# COPS: Rudeness Is OK? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 30, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699 "2003-01-30T20:07:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/21 "2003-01-30T23:50:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*Frankly I’m leery about trying to help out. I once got screamed at and threatened with arrest by a cop at an accident site \ \*\* (Slight hijack) **Qadgop** , if you don’t mind, why did the cops give you shit like that? I always thought they welcomed docs at accident scenes, especially before the medics arrived. Hell, you might have saved a life. Some kind of liability weirdness? ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/22 "2003-01-31T00:07:00Z")
Sadly, uncivil behavior isn’t limited to cops. Rudeness is all too common in our society. The problem with cops is that some of them have not only the same tendencies as some of our less-well-brought-up folks, but they have the weapons and the authority to make you eat it. If some civilian shmoe gets in your face you can talk back. If you talk back to a cop you may be introduced to his friend “billy.” You can always lodge a complaint afterwards, but as **Birds On A Bat** pointed out, citizen complaints may get a low priority. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/23 "2003-01-31T00:32:20Z")
I hate Judge Judy, man… ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/24 "2003-01-31T00:54:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Waverly \* > \*\*This isn’t necessarily true. I once saw this movie where the cop _used_ to be human, but wasn’t anymore. He was badass robot. I think he probably would have broken the speeder’s arm or something. If movies have taught me anything, it is to watch out for robot cops. \*\* First ‘I gladly welcome our new robotic overlords’ post! ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/25 "2003-01-31T01:21:00Z")
First ‘Robotic Overlords would make a kickass band name’ post… Sorry, I was prodded. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/26 "2003-01-31T01:46:01Z")
Domo arigato Officer Roboto! ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/27 "2003-01-31T02:01:05Z")
My 72 year old grandfather was utterly perplexed by what happened to him driving through Tennessee. He was pulled over, and almost immediately, surrounded by cruisers. He said they kept shouting “Where’s the gun?” at him, while he shoved roughly against a cruiser, and forced to stand with his hands on the hood. They literally tore apart his vehicle. Telling this to my family later, he was confused and hurt as to why they apparently thought he was a criminal. I told him that they had probably gotten a vehicle description fitting his that was involved in a crime, and that he shouldn’t take it personally. “But they didn’t even apologise!” he said, as if this offended him more than being dragged from his car and searched thouroughly and rudely. Rather, they seemed grumpy at not finding anything. > [@](#): > > Sadly, uncivil behavior isn’t limited to cops. Rudeness is all too common in our society. The problem with cops is that some of them have not only the same tendencies as some of our less-well-brought-up folks, but they have the weapons and the authority to make you eat it. I, too, try to give officers the benefit of the doubt, because, after all, they’re what stands between us and the criminal element, and they put their lives on the line every single day. Than being said, I have also seen instances in which I think the police stepped over the line. However, given the type of people that they must work with, I’m surprised that more cops don’t lose it and beat the holy hell out of smart-mouth criminals. Cops take a lot of abuse from the people they arrest. They’re spit upon, cursed at, fought, bitten, and threatened constantly with lawsuits. And generally, there’s nothing the officer can do about it, because prosecuters are too swamped to worry about a simple resisting arrest complaint. This, in turn gives some criminals the “Ha Ha, can’t do anything about it!” attitude. It’s enought to make anyone frustrated and angry. After a while, this has to toughen one’s personality, and make cops angry, which, unfortunately, can end up being taken out on those who don’t deserve it. Perhaps police work is a profession which attracts people with an agressive personality. Added to constant aggravation, it can turn just about any person “mean.” ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/28 "2003-01-31T02:46:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zette \* > \*\*So I called 911 and reported it and the lady could not figure out where I meant, despite my telling her 1/4 of a mile past exit #29, near Belmont (or whatever, I can’t recall now). She’s like “where’s that?” I said “Uh, on your major INTERSTATE!” Jesus, H! So she connects me to the highway patrol. Officer bug up his ass answers and I repeat the information to him. He says RUDELY “Well, we already know about it- the dispatcher should have told you”, completely exasperated. Well, I{m sure he was frustrated at her, but Goddamnit, I was trying to be a good person and report a problem to the fucking highway patrol- pardon the fuck out of ME for interrupting your day, asshole! > > I said that (in a nice way). Basically “Well, sorry to have bothered you, but I thought the people in the crash might appreciate it being reported and I don’t have ESP so I didn’t realize it was already done. Have a nice day” > > Asshole. I understand that cops have a very stressful job, I really do, but damnit- is it so hard to be fucking CIVIL? \*\* While I understand your upset, the persons answering 911 calls are (in most cases) not officers, may not intimately know all vagaries of the local geography, and will rely on your correct information about main highway and nearest cross street, and can’t see what you see. In addition to your call, I’m sure that they received 30 others from far less pleasant people. Enhanced 911, if available may make the exact location available on the dispatcher screen, unless you were calling from a cell phone. (We’re working on that). Take time to do a ride-along if local law enforcement allows it, or volunteer at your local emergency squad, or fire department. While there is no excuse for rudeness on either end, I’d urge you to hear the receiving end for one shift. I believe you’ll come away a wiser person. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/29 "2003-01-31T02:47:46Z")
I think the police uniform is a natural magnet for assholes, control freaks and sadists. Most cops I’ve dealt with have been very professional and courteous, but the ones that are pricks are PRICKS. I t bugs me that som many people are so eager to automatically defend asshole cops, no matter what. They 1.) find some way to justify what the cop did by blaming it on the victim. (what was that guy doing standing in his own doorway? why did he reach for his wallet when the cops asked for his ID? That deaf, retarded kid should have listened to the cops instead of being confused and scared.) 2.) Ok, the cop made a mistake but they have a lot of pressure and they have to make “split second” decisions about those black guys driving around in Lexuses. They’re human, they’re scared, blah blah blah. I say Fuck 'em. If they can’t handle the pressure or they’re too shit scared to make good decisions then threy need to be kicked off the force. Go knit doilies, ya candy-asses. 3.) When the eveidence is simply irrefutable and indefensible, we hear about what a tiny insifgnifican fraction of cops this is, and how we shouldn’t paint all cops with the same brush. First of all _nobody does_ paint all cops with the same brush. That’s a fucking straw man. Secondly, the fact that all cops don’t shove plungers up Hatians’ asses doesn’t mean the one that does is not a scumbag. Furthermore, there are a lot of “good” cops who know about the bad cops and don’t do shit about it. In the Abner Louima case, there was a whole station full of cops who knew what was going on and ignored it. A couple of cops came forward the next day, after the papers already knew about it, but not one officer attempted to stop the assault while it was happening or reported it immediately afterwards. As I said, most cops are very decent and professional people. I have two uncles who are cops who are not pricks. I think that even the good ones, though, can get a little too used to the authority, a little too fond of the swagger and that they start to feel morally superior to everyone they stop. I’ve actually had cops get pissed off at me for _not_ being drunk or having contraband in the car. That doesn’t make sense to me. Why do they _want_ people to be guilty of crimes? Is it because they can’t stand to be wrong, or is it because they feel robbed of an opportunity to exercise their power and control? And why the hell can’t they apologize when they’re wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/30 "2003-01-31T04:03:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Klaatu \* > \*\*(Slight hijack) **Qadgop** , if you don’t mind, why did the cops give you shit like that? I always thought they welcomed docs at accident scenes, especially before the medics arrived. Hell, you might have saved a life. > Some kind of liability weirdness? \*\* I have no idea. It was just one cop, and I identified myself as a physician and asked if they needed medical help. She just cussed me up and down, and threatened to arrest me for interfering. I shut up, and just waited for the opportunity to move on with the rest of the traffic. Since then I’ve talked to some cops I’ve treated for injuries about this situation, and they looked sort of uncomfortable, but didn’t explain. One did recommend that I not put myself at risk by offering to help, and just act like a regular civilian and stay out of their way. I’ve followed that advice since. They can wait for paramedics. I’d still stop for an accident if no cops were there first, but I won’t stop if any authorized personnel are on the scene already. This includes cops, firemen, and ambulance personnel. ---
**Author:** ![TJ555\_The\_Golfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@TJ555\_The\_Golfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJ555_The_Golfer)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/31 "2003-01-31T04:25:49Z")
You know the old saying 5% are bad the rest are good? (It may not go that way exactly) Well, it is total bullshit. The reverse is probably closer to the truth. Most of the “good” cops know about the bad cops and choose to do nothing. Or worse yet, laugh about their behavoir. ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/32 "2003-01-31T04:40:55Z")
I believe that in most states, Good Samaritan laws protect doctors and nurses from being sued for stopping to administer aid at the scene of a crime. Nevertheless, I would suggest you look up these laws and find out if your state has them before you stop to help. Sad, but with our litigatious society, you have to play it cool. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/33 "2003-01-31T05:03:24Z")
A friend of mine once came out of her bedroom into her living room at about 10pm to find two cops standing _in her living room_. They were university police (not security, real police) and they wouldn’t leave. They were looking for someone who had beat up some guy and stolen his boots (in a strange twist, I found out about a year later that the victim was my ex-boyfriend) and for some reason thought they might be at her apartment. She told them repeatedly to leave and in the end she had to _ **call the city police** _ to come and make them leave. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/34 "2003-01-31T11:06:57Z")
Amazing. Qadgop, if anyone I care about is ever in an accident, you have my expressed permission to walk right past the objections of the officers on duty and offer aid. I think that is preferable to leaving it to the officers. _sitcom style flashback episode_ “Golly, Bert, that guy looks pretty banged up, what does the manual say?” “Apply direct pressure… then some other stuff. I dunno.” “Maybe we should just shove a plunger up his ass. I’ve been itchin’ to do that for a long time.” [Bert bites his lower lip and looks thoughtful] “I’ll get the plunger!” [sub]Not that I haven’t met some very decent cops… but I do find the cretin quotient higher than average. I can’t speculate any further than that.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/35 "2003-01-31T13:11:32Z")
“I am not against the police. I am afraid of the police.” Alfred Hitchcock, XX Century Anglo-American Filmaker ---
**Author:** ![murphyboy99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@murphyboy99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/murphyboy99)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/36 "2003-01-31T14:11:59Z")
The problem with American cops is you give them tight uniforms, caps, and guns. This is bound to attract people who want to do the job for the wrong reason. Take away there guns and make them where a helmet shaped like a tit, hey presto, an honest British bobby. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/37 "2003-01-31T14:24:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DrDeth \* > \*\*In many episodes of COPS, etc, the suspect’s civil rights are seriously violated. So much so, that I am surprised they show it. Remember, even criminal scum has civil rights. \*\* Can you give a few examples of scenes shown on “Cops” in which you believe the suspect’s civil rights are seriously violated? ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/38 "2003-01-31T15:36:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bricker \* > Can you give a few examples of scenes shown on “Cops” in which you believe the suspect’s civil rights are seriously violated? I’m not **DrDeth** but there was one show I saw that I always wondered about. Note that this show probably wasn’t Cops, but one of those “Real Stories of the Highway Patrol” or somesuch. Perhaps you have seen the shows where they go on and on about how the officers have a “sixth sense” that alerts them to vehicles carrying drugs. I don’t doubt that with experience, they do get pretty good at that but I also know that these shows never show the stops that come up empty. This particular show (which I have seen 2 or 3 times) shows a car being stopped. The occupant does not consent to a search and a drug canine is brought in. Note well: I am no expert on drug dogs, so my impression could be wrong. It looked like the dog was not alerting to anything about the car until the officer seemed to make a quick movement as a cue to the dog near the trunk causing it to alert. As I said, I could be wrong about this (there were drugs found) but every time I have seen this I always see the officer making an odd move right before the dog alerts. Anybody else remember this show? ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/39 "2003-01-31T15:50:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rsa \* > \*\* > It looked like the dog was not alerting to anything about the car until the officer seemed to make a quick movement as a cue to the dog near the trunk causing it to alert. > \*\* So… I dont see where civil rights were violated here. The dog alerted right? Also IIRC the cops dont _need_ your permission to search your _car_, That is to say they certainly don’t need a warrant… **Badge ?..** ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699/40 "2003-01-31T15:59:39Z")
Actually, I think the cops DO need your permission to search your car. Barring that, they may conduct a search only if they have reasonable suspicion of illegal activity. That could be anything from a called in report about a certain car, a box full of guns visible in the back seat, or a drug dog’s signal. In that case, if a cop did order a “false signal” from a dog he’d basically be creating the suspicion, which hardly seems right. Now, I’m not saying that’s what happened but it certainly seems possible. Hopefully a lawyer (Bricker?) or a cop can come clarify this a bit. FTR, I’ve had a drug dog sicced on my vehicle once. He circled four or five times and then alerted at the front passenger door. Cops tore my car apart and found no drugs. Wanna lay odds on whether or not I got an apology? :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cops-rudeness-is-ok/151699.md?page=3)