law, he was hardly given a fair trial now was he...

 

[Red Right Hand]

"YES! I've been initiated. I'm officialy a drug user! FUCK the police!"