# Fucking cops... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 23, 2008, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087 "2008-11-23T08:05:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/41 "2008-11-23T18:22:23Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > I guess I’m in the minority here. He saw a laser pointer dot and reached for his gun, which he was carrying in a bar. Holy, crap! This could have been a fucking disaster in which someone not wielding the Taser was killed. If your reflexes are that strong maybe you shouldn’t be carrying a gun around, especially in a bar. > > I’d feel differently if he’d seen the man pointing the Taser; that might look like a gun. I’d still question the wisdom of bringing a gun into a bar. I’m with him. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/42 "2008-11-23T18:25:35Z")
> [@Brandon](#): > > I’ve never heard it as anything but a racist term before today. I don’t particularly care one way or the other if he was tossing out slurs, but I think it’s pretty weird that there’s this disconnect on the meaning of the word. 1. My word is my cite on this\* ;), I remember the phrase from my time in the Navy 1985 to 1989. 2. 3 of the 12 Defs on Urban Dictionary agree that it is not racial but means a variation on stupid. 3. \*\*MsRobyn \*\*already explained that “It’s generally intended to convey exasperation rather than contempt or anger.” _In general and not to **Brandon** :_ People get way too caught up on words, even when it is shown they are not racist they still can’t seem to drop it. It was one word that did not mean in Airman’s case what posters want to read into it. Please be a little less sensitive everyone. Look for context, history of the poster and maybe do a little googling. Jim - I think I have a good enough reputation around here to get away with this once. I have no reason to make it up and I am not particularly friendly with **Airman Doors, USAF**. Though I have no reason to think he would be using it racially and might also be ignorant of that meaning as I was before this thread. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/43 "2008-11-23T18:26:51Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > **Airman** You should report him. Your status as a Veteran might inspire some esprit de corps with the local police chief that us average citizens might not receive. I seventh this. Pointing a weapon at a civilian as a joke is awful behavior. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/44 "2008-11-23T18:38:07Z")
Just want to add that I think the cop and his friend were beyond stupid and should be reported. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/45 "2008-11-23T18:42:06Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Yes my post citing 3 other definitions common to people in the service and elsewhere. Gotcha, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/46 "2008-11-23T19:37:56Z")
When I was a stupid 17-year old I was in Paris during the World Cup. The French military was out in the city patrolling. I had just gotten a laser pointer and for kicks was shining it around a shopping center. All of a sudden I felt a hand grab me on the shoulder. Four soldiers (in uniform, armed) grabbed me and pulled me into a side hallway. They held me - one in front, one behind, one on each side. They weren’t mean or anything like that, but I did notice they all twitched a bit, hands on rifles, as I pulled the pointer out of my pocket to show them it was just a toy. Fortunately my french was good enough then to explain that a) it was just a toy and b) I was sorry and would quit it. They let me go after about 5 minutes with a stern warning not to shine laser pointers around. Lesson learned. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/47 "2008-11-23T20:03:30Z")
If this incident had resulted in a shooting, I’d pin the blame on the guy who was drinking in a bar witha loaded weapon on him, not the guy who was playing with a laser pointer. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/48 "2008-11-23T20:06:43Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I met a guy there and he almost knocked me dead. Punk Rock Girl? ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/49 "2008-11-23T20:26:32Z")
> [@Hostile\_Dialect](#): > > And _you_ are going to have to put some serious thought into the fact that immaturity and lack of self-control, not to mention corruption and nepotism, are systemic in police forces the world over. This is not a problem limited to your local bar, nor is it a problem limited to your neighborhood or your state. This is something that could rear its head at any moment, no matter where you are, anywhere in the world. Now, I quite agree that this cop shouldn’t have done that. I’ll also quite agree (since I find this shocking anyway) that the police in the US is inadequatly trained and corrected to deal with the power they have because they are Law enforcment officers. But this is too broad. There’s a lot of difference between a German or European cop and an US one, both from training and how they perceive their jobs and duties. Not that no German cop is a jerk - there are jerks everywhere, and we have ugly incidents, too. But it’s not that shit that happens regularly in the US (going by what’s reported on this board alone) is what happens regularly over here. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/50 "2008-11-23T20:27:24Z")
> [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](#): > > If this incident had resulted in a shooting, I’d pin the blame on the guy who was drinking in a bar witha loaded weapon on him, not the guy who was playing with a laser pointer. Which guy? The one pointing the tazer at people? We don’t know Airman was drinking. If I’m in a bar, I’m not drinking. On the other hand, we don’t know the guy with the tazer was not drinking. I think it’s kind of probable both were. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/51 "2008-11-23T20:51:29Z")
> [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](#): > > If this incident had resulted in a shooting, I’d pin the blame on the guy who was drinking in a bar witha loaded weapon on him, not the guy who was playing with a laser pointer. It wasn’t just a laser pointer. It was a laser pointer incorporated as an aiming device in a weapon, to wit, a taser. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/52 "2008-11-23T21:14:28Z")
> [@FarmerChick](#): > > What does that mean? It means I’m curious where someone picked up such a term. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/53 "2008-11-23T21:26:48Z")
> [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](#): > > If this incident had resulted in a shooting, I’d pin the blame on the guy who was drinking in a bar witha loaded weapon on him, not the guy who was playing with a laser pointer. Really? I’d blame the guy who pointed a weapon at the guy openly carrying his own weapon. That’s a recipe for Suicide, regardless of the idiot’s job - which he was NOT in the performance of during this incident. ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/54 "2008-11-23T21:47:05Z")
> [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](#): > > If this incident had resulted in a shooting, I’d pin the blame on the guy who was drinking in a bar witha loaded weapon on him, not the guy who was playing with a laser pointer. It wasn’t a laser pointer. It was a weapon – a potentially deadly weapon. A Taser. Why is it stupid to be in a bar with a loaded weapon? Both the cops were. A loaded weapon is no more dangerous than a brick, provided it’s handled properly. The mere presence of alcohol in a situation doesn’t make the loaded weapon more dangerous. Are you assuming that Airman was getting drunk? Was he going to somehow lose control and start shooting the place up? His actions say otherwise. I think his restraint was admirable, and he has a good point about the cops. Both deserve a suspension, to think about their actions and their respect for weapons. The local cops aren’t going to get better without learning from their mistakes. Better that those mistakes don’t result in someone’s death, don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/55 "2008-11-23T21:53:39Z")
**Airman** , brother, you need to document this with the Chief of Police. If this jackass was careless enough to unholster a weapon (even in jest), that’s bad. If this jackass was careless enough to unholster a weapon _and intentionally aim it_, it shows a clear instance of poor judgement. Even if nothing else is done at the immediate moment, when the jackass fucks around like this again, it will be noted and he will be dealt with. Do not let this slip. It is not tattling, it is not being a stoolpigeon, it is protecting the next person he does this to by identifying to his supervisors a _pattern_ of asshattery. And if he’s got a pattern, he doesn’t belong in the job. C’mon man, you and I both know people who were seperated because of a pattern of stupid, careless behavior. This is no different. Tripler If I were the Chief, I would welcome unfavorable reports of this kind. I don’t want to work with those kind of people. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/56 "2008-11-23T21:57:53Z")
> [@Danalan](#): > > Why is it stupid to be in a bar with a loaded weapon? It’s a usual assumption that you’re drinking in a bar, usually with intent to get drunk, but that’s not always a correct assumption. For instance, I was in a bar late friday night. I ended up having ONE (1) beer only because someone bought me one. Otherwise, I was only there to spend time with friends and wasn’t interested in drinking. As far as that goes, I’m not sure that any of our party had more than the one beer. Of the nine of us, three are military and three of us work Security. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone was (concealed) carrying, but I’d never ask. ---
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/57 "2008-11-23T22:00:49Z")
> [@Danalan](#): > > Why is it stupid to be in a bar with a loaded weapon? Both the cops were. An on-duty cop is in a bar with a weapon and it that makes it not stupid for civilians to be packing in one? > [@Danalan](#): > > A loaded weapon is no more dangerous than a brick, provided it’s handled properly. The mere presence of alcohol in a situation doesn’t make the loaded weapon more dangerous. Uh-huh. See post #36. If you don’t feel comfortable in your local bar without a gun, you should be choosing another neighborhood to do your drinking/whatever bar activities in. > [@Danalan](#): > > I think his restraint was admirable, and he has a good point about the cops. It’s admirable to not shoot someone once you realize your life is not compromised? > [@Danalan](#): > > The local cops aren’t going to get better without learning from their mistakes. Better that those mistakes don’t result in someone’s death, don’t you think? Huh? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/58 "2008-11-23T22:10:22Z")
> [@Hostile\_Dialect](#): > > It’s a scary feeling, innit? Now you know how the rest of us feel when we see our friends and neighbors attacked by the police. Unfortunately, you got to experience it firsthand. And, yes, I would go a step further than you did and say that you were attacked. When you see a laser dot on your chest, you have to assume that your life is in imminent danger and react appropriately, which you did. You would have been fully within your rights to fire at him, IMO, and he’s going to have to put some serious thought into the fact that he almost lost his life tonight. > > And _you_ are going to have to put some serious thought into the fact that immaturity and lack of self-control, not to mention corruption and nepotism, are systemic in police forces the world over. This is not a problem limited to your local bar, nor is it a problem limited to your neighborhood or your state. This is something that could rear its head at any moment, no matter where you are, anywhere in the world. > > This is why we are afraid of the police. This is why every little lapse in their judgment is a big deal to us: because it’s all part of the problem, and every little thing contributes to the culture of inaccountability on the part of the police all over America. This is why everyone, even if they never break the law, should fear the police. You got a little taste, and fortunately, nobody ended up jailed, hospitalized or dead–but it could have easily been worse, like you said. _Easily._ > > Think about this: how often does a police prank like this go awry, and the police find themselves covering it up by throwing the victim in jail and ruining his life? How close were you to losing everything that you’ve worked so hard for, all of your life? > > And on top of all that, _you’re paying for all this with your tax money_. > > Now you see why some of us don’t trust the police. > > Of course, they say “less-than-lethal” now, because “non-lethal” is a flat-out lie after their benign little rubber guns killed an innocent college student in Boston four years ago _for no reason_. How any of this is “less than lethal” is beyond me: at least one cop plus one innocent citizen could very well have died tonight. > > He said right in the OP that you can legally carry weapons in bars where he lived. He was packing heat. Anyone else in that bar could have been packing heat. For all he knew, some lunatic with a pistol was about to make him the first tally on a killing spree. He wasn’t far off, considering that what was pointed at him was a less-lethal handgun, not a pen laser. > > In fall of 2004, three innocent people were murdered with legal handguns in unconnected incidents in the space of about two months at the University of Arizona, for no reason. I remember it vividly; the first one was right at the beginning of the school year, and someone got shot in his seat at a pizza place right off campus _for no reason_. Homeboy just walked right through the door holding a nine, acquired a target and killed him dead. When you’ve got a dot painted on your chest, you don’t have time to consider all of the possible explanations and determine the most rational one. You’ve got to assume that someone is about to shoot you in the chest, because _they might_. Oh Lord. What an idiotic paranoind rambling of a post. As someone who grew up with police in their family I can asure you MOST cops would be appauled by the police officers behaviour in the OP. Trust me sir, your quality of life is MUCH better thanks to law enforcement. As far as the OP goes; He has every right to be upset but “hitting the deck” is a little overe the top in my opinion. And let me just say (and keep n mind I’m from Texas): Guns, Bars, Leagal. Wow, my head just exploded. ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/59 "2008-11-23T22:23:44Z")
Doors, did the cops know you were in the military? Were there witnesses? Why you? I mean, seriously. Who does that? Just mess with a random stranger? It’s not like you were a loose canon or anything. Had they not put a sniper dot on you, everyone would’ve gone on to enjoy their evening. I just ask if the cops knew you were in the military. Maybe they, foolishly, thought you might think it was funny too… What did the bartender/owner do? Either way, as other have implored, report this incident! ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087/60 "2008-11-23T22:34:03Z")
> [@SHAKES](#): > > Oh Lord. What an idiotic paranoind rambling of a post. > As far as the OP goes; He has every right to be upset but “hitting the deck” is a little overe the top in my opinion. The fuck? A WEAPON was pointed at him. How is he going to decide whether this tool was playing a joke or ready to incapacitate him/kill him? I guarantee, that if the situations were reversed and a cop had a taser pointed at him by a civilian: 1. The civilian would have been shot and killed. 2. You would be here defending the cops as being completely and totally justified. 3. Fuck you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-cops/474087.md?page=4)