Some are OK, but in general, I’m not impressed, which is what I voted.
This is a huge leap *up *in from my previous attitude, which went a bit beyond ACAB. But that’s when I lived in a police state.
The worst thing I’ve seen a cop do in my area was to let my sister get scared when she got pulled over (by intentionally taking extra time). I don’t like people who use fear to compel compliance, but that’s such a low level that I can’t really be upset.
I’m answering for my area, as that’s how I originally interpreted the question. I will point out that my opinion goes down to Not Impressed otherwise. This whole covering up for your cop buddy is not something I consider moral, and I see cops as primarily moral enforcers.
I’m a defense attorney, and one of my colleagues used to be a cop.
He says there are quite a few honest cops, but they’re a minority among the outright dishonest and the ones who will take unconstitutional shortcuts due to laziness or simply not giving a shit because hey, they’re dealing with criminals (that latter bunch being the majority of cops). The stories he has will make you ill, and he was only on the force for a few years before he decided to go to law school.
My experience with and general opinion of British Police is that they are, by and large, polite, respectful, helpful and exercise their powers with restraint. I feel comforted by their presence. I’m sure there’s a fair selection of bad eggs but, by and large, I view them as the Good Guys.
Of course, the same cannot be said of parking attendants.
I’ll admit I don’t always have this view of the Police when I’m overseas, mainly because I’m unfamiliar with local laws, with how the Police exercise their powers and because I’m not used to seeing lots of big guns around.
Agree.
Recently, here in Vegas, there have been a few deadly shootings by cops, and as usual, they are ALWAYS found to be warranted and cops given a pass (after being on PAID leave for long periods of time).
I believe they said the last time a cop was found to be out of line (guilty) for a shooting was in the early 70’s!
One of the more recent deaths was shooting a guy in his bathroom who had no weapon whatsoever; surprise, the cop was found innocent as the guy was holding something suspicious - I think it was chapstick.
I know it is a dangerous job, but these hearings are so one-way; no real legal process, just an inquiry by their fellow police officer peers. Gee - wonder if that might sway the opinion?
There are some good cops, even some great ones but the calibre of police I’ve witnessed here and the experiences of various of my friends and family point to them having a bizarre, somewhat rightwing ethos and many are corrupt as fuck. I don’t envy them their job but I think there is something rotten in how they are trained, in this country at least.
I mostly like cops, except when they’re enforcing those godforsaken speed traps, but on the other hand, I’m from Dallas, and our DPDhas hadsome troubles the last couple years. Also - and I don’t know if this is DPD or all cops - around here the cops are friggin’ notorious for speeding along, sometimes at twice the posted speed limit, on their way to a call or whatever, with NO LIGHTS OR SIREN. People have died - entire carfuls of families, kids- because they just can’t be bothered to turn on their own damn equipment. I’ve personally witnessed it, and it makes my blood boil every time.
Otherwise, I do respect that they have a difficult job, and that a few corruptcops kinda spoil things for the rest of them.
Thanks for the replies. It’s correct that the top two aren’t mutually exclusive, I was trying to do a ‘very strongly agree - very strongly disagree’ but worded a bit more interestingly.
Traffic stops aside I’ve not had much official contact with police. I’ve never had a personal bad experience with a cop.
The cops in my area are assholes, that is, the people I know personally who went on to become cops - they were all the same kind of immature, bully, shitheads. My negative impression is thoroughly reinforced by stories of local ineptitude and corruption.
OTOH One of my neighbors is a great guy and he recently became a cop, I’m sure he’s a good one.
I figure cops are people like everyone else but the profession seems to draw in the asshats of society. Add the fact that a corrupt cop could severely mess up your life and I see no reason to trust them, I certainly don’t understand the reverence of the MSM.
I voted “Not impressed,” I treat police with respect but I avoid them and I think they’re useless here in Idaho.
They make me feel extremely, extremely uncomfortable. We have way too many dirty cops in Memphis. I know they’re not all bad but enough of them are around here to make me feel that I’m equally endangered by them as the “bad guys” they’re hunting.
I almost want to try to get a job as a cop or something in law enforcement after the military so that I can be part of their little group and not be endangered by them anymore. I think if you’re part of the pack they won’t hunt you.