# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/81 "2014-07-17T10:50:59Z")
> [@FBJJ](#): > > log out Do you really not understand the English language? The poster above stated quite clearly that he or she is pleased that the police do not care less than they do; he or she is pleased that the police actually do care. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/82 "2014-07-17T14:36:21Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Of course such a stance is not explicit but the way the city has responded (i.e not at all beyond mumbling some platitudes) suggests it could not give a rat’s ass about this. I know almost precisely nothing about the current state of Chicago city politics, so forgive the dumb question: What should they be doing? What actions from the city would make you feel like they _did_ care? ---
**Author:** ![common\_good](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@common\_good](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/common_good)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/83 "2014-07-17T18:01:16Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Because I used to be a cop. No department worth its salt would ever impose quotas. They are illegal in most states, and they’re a bad idea from the start whether legal or not. > > However, I used to get that crap from almost everyone I ever issued a citation to: “Just gotta fill your quota, so you stopped me”, that sort of thing. My stock response was “No, sir/ma’am - we don’t have quotas, I can write as many tickets as I want”. Following that exchange, I would then check for minor things, such as expired inspection sticker or plates, etc. If they had been civil to me, I would have simply given them a verbal warning to get it fixed. After they ran their mouth, it’s ticket time. No,they wouldn’t call them Quotas. Why do cops always ask if the driver knows why he was pulled-over ? What’s the best(or funniest) reply you ever got ? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/84 "2014-07-17T18:59:56Z")
> [@common\_good](#): > > Why do cops always ask if the driver knows why he was pulled-over ? In my case it’s just a conversation starter. Intent is not an element in almost all traffic statutes. I really don’t care if you know how fast you were going. All that matters is I observed you and my equipment was working properly. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/85 "2014-07-17T21:35:08Z")
> [@andros](#): > > I know almost precisely nothing about the current state of Chicago city politics, so forgive the dumb question: What should they be doing? What actions from the city would make you feel like they _did_ care? I am having trouble finding a citation that I read a few days ago but it noted that the police department is understaffed to the tune of 1,000 people. This staffing is approved staffing and not some guess as to what it should be. Police are retiring (as usual) and not being replaced. Emanuel is reluctant to add that cost to a stretched city budget. Seems to me more police on the beat would be a good start. More broadly the problems are social at their root. Long term there needs to be better social policies that change those inner city hell holes from a dead end with no future to some reasonable chance at something better. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/86 "2014-07-18T01:59:48Z")
Because even though we pretend it isn’t true, some lives are more valuable to society than others. The more wealth, fame, prestige, education, power and white skin you have the more valuable you are to society. Also being a woman in the peak years of her fertility helps a lot. There is a theory (on the hard left) that the police are just a private security force to enforce the status quo. I don’t generally agree with it, but there is some truth to it. The more valuable you are to society the harder the police will try to protect you and the more they will treat you with respect and dignity. That is why homeless middle aged men do not usually get the airtime when something happens that upper middle class white women who are sexually fertile get when something bad happens. Or why poor blacks have more horror stories about police abuse than middle class whites. The real question is why is it so surprising? I know we have to pretend everyone is equal but its pretty obvious that isn’t how society is run. Any society that wants to survive is going to devote more resources to protecting its more valued members. I recall seeing a real life cop show once, a person society doesn’t really value had gone missing. After a few weeks of getting nowhere one of the cops says ‘maybe we should involve the media’. Another police officer was honest and said that the victim wasn’t really valuable to society and it wouldn’t matter. Which is honest and true. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/87 "2014-07-18T02:04:18Z")
> [@common\_good](#): > > No,they wouldn’t call them Quotas. Why do cops always ask if the driver knows why he was pulled-over ? What’s the best(or funniest) reply you ever got ? A somewhat long story here, which I may have told before. If so, apologies. The very first traffic ticket I wrote was my first night out on patrol (I started in communications as a dispatcher and worked my way up). We had a car come sailing past at just under the speed of sound. I was driving and we took off after it. Got a good solid clock on it at 95 in a 55 zone. When the car pulled over, the driver turned out to be an incredibly beautiful young woman. I was trying to be Mr. Professional Peace Officer and was going through the 7 steps for a traffic citation. I asked her why she was going so fast and with a perfectly straight face, she says, “Officer, my period just started and I’m looking for a service station with an open restroom so I can put in a Tampax.” My partner says that for a moment, I looked somewhat like a trout, but I recovered nicely. I told her that wasn’t a real emergency and I was going to issue her a citation. She drew herself up, got an indignant look on her face and said, “You cold-hearted bastard - the last four cops I pulled that on, I got away with it!” Hilarity ensued. When we all stopped laughing, I was nice to her and only wrote her for 65 in a 55 because she had brightened up a boring evening. My partner told the story when we got back in and the next day, he hung a sign on my locker that said “COLD HEARTED BASTARD”. I had that sign for years until I lost it in one of my moves. Good times, good times. Oh, and this has got to be the [absolute best DUI bust evah!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otj9yPNndB0) ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/88 "2014-07-18T02:11:28Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > A somewhat long story here, which I may have told before. If so, apologies. > > The very first traffic ticket I wrote was my first night out on patrol (I started in communications as a dispatcher and worked my way up). We had a car come sailing past at just under the speed of sound. I was driving and we took off after it. Got a good solid clock on it at 95 in a 55 zone. > > When the car pulled over, the driver turned out to be an incredibly beautiful young woman. I was trying to be Mr. Professional Peace Officer and was going through the 7 steps for a traffic citation. I asked her why she was going so fast and with a perfectly straight face, she says, “Officer, my period just started and I’m looking for a service station with an open restroom so I can put in a Tampax.” > > My partner says that for a moment, I looked somewhat like a trout, but I recovered nicely. I told her that wasn’t a real emergency and I was going to issue her a citation. She drew herself up, got an indignant look on her face and said, “You cold-hearted bastard - the last four cops I pulled that on, I got away with it!” > > Hilarity ensued. When we all stopped laughing, I was nice to her and only wrote her for 65 in a 55 because she had brightened up a boring evening. My partner told the story when we got back in and the next day, he hung a sign on my locker that said “COLD HEARTED BASTARD”. I had that sign for years until I lost it in one of my moves. > > Good times, good times. > > Oh, and this has got to be the [absolute best DUI bust evah!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otj9yPNndB0) You know, aside from you being rat-fuck crazy, you’re a cool guy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/89 "2014-07-18T03:42:27Z")
I just finished reading the book “Homicide”, upon which the TV show was based, and some of that work can shed light on this question. Crimes with sympathetic victims tend to get greater scrutiny. A child murder, for instance, will get the full court press regardless of if the victim is black or white, but a lot of inner-city murders are a case of “low-life A shoots low-life B” and unless the perp is immediately identifiable, such cases probably don’t, especially when they’ll be another one tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/90 "2014-07-18T04:04:48Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > It’s been bad and seems to be getting worse in Chicago. Near as I can tell the city government is uninterested. To them it is low-lifes killing other low-lifes making the job on the police and cost to the city better. Why incur the cost of an arrest and court and jail to lower crime if the criminals will just shoot each other? > > Of course such a stance is not explicit but the way the city has responded (i.e not at all beyond mumbling some platitudes) suggests it could not give a rat’s ass about this. [This table](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Chicago#Homicides_in_Chicago_by_year) at least suggests that the murder rate in Chicago is actually getting quite a bit better. If this data is accurate, I’m curious why Chicago has been getting so much more **press** about its murder rate the past couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/91 "2014-07-18T04:08:52Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Oh, and this has got to be the [absolute best DUI bust evah!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otj9yPNndB0) How I wish it weren’t so, but that’s from the TV show **Reno 911** and not an actual traffic stop. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/92 "2014-07-18T12:34:48Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > How I wish it weren’t so, but that’s from the TV show **Reno 911** and not an actual traffic stop. Oh, say it isn’t so. I’ve been laughing my butt off at that clip for years. ☹ I don’t care, it’s still funnier than hell. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/93 "2014-07-18T13:05:44Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > [This table](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Chicago#Homicides_in_Chicago_by_year) at least suggests that the murder rate in Chicago is actually getting quite a bit better. If this data is accurate, I’m curious why Chicago has been getting so much more **press** about its murder rate the past couple of years. I’ve spent some time in the airport in Chicago so that makes me an expert. From what I understand by reading some articles if the overall murder rate is going down that covers a very large area. The violence, particularly gun violence, in certain specific neighborhoods has been much worse. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/94 "2014-07-18T14:22:35Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > You know, aside from you being rat-fuck crazy, you’re a cool guy. 😃 You’re quick-witted, you are, lobohan. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/95 "2014-07-18T14:26:20Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > In my case it’s just a conversation starter. Intent is not an element in almost all traffic statutes. I really don’t care if you know how fast you were going. All that matters is I observed you and my equipment was working properly. Somehow I wonder if a motorist has said, “I thought you were supposed to tell me!” But would a driver really dare to say that? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/96 "2014-07-18T14:49:12Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > [This table](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Chicago#Homicides_in_Chicago_by_year) at least suggests that the murder rate in Chicago is actually getting quite a bit better. If this data is accurate, I’m curious why Chicago has been getting so much more **press** about its murder rate the past couple of years. Well, my understanding is what **Loach** said… …but also, in the past several years Chicago has become known in certain circles for being the liberal commie hothouse that grew Obama and Emmanuel. And full of people who just happen to be melanin-enhanced. ---
**Author:** ![common\_good](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@common\_good](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/common_good)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/97 "2014-07-18T17:49:38Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > A somewhat long story here, which I may have told before. If so, apologies. > > The very first traffic ticket I wrote was my first night out on patrol (I started in communications as a dispatcher and worked my way up). We had a car come sailing past at just under the speed of sound. I was driving and we took off after it. Got a good solid clock on it at 95 in a 55 zone. > > When the car pulled over, the driver turned out to be an incredibly beautiful young woman. I was trying to be Mr. Professional Peace Officer and was going through the 7 steps for a traffic citation. I asked her why she was going so fast and with a perfectly straight face, she says, “Officer, my period just started and I’m looking for a service station with an open restroom so I can put in a Tampax.” > > My partner says that for a moment, I looked somewhat like a trout, but I recovered nicely. I told her that wasn’t a real emergency and I was going to issue her a citation. She drew herself up, got an indignant look on her face and said, “You cold-hearted bastard - the last four cops I pulled that on, I got away with it!” > > Hilarity ensued. When we all stopped laughing, I was nice to her and only wrote her for 65 in a 55 because she had brightened up a boring evening. My partner told the story when we got back in and the next day, he hung a sign on my locker that said “COLD HEARTED BASTARD”. I had that sign for years until I lost it in one of my moves. > > Good times, good times. > > Oh, and this has got to be the [absolute best DUI bust evah!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otj9yPNndB0) Thanks. Funny video. But the lady is right. No joking. You guys almost never give a person the benefit of the doubt. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/98 "2014-07-19T14:45:23Z")
> [@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. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/99 "2014-07-19T14:47:32Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > [This table](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Chicago#Homicides_in_Chicago_by_year) at least suggests that the murder rate in Chicago is actually getting quite a bit better. Um…more murders? More efficient murders?😃 ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006/100 "2014-07-19T22:12:34Z")
> [@common\_good](#): > > Thanks. Funny video. But the lady is right. No joking. You guys almost never give a person the benefit of the doubt. She got away with it four out of five times and that’s almost never ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cops-only-seem-to-aggressively-look-for-criminals-who/693006.md?page=6)