Police, Paramedic, and Psych Patient Walk Into A Room...

[Amazon 7]

Quote

Quote

I think many of them are beyond paranoid of anyone else that is not in blue.

Jeane, how many jobs are there out there where people want to kill you for what you wear to work? Nearly all officers know that most folks out there really are decent folks, but that any single person they meet might now be.

Quote

We will continue to see abuse of power until there is a HUGE C change in the people who are hired as police.

You have any suggestions on how to do that? Officers are just like doctors - most don't want their children to follow in their footsteps, even if it's a family tradition. Paying them like the janitor but expecting them to know law better than a lawyer, couseling better than a shrink, fight better than Jackie Chan, and shoot better than Phoebe Ann Mosey is going to lead to some disconnect between expectations and reality.

Quote

A Policeman is a composite of what all men are, mingling of a saint and sinner, dust and deity.

Culled statistics wave the fan over the stinkers, underscore instances of dishonesty and brutality because they are "news". What they really means is that they are exceptional, they are unusual, they are not not commonplace.

Buried under the frost is the fact: Less than one-half of one percent of policemen misfit the uniform. That's a better average than you'd find among clergy!

What is a policeman made of? He, of all men, is once the most needed and the most unwanted. A strangely nameless creature who is "sir" to his face and "fuzz" to his back

He must be such a diplomat that he can settle differences between individuals so that each will think he won.

But...If the policeman is neat, he's conceited; if he's careless, he's a bum. If he's pleasant, he's flirting;if not, he's a grouch.

He must make an instant decisions which would require months for a lawyer

But...If he hurries, he's careless; if he's deliberate, he's lazy. He must be first to an accident and infallible with his diagnosis. He must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and, above all, be sure the victim goes home without a limp. Or expect to be sued.

The police officer must know every gun, draw on the run, and hit where it doesn't hurt. He must be able to whip two men twice his size and half his age without damaging his uniform and without being "brutal". If you hit him, he's a coward. If he hits you, he's a bully.

A policeman must know everything-and not tell. He must know where all the sin is and not partake.

A policeman must, from a single human hair, be able to describe the crime, the weapon and the criminal- and tell you where the criminal is hiding.

But...If he catches the criminal, he's lucky; if he doesn't, he's a dunce. If he gets promoted, he has political pull; if he doesn't, he's a dullard. The policeman must chase bum leads to a dead-end, stake out ten nights to tag one witness who saw it happen-but refuses to remember.

He runs files and writes reports until his eyes ache to build a case against some felon who will get dealed out bu a shameless Shamus or an honorable who isn't honorable

The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy and a gentleman.

And, of course, he'd have to be genius....For he will have to feed a family on a policeman's salary.

How about the ability to step the fuck back and NOT kill someone for not falling down to the ground the instant he DEMANDS COMPLIANCE

I would be good with that... to start.... get rid of those with fucking power trips. Get rid of the bullies. It would start with those in blue ridding themselves of the bad apples..... they know who the fuck they are.
There are far too many trigger happy idiots out there posing as police officers, handing out death sentences for some pretty stupid shit.

[skycop 0]

I tried to stay out of this, but like the sirens of the sea SC called to me to comment.............

There is no reasoning with some people (see above post) so I won't respond directly to that rant.

I may have posted this before but I'll give it another shot;

I police by the 20, 20, 60 rule.

20% of the population pretty much hate the cops, you could shit them a golden egg and they would still bitch and complain, about what an officer did or(didn't do).

20% of the population pretty will back the cops no matter (within reason) what they do. (That 20% is my personal favorite)

60% of the population keeps an open mind and will make an informed decision on the actions of an officer.

Most juries are made up of those 60% types, when I take an enforcement action I do so knowing I may have to convince that 60% that my actions were warranted and justified.

I wasn't there for the situaion posted, and I will not comment solely based on media accounts, those officers better be able to convince a jury that there actions arresting a paramedic were justified. That will be a tall order so we'll see.

The vast majority of cops are hard working, caring, service oriented people trying to do good. The dickheads are just that, just like in any other professions. Good cops also make mistakes and have bad days, the only difference is that a mistake made by an officer can have far worse consequences than mistakes made by the general public.

A recent local example:
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20100902/NEWS01/9020323/No-felony-charges-for-officer-in-park-death

If you are curious about how cops operate, do a ride along and if you can keep an open mind you'll see.
Or better yet, enroll in a local "citizens police academy".
If one is not willing to do that with an open mind then you will never have any earthly idea what modern American law enforcement does.
So STFU and color.....

"Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

[Amazon 7]

Quote

The vast majority of cops are hard working, caring, service oriented people trying to do good. The dickheads are just that, just like in any other professions. Good cops also make mistakes and have bad days, the only difference is that a mistake made by an officer can have far worse consequences than mistakes made by the general public.

I would fit in your 60% and I realize there are many good cops. I do have issues with that fucking thin blue line when they are incapable of policing themselves and removing those who do your profession a disservice and dishonor ALL of you.

My next door neighbors both used to be local cops. They are VERY good friends. She quit when they decided to build their family.
I did ride alongs a couple of times with her husband. He was a sergeant on the night shift. I have seen some of the lowlife scum we have in this area, and I have seen the police doing an excellent job in protecting us. Last year he quit based on things going on in the department. WE now have a police department far more interested in revenue enhancement than they are in protecting and serving.

The incident like the one in Seattle a couple days ago is completely uncalled for. It shows the putrid underside of police departments across America, an all too quick demand to comply or die...a desire to pull the trigger, rather than to truly protect and serve.

[skycop 0]

Quote

My next door neighbors both used to be local cops. They are VERY good friends.

That's like saying "I have a black friend, so I know what it's like being black"

Quote

would fit in your 60% and I realize there are many good cops. I do have issues with that fucking thin blue line when they are incapable of policing themselves and removing those who do your profession a disservice and dishonor ALL of you.

My theory is over-simplified but sound. Some of your other posts, as well as the tone of this one tell me if you are in that 60% I'd put you near one end.

A good cop can make a mistake, or even do something right and have it condemned by the media and the term "bad apple" floats around. It's the classic damned if you do/don't.
The "Thin Blue Line" you reference exists, but not nearly to the extent you or the media think it does.

"Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

[Amazon 7]

Quote

Quote

My next door neighbors both used to be local cops. They are VERY good friends.

That's like saying "I have a black friend, so I know what it's like being black"

Quote

would fit in your 60% and I realize there are many good cops. I do have issues with that fucking thin blue line when they are incapable of policing themselves and removing those who do your profession a disservice and dishonor ALL of you.

My theory is over-simplified but sound. Some of your other posts, as well as the tone of this one tell me if you are in that 60% I'd put you near one end.

A good cop can make a mistake, or even do something right and have it condemned by the media and the term "bad apple" floats around. It's the classic damned if you do/don't.
The "Thin Blue Line" you reference exists, but not nearly to the extent you or the media think it does.

Your assumtions are WRONG.. on all counts. I would really hate to think that you are one of those in blue who see EVERYONE as not one of them. It is certainly there in the police forces I have observed.


I am just one of those who are starting to think that our police are out of control and not there to actually serve anyone but themselves.

[popsjumper 2]

Quote

I am just one of those who are starting to think that our police are out of control and not there to actually serve anyone but themselves.

Add me to that list.
As far as I can tell, it's US vs THEM.

Funny how that viewpoint was developed in response to the actions of THEM.

And to the pro-cop guys....yeah, your blue line exists...because the good cops continue to let it ride and it'll continue to exist until the good cops do something positive about it OR until hiring practices change.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[Amazon 7]

Quote

Quote

I am just one of those who are starting to think that our police are out of control and not there to actually serve anyone but themselves.

Add me to that list.
As far as I can tell, it's US vs THEM.

Funny how that viewpoint was developed in response to the actions of THEM.

And to the pro-cop guys....yeah, your blue line exists...because the good cops continue to let it ride and it'll continue to exist until the good cops do something positive about it OR until hiring practices change.

That is my point exactly. I used to be in that 20% who supported the police, in their attempts to protect and to serve those of us who realize they have a hard job to do, and who do not really want to deal with a world without them. There used to be a bit more common sense in those who were on the job. But recently, for whatever reason the people on the job have changed. That us vs them mentality is not serving them well at all. It is certainly not serving we the people.

Mind you now.. I AM PREPARED for that world should the need arise.... but I would prefer not to have to ventilate some dumb ass bite because he thinks he can get away with threatening my life, or the lives of my family.