Are cops in the united states held to an impossible standard?

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   glorytoYHWHposted 9 years ago

   Are cops in the united states held to an impossible standard?
   
   it seems like cops in the United States not only are expected to serve the public, protect the innocent and clean up the streets, but they must be Marry Poppins while doing it. God forbid they take up your time are treat you harshly for "breaking the law". im not saying there aren't cops who dont sometimes go overboard. from my point of view though almost every instance that makes the news the so called "victim" could have avoided the situation by 1, not breaking the law and 2, just complying like a reasonable adult.
   
   

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2. 80

   junksellerposted 9 years ago

   Difficult situations are times when we should put more effort into behaving properly and being professional, not less.
   
   People don't want Mary Poppins, they just want basic professionalism, which is actually a pretty low bar.

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      glorytoYHWHposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      isnt that a 2 way street though? especially considering their guard is always up, and rightfully so, due to being in dangerous situations daily.

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   2. 80

      junksellerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think so. Dealing with people who aren't on their best behavior is essentially their job description. They should be trained and expected to do so professionally and responsibly. To me that is a minimal standard.

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   3. 56

      glorytoYHWHposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      sure. but if you act aggressive or suspicious, the professional action is not the same as say a ticket taker at the movies. cops are in a position where they can and do lose their lives. seemingly routine stops end up like that all the time

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   4. 81

      lovemychrisposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Medford Police Det. Stephen Lebert:"I'll put a hole right through your f***ing head," Lebert said. "Pull your car over. I'll put a hole right in your f***ing head." Civilian: "I thought that guy was going to kill me. I was terrified"--WE pay for this

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   5. 56

      glorytoYHWHposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      i dont know anything about that, so i cant comment. my suspicion is there is more to the story. like there usually is. im closing the comments. i have my answer. its sad people defend criminals of the protectors. its a very mixed up world we are in.

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   Kevin Goodwinposted 9 years ago

   Yes they are but they knew that when they became policemen/women.

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4. 81

   lovemychrisposted 9 years ago

   NO. They are given far too much leeway. It's called respect. When they treat every citizen like a criminal, they are taking their power too far. They do not have the right to act like a bully, and expect that we silently take it. They serve us! Not the other way around! And they have the power of life and death, and all the tools of power at their fingertips.....it's too much. They write the reports, testify in trials, and sometimes they LIE.  They are allowed to entrap people, it's sickening.They are not Gods, they are human, like us.

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   1. 56

      glorytoYHWHposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      so you disagree then that most people could have avoided confrontation with cops by either not breaking the law, or just complying like and adult?

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   2. 81

      lovemychrisposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Exactly. Avoid confrontation by actually going after crime, not turn signals, and dont treat minor infractions like second degree murder. I can smoke in my own car, and i have constitutional right to know why im being harrassed. I pay the salary!!!

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   3. 56

      glorytoYHWHposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      turn signal is a crime. also cops bust some of the most dangerous criminals making routine stops like that. also let not forget who was aggressive fro the start in that video. suspicious behavior over a turn signal and being able to smoke a cig

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      lovemychrisposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      She was probably scared to death. I know I'm scared when a cop is behind me, even if I have done nothing wrong....why is that? Why are we paying someone to scare us? And you're telling me it's ok to be arrested for a turn signal?How about a warning?

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   5. 56

      glorytoYHWHposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      You're probably scared because you're used to driving above the speed limit and maybe even a bit more reckless when not being watched. She wasn't arrested for the signal. It was for kicking the cop. That's called assault.

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      lovemychrisposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      No, it's because they can give me a hard time if they want to, and if I object, they say I'm resisting arrest. They can take my car, take my kids, just at their say so. And that frightens me to death. Because i don't have money to fight them.

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   7. 56

      glorytoYHWHposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      have you actually experienced that?

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   8. 81

      lovemychrisposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes. And thru my family.power corrupts!

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   9. 56

      glorytoYHWHposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      im sorry you and your family have experienced unfortunate run ins with the police. i dont want to say much on it, because i dont know the details. all i can say is, as a whole cops are not out to get you. be mindful of their sacrifice for your protec

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   dashingscorpioposted 9 years ago

   The vast majority of cops will tell you they've never fired their gun at anyone or had a need to use their stun gun. Most incidents between police and civilians are not fraught with violence.
   Depending on one's views: Only the exceptions make the news or only few officers get caught. The presence of police cameras will show which is which.
   In the  U.S. even a person who is accused of breaking the law has rights. After all it's supposed to be "innocent until proven guilty".
   There is no justification for shooting an unarmed man in the back who is running away, choking a guy to death who is repeatedly saying he can't breathe, or arresting someone over a minor traffic citation.
   In other instances such as in Chicago there is evidence of beating and torturing confessions out of people who were innocent of the crime.
   Outside of someone attempting to hurt or kill a police officer there is no reason to shoot, beat down, or tease an unarmed suspect.

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      lovemychrisposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Bravo.

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      glorytoYHWHposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      i understand what youre saying. but people who break the law, even minor ones, need to own up and accept the consequences. getting aggressive only escalates an already tense situation. majority of cops will also say routine stops can be dangerous.

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6. 73

   tsadjatkoposted 9 years ago

   
   
   This kinda says it all. At least it tells one side of the story that is seldom heard.
   
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMc3RS_afSE

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   1. 56

      glorytoYHWHposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Right on Joe Friday. You're right. That's pretty much says it all. Thanks for the great vid.

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