I was a Police Officer

[pickwithaustin]

Originally Posted by Iron Lung Jimmy

Nice sentiment, but it doesn't work that way. Not in real life.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. The thing is though, you can only fail if you don't try. At least if you try, you have tried. Sitting and busting blisters on the keyboard ranting never solved the situation, but sometimes trying does.

[kalimus]

I think people draw the line between "good cop" and "bad cop" in very different places. Any officer that abuses power and calls it perks of the job is, to me, in the bad cop side of the line. That includes things like "brass pass", which I hear far too often.

Not to mention that police in general hold the rest of the citizens to a "ignorance of the law is not an excuse standard", while openly admitting that there are far too many laws for even them to know them all.

The problems with law enforcement are a very complicated and deeply rooted set of issues that have been going on for a long time. Much like another batch of people who serve us (and which shall not be named in accordance with forum rules).

I don't think very many police officers fall into the evil, corrupt, not-to-be trusted category... but abuse (or misuse) of power delegated to them on the other hand... I'm sorry to say that I would wager good money that those police officers seem to be the majority. That mentality is only further supported by exemptions from laws, both by police officers as a class of citizen (for lack of a better descriptive) and by the police officers as individuals, both in and not in the line of duty. Everything from using electronic devices while driving (I.E. texting... see it all the time) to weapons permits. Hell, I had to have a sheriff sign off a fix-it-ticket for my window tint at their department. In the parking lot, every single PERSONAL vehicle was tinted. Unequal enforcement of the law by those who are paid to enforce it troubles me greatly. And while exemptions from law are not the individual officer's "fault", most of those exemptions are actively lobbied by police organizations around the country.

By no means do I disrespect the profession, but the seemingly small group of individuals causing the negative press seem to be growing. Maybe it's just covered better now... I don't know. What I do know, is that I am suspicious of a group of people charged with policing us, who can not seem to police themselves.

Why don't I join? I suppose the primary reason is that I could not enforce a law that I don't agree with. And in my mind, police officers do not have the authority to pick and choose which laws they enforce and which ones they ignore. If something is serious enough to make it a law, it should be enforced. If it is so trivial that an officer can opt to ignore it, it should not be a law in the first place. Maybe not their call, but it comes with the territory in that occupation. I can't bring myself to do it.

[Mydivorcegift]

Originally Posted by Johnthegreat

I like the poem. I've been a police officer for ten years. And I've been to a lot of cop funerals. This is a post some will like and others won't. U are going to get the cop supporters and the ones that sit behind a keyboard and think they know everything about police work. They are only bad on the Internet and wouldn't have the balls to join. My question to the haters is why don't you join. If u can do such a better job we need people like you, join. Stop complaining and show by example.

They don't have time to join, serve, and correct any issues.

They are too busy rioting.

[Trip]

I agree with OP, I didn't even have to barely read the first part and knew where it was going because I've thought the same thing for a long time.

[CamaroDreams76]

To those who gave the ultimate sacrifice..........you will never be forgotten

[pickwithaustin]

Originally Posted by Mydivorcegift

They don't have time to join, serve, and correct any issues.

They are too busy rioting.

Bingo.

[nitrosteve]

It is absolutely amazing how many people have to make everything a race issue. This was NOT what my post was about. Those playing the race card should be ashamed of themselves. There are bad people in every walk of life. Policemen and women are no different. The only people who believe Law enforcement officers are not necessary are probably the ones rioting, burning, looting and destroying the city they live in. After all they have the right to do that and no one should stop them? Right? How many times do we hear of situations where the person resists arrest and problems happen? How many times do we hear the resisting person had warrants, or was wanted for something? I am a law abiding citizen and the police have never stopped me and beat me for resisting them. Sure I have been stopped for a traffic violation, when I was stopped I had a drivers license, insurance, no outstanding warrants, no weapons in my car, no drugs, when the officer told me what do I complied. Therefore I was not drug out of my car and beat up because I resisted them. I didn't even get the tazer gun used on me. How often do we hear what happened did so because the person being arrested resisted, why did they, because they were or had been doing something illegal. How many of you have been stopped or confronted by law enforcement and been beaten or tazed. Seems most of the time (NOT ALL) these instances are noted and when the dust settles the person affected was doing something wrong and wouldn't comply. When they don't comply I guess the answer is just let them go, God forbid we expect them to act like human beings and not thugs, killers and thieves which they often are found to be in the end (NOT ALWAYS). I guess the kicker for me was a couple years ago a police officer friend of 20 years was killed in a traffic accident. He was broadsided by an 18 year old African American girl driving with a suspended license and no insurance. He left behind a wife and 4 young children. During the trial she stated she wasn't really paying as much attention to driving as she should have. Why? Because she was looking at her cell phone, she was receiving a text message from her BFF. She was convicted and sentenced. When her family members were allowed to speak about her, several spoke. The crowd gasped and the judge cringed when her father stated it was a shame for his daughters life to be cut short doing prison time for killing a useless white pig. He actually believed she had done nothing wrong. God I hope not! I will never forget that moment if I live to be 100. Do we remember Ferguson where the young mans father stated lets take this place apart, because what he wanted done didn't happen. Yeah lets riot loot and destroy the town, smart very smart, that accomplished a lot. Another instance Baltimore, more highly intelligent people destroying the city, for what? To get their way? Do what we want or anarchy will ensue. This is not the way to handle the problem, rioting and destruction does nothing to solve the problem, anyone that believes it is, is an idiot. I don't care whether a person is White, Black, Latino, Asian, Native American or whatever, just obey the law and you probably won't be involved with law enforcement. I have several police officer friends black, white and Asian and everyone of them wishes they could go to work and have nice peaceful days, believe it or not they don't like being shot at and they don't like confrontation, it just makes their lives more miserable. I believe Rodney King said it best, can't we all just get along? Everything that happens doesn't have to be racial, some of my dearest friends are African Americans. We have been friends since childhood. Our families celebrate holidays and special occasions together regularly. I never introduce them to anyone and say this is my black friend Bob, I say this is my friend Bob. I am proud of my friends and love them dearly, Asian, Black, White, Latino, and yes I have a friend that is a direct descendant of Cochise. Believe it or not I don't hold him responsible for the things his ancestors did to the white man. It is time to let that nonsense go and focus on the future.

[Iron Lung Jimmy]

Longest. Paragraph. Ever.

[Dizzy82]

Originally Posted by Iron Lung Jimmy

Longest. Paragraph. Ever.

Winning.

[43Camaro]

I say do away with Law Enforcement like many third world country's. Let the military provide protection for the country. You people have no idea about social brutality and social ignorance the rest of the world lives with. Wake up turn the slanted media off and look what's happening with the entire human population around the world, and then thank god you live in this country. After you thank god, go kiss a cop and thank him for the paradise you live in. History is something that has occurred in the past, LE has come along way in this country. Remember these people entering into this career are the same humans you are dealing with in the private sector, just more exposed and much more visible.

How many bad Doctors do imoral or unethical things, how many mechanics will screw you over, don't forget about your completely ethical politicians and you lawyers. What do they all share in common, their human. You'll never remove all bad humans from the equasion, but im comfortable we are closer than the rest of the world when it comes to Law Enforcement. We can always strive for perfection, you just need to kill off the entire human population to get there.

[blake-b]

Originally Posted by 43Camaro

I say do away with Law Enforcement like many third world country's. Let the military provide protection for the country. You people have no idea about social brutality and social ignorance the rest of the world lives with. Wake up turn the slanted media off and look what's happening with the entire human population around the world, and then thank god you live in this country. After you thank god, go kiss a cop and thank him for the paradise you live in. History is something that has occurred in the past, LE has come along way in this country. Remember these people entering into this career are the same humans you are dealing with in the private sector, just more exposed and much more visible.

How many bad Doctors do imoral or unethical things, how many mechanics will screw you over, don't forget about your completely ethical politicians and you lawyers. What do they all share in common, their human. You'll never remove all bad humans from the equasion, but im comfortable we are closer than the rest of the world when it comes to Law Enforcement. We can always strive for perfection, you just need to kill off the entire human population to get there.

Okay, I returned.

The Posse Comitatus Act limits the powers of the federal government in using its military personnel to act as domestic law enforcement personnel.

Just saw this on another site and thought it kinda fits here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-V2arHXwq8

[1Coopgt]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver-SS

Such a powerful message. RIP officers and military personnel that keep our country strong and safe.
Damn those that want to hurt our peacekeepers , the ones that gave all to keep us safe and our freedoms free.
Without our peace keepers, America would not exist as we know Her .
Thank you for your service.

+1

[nitrosteve]

Originally Posted by Iron Lung Jimmy

Longest. Paragraph. Ever.

No I have actually written a longer one!

[richard200593]

Just reiterating what others have said, but this really isn't as complicated as people make it. Are there bad cops, of course, are there racist cops, obviously. Do they deserve to burn for the rest of their lives...without a doubt. But that doesn't mean every cop or even the majority is bad. Think of the hundreds of thousands of cops in the U.S. Alone, how many do you see raping or killing without a good reason? By that standard teachers, firefighters, bankers, basically every job perfession would be made up of "bad employees". I personally wish there was a way to block all incoming calls from anyone Doesnt ike the police or disagrees with what they stand for during an emergency. See how quickly they still say all cops are bad.