Quote:
Originally Posted by Paratrooper
So, to wrap this all up...
- Police officer accidentally nabs wrong guy.
- A good Samaritan catches proof that he's the wrong guy on his dash cam, and explains to the officer that he got the wrong guy, and offered to bring him proof.
- The police officer essentially tells the good Samaritan to F off, because he would rather destroy the life of an innocent man than admit to making a mistake.
- The good Samaritan goes up the chain and refuses to back down, and so the officer is forced to recant and release the innocent man.
- Meanwhile, the officer who has proven himself to be a dirtbag with zero integrity will keep his job and nothing will happen to him.
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I once happened to be in a position to videotape a major crime in progress. I dutifully turned the video over to law enforcement immediately. I was later called to "come in to the station to give more details" about what I had seen.
I went to the station, but instead of asking me details, they strapped me into a polygraph machine, and interrogated me for four hours. They said that my video was "too good," and therefore, I must have orchestrated it all.
Eventually, I was released, with a stern warning that they were "onto me," and were going to get me.
Months later, though, I learned from the news that the actual perpetrators had been caught--- and eventually convicted--- based mostly upon the video of an "anonymous citizen." I have never received thanks, or an apology, or even my damn tape back. That's okay... I didn't do it for the glory, or for a reward, or anything... I just did it to be a good guy.
However, the experience taught me to be very careful... cops aren't always right, and even when they are wrong, it can be extremely difficult for them to admit that. Sure, it's human nature... but a cop with integrity will admit failures. A cop that lacks integrity is still allowed to make mistakes, but if offered evidence showing so, and he refuses to acknowledge it, well, that cop is a piece of crap who besmirches the name of all of the GOOD officers out there.