Police: Protectors or Liars?

Question

What are your general thoughts on police officers? Do you find most of them to be helpful in a bad situation or do you think they tend to make things worse? I've been reading on YA about how some police give tickets for running red lights when they were actually green, pulling people over when they've done no speeding or wreckless driving...etc. What are your honest opinions on police officers?

Personally, I think they put too much power in one individual's hands and they definitely use it to their advantage. But I would love to hear everyone else's perspective.

Answer 1

Officials at lower level such as Police comparing to higher departments are definitely helpful. But, departments such as FBI, bogus "Department of Naval Intell." are not as much helping some times.

There are officials in Transportation Admin. who still make simple mistakes as I write this.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 2

well, I think the majority are good people, and protectors.  Its just that people usually don't ask questions about good officers...  There are a few bad ones, but we hear about them more often..

The same goes with everything... if you have a good meal at a restaurant, you usually only tell a few people, but if you have a horrible experience, you tell EVERYONE you know...

I think a lot of the questions on YA are also people who are trying to skew their situation to make themselves look better and the cop look worse.  I'm not saying every question is like this... but I believe some of them are.  Sometimes there's just something not right about the question.  Do you know what I mean?

So, yes there are some police officers that are liars, but many many more of them are good officers.

that's just my opinion through observation and personal experience.

Answer 3

Its easy for someone to have an opinion about something they have no experience in. Take me for instance; Its easy for me to criticize and say that 99% of civilians are pathological liars and complete idiots, since I have never been a civilian that I know of. (LOL!)  Let me dress you up in a blue uniform and send you off to stop people and explain to them what ordinances and laws they have just broken, and then make them answer for it by citing them to court or writing them a ticket, or better yet arresting them for it, and we'll see how you fare at it. Can you really expect that the person you are doing that to is going to be happy with you or see things exactly as you see them? I doubt it highly, but let me cheer you on and thank you for your statement above that says you would "love to hear everyones elses perspective". On the "thin blue line" people rarely ask for an officers perspective, much less give a c**p about it when its told.

Answer 4

my opinion of them is not good, I had an experience with them that was bad.  I think there are some good ones and then some bad ones.  But becuz of the horrible attitude problem I witnessed I find it hard to ever want to go talk to them if i need help.  Id rather call a friend the next time.  I think some people who are police wanted to have power and so they became a police man or woman... and then they start getting cocky and think everyone is guilty...

Answer 5

a lot of officers are in it for the good of keeping law and order and really mean it...but, a bunch of them do it for the"i am mightier than you and they are the ones that cause more trouble than they are worth,,they are to lazy to work and hide their fake ways behind the badge and gun... also when it comes down to a real officer needing help...the fakes dont have the nerve to go up against someone...to the good officers.. i salute you with respect...the fakes...god bess you anyway

Answer 6

Liars go to http://www.badcopnews.com and click on California and you will see what liars they are.

Answer 7

Your opinion is based mainly off of people that are a)one sided typical police haters think they can do anything they want  b)left-wingers that think police are bad.  Anyways my opinion is that they are fine and better than people like you think.  Do you even know what the First Amendment is?

Answer 8

I know what you mean. For the most part I would say protectors because if you call them hopefully they will come with the intentions of helping you but what happens you can never really know. I do think that the scare tactics used by police are a bit much and some of them should lighten up a little but i can only imagine how that job must be not knowing what you are going to come across when pulling someone over or being called to a scene.

Answer 9

protectors

Answer 10

Most people only ever meet a cop when they get into trouble so they are going to have a negative image of a police officer.  

May I suggest stopping down to the local police department and ask to go on a ride a long. See what it is police do in real life not what you see on TV. Get to know an officer and find out for your self.

Answer 11

Anything is possible.  I personally don't know any officer who would want the extra paperwork for writing someone a ticket.  Most departments have to document every little move they make b/c they don't want to get sued.  Why would a reasonable officer want to possibly end up in court and have to answer to a judge. While they are testifying and end up perjuring themselves over a $100 fine. Would it be worth it to you?  No one will hire a fired cop.  If they jeopardize their integrity by lying they'll get fired.  You're better off getting a job as a felon than a fired cop.

The Constitution of the United States of America protects the American citizens from the government.  When your estranged wife takes everything from your home while you are at work.....you want POs to get everything back and arrest her for taking your stuff.  Sorry bud!  Fortunately for your wife...she's protected by The Constitution.  

You may be pissed b/c the JA in front of you just cut you off.  Your wondering, "Where's that cop that wrote me a ticket last week?" Sorry Mr. Masters Degree..... they are down the street handling a call b/c one neighbor is mad b/c the other's tree in hanging on their fence.  

So....if someone is standing in your yard treating to beat your you know what...you want us there now....right?    Sorry...there aren't enough  POs to go around.  But...when one is available and they are in a hurry to help....do you want them to hurry up or take their time? Department policy states the officer can't run lights and sirens in your case.  Meanwhile your PO cares and is hauling balls to help you. But of course Joe Citizen is complaining to the desk sergeant that your officer is driving to fast.  During all this your officer is enroute to your house is driving behind a maniac.  Do you want them to ignore the maniac or continue to your house?  Well....sorry...they have to stop the manic b/c if they don't they'll get sued.  The other citizens will blame the officer for not doing anything after the accident -  the manic caused.  When the officer stops the maniac he is ambushed with and AK-47 without opportunity to react.  Sorry...not sorry...nothing matters more than that officer at that time.  Every officer is going to drop everything to help their brother or sister.  Low and behold the maniac was caught by the surrounding agencies.  So if someone just attempted to murder your brother or sister would you baby him or would you want to beat the tar out of him?  Huh....if the attempted murder suspect is assaulted an officer is going to lose their job!  Come to find out the maniac, is a maniac and was on his way to kill his former employee b/c he was fired earlier in the week.  Go figure that same officer is being investigated by IA.  Some thugs mommy called up with some cockamamie story.  Apparently, the officer has created some conspiracy to kill her son that is in prison.  Any reasonable person knows that the, "conspiracy theory," in this case is asinine.  However, the department has to investigate b/c if they don't they'll be violating someone's civil rights.  

You think I'm being overly dramatic...WRONG!  Everything I've shared with you is TRUE!  So....they are damned if they do and they are damned if they don't!   Who protects the police (and the tax payers for that matter for all the time, effort and money wasted) to investigate ridiculous complaints from lying citizens?

Don't get me wrong The Constitution is what makes America, America....I love this country.  So, why in God's name would an officer waste their precious time on writing a ticket to someone who didn't run a red light or was speeding?  Give me a break!  Do the above incidents sound like someone who is a control freak and only wants power?  Seems to me that department policy, the video recorder on the dash of their police car, The Constitution, and YOU,  the citizen have taken all of their power.  Before you pass jugement....do your homework!  Walk a mile in a cops shoes....try a few steps...see how well you do!          

Everyone who has a masters degree doesn't think they know everything about everything!  Just like every officer doesn't forge paperwork just b/c another does.

Answer 12

Certainly you must realize not everything you read is true.

I have dozens of videos of people running red lights, and every one of them claimed it "just turned yellow". I use them frequently when I teach traffic safety classes.  The average driver simply does not pay attention.

Next time you are out driving around, just watch how many people roll through stop signs, speed by you, and try to beat yellow lights. Then ask yourself, if you were an officer, how many tickets could you write?  You will realize it is not necessary to fabricate charges. People do enough wrong already

Answer 13

Depends on the individual cop. I agree with you on the too much power thing. I figure that the only crimes should be stealing by any method and deliberately harming another person. beyond that everything should be allowed.

Answer 14

Surprising enough I think that there are both. I know that I'm a protector, I have the medal to prove it, I also know that some folks think that I'm a liar, I've had the BS lawsuits filed to prove it.

The problem is that we as human beings often find it difficult to admit that we were in the wrong. I know personally that sometimes I can't believe that I've screwed the pooch and that it must be someone else's mistake. As being a cop involves pointing out the mistakes people make, its not hard to see a certain segment of the population shooting the messenger.

On more than one occasion I've been accused by citizens of lying about all sorts of stuff, ranging from the reason I pulled them over to statements that they have made while being interviewed. I've even had folks in court when faced with audio/video taped evidence try to turn it around and claim that I somehow fabricated the evidence...

In today's society with everyone having a digital voice record, cell phone etc (including me), I would have to be dumber that S**t to risk my career and freedom ('cos they just love us in DOC) to perjure myself in court over some BS or face a Title 18 investigation. I mean what's the incentive, we don't get paid by the ticket or the arrest...

Answer 15

Most are good. As any job you will find a few bad people

Answer 16

A vast majority of police officers view the job as exactly what it is: Public Service.  These officers are genuinely concerned with the welfare of the people they are sworn to protect.

Unfortunately, there are also police officers that are "badge happy", that enjoy making life miserable for those around them.  As far as the "power" statement you made, do you think that it would be better to go back to the Old West, where everyone carried a gun and was quick to use it, or do you want the police to be the ones that do the law and order enforcement?

Answer 17

Police are like any other group of people, there are good ones, bad ones, and ones that just get by.  In "Verbal Judo" you learn about the 90/10 rule that states that 90% of the people are good and that 10% are the ones in trouble.  Of that 10%, 90% are just in a bad situation and 10% are just plain bad.  Due to those numbers only 1 - 2% are truely bad.  That is in any group, including those on YA, posting and answering.

Most cops put their lives on the line everyday to protect a way of life for people that don't seem to care.  That makes them protectors.  The 1% are not the protectors, they are the liars.

As to too much power in one individual's hands.  Well, the policies, proceedures, state laws, Supreme Court decisions, and the US Constitution limit that.  Cops hands are tied much more than most people think.

Answer 18

Liars-they don't have to tell the truth...

Answer 19

At best they are like broccolli:  good for you but makes you absolutely miserable.

Answer 20

All the stories you read here are 1) only one side, and 2) from people who have a preceived "wrong" they're whining about.

And if you think the police have "too much power", then you have no idea how tied their hands are in some cases. Get a little more educated so you'll have a more informed opinion on matters you know nothing about.

Answer 21

Overall they are protectors and serve a good purpose for society. It's the 10% that make the 90% look or sound bad, but that is just perception. The reality is that the majority serve the good.

Answer 22

Call me stupid but they can be both. Protectors and both liers. Then again we're only human so that is a trait we could all possess.

Personally, I see them as a protector. I've seen police where I live save many lives, and continue to do so every single hour of every single day.

Answer 23

The ones in my city are alcoholics.  They can't use "drugs" so they get drunk as h*ll at their cop-fest functions.  One named Craig Miller was drunk as **** when he got killed in a car wreck.

Where's MADD when you need 'em?!?  They won't touch the drunk cops, I'll tell you that much.  MADD is all about going after the poor people who can't fight back, not the ones back up by a well-leveraged "POLICEMAN'S UNION"

I say that they can't use drugs although, recently a huge amount of cocaine was found to be missing from their property room and only the boys in blue had access to it.

I guess you could look for the ones with big stupid grins on their faces and talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk ..................

Answer 24

I am guessing your Masters degree is from an online university.

Anyone with a real education would realize you can't believe everything you read on this site.

Answer 25

as much as a i hate to say it, to call ALL police liars is a stereotype and itd make me just as worse as the government. it's a half and half call, somtimes you get corrupt police who do nothing but beat on blacks, take away our rights, book you for bullshit, kill people without consent, without right and without thought, stop people from thinking for themselves and are nothing more then facist, brainwashed, violent police and then you got the nice  coppers who dont hassle you because you ave a mohawk and actually protect the peoples safety