I’m never quite sure exactly what testimony like this is supposed to demonstrate. You seem to believe that a cop who abuses his or her power on the job—whether in small or large ways—would somehow give that away at a barbecue or in casual conversation. Do you think that the a cop who routinely exceeds his authority and takes power trips when dealing with the public is going to tell you about it as if it were a movie he saw last night?
I’ve known quite a few cops in my time too. My stepfather’s a retired cop, my mother worked in a civilian capacity for the police, and their wedding was attended by a bunch of cops from the stations where they worked. I’ve had friends who are cops, and a guy playing on my current softball team is a pretty high-ranking officer who has about 80 men and women under his command in the DC Metro police.
Almost without fail, the police i’ve known have been nice people—friendly, amiable, down to earth, and with an expressed desire to do some good in the world. But how they act off the job isn’t always a reflection of how they act on it. I met a cop once at a party who seemed to have all those qualities; later on, a friend told me that he was being investigated for corruption.
I actually do believe that most cops have a genuine desire to do good in the world, and that true rogue cops are the exception rather than the rule. The problem is that some officers’ ideas of what is required for “doing good” actually ends up being a violation of citizens’ rights. And there are police who, in what may be genuine attempts to do good, use heavy-handed and overbearing tactics.
You also say that even some bad cops “had the sense to know they could only go so far without getting into trouble.” Another problem, though, is that how far they can go before getting into trouble is often further than they should go in order not to violate citizens’ rights.
Because maybe I’m sick of hearing about her husband? I’d be willing to bet that she makes more posts in which she does talk about ‘Hubby’ than posts in which she doesn’t.
Extremely negative. Perhaps the reason I think cops are arrogant bullies who get off on the power-trip created by their badge is that they have behaved that way to me. Ya think?
Anyone who’s read my posts knows I’m no fan of bad cops, and I think there are far, far too many of them.
But this woman acted like a complete idiot, and I can see nothing inappropriate about the officer’s actions. It takes a truly special kind of stupid to refuse a direct and legitimate order from an officer during an arrest, and to make any physical sign of resistance, be it a casual swat or a roundhouse punch, is beyond brainless. She was given a lawful order, and did not comply. She was warned her non-compliance would result in tasering, and instead chose to resist. She got precisely what she was asking for, and if I were in that officer’s shoes, I would have done exactly the same thing.
By the way-- bite me. There are people in this thread that might not recognize me or know where I’m getting my information. If you’d like, go ahead an ressurect my pit thread.
And just how much experience with cops do you have, pray tell? A few pull-overs? Maybe an arrest at one point or another? How many times have you had dinner at a cop’s home, or hung out with them for an evening at a bar? How many times have you worked with them professionally to catch a criminal?
Mmm hmm. I know all about the “blue wall” for cops and the “grey wall” in prisons. It exists to protect your partners if they’re late for work one day, or if they forget to fill out a form. Cops and guards aren’t stupid-- they know they have to be able to rely on the guy standing next to them, and you can’t rely on someone who’s apt to aggravate situations, putting you in danger.
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Your prejudices are just as distasteful as they would be if they were directed at blacks. You’re saying that because of a couple of bad experiences you had, and slanted stories you’ve heard, that all cops are bad. That’s just stupid.
Then don’t read my posts. There’s a little button which allows you to put me on your “ignore” list. Do so with my blessings.
I’ve had to arrest people before, who were resisting (as a security officer) and honestly I think cops should use the taser more. If its a choice between dragging someone physically to the ground and shocking them, shocking them is the less violent and less destructive thing to do. Taser should not be the last resort in a physical confrontation, it should be the first.
Its not like you see in the movies, when you subdue someone people get hurt they bleed, you get broken bones, and both the supsect and the officer are more likely to be seriously injured. Tasering can hurt people for sure, but I’m betting that more people have died or been seriously injured being physically restrained than have from being tasered.
The woman in the car refused to comply, and their choices were to physically drag her out of the car or shock her. They made the best choice IMHO.
Interesting. However, the site is designe to try and attract more females to the job, so we should probably take a slightly closer look. The stats can be skewed by the methodology used (for example, one death in a low-population occupation can really skew the results). Further, they only count actual fatalities - based on 2004 data, the most dangerous job in the US is…loggers. Garbage collectors: fifth. Farming: sixth. Does anyone really think that collecting garbage is more dangerous than being a police officer or fire fighter? Are these occupations perhaps more prone to accidents? Data suggests so. But police officers put themselves in potentially more dangerous situations on a far more frequent basis - the fact that police officers don’t die more often is probably at least in part due to their more extensive training.
The Department of Labor’s very first description of the law enforcement profession? ‘Police and detective work can be dangerous and stressful’. For logging (remember, the most ‘dangerous’ job in the US based on fatalities)? ‘Workers spend all their time outdoors, sometimes in poor weather and often in isolated areas’. The second point is ‘Most jobs are physically demanding and can be hazardous’.
Pretty clear which occupation the DoL thinks is more dangerous.
[QUOTE=DragonAshData suggests so. But police officers put themselves in potentially more dangerous situations on a far more frequent basis - the fact that police officers don’t die more often is probably at least in part due to their more extensive training.[/QUOTE]
It is. You don’t hear about it when someone tries to kill/hurt a police officer. You only hear about it (and the statistics record it) when they’re sucessful.
Are you saying that an police publication is loaded with falsehoods? They are luring innocent women into the most dangerous job in the world with outright lies? Egads… Quick, to the Bat Cave! They must be stopped!
You really didn’t get the message did you? One trick pony rides again.
Why would I want to have dinner at a cop’s home when cops ahve been nothing but shit heads to me? I’ve had to work with them, and I really didn’t like it. They walked around with their chests puffed out acting like they were king dickhead of penis island, exuding that better-than-everyone else attitude I find so common with badge wearers.
They cover shit up for each other, even when what one of them did is downright illegal. They can threaten, harass, assault, and then arrest the victim who makes any effort of standing up for themslves. But hey, at least I wasn’t sodomized with a broomstick and killed.
Oh boo hoo. I’ve never been shown a reason to believe otherwise.
Like I give a shit about your blessings any more than I give a shit about what your darling deputy warden hubby thinks about the new mouthwash.
There’s nobody else but cops who can fuck you up, severely, and know you can do absolutely nothing about it. Defend yourself? Yeah right, that’s crime. Cops know it, and use it and abuse it all the time.
What the fuck do you care? If you don’t like what I have to say, “ignore” me.
Your hostility is childish, petty and amusing in a sad way. Personally, I would suggest that if large numbers of people are being hostile to you, it’s because of something you’re doing.
In case you haven’t noticed, there are bad apples in every profession. But that doesn’t matter to you, does it? You want to hate, and there’s just no reasoning with that.
Perhaps it’s because you’ve never pulled your head out of your ass to look around for one. And, secondly, even if I posted ten thousand cites of the good things that cops do, it wouldn’t matter to you. You would dismiss them in favor of your prejudice because you enjoy it too much.
Methinks I detect a hint of jealousy.
As I said, there’s an ignore button that’s always at your disposal. Why waste your time on me?
Mm hmm. I guess so, if you define “all the time” as “I occasionally hear stories in the media or unfounded rumors.”
But actually I don’t think it’s a police publication. The website in question is run by the Women’s Justice Center, an NPO receiving funding from ‘mostly private individuals and small businesses, and the rest from private grants’, with ‘no government funds’. The Center’s mission statement says
Just ignore her, Lissa. catsix ain’t just got issues, she’s got a lifetime subscription. I’ve found that arguing with her is like hitting yourself in the head with a brick-it feels much better when you stop.
And yes, before you ask, catsix, why yes I AM an unemployed virgin with OCD living with my parents who’s too scared to walk out of her front door less she get raped.
As entertaining as it is to watch the insults and personal attacks of and on other posters, I can’t really figure out what they have to do with the OP. Dirty cops, idiot civilians, the safety of “less lethal” devices, even personal experiences with the police (or by police)…
Oh, never mind, as you were. Let’s hear more about subscribing to cracked-out streetwalkers.
Well, to pull the thread back on track, catsix, aside from your feelings about cops, do you believe the woman was in the right to act the way she did? Do you think it was acceptable for her to slap the cop, or to refuse to follow his orders, and continue talking on her cell phone?
