any police officers here?

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Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
I have no doubt they "profile" all the time. I watch "Cops" on Court TV, and love it. More than a few times I've seen 'em pull a guy over because, "He didn't signal a lane change." Or, some lame reason like that. Next thing you know, they're pulling crack out of the glove box. Criminals get off on technicalities as often as people "get harassed".
 

ValkyrieofHouston

Golden Member
Sep 26, 2005
1,736
0
0
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: FallenHero
Originally posted by: aircooled
Originally posted by: FallenHero
Originally posted by: aircooled
Originally posted by: bradruth
Originally posted by: her209
Originally posted by: FallenHero
Originally posted by: her209
Originally posted by: FallenHero
Yes, its that bad. People want the law enforced, just not on them. I have only met 1 person outside of another cop or a cops family that thanked me for what I do and likes officers. Everyone else is an asshole...you get used to it after about 3 days.
I'd like to add that some cops feel they are above the law also...
No doubt. But so do alot of people who aren't cops. What is your point?
That they're not totally infallible.

I think that would be implied because no matter how "good" we are we're still human.

I agree, but when those human mistakes affect my rights, we have a problem.

Well, alot of people claim that they can do a better job. I always welcome people to try. I've already seen 3 people quit a week after starting work. Until you can introduce either 1) Training that takes the mistakes out of decisions or 2) People that don't make mistakes, law enforcement WILL have mistakes in it. An unforgiving public doesn't help the situation though.


Just remember the lives you are effecting when that mistake is made.

And here is the problem with the general public that most cops have. They expect us to 100% right 100% of the time while making decisions in as little time as possible, then chastise us when a mistake is made. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.


oh i don't expect them to be 100% right. I have been pulled over because i was driving a little red sports car and the cops were on the search for one. once he pulled me over and started talking to me he figured out i was not the guy they were looking for.

he said sorry for the inconvenience and said to have a safe night.

that is what i expect. IF a cop makes a mistake just apologize and move on. no foul no harm.

I know some cops refuse to apologize for a mistake. that is what makes people dislike cops. Its the attitude that many have.

I agree...

 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Originally posted by: FallenHero
Originally posted by: Private Savage
Originally posted by: FallenHero
Be prepared to be hated by 95% of the people you encounter. Its a job to be proud of...but quietly. I actually don't like to mention that I am a cop in front of people I don't know.

My dad told me that it used to be cool to be a cop back in the 60's and 70's

Those times are long over my friend. Todays society isnt nearly as respectful of police officers as they were back then. Corruption took its toll, as well as the racial tensions between minorities and police. Many departments still have some cleaning up to do and the media does not help us out AT ALL.

Furthermore, no one outside of the job will understand what you go through. NO ONE. Not your parents, closest friends (who will stop being your friend because of the change in attitude), brothers, sisters, even spouse to a certain extent. (Keep in mind the divorce rate for law enforcement is near 80%). This isn't firefighting where the public loves you even if you fvck up. If you fvck up, its a lawsuit. If you do everything by the books, its a lawsuit. Do not go into this job thinking its going to be some sort of "yee haw lets get dem badguys!" type of thing. Paperwork will eat you alive. Overtime will eat you alive. Stress beyond what you can imagine and scenes that will make you wonder why people even breed.

I truely hope you have thought about what you are getting into when you enter this profession. This isn't an easy job by any means. There is a reason why LEOs in this country are more prone to alcoholism, divorce, heart attacks and strokes. (And no, it isnt because of our diets.) Good luck, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE think before you act.

Despite everything I said, I wouldnt trade my job for any other (well...maybe Bill Gates). I don't work this to get rich. It's a calling for me, as well as many others.


Yep everybody use to know my grandfather was a cop, and was respected for it. It was a good thing. But he left after, as he put it, they made him out to be a meter maid. He use to walk beats, cruise neighborhoods and just talk to everybody and be nice and "serve and protect". But after they started using the police force to keep blacks down and worse for him was making cops be another way to raise money for little things he just left. In the end he said cops are juts another tax for the government. Serving and protecting was a back burner issue now. Raising funds was moving up.

Some people I know that became cops in my old hometown talk about the ?speeding division?. All it is made up to do is catch speeders. Once they had a guy sit on a tractor with a radar gun and radio down the road when he caught someone speeding. He told me it made the city piles of money in just 1 day doing that, over 100tickets once.

Then you have insurance companies ?donating? new radar guns to the police force to use. So it?s not hard to see why my grandfather left the force and more and more people today have more distrust of the police.


 

bradruth

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
13,479
2
81
Originally posted by: Ornery
I have no doubt they "profile" all the time. I watch "Cops" on Court TV, and love it. More than a few times I've seen 'em pull a guy over because, "He didn't signal a lane change." Or, some lame reason like that. Next thing you know, they're pulling crack out of the glove box. Criminals get off on technicalities as often as people "get harassed".

What's wrong with profiling?
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
Police are different from regular people. They get sh!t on every day, and keep coming back for more. You can't help but have a different attitude about them.

What's funny is the average persons attitude towards a local police officer versus an FBI agent or an Air Marshall.

I'd say local cops dug their own graves with the massive traffic enforcement of the last 20 years.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: bradruth
Originally posted by: Ornery
I have no doubt they "profile" all the time. I watch "Cops" on Court TV, and love it. More than a few times I've seen 'em pull a guy over because, "He didn't signal a lane change." Or, some lame reason like that. Next thing you know, they're pulling crack out of the glove box. Criminals get off on technicalities as often as people "get harassed".

What's wrong with profiling?

heh now thats a loaded question..
 

EmperorIQ

Platinum Member
Sep 30, 2003
2,003
0
0
Originally posted by: MartyMcFly3
Originally posted by: FallenHero
Originally posted by: Private Savage
Originally posted by: FallenHero
Be prepared to be hated by 95% of the people you encounter. Its a job to be proud of...but quietly. I actually don't like to mention that I am a cop in front of people I don't know.

My dad told me that it used to be cool to be a cop back in the 60's and 70's

Those times are long over my friend. Todays society isnt nearly as respectful of police officers as they were back then. Corruption took its toll, as well as the racial tensions between minorities and police. Many departments still have some cleaning up to do and the media does not help us out AT ALL.

Furthermore, no one outside of the job will understand what you go through. NO ONE. Not your parents, closest friends (who will stop being your friend because of the change in attitude), brothers, sisters, even spouse to a certain extent. (Keep in mind the divorce rate for law enforcement is near 80%). This isn't firefighting where the public loves you even if you fvck up. If you fvck up, its a lawsuit. If you do everything by the books, its a lawsuit. Do not go into this job thinking its going to be some sort of "yee haw lets get dem badguys!" type of thing. Paperwork will eat you alive. Overtime will eat you alive. Stress beyond what you can imagine and scenes that will make you wonder why people even breed.

I truely hope you have thought about what you are getting into when you enter this profession. This isn't an easy job by any means. There is a reason why LEOs in this country are more prone to alcoholism, divorce, heart attacks and strokes. (And no, it isnt because of our diets.) Good luck, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE think before you act.

Despite everything I said, I wouldnt trade my job for any other (well...maybe Bill Gates). I don't work this to get rich. It's a calling for me, as well as many others.

Well said.

this is weird, from what I hear from one other person who, he made the job sound like cinch. Not that I believe him 100%, but I find awkward to hear a cop talk about how they only have to work 3 days a week, and just drive around.
 

ValkyrieofHouston

Golden Member
Sep 26, 2005
1,736
0
0
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: bradruth
Originally posted by: Ornery
I have no doubt they "profile" all the time. I watch "Cops" on Court TV, and love it. More than a few times I've seen 'em pull a guy over because, "He didn't signal a lane change." Or, some lame reason like that. Next thing you know, they're pulling crack out of the glove box. Criminals get off on technicalities as often as people "get harassed".

What's wrong with profiling?

heh now thats a loaded question..


LOL... I would say something here but it might appear racist....
 

EmperorIQ

Platinum Member
Sep 30, 2003
2,003
0
0
Originally posted by: FallenHero
Originally posted by: Ornery
Be prepared to be hated by 95% of the people you encounter.

Guess I'm in the very small minority on this! It can't be that bad, can it? Sheesh, I don't even "hate" the cops giving me tickets. I earned every one of 'em!

Apparently, a bunch of people on this board feel it's their right to break laws and get away with it. If it weren't for our current legal system, including police, these scofflaws would be dealing with not-so-restrained vigilantes instead. Actually, I'd be tickled if they did!

There's no way I could be a cop. I'd have a lawsuit against me in a heartbeat. A guy like Rodney King would have had his skull caved in, instead walking away with a jury award.

Yes, its that bad. People want the law enforced, just not on them. I have only met 1 person outside of another cop or a cops family that thanked me for what I do and likes officers. Everyone else is an asshole...you get used to it after about 3 days.

I've only received 1 speeding ticket in my 6 years of driving. From what I recall, I wasn't pissed at the cop or anything. In my head I was just thinking "oh man, i got caught". So you have 1 more person on your side!
 

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
11
0
Originally posted by: squire
how much does a cop get paid these days?
Brother-in-law is a cop in TN. Apparently, he makes somewhere around $60K.
 

ValkyrieofHouston

Golden Member
Sep 26, 2005
1,736
0
0
Originally posted by: her209
Originally posted by: squire
how much does a cop get paid these days?
Brother-in-law is a cop in TN. Apparently, he makes somewhere around $60K.


In Houston they pad their pay with the overtime, and some make as much as 100K or more! LOL... of course that is what the last news report said. :roll:
 

bradruth

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
13,479
2
81
Originally posted by: squire
how much does a cop get paid these days?

i'm in my sophmore year at college and thinking about becomming one.

If you're looking into becoming a cop for the money, find another line of work.
 

bradruth

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
13,479
2
81
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: bradruth
What's wrong with profiling?

heh now thats a loaded question..

Originally posted by: ValkyrieofHouston
LOL... I would say something here but it might appear racist....

Profiling has nothing to do with race, unless you're specifically talking about racial profiling.
 

ValkyrieofHouston

Golden Member
Sep 26, 2005
1,736
0
0
Originally posted by: bradruth
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: bradruth
What's wrong with profiling?

heh now thats a loaded question..

Originally posted by: ValkyrieofHouston
LOL... I would say something here but it might appear racist....

Profiling has nothing to do with race, unless you're specifically talking about racial profiling.


They do racial profiling?:shocked:
 

bradruth

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
13,479
2
81
Originally posted by: ValkyrieofHouston
They do racial profiling?:shocked:

How's that "jump to conclusions" mat working out for you?

Not once did I say anyone "does" racial profiling. Profiling in general has become an evil term because of it, however.
 

bradruth

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
13,479
2
81
Originally posted by: Private Savage
are there a lot of asian-american LEO? I will be the first asian-american in my department.

I imagine that would largely depend on location.
 

ValkyrieofHouston

Golden Member
Sep 26, 2005
1,736
0
0
Originally posted by: bradruth
Originally posted by: ValkyrieofHouston
They do racial profiling?:shocked:

How's that "jump to conclusions" mat working out for you?

Not once did I say anyone "does" racial profiling. Profiling in general has become an evil term because of it, however.


Right... if you say so! ;)
 

bradruth

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
13,479
2
81
Originally posted by: ValkyrieofHouston
Originally posted by: bradruth
Originally posted by: ValkyrieofHouston
They do racial profiling?:shocked:

How's that "jump to conclusions" mat working out for you?

Not once did I say anyone "does" racial profiling. Profiling in general has become an evil term because of it, however.


Right... if you say so! ;)

:confused:
 

state 08

Platinum Member
Jun 6, 2005
2,009
0
0
I got arrested for an MIP once.

I was kinda pissed at the cops. But they were doing their job. But outta 50 kids, it was just me and another kid. That bothered me more.

While in the cell for a mere six hours, all I could think was, "What would Michael Scoffield do?" :)
 

Svnla

Lifer
Nov 10, 2003
17,986
1,388
126
Originally posted by: squire
how much does a cop get paid these days?

i'm in my sophmore year at college and thinking about becomming one.

Police in Plano, TX <north of Dallas> will start out with $47,102 as recruit, $50,834 in his/her first year, $54,280 in 2nd year, $63,614 in 3rd year. Those are not including OT and other bonus stuffs. Their salary is in the top 10th scale.

Now this is in Texas, low cost of living, so those salaries are pretty decent. The requirement is that you have to have a Bachelor degree from an accredited college.

http://www.planopolice.org/Employment/F...%20-%20POLICE%20OFFICER%20SALARIES.pdf

They will have the entrance test next month, June 17th.

On a personal note, I have no problem with good cops, they are just doing their jobs. I just can't stand bad/egomaniac cops. I used to drive a sports coupe and one cop pulled me over around 12:30 a.m. <after I just got out of library and studied for my MBA>. He said I was speeding and I asked to see his radar reading because I know I didn't speed. His words was "either you sign this ticket or go to jail, I am not showing you anything". Of course, I signed it and then went to traffic school <cost me some money and time>.
 

nutcasert

Member
May 7, 2006
66
0
0
There's nothing "wrong" with the people who become cops. And yes, cops can make mistakes; it just so happens that becoming a cop was their first one.

The police in my town don't protect and serve. They do whatever is nessecary to make sure that the rich people moving in don't feel threatened. I have been walking to my friends house before at 2 AM (why? because I can. I like fresh air) and a police officer will see me, pull over, and start asking me the myriad of questions.

Where you going?
Why so late?
What's your name/address/age?
What are you doing again?
Well don't take too long.

Last time I told him I would take as long as I f*cking want. He threatened to arrest me. because you know, saving gas by walking that half mile and being slow about it can mean trouble.

it wouldn't even bother me if this didn't happen like every other time I walk out at night.

Hell, when I do drive, or one of my friends are driving, we get followed until the town line, or we hit the onramp to the freeway.

The best part is, I really don't commit that much crime.

I'm not a G-D criminal. I'm not what the poeple in this town need to be protected against. It's the little sh1ts who go around shooting out windows with bb guns. or the punks who raid unlocked cars at night. I mind my own business, and all I catch is sh1t for it from the local pigs.

I don't commit violent crimes. I don't commit larceny. I don't even speed much. (hence the cops never getting to pull me over. I know how it works)

Lately, i have been as intentionally unhelpful in whatever answers i give the cops.
What's your name?
What are doing? "standing out in the road talking to you"
What were you doing? "walking home"
Where do you live? "that way"


The conversation usually goes downhill from there. But they always ask the same questions. I think they were all raised on the same farm.

Either way, I can small bacon a mile away, even when their windows are up. So you know what? I say it proudly. F*CK COPS. and if you're a cop. F*CK YOU.
 

MartyMcFly3

Lifer
Jan 18, 2003
11,436
29
91
www.youtube.com
Originally posted by: nutcasert
There's nothing "wrong" with the people who become cops. And yes, cops can make mistakes; it just so happens that becoming a cop was their first one.

The police in my town don't protect and serve. They do whatever is nessecary to make sure that the rich people moving in don't feel threatened. I have been walking to my friends house before at 2 AM (why? because I can. I like fresh air) and a police officer will see me, pull over, and start asking me the myriad of questions.

Where you going?
Why so late?
What's your name/address/age?
What are you doing again?
Well don't take too long.

Last time I told him I would take as long as I f*cking want. He threatened to arrest me. because you know, saving gas by walking that half mile and being slow about it can mean trouble.

it wouldn't even bother me if this didn't happen like every other time I walk out at night.

Hell, when I do drive, or one of my friends are driving, we get followed until the town line, or we hit the onramp to the freeway.

The best part is, I really don't commit that much crime.

I'm not a G-D criminal. I'm not what the poeple in this town need to be protected against. It's the little sh1ts who go around shooting out windows with bb guns. or the punks who raid unlocked cars at night. I mind my own business, and all I catch is sh1t for it from the local pigs.

I don't commit violent crimes. I don't commit larceny. I don't even speed much. (hence the cops never getting to pull me over. I know how it works)

Lately, i have been as intentionally unhelpful in whatever answers i give the cops.
What's your name?
What are doing? "standing out in the road talking to you"
What were you doing? "walking home"
Where do you live? "that way"


The conversation usually goes downhill from there. But they always ask the same questions. I think they were all raised on the same farm.

Either way, I can small bacon a mile away, even when their windows are up. So you know what? I say it proudly. F*CK COPS. and if you're a cop. F*CK YOU.

:roll: You truly are an inspiration to us all.

By the way, being a total dick to cops is about as smart as lighting a match to see where the smell of gas is coming from. You want cops to respect you, to not give you an attitude? Respect them back. Even if they are being a total ass, respect them back. That way you can REPORT them for their attitude and they'll get beefed out for it. (Trust me, they do.)

Put yourself in their shoes and chances are you'll think "Yeah I DO look suspicious walking out here at 2AM by myself." Sure, it's your right to do it. Just like its your right to run like hell if you see a squad car pull around a corner. But it also makes you look pretty fvcking suspicious.

Would you prefer policemen NOT stop random people they see at 2AM, walking around neighborhoods? It's called preventing the possibility of a crime happening. It's called policework. Your name nutcase truly fits if you can't understand that.

Edit: Oh, and FVCK YOU too!
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: her209
Originally posted by: bradruth
Originally posted by: her209
Yes, but its hard to distinguish between a cop's mistake and harrassment.
How so?
Driving to Sacramento, we were pulled over by the CHP for "speeding" according to the officer, even tho we were in the slow lane and hadn't pass the car in front of us for quite some time. Did the cop make a mistake or was he harrassing us? This scenario happens every day.

EDIT: I should add that no citation and only a "warning" was issued.

Were you going above the limit? If so, no sympathy from me...I speed like everyone else, but recognize it's a probability game...if I'm speeding less than other people, or I'm going 9 over or less, the probability of me getting pulled over goes down. But it's nonzero, and if I get pulled over I'll be polite and eat my ticket if it comes. None of that stupid "But other people were speeding too!" crap.

Also, why are you crying if it was only a warning?

Originally posted by: Ornery
I have no doubt they "profile" all the time. I watch "Cops" on Court TV, and love it. More than a few times I've seen 'em pull a guy over because, "He didn't signal a lane change." Or, some lame reason like that. Next thing you know, they're pulling crack out of the glove box. Criminals get off on technicalities as often as people "get harassed".

IMHO more people NEED to get pulled over for not using their signals...I hate them!:|
 

KrillBee

Golden Member
Nov 17, 2005
1,433
0
0
Originally posted by: bradruth

What's wrong with profiling?

There's no doubt that profiling works in law enforcement.
You are going to be more successful at stopping crime if you interogate 'suspicious' looking people.

But the problem is that profiling is the same as judging someone. when you profile, you put everyone in a category at fault, even though not everyone in that category is a criminal.

When someone doesn't trust me because I'm young and white, or have a shaved head, that bothers me.

When a police officer intentionally follows my car around at night, that bothers me.


Profiling hurts. Call me a wimp, whatever, but I don't like it when people treat me like a suspect.