We all hate cops...

[beepbeep]

I've known a great many police officers in my time and I would say at least 96% of them were incredible men and women who took their job seriously without taking themselves TOO serious. I have encountered one or two who had a "god complex" but I quickly dismiss those from my care radar because they do not deserve more. I know there are many younger folks on this forum who have a tendency to rant about cops, but when I read farther, I generally find that that person most often has cause for the police to be present and generally writing the ticket due.

[stealthify]

People often get into policework for all the wrong reasons. The officer shown here, while just a simple example, seems to be a cut above the rest, and still has his head firmly planted on his shoulders.

While its always been trendy to hate authority, the police do plenty good AND bad to make us both appreciate and hate them at the same time. I can understand both perspectives.

[Rakuny]

I like cops in general. however, in my own personal experience I would say about 50% have been total power trip douche bags.. I've been pulled over (in my old car, pontiac POS) because my exhaust was supposedly too loud and harrased and asked multiple questions about whether I had drugs or weapons on me or in the car (I was wearing my work uniform and was on my way home at about 8:30 pm).

I've also been pulled over for speeding in my VR4... I thought the limit was still 45, there are 2 speed limit 35 signs both before traffic lights that are VERY close to eachother, I thought there was only 1.. (it was dark and I don't drive the area much if ever). the cop was very nice and very respectful.. he even complimented my car more than once.

How I go away from a traffic stop totally depends on how the officer treats me, not whether or not a ticket is written. I did get a ticket for speeding, and left in a good mood. I did not get a ticket for my exhaust, and left pissed off.

Edit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj46x6P5gLs

[j2k4]

I think most cops are honorable fellows, but I have had the misfortune to find myself in situations not of my making, at the mercy of officers acting out of ignorance.

During my divorce, my ex's paramour felt it would be of benefit to her if he told his best buddy (the county sheriff) that I was a drug courier - at the time, I had a job that kept me on the road constantly.

This was not a nice thing to do - we have five police agencies locally, and there was no shortage of personnel to hassle me - tickets for five over, stuff like that - culminating in two incidents that pointed up the idiocy of their activity.

The first one occurred when I was pulled over at 2AM, coming in from an out-of-town assignment - it was about 20 below zero, and their complaint centered on my cornering speed.

For this, I was detained behind my car and made to do every battery of tests for drunkenness you've ever heard of - I think I was asked to sing "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess at one point - when one of the officers asked if he could search my car.

I was colder than shit, standing outside, so I told him to do whatever his little heart desired.

Through the rear window, I saw him home-in on my center console and open it; his eyes got wide when he saw it was largely full on film cans (great for stashing pills and pot, you see), and he proceeded to open all of them, throwing my entire supply of laundromat/car-wash change all over the car and the street.

They ended things by writing me a ticket for window tint.

The second incident followed my finding out my ex had vacated the house we had shared, and after being granted legal permission to retrieve from the house whatever of my belongings remained, I went there with my nephew's truck to find nothing at all that wasn't ruined.

As I returned to my nephew's house, three different squad cars followed me into his drive, whereupon a footrace commenced between one each village, tribal, and state cops to see which of them could get cuffs on me first (the state trooper won) and arrest me for trespassing and theft, among other things (I had been seen rummaging the premises).

An inspection of the truck revealed no purloined goods, and when my hands were free, I dug out the sheriff's notifaction of vacancy to clear up their remaining concerns, and they left.

About a week later, a state cop who was transferring to another post pulled me over to tell me the collected agencies had come to terms with the fact they'd been misled, and assured me the hassling would stop, which it did.

Later on, my ex started screwing one of the tribal cops, who pulled me over while I was transporting my daughter and step-daughter to a hockey tournament they were playing in, and breathalyzed me - I blew zeros at him three times in a row, but he still wanted to "take me in" - his fellow officer started in on him right in front of me, "I told you you should never have gotten involved with that bitch..."

He finally gave up and left.

Funniest thing is, after all of that, the sheriff has been kissing my ass for about 8 years, trying to get me to let him fish off my dock.



That was 13 years ago, and now they all think I'm sliced bread, while my ex has no one left to screw.

[IPD]

People often get into policework for all the wrong reasons.

that's the nature of the beast. the type of personalities drawn to that career are the same type of personalities prone to abuse the power, get god complexes, etc.

[a2j]

I met only one good/nice cop so far. It was female. Rest were just acting like "guilty until proven innocent".