Do people really think that cops always tell the truth?

Question

I was a witness to something that happened and when court came up, the cops told a few lies that I did not see myself. I will never totally trust a cop from now on. Luckily the person was found Innocent because a bank president saw what happened too and the jury respected that.

Answer 1

Yes,

they've been brainwashed  to think that.

Answer 2

Nope.  I and everyone I know automatically expect cops to lie.

Answer 3

Ok, first having read most of the answers to this question it seems fairly obvious that none of the people really, truly know anything at all about law enforcement.  I'm going to put my so called 2 cents into this one, and you can think I am totally full of it if you wish...but what I write is the truth.

I worked in LE for 8 years (6 patrol, 2 investigations) up to the point that I was deployed overseas to Iraq (military vet as well).  In that 8 year time period, I came to discover that the law enforcement professioon is no different than any other profession in that any job that you wish to talk about will have some people who are absolutely awesome, and some that have no business being in that job whatsoever.  Having said that, I will tell you straight up that I encountered a few deputies/officers who turned out to be dirty (they got caught, by the way...one is now in prison for what he did, and rightly so.  The others had their employment terminated).  I also worked with some officers who were complete and utter a******s to citizens because they were all caught up in their authority (one of whom I got into a verbal altercation with over his attitude toward citizens).  And, I also worked with many who were great police officers, who served their city/county/state with pride and went out of their way to help citizens, etc.  I am one of those in the last group.  For eight years, I went to work and put myself in harms way for the good of the city where I worked because I felt the need to help others and serve (same reason I joined the army).  I did my level best to help others, to wit in that 8 years:

I talked 3 people out of committing suicide

I gave cpr instructions over the telephone to a father whose baby had gone into cardiac arrest (I'm a paramedic as well, and this was for a location in another city in our county, got a commendation for it)

I assisted EMS crews with multiple serious emergency calls (2 more commendations)

I helped numerous people who were in crises (due to psychosis, life circumstances, etc)

I did everything from stopping assaults in progress to helping a lost child find his mom to helping an elderly woman find her purse (misplaced in her home) and just about everthing in between.

I could go on for a long time.....

And yes, I also arrested people who had violated the law.  I never liked having to do that, but I did, nonetheless, because that is what I swore that I would do...uphold the law.

In short, I served my city honorably and without lying or resorting to any manner of unethical behavior.  Pity I cannot say the same for some officers out there

I'm sorry that you witnessed a sworn officer lie on the stand...that should be brought to the attention of the prosecutor, judge, the state POST commission and anyone else who will listen because that is BULLSH** and totally inexcusable.  However, I hope that you do not allow that to color your entire outlook on police officers.  I beleive that the overwhelming majority out there are good, honest people who are doing the job for the right reasons.  Unfortunately, there are also some out there who have no business in the profession and never did.  Unfortunately, those are the ones who make the news, and that is what the public sees.  You don't hear about the ones who did the job well, and who really helped society.  Beleive me when I say that such officers do exist out there.  You may ask why I am no longer in that job, and it is simply because after the war, I wanted to move back to my home state to be closer to my immediate family.  I am now a nursing student.  I look back on what I did with pride.

That was a somewhat rambling answer, but I wasn't going to let this question go by without offering a viewpoint from someone who does know a bit about LE and what really goes on.  As for certain other people who answered this question saying that officers go through specific training on how to lie on the stand....bullsh** and you have no clue what you are talking about.

Answer 4

Cops lie more than the average person. They're required to lie as part of their job.  

Answer 5

well i do have to say ive  been a cop now for over 13years and i can say that i have not lied on the stand. the only time i can say police officers lie is when we are asking question to criminals to find out the truth, and yes like the one on here now who hate cops and bash cops those are the narrow minded people who we have to con to find out information. they know nothing about policing they get mad with us when they get caught doing something but cry when they need us.  and as far as DNA well yes i agree i am glad it is helping alot of people out of jail. but i wish it would have worked to put O.J. simpson in jail.

Answer 6

There are people in the hierarchy in the police force that you can go to, to report them and be hidden from those that are being stung.  Internal Affairs or other names for them.  Check them.

Answer 7

Like the bigfoot cops in Georgia?? There's your answer......no...

Answer 8

no-one thinks that. It's just wishful thinking

Answer 9

why would anyone expect the police to be totally honest?  lying is part of their job descriptioin

Answer 10

I have always thought cops were dirty......there is more than most ppl think

Answer 11

Of course cops lie.  Why should they tel the truth all the time when most everyone lies to them.

Answer 12

i don't think that cops always say the truth! but i would say that that is Corruption!

Answer 13

Defiantly not,

after all, who DOES tell the truth ALL the time?

I know for a fact friends, and other type of people in other career Fields cover up for each other, lie to help a friend, save themselves,

why not police officers?

I'm not trying to hate on police officers,

they're really brave,

and the world would be in ruins without them I'm guessing!

Answer 14

Just like everything in life they are good cops and bad cops, along with good preachers and bad preachers and any other walk of life.  Honor and integrity is not something that your learn, it is something the comes from the inner you.  I know some great police officers and I feel I have a brother that is a bad cop, but I think he would be bad at no matter what he did.