Do you respect your police force?

[foolish snails]

I live in a (white) suburb town in America. I completely see the need for police, but I lost a lot of respect and trust when I started noticing that 9 out of 10 times the people they pull over are black, even though there are probably 20 black people in the entire area. (This isn't even in the south, no offence southerners)

 

[rednose1]

Only one cop I respect and thats my uncle. Anyone with blanket authority seems to go corrupt, and we need to train them better. Being arrested for drunk in public does make me somewhat biased, but the fact that this was based solely on the cops judgement. No breathalyzer, blood test, or any field sobriety tests where given, even though I repeatedly asked for them to prove my innocence.

 

[amadhatter]

I live in the violent crime capital of Canada. The street cops spend most of their time harassing hippies and homeless people, rather than trying to prevent stabbings.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

American here.

And... well, I guess it kinda depends. For example, this previous summer, my family got together at the beach like we always did. One night, we got out some jumbo-sized sparklers and started running along the beach, writing our names and tossing them in the air.

Well, no sooner did we start getting the real fireworks out, then along comes the goddamn Beach Patrol (They count as cops, right?). I think someone called the cops on us, the jerks.

Anyway, they weren't too happy about us having fireworks on the New Jersey shore, not helped y the fact that some of us bolted as soon as they came around. (Shut up, I panicked! I've never had a criminal record before, and I didn't want to start there!)

Well, we managed to escape without any arrests, though the Beach Patrol confiscated all of our fireworks, save a few my cousin managed to smuggle off the beach. The kids went back to the beach house, where me, my brother, and two of our cousins went up to the roof and expressed our... displeasure... at the Beach Cops. (DOUBLE DEUCE!)

So yeah. I understand what they do and why... but sometimes, they can be a real hindrance.

 

[Alumit]

More or less I'm somewhat neutral. I respect their job and their duties, but as individuals I can't take a side. Until they'd do something to me or someone I know that makes me want to lose my respect for them, they have an average amount of respect from me. As I said, I'm somewhat neutral - I don't OVERLY respect them, but I don't have any lack of respect for them either.

Canadian, by the way.

 

[LostTimeLady]

I definately respect the British Police Force. They've got a tough gig, especially those who have to go out on the beat.
Actually the coppers I have the most respect for are those who colaborate with projects in the community and work along side volenteer groups. I know one copper who works along side a youth worker I know doing projects and what not and the fact that he goes above and beyond the call of duty attending residential camps with the youth workers et al is amazing.

I will say this though, part of my reason why I'm relectant to visit the USA is because I don't respect the police force over there. I'm actually scared of them (there's a difference between fear and respect, despite what Tony Stark says). If America coppers are anything like how they're portrayed on television (both fictional and non-fictional) I wouldn't want to so much ask for the time from them. (Yeah, guns scare me as well).

If I'm wrong about that perception please let me know, I'm happy to be corrected about it.

 

[Owen Robertson]

Respect the Badge, but be wary of the man behind it. Men are fallible.

 

[GeorgW]

Not really. I think it's great that they're there and would certainly hope they would be there for me in my time of need, but in general I just don't think they're very effective. I also don't think more police would help either, I just think that it's pretty easy to escape the law if you really want to, and that the best way to prevent crime is to convince people never to do it.

 

[Owen Robertson]

The RCMP? For all the hate they get, they do a good job. Considering the sheer size of the country and irregularity of populations, Canada is doing pretty damn well in the crime department. If there are any RCMP officers here, keep it up!

No doubt my man. And that uniform? Stylish. I'm not being sarcastic either. I fucking LOVE that hat.

 

[Dusty Fred]

something obviously not present in our inner cities at the minute)

This is where I agree. I think in inner city's of any country, not just Britain (like certain parts of London and other large city's) the main problem is, the way they probably see it - they're probably not that much worse off in a cell than they are normally. So that's why crime becomes a problem, since the consequences of jail isn't really that much.

Yeah, this is what I was musing over. I think a vital element of a law-abiding society is when the police provide a disincentive to break the law; would-be criminals are dissuaded by the likelihood of being apprehended and prosecuted. Obviously several hundred people in London recently didn't feel that way. This is why I fully approve of a tough crackdown in the aftermath.

 

[MetaKnight19]

It's hard to tell with my local police force, since they are barely ever needed. The last time I can remember police showing up for actual police work was when a sandwich got stolen from the petrol station shop. I'll say that again, 'when a sandwich got stolen'. But overall I do respect them, since our town usually has some sort of fair or event going on and the police are needed to stop all the 13 year-olds getting pissed on cheap cider.

 

[King Toasty]

The RCMP? For all the hate they get, they do a good job. Considering the sheer size of the country and irregularity of populations, Canada is doing pretty damn well in the crime department. If there are any RCMP officers here, keep it up!

No doubt my man. And that uniform? Stylish. I'm not being sarcastic either. I fucking LOVE that hat.

It's a pretty cunning hat. A man walks down the street in that hat, you know he's not afraid of anything.

 

[Arsen]

I respect and understand the many trials, everyday hardships, and pains the officers go through.

We can sit here all we want, chat back and forth about how they "should or should not" do this or that action, yet at the end of the day...we are ignorant as to what they go through. People are taught to disrespect them because of so many factors: Sociological profiling (which makes sense in case to case studies), having to perform their jobs, having to ensure citizens are safe, ensuring their OWN lives are safe...

They have have families at home they want to see, they have to see the worst neighborhoods, they have to deal with overly opinionated assholes who don't get that the police have procedures and correct methods for doing things...

I mean, really. Who are we to judge the police because not everyone shows them respect? They've rightfully earned it. There are few police who are corrupt in the genuine sense of the term. Even then you can blame Rodney bloody hell King for his mislap and inability to "lie down as the cops tell you" for the rampant belief that all police are bullies who demand respect for being authoritarian.

I wish cops in the US had MORE rights, more authorizations, and in general were given higher pay. They deserve it for all the bullshit and evil they have to come across on a day to day basis. Are they all going to be the same, have the same personality, talk in the same tone, be respectful all the time? Of course not. They are people, just like we are. They have issues, problems, and life challenges to face as well. People care more about not going to jail than the police officer's own life, duties, civil responsibilities, family, well-being... you name it.

/....fucking thread

 

[Robert Ewing]

Nope. All policemen I've met have been rude, condescending, arrogant, violent, suspicious etc etc. It doesn't do much for public relations. The Police in England are in a terrible way at the moment. I commend them for how they did during the London riots, I think they did a splendid job regardless of their inability to touch anyone... I blame the government for that little 'perk.'

But no, even though I love the job they did in London, it's not enough to restore my faith in them. I don't expect English policemen to protect me from anything, they just can't. They are too underfunded, and their relations with the government and public are way too low. Not to mention the lulzy restrictions they have to deal with. Even if they COULD help me out from a mugging or whatever, they couldn't do anything but shout at the attacker, because of totally amazing British law. And I don't see them improving any time soon. So no, I have no faith in the police force to do their job, and I don't respect them as much as any citizen of any country should.

 

[Gaiseric]

I do indeed. I've never had a bad experience with a cop that wasn't deserved(J-walking when I was 8 and noise complaints because of very loud friends a couple years later). I've read plenty of horror stories, some of which were posted on this site, but those are the minority and most cops just do there jobs.

Besides I sleep with a gun beside my bed so I have a safety blanket if I need it before cops arrive.

 

[ekkaman]

Not at all, F%^k'em.

I'm sure you'll sing a different tune, dear reader, when you need them. Trust me on this one.

Why would I trust you?

You could be a pedo-bear for all I know.

 

[Autohellion]

No, I feel they're corrupt, lazy and getting paid far too much. They also act as a gang, I seen police drive illegally all the time and even harass citizens for no reason.

In Toronto they just got a salary increase and the majority of the police are making over $100,000 a year; which is far and above the national average. You shouldn't be making over 100 grand for sitting in your car at a construction site "providing security".

Well security is seen as excess until it is needed. If you think the cops who watch construction jobs are over payed, they are payed for a reason, what other job has you being responsible for taking care of any Knife/Gun wielding maniac that wanders by? Also there are construction people working in a already dangerous environment they don't need some one going too fast and misjudging the space needed to make a turn or worse people who would ignore the detour signs and try to drive through the work zone . Also many times construction will be in trenches in the ground if there was no cop there and a drunkard wandered by and fell 25 feet into the ground and died the city would be sued costing more than what they pay the officers.

The officer sitting in his car is a huge deterent to any criminal act taking place in the vicinity and is vital to securing a work site.