Why do Police Officers hate the US Constitution?

Question

If one says "What you are doing is against my civil rights" the police get mad. Why?

Answer 1

Usually because that person has no idea what they are talking about.  

All you have to do is look at any question involving Miranda rights, and you will see people's answers are all over the place, leading me to believe very few know their rights.

Or go to the Law and Ethics category and see what people want to sue for, and what answers are given. You will find several more examples.

It is not the US Constitution that upsets the officer, it is people who are misinformed of their civil rights.

Answer 2

Because usually, the people who say that are dead wrong.  People have very little idea what their rights actually are, and I know what I can and can't legally do.

"Street Lawyers" win very few cases in court.

Answer 3

Nothing more annoying than hearing some blabbermouth keep putting his foot in his mouth. When you graduate from the Academy and become a police officer, then you can tell me what your rights are. Because then you will know what you are talking about. I don't tell my doctor how to do his job and he doesn't tell me how to do mine.

Answer 4

It always amazed me how many people know the law, went to law school, have friends/family that are lawyers, and will ensure my job and badge are taken away. Also, it seems the amount of money they will get awarded from their lawsuit keeps going up. I guess it rises with the inflation rates. Been doing this for 23 years and have yet to be even served a summons. Hmmmm

Answer 5

They don't like the restriction the constitution places on them.

Answer 6

Police don't hate the constitution.  It does however get extremely annoying to have an ignorant person yelling in your face about how their civil rights are being violated...and that person has no idea what their civil rights actually are.  If an officer does something that is actually against someone's civil rights they get fired/suspended/whatever...and thats not worth it.

Answer 7

Because 99% of people have zero clue what their "rights" are. They watch way to much TV and feed of innaccurate info given to them by similarly ignorant people. Its annoying when some one who has already broken the law, now tries to tell me what MY job is, one that I went to a lot of training for and have done for many years. The vast majority of people who think they know what their "rights" are, are not even close to being correct. They are under the impression that THEY must give consent for searches (totally false) that they must be read their rights for a parking ticket on up (false), that they are under no obligation to ID themselves (false) and the list goes on and on.

Like other posters have said, the proof is in the answers given to many of the questions on here. People answer questions, and the vast majority are blatantly wrong.

To people who actually know the answers, its quite funny. Then again, we deal with it on a daily basis so its nothing new....

People who also think that they know what their "rights" are also happen to be dangerous. They feel that entitles them to resist, fight and agitate others. They spread their misinformation and often stick their noses where they don't belong as well, making my job that much harder and potentially that much more dangerous.

If what the Officer is doing is really against your "rights" the courts will deal with that.

I have yet to encounter a situation like that, though.

Answer 8

Cops don't hate the Constitution they embrace it.  Our courts decide whether or not cops have followed the law.

Answer 9

Most "citizens" talk about rights they don't have, misunderstand the rights they do and have no idea what or where the Bill of Rights can be found. It gets irritating to hear their nonsense all the time.

Answer 10

Officers must look over their shoulder at all times due to the nature of their job.  Everyday, they are at risk and must face the worst parts of society.  Because of this fact, often times they will bend the rules or take advantage of a situation.  I certainly do not condone this behavior, though I do understand it.  I know two officers that are excellent men (and don't hate the constitution), and I an proud to pay for part of their wages.  However, there are a lot of cops out there that try and micromanage their jurisdiction.

I don't think any of them hate the Constitution as much as they try to disregard it.  I have a lot of problems with today's officers, and I discuss this with my friends that are officers.  I would recommend joining a local officer in a ride-along.  Walk a mile in their shoes and see for yourself the type of thing they go through on a daily basis.

The fact is, we need to respect our law enforcement, because at the end of the day, they are our first line of defense.  You don't have to like them, but I would advise respecting them.

Answer 11

As you can see all these cops think that they know our civil rights and we don't have a clue when our rights are being violated. I guess that is why so many city get sued all the time and have to pay out all that money because we don't know our rights and the cops do. What a joke.

Answer 12

The honest cops love the Constitution. We spend a lot more time defending it and your rights than the American Criminal Liberties Union does!

We don't like hearing "What you are doing is against my civil rights" when it isn't true. So many morons think that "civil rights" means that they can do anything they want and get away with it. When I run into one of these dopes I pull out the copy of the Constitution that I always have in my pocket and tell him to show me where it mentions a right to beat your girlfriend / drive drunk /rob people / trespass / vandalize / etc. Somehow, they never seem to be able to find it.

Answer 13

Police officers are probably more aware of the Constitution and the way its applied more than anyone else especially the officers who work detective units.

  Officers are on the front lines protecting your constitutional rights every day.

  Police get upset with that statement because they are protecting your rights while they're talking to you and you don't even know it. So the statement is offensive and ignorant.

Answer 14

Because the majority of the general public hasn't got a clue what they are talking about and I get sick of hearing it.  

People think that if I arrest them I need to read them their rights.  I've had people tell me I'm violating their rights because when I stopped them I wasn't wearing my hat so that makes the stop illegal.  I can't tell them to stay in their vehicle on a traffic stop, this is a free country and they have rights.  I don't know where people come up with some of the stuff.   Even when I explain it to them they still keep arguing about it.  So yeah I do get annoyed and at times it shows, especially at the end of a long shift.