5 Ala. officers fired for beating caught on tape

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by jsarno

You don't know what it's like to be them. Don't try to demonize them cause you had a bad experience. Police do a GREAT job 99%+ of the time, even if you don't agree with what happened, you shouldn't lump all the police together due to your own biast opinion.
Tell you what, go sit down with a few off duty cops and have them tell you some stories of what they go through on a daily basis and how they always hold their temper. Listen really close to their stories. They are amazing people to put up with what they put up with. So if occasionally there is some moron that tries to run down cops, or put their life in jeapordy, I will certainly look the other way and give them the benefit of the doubt.
I certainly hope no one holds you to your lofty standards for the police, you will fail my friend.

I like how you tell him not to demonize them, which I would generally agree, but then go on to the other extreme and make them near perfect.
Cops are people, some are downright bad, some are virtuous, but most are in the middle, doing their job, trying to do the best they can and not get downsized. If they see a buddy who needs a look the other way moment - a lot will look the other way. If their authority is challenged, all will respond, some will over react and abuse their power.

I like that you say to sit down with some off duty cops, good advice for someone who thinks all are abusive, power hungry men and women. They aren't.

I would tell someone like you, who throws out the 99%+ stat, to go look at all the cops who have gone over the deep end, look at the stats for police abuse and the frequency with which a slap on the wrist or no punishment at all occurs. and just as true, look at the number of cases of police being fired or going to jail for their abuses.

A person in authority should always be held to the highest standard. And when someone seeks out a profession that puts them in daily contact with the "worst" of society, and with the troubled, and dangerous, it is all the more reason to call them to task if they fail. No one said a good cop is an easy job, it may be one of the very hardest, but being a bad cop can be a very easy role to fall into.

[Missin21]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

I like how you tell him not to demonize them, which I would generally agree, but then go on to the other extreme and make them near perfect.
Cops are people, some are downright bad, some are virtuous, but most are in the middle, doing their job, trying to do the best they can and not get downsized. If they see a buddy who needs a look the other way moment - a lot will look the other way. If their authority is challenged, all will respond, some will over react and abuse their power.

I like that you say to sit down with some off duty cops, good advice for someone who thinks all are abusive, power hungry men and women. They aren't.

I would tell someone like you, who throws out the 99%+ stat, to go look at all the cops who have gone over the deep end, look at the stats for police abuse and the frequency with which a slap on the wrist or no punishment at all occurs. and just as true, look at the number of cases of police being fired or going to jail for their abuses.

A person in authority should always be held to the highest standard. And when someone seeks out a profession that puts them in daily contact with the "worst" of society, and with the troubled, and dangerous, it is all the more reason to call them to task if they fail. No one said a good cop is an easy job, it may be one of the very hardest, but being a bad cop can be a very easy role to fall into.

Well said. I, unfortunately, do not share the views of those that think that even 1/2 of our police forces are good anymore. Just because I haven't shared my every experience with the police doesn't mean that I HAVEN'T had lengthy conversations with on or off duty cops. I have. On several occasions, under different circumstances.

I didn't used to feel this way, but terrible experience after another has led me down this road. I used to feel that most cops were good. But even after talking to several, & then mine & my friends' experiences, one right after another, have shown me otherwise. It's just the way it is. It's like I said earlier. Look at your boss. Look at his/her boss. Go higher. Everyone in a position of power abuses it somehow. The police are NOT, by any stretch of the imagination, the exception to this. Not even close. Regardless of what society wants to believe.

It's easier to believe they are all good. How else can you teach your children to find a cop if they need one? I can tell you, I for one, won't do any such thing. I don't trust them anymore, haven't for years, & I will NEVER tell my kids to find a cop for help. I'll tell them to run to a neighbor or a friend first...
"cop is your absolute LAST resort. When all else fails, THEN you find a cop. Make sure you mind your "P's & Q's" first, to avoid getting beat down in the name of the law, though."