YES!!! I have been thinking this for a long time. Not all cops, but a whole lot of them damn sure get off on being tough guys. For some stupid reason here in Houston (maybe elsewhere, I don’t know) we have cops that are hired to stand in the street and hold up traffic so someone can make a left turn. This is supposed to happen when the stoplight up ahead is red so traffic flow isn’t unecessarily impeded. A lot of these cops will just step right out and give traffic a big nasty glare whenever they feel like it, as if to say “I’m a cop and you’re not, whatchugonnadoaboutit, eh?” They look and act like the quintessential bully.
In terms of the age thing. I’ve actually had the opposite experience. I believe that as cops age, they are more likely to be power hungry assholes. Not all cops are. There are some nice people stuck in the police force. However, when people start out, they may have illusions of helping people and being a positive force. After being in the force for a while however, they realize what the actual job is. The really idealistic ones quit, and you’re left with the others. The ones that pack community meetings about police violence, to decry any attempt to make cops more accountable. The ones that pepper spray impartial observers and try to break their arms. The ones that fire plastic projectiles at peacfull demonstrations. And the ones that defend nazi’s and attack anti-racists.
Offensive? I don’t know about that. If a cop stops someone, it makes sense to run them through the computer for outstanding warrants. At the very least, the cop needs to know if you have any outstanding tickets or other violations which need to be taken into account when he or she is determining a course of action. If it turns out you’ve got nine million unpaid parking tickets, you’re going to be arrested. I really can’t see a problem with that.
Out of the people I grew up and went to school with, the majority of the ones that became cops were also the ones always in trouble, the bullies, back in elementary and high school; that’s always bothered me.
I’ve also seen cops lie like hell, under oath, in a courtroom, just to get a conviction.
A few months ago I ran into a guy I know from high school. He’s…well, let’s just say he’s quite far from being the brightest bulb in the Xmas tree. I remember late one night he came walking up my driveway, drunk off his ass, flashing a 9mm around (not threatening with it (still, it sure as hell wasn’t something I wanted to see), but he was telling me how he’d been downtown and had pulled it out on some college students earlier that night).
He’s a cop now, and told me he was planning on running for sheriff.
::shudder::
I have theories about everything! With cops, it’s this: The us-versus-them attitude is too simplistic an interpretation (though not by much). I think most cops actually develop, through their job experience and training, four categories for people in their minds. The first is the cop fraternity: cops themselves, their families, and to a lesser extent friends and professional acquaintances. This category is A number 1, and comes before all other considerations including, often, the law. The second most favored category is that of victim. Most cops really will go to the ends of the earth to help people they see as victims. If a cop is about to hassle you , it is always good to try to get assigned to the “victim” slot in his brain if you can do so (Hastur’s case in point - the cops were homophobes, but when he was gay-bashed, they did their jobs and got on his side, even if they weren’t enthusiastic about it). The third category is the general public, to which I think most cops are completely indifferent by and large, except for those members who flop over into one of the other categories. The fourth category, where you don’t want to be, is the bad guys.
This four-way division of humanity seems to explain a lot of cop behavior, both good and bad (in fact, MOST of it is good, IMO).
A bad problem is the basis on which people get assigned to these various categories. It’s not something that can be entirely trained. If a cop is innately racist or homophobic, blacks or gays will find it very easy to find themselves in the bad guy category when dealing with cops. Most men, on the other hand, including cops, don’t see women as very threatening; it is fairly easy for women to stay in the general public category or the victim category (a test of this would be if female cops are more distrustful and suspicious of strange women than male cops. I suspect they are, although I’ve never heard of anyone studying it). If you are a 6’4", 230 lb. guy, chances are very, very, good that most cops are going to treat you very differently when, say, they pull you over for speeding, than if you are a cute 5’6" blonde female, EVEN IF the situation is in all other ways identical. And it’s far worse than that if you are a 6’4" 230 lb. black guy. This is why anecdotal evidence of all the nice cops chrisbar met doesn’t really argue against the problem of arbitrary hostility on the part of cops, which is very real.
Cops are the authority, they’re in charge. And if they find you at all threatening for any reason, real or imagined, then it doesn’t matter what your intentions are, they’re going to slap you down so they can feel confident in their authority. It’s kind of like chimpanzees drumming on the ground and shaking trees to show how fierce and dominant they are.
[I’m gonna get flamed for this, but here goes]
Another issue is that people seek jobs that they feel will offer them satisfaction. There’s a lot of good reasons someone might want to become a cop; however, say you’re the type of person that really wants to exert power and authority over others. If this is part of your mental construction - and it is for a lot of people - what jobs attract you? Well, there’s business management, in which you have authority over your employees. You could become a military officer. You could enter politics.
All these jobs, and others like them, have one thing in common: they all require a college degree, either formally like military officer, or in practice like politician. The only exceptions are jobs where you spend many, many, years working your way up from the bottom ranks.
But a person with a high school degree can become a cop and wield broad authority over the public after 16 weeks, more or less, of training. Granted, the rawest rookies are kept on a leash, but you can be out there giving orders to total strangers faster as a cop than in any other profession at that education level.
So although many, probably most, cops are drawn to police work for the opportunity to help people and serve the community, there is inevitably a subset who are going for the only job they can realistically get that gives them authority over the people around them. Naturally, a lot of them come off as jerks until they get a little older and more mature.
Part of the problem is the cops must stick together attitude. I remember in one case some cops had been documented breaking the law, department policy, going against orders and when they were convicted there was a big show of unity with a bunch of cops in uniforms there in court. WTF? Do they actually feel just because they are police officers they don’t have to follow the law? During the trial there was controversy about the cops in uniform showing unity being intimidating to witnesses.
You’d think cops would want to police their own and protect the reputation of the force. No, they would rather show unity.
I thought thismorning when i heard about the cops up on charges for bugging squad cars, “Bet they don’t show unity now!”
The only cops I have known have been nice guys. Granted, I was on the side where I was just talking to them, not being arrested or whatnot. On one occasion a couple of cops and I sat and watched a show on TLC about the Titanic (these are local and campus police, and it was basically their job, or so they told me, to sit there and wait to be called. Also it (the lounge we were in) is the best place to see action from all around the park.
On another occasion I was wearing a black t-shirt, a black skicap and running with a bagel in my hand when a cop honked at me. After I explained that I had just gotten off work, he explained that he had stopped me b/c I was wearing black and running. At least he was honest.
I disagree.
Last year I taught our entire city police department on thier new computer system. It was about a 4 month job and I had detectives that had been on the force for 20+ years in my classes. I’m a young looking woman and I had a “challenge” the first day or two, but once I let them know where the bear shit in the woods, I had no problems at all. (I believe that any problems I did have were unrelated to their job, and more related to other factors). I found 99% of them to be extremely respectful, friendly, and nice. I have known several excellent police officers over the years who were respectful examples of human beings. When my husband got in a motorcycle accident, a Sherrif’s Deputy came to the hospital and made sure we had everything we needed and got our reports right to us- great, great officer. I remember all of them and expressed my satisfaction with their services and told their superiors that I was very happy.
However…
I fully plan on contacting the supervisor of the jackass who pulled me over last weekend. The long and short of it is this: I was speeding. I never speed. I’m 29 years old and have NEVER had a ticket, and not just because I don’t get caught. People hate riding in a car when I’m driving because I don’t speed.
Saturday, I was speeding. I was in my husbands truck driving on a road that changes from 30-55 numerous times. I was going 50 in a 35 when he pulled me over. (The new speed sign to 50 was no less then 50 feet ahead)
My problem isn’t that he pulled me over- I was speeding, end of story. You should have HEARD this guy. You would have thought he just caught me smuggling illegals over the boarder or selling drugs. He was extremely rude to me and hostile. I even said to him- “This is the first time I’ve ever received a speeding ticket” during his ranting, to which he replied “Well, I guess it’s about damned time”.
I didn’t deserve to be spoken to like a fucking crimminal for going over the speed limit. Give me a break, bully cop. And stop giving respectful cops a bad reputation. Most people have few run-ins with the police, and when bully cops show up it perpetuates a bad rap.
And I wasn’t kidding- I am absolutely going to write a letter to the Sherrif. (I happen to know him) I hope he at least says something to this jackoff.
Zette
He didn’t bother to thank me for helping to prevent a tragedy, taking care of a hurt drunk driver after her accident, then staying at the scene a full 3 hours- in a formal dress- waiting to give the cops a statement. (Last year after my Christmas party when a girl in front of me plowed into a porch- near missing a car full of teens).
I guess he never thought I might be one of “the good ones”. I was just a bitch that drives too fast and finally got caught.
At least I’m not bitter.
Zette
I have never had a problem with any encounter with the cops I’ve met and subsequently gotten out of tickets with/of/for. I am myself, not showing any tits, ass or leg.
THespos, perhaps you could write a letter to the LIRR stating that for all the years you’ve ridden the LIRR you have never seen a sign (or whatever) about the bike permit and that the ticket seller person did not tell you, even though you CLEARLY had your bike leaning against you at the window at the time of purchase. Worst case scenario would be that you are out of a stamp. Best case scenario: a letter of apology and you got your beef off your chest.
I’ll make it short and sweet. Based on actual incidences with several cops(one of the same cops twice even), yes.
Big bullies. Well, at least when I had considerable cop contact, the ones that singled me out were. I believe it to be a size issue(I’m rather imposing).
There are, of course, very good cops. The world would not be the same if they weren’t around. However, where I live, there seems to be an overwhelming number of idiot/bullie cops. The courts side with them, the prosecutors lean their way, they’re allowed too much latitude in all respects.
So much for short and sweet 
-Sam
Oldscratch, I can definitely see where you’re coming from, but I have to respectfully disagree. It is quite true that a lot of people apply for the police department thinking that they’re going to be the ones who make a difference, and genuinely believe that they can make the world a better place by mediating its problems. But, the realization that this is idealistic and unrealistic doesn’t come with time on the job. Rather, IMHO, it occurs during training itself. The idealistic cop trainee may have thought that he/she could just use their interpersonal skills to diffuse just about any touchy situation. But, when they’re in training, they learn (quite correctly), that there are some people they’ll have to deal with on the job who flat out won’t listen to them, no matter how reasonable the cop is. Once this sets in, they know that they will have to establish control over people who don’t want to be controlled. Unfortunately, a byproduct of teaching them to do this is an “I’m a badass” attitude. The trainers will teach them that they have to be in control, and will teach them the harshest methods of doing so. Again IMHO, this is not a bad thing; if they didn’t establish control, they might get hurt or allow someone else to get hurt.
As they get more experience and mature (the average age of rookies in this city is about 24), they eventually realize that they don’t have to use the heavy handed tactics they were taught in training to control every situation. Rather, they develop the judgment to see when heavy handed tactics are necessary and when they’re not. Those who develop this judgment are far more likely to get promoted, while those who don’t are much more likely to just quit the force in disgust and maintain a bad attitude for some time thereafter.
Of course, I must admit that I’m familiar with only one ralatively small department (Louisville, KY). I suppose it’s quite possible that the bigger departments are different.
Yes, I know some cops are asshole power-abusers. And most are not. And how would you like to try to do without them?
TroubleAgain - Man your post bugs me. Almost as much as those bumper stickers that say, “If you think cops are pigs, next time call a hippy for help.”
So it’s okay that some cops are power abusers, just because it’s better than nothing? Come on…
No,THespos, I don’t think it’s okay to have cops who abuse the power. They should be rooted out and gotten rid of. But, dammit, don’t lump all cops into that category. They are not all like that. And even asshole cops are out there putting their lives on the line. That is no excuse for being assholes. Not by any means. But at least you can give a little benefit of the doubt. Maybe a cop who was nasty to you was still on a bad adrenalin rush from his last call. You don’t know. And since you aren’t out there risking your life even on such things as “routine” traffic stops, maybe you should stop and think. A cop in my town was shot nearly point blank doing nothing but walking up to a car he had pulled over. Thank God for kevlar. He’s a nice guy, too. But maybe when he got back on the job after his ribs healed, he might have been a little jazzed for the first few guys he pulled over, wondering if one of them was going to aim for the head this time. Just think about it, okay? They are not all bad guys, and there’s a whole hell of a lot worse things out there than a cop with smart mouth.
Thespos and horowitz, you’re both fucking dicks.
That said, I agree the train conductor acted in an annoying manner, but from what you describe the cop did a perfectly adequate job. No cop ever understands the entire situation going into it. A verbal warning and explanation, which is exactly what you received, is par for the course.
Since this is not the pit, I will refrain from my usual rant about how cops do a thankless job more difficult than anything your pansy-ass could conceive of, and deserve our utmost respect.
Sounds to me like they did a good job.
hmmm… for some of y’all for cops…
are you seeing planes?
is your name tattoo?
'cause I SWEAR you are living on Fantasy Island!!
try getting hell on the side of the road, at 10:00 at night from a rent-a-cop for biking without reflectors (check, had 'em) without helmet (2 blocks away from home) after dark (2 blocks away from home) disrespecting a police officer (asking my rights and telling him that if I wan’t being detained or arrested I’m gonna go home) and being held 'till 10:35, just standing and talking to the police because he was being an arrogant sunovabitch, and then getting a record and name in the paper and a $50 fine for being out after cerfew (which is 10:30)… beat that…
Why is everyone accusing me of lumping all cops into this category. I’ll say it once and I’ll say it again…
Yes, there are cops that are good at their job. Yes, they do a thankless job. However, I’m willing to settle for a poor job because the job is thankless. We’re talking about people’s RIGHTS here, folks.
Circumventing the system by abusing power is unacceptable. Threats, lying in court, harrassment and other BS doesn’t fly with me, especially if the person doing these things is a representative of my government.
I’ll end this post by saying that I don’t appreciate being called a “dick” by Friedo simply because of my point of view. Read the thread, Friedo. Right now it’s running mostly in favor of my point of view that many cops are bullies. Disagree with me if you must, but there’s no need for name-calling.
Try being a male (impossible I know) next time you are stopped by a male cop ( and most of them are male). It makes a difference.