# Why should police be allowed to lie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 9, 2014, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-police-be-allowed-to-lie/690383 "2014-06-09T03:40:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-police-be-allowed-to-lie/690383/61 "2014-06-21T13:36:22Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Proof of their lying under oath would make them virtually useless as witnesses in any future criminal trials. > … Why are you equating ending a career with credibility as a witness? The two are not anywhere near equivalent, though one may affect another. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-police-be-allowed-to-lie/690383/62 "2014-06-22T09:47:44Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Why is OK if some persons of average intelligence fall for it? So you really think only a “protected class” argument has a shot of stopping it? Hmmm…that’s a thought ‘Dumbass’ as a protected class! ---
**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 1, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-police-be-allowed-to-lie/690383/63 "2014-07-01T20:40:56Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Or common good might be lying to us about the cop lying on the witness stand. Or he might be lying about lying… > I think it’s surprising behavior from the prosecutor, given how few defendants ever lie. Nice sarcasm. Defendants are trying to save their own skin. Cops are public officials, nimrod. You can’t see the difference ? Btw, To assume that every conviction is just and fair is false. Check-out The Innocence Project website, then tell me again about the integrity and the accuracy of our justice system. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-police-be-allowed-to-lie/690383/64 "2014-07-01T21:05:19Z")
common good, You are welcome to argue in Great Debates. In fact, we encourage it. But the insult direct is forbidden. I’m giving you a warning for that post and I’m hoping you won’t do it again. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-police-be-allowed-to-lie/690383/65 "2014-07-01T21:21:09Z")
… what direct insult? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-police-be-allowed-to-lie/690383/66 "2014-07-01T21:49:54Z")
> [@common\_good](#): > > Cops are public officials, **nimrod**. I think it was the bolded part I bolded. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-police-be-allowed-to-lie/690383.md?page=3)