# Why I hate cops **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 19, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174 "2014-06-19T21:38:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/161 "2014-06-24T19:28:53Z")
> [@common\_good](#): > > To run afoul of the law, you mean ? Oh, I’d be happy to tell you: I was assaulted by a guy 18years my junior and about 60 pounds heavier. And I made the mistake of winning the fight. How can this happen ? Happens every day in America. The assault occurred on his property. That was all the authorities needed to decide who was at fault. He lied and they believed the property-owner, as a matter of convenience. Such sheltered lives, here. Um, hey douchebag? I’ve been with my husband for almost twenty years. Of those 20 years, he has MAYBE spent six entire months OUT of trouble/court/probabtion/community service/jail so don’t tell me I live a sheltered fucking life. Man the hell up - 90% of my husband’s problems were his own damn fault - NOT the cops. Yes, we have run into crooked ones - yes we’ve had problems with them and yes my husband had bullshit happen because SOME cops LIE as do some complainants - but don’t paint them all with such a damn broad brush. Sheltered life, my fucking ass. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/162 "2014-06-24T21:28:19Z")
> [@Missy2U](#): > > Um, hey douchebag? I’ve been with my husband for almost twenty years. Of those 20 years, he has MAYBE spent six entire months OUT of trouble/court/probabtion/community service/jail so don’t tell me I live a sheltered fucking life. > > Man the hell up - 90% of my husband’s problems were his own damn fault - NOT the cops. Yes, we have run into crooked ones - yes we’ve had problems with them and yes my husband had bullshit happen because SOME cops LIE as do some complainants - but don’t paint them all with such a damn broad brush. > > Sheltered life, my fucking ass. Douchebag ? Man the hell up ? You sound like quite a gal. Maybe your husband wanted to live apart. Okay; I’m guilty…of generalizing. I’m sure there are many fine officers of the law who respect the rights of all citizens. And there are more who do not. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2014, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/163 "2014-06-24T21:42:28Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > My last trial at jury duty tops that. A dude was mugged and the three kids that jumped the guy, who looked about 50, started pistol-whipping him. Deciding he was pretty much dead anyway, he fought back, grabbed the gun and when it went off the kids scattered. The police founded him disheveled, bleeding, lying in a building lobby - and arrested him for gun possession. The kicker was that many on the jury were certain he must have been up to something, for the police to bring him in like that. 🙂 we got a not guilty verdict mostly because they didn’t care enough to argue about it, rather than the fact that even the police testimony backed up the guy’s story (they saw three people fleeing the scene as they pulled up). Yea, that tops mine. But I was gonna’ start from the bottom and go higher-up the chain of police-state infringements along the way. You’re presumed innocent until proven guilty. That’s what we’re told. Anybody really believe that ? 'Cause it’s the biggest lie going. It’s a nice sentiment, but total bullshit. The criminal justice system is utterly corrupt; prosecutors conceal evidence which would acquit the accused, as a common practice. Police lie, crime lab techs rig tests, and judges are more biased than informed and are politically biased and racially biased and class biased. Also, typically, ignorant of most everything including the interpretation of the law. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/164 "2014-06-24T21:46:19Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > I issue a challenge to all of you to spend a day in Straw Man Land, arriving there on the False Dilemma Express! Nice imagery. What the hell do you mean, though ? ---
**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:** [June 24, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/165 "2014-06-24T21:54:24Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > A good friend of mine is a sheriff’s deputy. He really hates bad cops, too. And he says they’re not much that can be done about them. Really ? Are they immune from dismissal ? Maybe people don’t try hard enough to hold bad cops accountable. I know the cops in my city don’t seem to give a shit about their image. They get away with murder, pretty regularly. A sheriff in the next state over shot a guy dead for trying to escape being pulled-over. There were no warrants. The guy just made a stupid decision to run and the cop acted as judge and jury, executing the guy while his young daughter sat at her dad’s side. The cop kept his job. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/166 "2014-06-24T22:03:04Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Dumbasses are a disenfranchised class now? Good to know. Yes, you are. Not fair, is it ? Now you know how the disenfranchised feel. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/167 "2014-06-24T22:06:59Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Alas, I don’t think our OP is coming back. I get the impression that his beef with law enforcement derives from the fact that he was breaking the law and got caught. Man…and you’re one of the smart guys here ? People don’t do impressions like they used to. Don’t attempt any more. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/168 "2014-06-24T22:09:47Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Yeah, we do. And some of those stories wake us up in the middle of the night with tears rolling down our faces, nearly 40 years after the stories happened. > > So, OP…you hate all cops apparently. What did you get busted for? For whatever the hell you say, officer. I don’t hate all cops. Just the assholes. You don’t sound like one of those. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/169 "2014-06-24T22:10:49Z")
> [@common\_good](#): > > Yes, you are. Not fair, is it ? Now you know how the disenfranchised feel. “I know you are but what am I?” Classic! ROFL! You are adorable, my friend. I want you to keep posting and posting and posting. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/170 "2014-06-24T22:13:16Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > You can say that again. And again. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/171 "2014-06-24T22:14:34Z")
> [@andros](#): > > “I know you are but what am I?” Classic! ROFL! > > You are adorable, my friend. I want you to keep posting and posting and posting. You’re kinda’ cute, yourself. But sorry, I’m straight. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/172 "2014-06-24T22:16:09Z")
What’s that maneuver called, Andros ? My friend. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/173 "2014-06-24T22:17:17Z")
> [@common\_good](#): > > You’re kinda’ cute, yourself. But sorry, I’m straight. “Kinda?” The fuck? I’m _extremely_ cute, and entirely fuckable, and I have a dozen notches on my bedpost from allegedly straight guys like yourself to prove it. …or did you think insinuating that I like cock was some sort of insult? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/174 "2014-06-25T00:27:49Z")
> [@common\_good](#): > > To run afoul of the law, you mean ? Oh, I’d be happy to tell you: I was assaulted by a guy 18years my junior and about 60 pounds heavier. And I made the mistake of winning the fight. How can this happen ? Happens every day in America. The assault occurred on his property. That was all the authorities needed to decide who was at fault. He lied and they believed the property-owner, as a matter of convenience. Such sheltered lives, here. I hope you will agree that the above doesn’t really explain how all this came about, and would be willing to add some detail, such as who this person was to you, how you ended up getting into a fight, whether there were witnesses and whether or not you could have withdrawn to defuse the situation. Also, who called the police? I understand that it all seems very unfair to you and it may very well be, but from the rather minimal information you’ve given, it seems as though the when the cops arrived on the scene, what they found was two pissed off, disheveled guys, telling mutually incompatible stories, but only one of whom was where he belonged. While it may not be fair, as I said, it should not be all that surprising that they went with the property-owner’s story. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/175 "2014-06-28T17:21:04Z")
> [@andros](#): > > “Kinda?” The fuck? I’m _extremely_ cute, and entirely fuckable, and I have a dozen notches on my bedpost from allegedly straight guys like yourself to prove it. > …or did you think insinuating that I like cock was some sort of insult? I’m not ‘allegedly’ straight. But I have no bone to pick with gays. I support equal rights for everyone. Sorry for the snarky response. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/176 "2014-06-28T17:40:03Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > While I agree that the (probably vast) majority of cops _are_ good, professional people, I also think that the profession attracts a higher-than-average number of overly aggressive assholes who believe they are above the law and are attracted to the power of the job. That is my view. People like to claim 99% of cops are professionals and 1% are assholes, I would personally (and I don’t have a ton of experience) put the numbers closer to 2/3 professionals 1/3 assholes. Also domestic violence is 4x higher among police families than among non-police. So I don’t believe this whole ‘99% are professionals’ story. Professionals who are in control of their emotions don’t go home and beat their spouses and kids. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/177 "2014-06-28T17:42:27Z")
Right, my account of the incident was sketchy. I made a joke about the girlfriend of the son of the woman I was dating. She is a princess-type who never lifted a finger around the house shared by my girlfriend and her son (along with his three young sons). The joke was that her crown was screwed-on a bit too tight. He interpreted the “screwed” part in a way I had not intended. When next I came over to my girlfriends house, he assaulted me, shoving me, hard, into every wall in their kitchen and dining room. I made no effort to fight back, only pleading him to calm down. He would not, so I tried to escape out the front door. As I did, he shoved me from behind and sent me crashing thru the stairway railing near the front door, breaking several spindals in the process, them pounced on me and began trying to choke me. At this point, I began to act in my defense and whacked him over the head 3 times with one of the spindals which had broken-off in my right hand from the shove. I rolled him off me and got on top and started to yell “Enough, stop now or I’m gonna’ hurt you.” He nodded agreement, I let him up and told him to go out back until I gathered my things and left. The asshole called the police and I left with his mom. The county charged me with assault with a deadly weapon. He lied on the police report and the cops and prosecutor believed every word. I took a reduced plea and was sentenced to 30 days. Neither he nor I brought charges. The county, which is a conservative bastion of right-wing jerk-offs, fucked me because there were no witnesses and because I am from a neighboring, more liberal, more cosmopolitan county. It’s a regular thing, around here. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/178 "2014-06-28T17:46:59Z")
Hip waders, nose plugs, and hot water and soap for all! ---
**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:** [June 28, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/179 "2014-06-28T17:47:14Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > That is my view. People like to claim 99% of cops are professionals and 1% are assholes, I would personally (and I don’t have a ton of experience) put the numbers closer to 2/3 professionals 1/3 assholes. > > Also domestic violence is 4x higher among police families than among non-police. So I don’t believe this whole ‘99% are professionals’ story. Professionals who are in control of their emotions don’t go home and beat their spouses and kids. General, I agree. I think the percentages are nearer 50/50, however. And I’m trying to be generous. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174/180 "2014-06-28T17:47:54Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > I understand that it all seems very unfair to you and it may very well be, but from the rather minimal information you’ve given, it seems as though the when the cops arrived on the scene, what they found was two pissed off, disheveled guys, telling mutually incompatible stories, but only one of whom was where he belonged. While it may not be fair, as I said, it should not be all that surprising that they went with the property-owner’s story. I’m as lilly whote as they come, but I think if a middle class white person does not have some understanding of the difference in the way minorities or poor people are treated by the system vs, middle class white people they have some serious blinders on or have very little experience of the world outside of their own immediate upbringing. A story my SO was telling me the other day reminded me of this. She told me about a hispanic coworker who lived in NYC. He was taking the Subway and when he got off, he helped a pregnant woman with a stroller go through the gate, he followed after her and was immediately approached by an officer for not going through the turnstile (fare evasion). He spend the next 8 hours in jail. Another friend she had literally jumped the turnstile, the cops were about to arrest her, but she immediately startd crying and they just let her go with a warning. A friend I had got arrested for public drunkenness in college. It’s not a big deal, just a misdemeanor. He never had to go to court; apparently his dad made a few phone calls and the whole thing literally disappeared. Another friend got pulled over and caught with a bag of weed. He happened to be the son of a cop; the bag of weed disappeared and he was never charged with anything. Some of my favorite stories are from when I lived in Chicago and involved students of a very prestigious university. One of them actually punched a cop; he was really pushing his luck with that one because the \*next \* time he did something they were gonna really throw the book at him. He came from a very wealthy family, he was given a pass several times. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-cops/691174.md?page=10)