# Dear American Cops. Look how the real pros do it. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 9, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933 "2016-06-09T17:42:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/21 "2016-06-09T19:12:12Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Just this last week a person with a large dog was subdued, and the dog subdued and NOT HARMED by police in northern Minnesota. Cop was bitten and still did not shoot the dog. I am amazed. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/22 "2016-06-09T19:19:52Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I am amazed. Don’t be amazed. The dog didn’t have his paws up and wasn’t surrendering, so no shot in the back couldn’t be made. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/23 "2016-06-09T19:24:29Z")
There were so many negatives in that sentence that I got lost. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/24 "2016-06-09T19:25:37Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > As others said, you’ve no idea what the requirements are for being a police officer in the US. For the NYPD, the requirements are: > “Be 21 or older > Be a US citizen > Have either 60 hours of college credit with a minimum 2.0 GPA, or have 2 years of full-time, active duty US military service (with honorable discharge and a high school diploma or GED) > Reside in New York City or Suffolk, Westchester, Orange, Rockland, Nassau or Putnam County > Pass a drug test > Pass a background and character investigation > Pass a medical and psychological evaluation > Have a valid New York State driver’s license” > Once you meet those requirements, you have six months of training at the police academy. LOL, they even take GED. I guess I was wrong about requiring a high school diploma. Like I always thought, they don’t want college graduates because those graduates can spell words most cops can’t pronounce. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/25 "2016-06-09T19:27:46Z")
Many of our cops have been trained to live in fear and use deadly force with the minimal amount of justification. They’ve been taught to act aggressively under the guise of controlling the situation. This is all because they are treated like attack dogs that are supposed to risk their lives to protect the rest of us. I don’t like this at all, I think cops should take every measure to protect themselves and society has to face the reality of the world we’ve created. A cop shouldn’t sacrifice his life to prevent a potential threat to others. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/26 "2016-06-09T19:28:05Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > As others said, you’ve no idea what the requirements are for being a police officer in the US. For the NYPD, the requirements are: > > “Be 21 or older > > Be a US citizen > > Have either 60 hours of college credit with a minimum 2.0 GPA, or have 2 years of full-time, active duty US military service (with honorable discharge and a high school diploma or GED) > > Reside in New York City or Suffolk, Westchester, Orange, Rockland, Nassau or Putnam County > > Pass a drug test > > Pass a background and character investigation > > Pass a medical and psychological evaluation > > Have a valid New York State driver’s license” > > Once you meet those requirements, you have six months of training at the police academy. > > LOL, they even take GED. I guess I was wrong about requiring a high school diploma. Like I always thought, they don’t want college graduates because those graduates can spell words most cops can’t pronounce. So you’re doubling down and proving your idiocy? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/27 "2016-06-09T19:30:40Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > So you’re doubling down and proving your idiocy? Not really, I’m just pointing out how hollow you and your logic are sunshine. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/28 "2016-06-09T19:38:45Z")
Perhaps you can educate me; what are the minimum requirements to become a police officer in France? ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/29 "2016-06-09T19:41:52Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > You use subsonic ammo. That way, the sound of the shot reaches the perp before the bullet. Naturally. Being French they surrender quickly enough to recall the round before it reaches them, because that’s a thing :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/30 "2016-06-09T19:50:43Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > LOL, they even take GED. I guess I was wrong about requiring a high school diploma. Like I always thought, they don’t want college graduates because those graduates can spell words most cops can’t pronounce. “60 hours of college credit” is the equivalent of two years; one can graduate with an associate degree in that timeframe. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/31 "2016-06-09T19:52:00Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Perhaps you can educate me; what are the minimum requirements to become a police officer in France? Never previously surrendered. That’s why they have to outsource. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/32 "2016-06-09T19:55:24Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Perhaps you can educate me; what are the minimum requirements to become a police officer in France? would you like me to Google that for you sunshine? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/33 "2016-06-09T19:56:18Z")
Yes, please do so and report back. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/34 "2016-06-09T19:57:03Z")
Here, start here. Police Officially Refuse To Hire Applicants With High IQ Scores [http://politicalblindspot.com/police-officially-refuse-to-hire-applicants-with-high-iq-scores/](http://politicalblindspot.com/police-officially-refuse-to-hire-applicants-with-high-iq-scores/) You’ll begin to see part of the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/35 "2016-06-09T19:58:51Z")
I’m sorry; how does that address the question of the minimum requirements to become a police officer in France? ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/36 "2016-06-09T20:08:20Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Another thing. In the US, the stereotypical cop hangout is the local donut shop. (Historically, donut shops were one of the few places open 24 hours, so police might be found there late at night getting coffee.) I guess if your OP is good for anything, we can at least learn that in France, the cops hang out at McDonalds. That reminds me of this classic exchange: > [@](#): > > Vincent: And you know what they call a… a… a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris? > > Jules: They don’t call it a Quarter Pounder with cheese? > > Vincent: No man, they got the metric system. They wouldn’t know what the fuck a Quarter Pounder is. > > Jules: Then what do they call it? > > Vincent: They call it a Royale with cheese. > > Jules: A Royale with cheese. What do they call a Big Mac? > > Vincent: Well, a Big Mac’s a Big Mac, but they call it le Big-Mac. > > Jules: Le Big-Mac. Ha ha ha ha. What do they call a Whopper? > > Vincent: I dunno, I didn’t go into Burger King. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/37 "2016-06-09T20:15:49Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Here, start here. > > Police Officially Refuse To Hire Applicants With High IQ Scores > [http://politicalblindspot.com/police-officially-refuse-to-hire-applicants-with-high-iq-scores/](http://politicalblindspot.com/police-officially-refuse-to-hire-applicants-with-high-iq-scores/) > You’ll begin to see part of the problem. Political Blind Spot? [Seriously?](http://politicalblindspot.com/fbi-considers-questioning-911/) ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/38 "2016-06-09T20:38:46Z")
“But when he took aim again, they responded with a ‘neutralization shot’ to his abdomen." Is a “neutralization shot" to the gut different than another type of shot, other than a warning shot? Curious terminology. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/39 "2016-06-09T20:48:09Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > Is a “neutralization shot" to the gut different than another type of shot, other than a warning shot? Curious terminology. Perhaps a warning shot is a neutralization shot that missed? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933/40 "2016-06-09T20:49:42Z")
I’m not in a position to critique their choices, and it’s great that it worked out well. If the robbery had gone south, however, and one of the perps impulsively blew a clerk’s head off, I have to think that those police would face some second-guessing about the choice to delay taking action. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-american-cops-look-how-the-real-pros-do-it/756933.md?page=3)