Police

[Lunar]

Coming from a rural area with virtually no crime, I have a very pessimistic view of the force.  Police officers in my area generally do very little but sit around all day giving out tickets for going 7 over the speed limit.

Needless to say, a certain NWA song describes my attitude, hah.  In general, my friends and I are scared to hell of the police and use tricks like radar detectors, police radios, and radar jammers (illegal) to increase our odds.

How do you all feel about them?  I made this topic because I'm curious.

[MODU]

I'm all for them and wish we had more visible forces around.  While they might be a pain when it comes to writing tickets and slowing down traffic, the do a lot for securing the area and responding in a timely fashion when called.

[Gabu]

Positive, for the most part.  I simply imagine what it'd be like if we had no police force and realize how much we take them for granted and fret about small things.

[Lunar]

I don't think that anyone who complains about the police wishes that they didn't exist.  However, I hate the system where police feel obligated to write tickets or the rednecks around where I live that feel the necessity to pointlessly exert their own authority.  The speed traps, racism, ageism, etc. all annoy the hell out of me.

I've never gotten so much as a parking ticket, parly because of luck and partly because I pay attention.  Maybe it's just because I've never physically seen a cop doing something useful, only pain-in-the-ass behavior.

[WalterMitty]

i have a negative view of most law enforcement agencies.

[minionofmidas]

I have a negative view of much of what they do, not of their existence. And I'm not talking about speeding and parking tickets, I approve of those. (And the latter aren't the cops' job in Germany, strictly speaking)
What I hate is that corps mentality that pervades them. Very hard to get a cop called for any wrongdoing...and needless to say there's lots of it...

[Smash255]

I would say lean Positive, but very mixed.  Obviously their would be chaos without them.  Most are good, but you have the scumbags who like to do the ticket raids & just be asses & you also have the asses who are corupt & in some cases down right racist.  Most cops are good cops, but their is still too much bs that goes on, strongly dislike the blue wall of silence

[Bono]

I have a negative view of much of what they do, not of their existence. And I'm not talking about speeding and parking tickets, I approve of those. (And the latter aren't the cops' job in Germany, strictly speaking)
What I hate is that corps mentality that pervades them. Very hard to get a cop called for any wrongdoing...and needless to say there's lots of it...

^^^^^^

[Alcon]

Cops are a necessary thing, but some elements of their culture freak me out.  I wouldn't want to be on the bad side of one personally, nor date the sister of one.

[David S]

My experience with the Shelby Twp. police has been very positive. I think they do a great job.

[John Dibble]

It varies. I've known good cops who just want to keep people safe, and I've known jackasses(my step-dad was one).

[AkSaber]

I love the police! Ever since I was 8 years old I've wanted to be one of them.

[??????????]

I hold a lot of respect for those who put their lives on the line to defend good citizens.

[The Dowager Mod]

My ex husband is a cop in Dallas.
Generally they are nice enough if they trust you.

[??????????]

My ex husband is a cop in Dallas.
Generally they are nice enough if they trust you.

Plus if you get to know them they will do neat stuff like set up speed traps on your street and watch your house while on vacation.

[Cashcow]

We need less police officers in my near-free-of-violent-crime suburbs and more in Camden.

[Dave from Michigan]

mostly positive, I'm always nice to them but thats mostly because of the power they have and I don't want to be on there bad side. yes There are bad cops out there but most seem to be ok. I've never really had a problem with the police.

another perspective

Although my brother is an asshole to the police and has like 12 unpaid parking tickets. Last week he was pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt, he was being a jerk to the cop. After they ran his record they saw all the tickets, so they asked him to get out of the car, my brother refused and demanded they tell him why and what they wanted. So according to him (I was not there) the cop punched him in the face them maced him (from what I gathered the punch wasn't really a hard punch but maybe a tap). He then tried to run away from the cop so she would stop macing him (the cop allegedly used the whole can on him). By now there were 9 cop cars there. He said he was thinking about making a run for it but decided against it. At the police station ( they held him overnight) he kept starring down the police officers and almost starting a fight with one saying "How about you let me out of here and we take this out back and fight so I can kick your ass".  The cop said "I'd love too"  his boss hear him and took the cop into another room and yelled at him.  They let him out the next day, but of course took his car (to Southwestern Detroit Mexicantown) and his license.  He had been Driving with no insurance and expired license plate tabs.  He says he's going to sue the police department for police brutality.  I can't believe thay gave us the car back without his license, and proof of insurance, we lied to them and told them I would drive it, when I went with him to get it the next day.
He is still driving his car with no license and insurance expired tabs and 10 unpaid parking tickets, his motto is  the police!

[David S]

^^^^ Your brother sounds like one of the screwballs you seen in police chase videos. I have no sympathy for him. In fact I think there should be a law against being an idiot and your brother would be a likely candidate.

[dazzleman]

I hold a lot of respect for those who put their lives on the line to defend good citizens.

^^^^^^^

[J. J.]

Every conversation I've had with them locally includes them saying, "You live here?"

[dazzleman]

Every conversation I've had with them locally includes them saying, "You live here?"

Police stereotype a lot, and it's hard to blame them.  They see their stereotypes reinforced on a regular basis, much more so than the hypocritical liberals who hide from reality as they condemn fairly realistic stereotypes.

[opebo]

I would strongly advise anyone who is not at least upper-middle class to be very wary of policemen.

[PADem]

Mine is good. I've always wanted to be a cop and I've recently entered the recruitment process for the Philadelphia police department.

[Speed of Sound]

my cops are OK. living in a rural area, they tend to be bored and like to jump for the hell of it. (theyll come up your driveway and tell you youre DTP, just so they can have a conversation, not give you a fine, and then leave.)

[AkSaber]

Mine is good. I've always wanted to be a cop and I've recently entered the recruitment process for the Philadelphia police department.

Good luck to you!!!