# Why do cops only seem to aggressively look for criminals who........ **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 13, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006 "2014-07-13T18:20:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/21 "2014-07-13T22:09:03Z")
Ghetto?? Is that some place where Negroes live? ---
**Author:** ![FBJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@FBJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FBJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/22 "2014-07-13T22:12:20Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Ghetto?? Is that some place where Negroes live? Now why would you say something so silly? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/23 "2014-07-13T22:17:43Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > I’ve certainly noticed the bias in certain _media_ regarding, say “Missing Middle-Class White Girl” is much more newsworthy than “Missing Poor Black Boy,” but that’s not the police - that’s Nancy Grace and her ilk. No, that’s the police too. The concern of the police for catching criminals including murderers depends a _great deal_ on who the victim is. Someone can kill and dismember black women and be ignored, and then the cops go all out looking for him when he branches out to whites. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/24 "2014-07-13T22:24:32Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No, that’s the police too. The concern of the police for catching criminals including murderers depends a _great deal_ on who the victim is. Someone can kill and dismember black women and be ignored, and then the cops go all out looking for him when he branches out to whites. Lol no. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/25 "2014-07-13T22:27:04Z")
Jul 14. Now how did I know that? Troll. ---
**Author:** ![FBJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@FBJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FBJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/26 "2014-07-13T22:28:35Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Jul 14. > > Now how did I know that? > > Troll. I’m not sure I know what you mean? ---
**Author:** ![Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/77aa72/32.png) [@Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy_PickleSniffer)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/27 "2014-07-13T22:53:47Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > If your want a sincere answer to a legitimate question, the General Questions forum is your best bet. > > If you would like to propose a debate, Great Debates is where you should go for that. > > If you want to post an unsupported assertion with the hope of launching pointless, snarky arguments with a bunch of unimpressed strangers, well, here you are. * * * KABONG!!!\*\*\* Um… uh, sorry… I don’t know what came over me… **slinks out the back door…** ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/28 "2014-07-13T23:28:19Z")
> [@FBJJ](#): > > But not the ones occur in the ghetto? I don’t understand? Are you saying there’s no aggressive police presence in “ghetto” communities? Because there are plenty of people who complain the police are too aggressive in looking for criminals in these neighbourhoods. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/29 "2014-07-13T23:30:14Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Ghetto?? Is that some place where Negroes live? > [@FBJJ](#): > > Now why would you say something so silly? He’s making the point that ghetto, like negro, is a dated term that doesn’t get used much nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![FBJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@FBJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FBJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/30 "2014-07-13T23:30:42Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Are you saying there’s no aggressive police presence in “ghetto” communities? Because there are plenty of people who complain the police are too aggressive in looking for criminals in these neighbourhoods. Wrong, they are looking to harrass guys in the hood to meet the arrest quota ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/31 "2014-07-13T23:39:06Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Lol no. Lol yes, they’ve done exactly that in the past. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/32 "2014-07-14T00:03:39Z")
> [@FBJJ](#): > > Wrong, they are looking to harrass guys in the hood to meet the arrest quota Trolls got brown eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/33 "2014-07-14T00:31:01Z")
> [@FBJJ](#): > > Wrong, they are looking to harrass guys in the hood to meet the arrest quota So do you want them arresting people or not arresting people? Make up your mind. ---
**Author:** ![FBJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@FBJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FBJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/34 "2014-07-14T00:44:41Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > So do you want them arresting people or not arresting people? Make up your mind. Only when a crime has committed in…THE HOOD ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/35 "2014-07-14T00:45:46Z")
> [@FBJJ](#): > > Wrong, they are looking to harrass guys in the hood to meet the arrest quota **Honest** l **y**? ---
**Author:** ![FBJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@FBJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FBJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/36 "2014-07-14T00:47:33Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > **Honest** l **y**? you haven’t heard about the arrest quotas? Cops ride around baiting thugs so they can snap and get arrested ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/37 "2014-07-14T00:52:20Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No, that’s the police too. The concern of the police for catching criminals including murderers depends a _great deal_ on who the victim is. Someone can kill and dismember black women and be ignored, and then the cops go all out looking for him when he branches out to whites. True, and not really debatable at this point. The justice system as a whole puts more effort into apprehension and punishment of those who commit crimes against the wealthy, the white, and the female than it does against those who commit crimes against the poor, the black, and the male. > **[the\_determinants\_of\_punishment\_deterrence\_incapacitation\_and\_vengeance.pdf](https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/glaeser/files/the_determinants_of_punishment_deterrence_incapacitation_and_vengeance.pdf)** > > 1978.53 KB ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/38 "2014-07-14T00:59:44Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > True, and not really debatable at this point. The justice system as a whole puts more effort into apprehension and punishment of those who commit crimes against the wealthy, the white, and the female than it does against those who commit crimes against the poor, the black, and the male. > > [http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/glaeser/files/the\_determinants\_of\_punishment\_deterrence\_incapacitation\_and\_vengeance.pdf](http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/glaeser/files/the_determinants_of_punishment_deterrence_incapacitation_and_vengeance.pdf) Police are grunts–what you’re saying is different from the claim that individual police officers try less on black victim cases than white victim cases. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/39 "2014-07-14T01:01:06Z")
> [@FBJJ](#): > > Wrong, they are looking to harrass guys in the hood to meet the arrest quota New York City cops have been caught doing this, or rather, outed by cops who didn’t want to play the game. In NYC, in Brooklyn’s Bed Stuy district, a police precinct had the standard practice of harassing black and Latino residents and busting them on bogus charges. One cop spoke up, and was severely harassed by his coworkers. [http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-05-04/news/the-nypd-tapes-inside-bed-stuy-s-81st-precinct/](http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-05-04/news/the-nypd-tapes-inside-bed-stuy-s-81st-precinct/) > **[Right to Remain Silent - This American Life](https://www.thisamericanlife.org/414/right-to-remain-silent)** > > A New York police officer secretly records his supervisors ordering officers to do all sorts of things that police aren't supposed to do. > **[The Tyranny of Comstat](https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2010/11/the-tyranny-of-comstat/66179/)** > > An NYPD precinct's disturbing behavior demonstrates the nature of police power in this country ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/40 "2014-07-14T01:54:17Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Ghetto?? Is that some place where Negroes live? You know that it’s true, that for me and for you the world is a ghetto. > [@Oakminster](#): > > **Honest** l **y**? Well played, sir. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006.md?page=3)