Why are do some police officers abuse their power and treat citizens with contempt?

Question

I have witnessed (and been the victim of) police abuse several times. One example of this in my city was the "party patrol" the local PD sent out every weekend. Essentially they just drove around until they saw a gathering of people and issued noise violations (they changed the local law to a policy of "officer discretion" instead of decibel readings) or in the case of minors being present issued MIPs regardless of whether that person had been drinking. One party I attended ended with this. On this occasion not only did they threaten to tase everyone (including a man passed out on a couch) but they called several people "******* idiots", "junkies", "college b*****s", etc. Also, they would not let the owner grab his dog and chain him so he wouldn't run out the gate THEY opened and did not guard. Now in this instance it was all about money for the city, around 110 noise violations were issued with no evidence and each fine was $100. Most of these were dropped since the majority of attendants were college kids and 20 lawyers in the city volunteered free legal services to fight these fines (it was unconstitutional). I have also had my head slammed into a car hood for ,quote, "being Mexican" (I'm white by the way), I have seen noise violations issued to three people standing on a front porch smoking cigarettes with no music or television on (they were speaking in normal voices, and I have seen tasers drawn on 15 people and one officer said "Oh nevermind, we were expecting rowdy *** Mexicans" after which they holstered their tasers. Why do SOME police do this?

Answer 1

Many people with abusive personalities go into police work because they have victims readily available.  I have seen cops do things just like we see on the news frequently.  Their superiors stand up for them in most cases and they are never held accountable for their despicable behavior.

Thankfully, there are also some good cops.

Answer 2

You going to the University of Florida. Sounds like UPD at work again. Yep they love to crackheads, taze people, laugh as they twitch in agony on the ground and then stomp faces.

Oh, uh, oops a flas back to the hippie days. Guess things aint changed much.

Answer 3

It's an ego thing,

with that shiny tin star & gun, they think they can get away with anything.

Answer 4

Cause they CAN get away with it.

Answer 5

Some people become cops because they want to help.

Some people become cops because they want to have power. These are the ones you're seeing.

Answer 6

These bad apples, and it seems the majority of police departments have them, have the power to abuse and so they do.  There are rarely repercussions for these officers because the system is set up against the civilians.  The officer has nothing to lose by wrongfully accusing you of a crime, while you have everything to lose.  This simply allows the bad apples to commit even bolder crimes.

I definitely believe everything you stated happened just as you described because I have also witnessed and been the victim of abuses far worse than these.  I personally know 3 people who have been illegally assaulted by officers (some beaten with batons) and on one occasion I was as well.  Ironically, when I was assaulted I was with my friend who is a police officer and he actually knew who the guy was that attacked me.  Even with an indisputable positive ID and a perfectly reliable witness, my attempts to simply file a report were completely brushed off.  Promises made weren't kept, phone calls weren't returned.  Finally I gave up and let them win because I was on the opposite side of the country from where I lived.

To clarify, though, I believe most officers are doing their best to do the right thing in what is a very difficult job.

Answer 7

Joker is near completely right.  Cops solely have either a GED or an HS diploma.  They were picked on in high school-not to mention their whole life.  The basically hate themselves, so it is only logical that they'd get into a job in which they can put others down-as was done do them.  However they deserved it; the people they harass on the streets and wherever-they do not deserve beatings and insults hurled by these 'officers of peace'...most are MF'ing corrupt.  What they need is help: rehab--homeless citizens centers--soup kitchens and employment advocates.

It is a pathetic and thankless job.  The are just as scummy as the ones they come into regular contact with!

s***w 'em

Answer 8

Because they are humans just like you.  By the way I don't believe a single incident happened exactly the way you say they did.

Answer 9

if you stayed home more then going to parties you wouldn't run into so much trouble. seems to me like you go to gatherings which most likely have problems.

Answer 10

Why don't you file a complaint and tell the police chief at the police station what happened? That's what I would do.

Answer 11

Two kinds of cops

1.  Believe in the law and upholding it with fairness and are psychologically well balanced.

2.  Were beat up as kids and now they are ready to show the rest of us just who is boss.

Sadly most cops that I know fall into the second category.