How is a police officer treated by superiors and civilians?

Question

How does this job make an officer feel about him/her.

Thank you for your answer. It would help my test.

Answer 1

I am weary of police because of some very negative experiences.I would not give the police any problems or help for that matter. I have been lied to and about by the police, when I cooperated fully and told the truth in a matter that was being investigated.

Basically I understand the dangers that these fine people face every day in trying to protect the public at large.

To be treated as if I was guilty of something when I had really done nothing soured me 100% of the image I had as a child of good vs bad. I do not trust the police they are just fallible human like the criminals they lock up. Money and politics rule American courts.

Answer 2

Generally, sergeants and above feel uncomfortable around gung-ho cops so they tend to be more punitive then helpful.  And of course the public treats working cops like dirt, but all this just makes the job more fun.  It's kind of like being in the Air Force as a fighter pilot: would you want to be a pogue who sits at a desk or makes up daily flying assignments, or would you want to be the hot-dog pilot?

Answer 3

In my case, I am the superior, but I have a few above me too.  In most cases they are fair, but political.  I've been luck, The people I work with are like family and I love my job.  As far as civilians go, they don't trust law enforcement agents, they lack respect, and think we're all pigs.  They have no idea what we have to deal with and put up with each day.  Let's get real, for those of you who work in customer service, on the phone, in a supermarket... you deal with idiots everyday - some asking for unreasonable demands to be met, and most have no respect and truly lack people skills.  Now image how intensified that is when they deal with the police or Law Enforcement.  Add to that the lies, deception, and games.

But we go back everyday, put out lives at risk to help the community.  Trust me, we don't do it for the money~

Answer 4

My superiors treat me just fine, I really can't complain.

As for the general public, that's a completely different story.  Few of the people I deal with are true victims.  The majority of people I deal with hate or dislike me, some would like to kill me.  I don't like people and off-duty I interact with them as little as possible.  I do not trust people, "In God we trust, all others we run through NCIC"

I get sick of hearing "I pay your salary", "you pulled me over because I'm ____", "you didn't read me my rights".  Or they may just choose to curse me out, you have to have thick skin to work in this field.  Then there are those who think that they are just the funniest people ever when they say "I didn't do it", "they're here for you", "behave or that policewoman will take you to jail" and similar comments.  I've heard it before, I don't find it funny, in fact it annoys me.  Or when I'm off-duty and someone introduces me as a cop (they will be getting a talking to and I will be leaving ASAP) and I then get to hear about every LE encounter they've ever had.

The general public doesn't appreciate what we do everyday and is never satisfied.  We crack down on speeding then we're being mean and trying to meet our "quota".  We are lax and give warnings then we're being lazy and its our fault when the stupid teenager crashes his car and kills himself.  Also the general public doesn't understand why we do some of the things we do so they complain about that too.  They also like to tell us how to do our jobs when they haven't got a clue.  I really like the people who ramble on about how much they hate cops, but the moment something happens to them they want us to get there and help them ASAP.  

Then of course there is the stupidity, you wouldn't believe the things people do or call 911 for.  At times you want to laugh, but you can't and have to keep a straight face.  Afterwards you can laugh as you tell the other guys about your crazy call.   Other times you just want to shake the person and ask "what are you talking about!?" or "why did you call us, that's not a crime!"

Despite all that though I still love my job and I can't imagine doing anything else.  I don't let it get under my skin, does it bug me at times - yes.  However I'm not going to dwell on it, I have much more important things to be concerned with than the fact that the person on the T/S called me names.  In the end they got the ticket and I went home at the end of my shift, that's the important thing.