I first want to say that I am glad to have this resource of snipershide, it has been a wealth of knowledge in my rifle shooting and gear that I have accumulated.
I would have to be blind not to notice the frustration here and in society with the government and all of it's entities. As a police officer, I would like to offer a few thoughts, maybe you will find I am more like you than you think. I would also add that while I do not speak for all officers, I am certain I do speak for many.
I get nervous when a police officer gets behind me on the freeway. Unlike some officers, I have gotten tickets, even one from my own department (for an accident that I shared responsibility for). Why do I get nervous? Heck, it is hard to say who is coming to my window.
I have noticed in my department, many of the officers who have been fired in my time on were hired in the same time period- around 2004-2007, when the economy was good and we couldn't get enough people to come and try out. As a result, many officers were hired due to need and less due to top notch qualifications.
I notice there are a few types of cops.
First, the gung ho cop. He has cop/tactical stickers on his truck, wears 5.11 everything and likes to use the word entry. He is the guy who's life IS the job, he lives and breathes it 24/7. He is usually the guy who is heavy handed, rude and uncaring, gets his rocks of demeaning and belittling the citizens. He writes any ticket, no matter how petty. Your doctor's appointment means nothing to him. He will often use force verging on excessive and will justify every action- he is beyond reproach. He gives us all a bad name, perpetuates the stigma of jack booted thug and goes home at night feeling very justified in his actions.
The second cop is a slug. He is the one who is in it for the paycheck and tries to work as little as possible to accomplish it. He breezes through a contact with a citizen, doesn't listen, gives the air of superiority because he is uninterested in the ills of society. He doesn't do a thorough report, doesn't go any mile let alone the extra mile, and is frustrated when he has to leave the coffe shop for a call. He is what gives us the title of being lazy.
Third is the cop who does what he has to do. He takes enough calls, writes enough reports, listens just enough to make you feel like he cares. He isn't going into a dangerous situation of his own volition, he is going to go with the flow, get his years in and retire. He may be the most dangerous when it comes to taking of liberty.
Fourth is the cop who loves the job but recognizes it is just a job, although he is passionate about it. He is guided by the spirit of the law opposed to the letter of the law. He will bring clothes to the homeless guy down the street. He is gung ho about stopping criminals who victimize people. He feels strongly about the mantra of protecting and serving. He lets people off with warnings, jokes with them, offers realistic advise and shows a human side. This officer typically is an officer at work, not at home. He will act off duty when necessary, but he doesn't take work home with him. He rarely hangs out with other cops, shuns talking about police work at dinner parties and believes he is doing his best to serve his country.
There are more and if you read this post you will probably add more types of cops, many with negative attributes (rightfully so). We are and continue to be our worst enemy in law enforcement. We are held to a standard higher than the president of the United States ("I did not have sex with that woman"...), yet many fail to realize this and allow the gifted responsibility of power to go to their head.
Many (myself included) are so sickened by what is deemed justice that we want to give up. Granted, officers drop the ball of justice often, yet courts, prosecutors and legislators are huge offenders.
My particular job is a proactive enforcement effort- I identify, watch and gather probable cause on criminals who are actively engaging in crimes such as burglary, robbery, fraud, drug activity. I don't enforce traffic laws and can't remember the last ticket I wrote.
I help put away the career criminals, and yet, I see the same ones over and over. Just a recent example- Bad guy on parole for armed robbery, watched doing drug transaction, stopped and found in possession of stolen handgun (from an Army serviceman who was burglarized) and several hundred dollars in meth. He was released the next day by a judge on his own recognizance...think he ever showed up to his next court date?
I have the luxury of enforcing the laws that I feel are in public interest. I am uninterested in your dime bag of weed. I care about your meth though, as I see the great effects it has on society. I am required by law to arrest for domestic violence, but beyond that, it is up to my descretion, which I use numerous times each day.
I carry an Ar15 at work. I feel it helps me be on equal ground with the citizens and criminals. I think everyone who is legally able to own one should. Does that increase my chances of running into one on the street, maybe, but I realize this job is full of unknown and that is one of the reasons I chose it.
Are we being increasingly militarized? Absolutely. Our latest wars have proven to be excellent in testing and creating tactics, as well as putting together fantasticly trained poice officers who bring their knowledge and experience to the table. As much as I would like to have life back to the way it was in my neighborhood when I grew up (no locked doors, keys left in vehicle), our society isn't Mayberry anymore.
Entitlements have taken our society by storm and we in return have an uneducated segment of society, unwilling to work and lending truth to the phrase Idle hands are the devil's playground. In my 5 years on my current squad, I have not served 1 warrant on a residence that hasn't been receiving at least 1 type of government entitlement. We pay them to figure new ways to victimize us. It is sickening and that further jades officers who give a crap about society.
Corruption exists, unfortunately. It does in every job yet it is most disturbing when it comes from those with the ability to change the immediate course of your life. I would content though that while things may be the same in many places, things are changing. I would offer this example- An officer on my partner squad lost his cool and pushed a prisoner in handcuffs after the prisoner spit in his face. The officer immediately went and called his supervisor, telling on himself. He received a heafty suspension without pay and was sent back patrol, rightly so. That is integrity, and it isn't seen as often as it should. But in many places, times are changing. You can file a complaint on me online, and I assure you that I will hear about it.
This is just a job. I have had many others, and made more money at some. I drive a 25 year old truck (not restored), live in a 1200 sq ft house with a wife and 3 kids and buy my clothes at walmart.
Often times we officers "come to the rescue" in posts and threads here. Often times we receive critisism for it. I am not above that at all. Not all officers wait to hear the full story before rushing to judgment. Many do however and that sometimes bothers us that the same idea of waiting to judge is reciprocated.
I had more I wanted to write, but this is probably enough. In case you are wondering, I am officer number four, not because he sounds the best but because I was raised to try to add to society. I am a Christian first and foremost, am quick to give solid advise and I actually give a crap about the vilest guy out there. I have morals and standards, those are not up for debate. I fully expect that before my career is finished, I will have to give up my job because of policies I will be asked to take part in which go against my morals.
If you have read this long post I hope maybe it helps your outlook a little. I realize sometimes things happen to people that cement a feeling for life, I understand that too.
If you ever end up talking with an officer in west side of the greater Phoenix area, and he asks you some silly question like- What weighs more, 5lbs of rocks or 5lbs of wet feathers- say hi to me. I a nice guy and a nice cop.
Thanks for reading,
Jethro
I would have to be blind not to notice the frustration here and in society with the government and all of it's entities. As a police officer, I would like to offer a few thoughts, maybe you will find I am more like you than you think. I would also add that while I do not speak for all officers, I am certain I do speak for many.
I get nervous when a police officer gets behind me on the freeway. Unlike some officers, I have gotten tickets, even one from my own department (for an accident that I shared responsibility for). Why do I get nervous? Heck, it is hard to say who is coming to my window.
I have noticed in my department, many of the officers who have been fired in my time on were hired in the same time period- around 2004-2007, when the economy was good and we couldn't get enough people to come and try out. As a result, many officers were hired due to need and less due to top notch qualifications.
I notice there are a few types of cops.
First, the gung ho cop. He has cop/tactical stickers on his truck, wears 5.11 everything and likes to use the word entry. He is the guy who's life IS the job, he lives and breathes it 24/7. He is usually the guy who is heavy handed, rude and uncaring, gets his rocks of demeaning and belittling the citizens. He writes any ticket, no matter how petty. Your doctor's appointment means nothing to him. He will often use force verging on excessive and will justify every action- he is beyond reproach. He gives us all a bad name, perpetuates the stigma of jack booted thug and goes home at night feeling very justified in his actions.
The second cop is a slug. He is the one who is in it for the paycheck and tries to work as little as possible to accomplish it. He breezes through a contact with a citizen, doesn't listen, gives the air of superiority because he is uninterested in the ills of society. He doesn't do a thorough report, doesn't go any mile let alone the extra mile, and is frustrated when he has to leave the coffe shop for a call. He is what gives us the title of being lazy.
Third is the cop who does what he has to do. He takes enough calls, writes enough reports, listens just enough to make you feel like he cares. He isn't going into a dangerous situation of his own volition, he is going to go with the flow, get his years in and retire. He may be the most dangerous when it comes to taking of liberty.
Fourth is the cop who loves the job but recognizes it is just a job, although he is passionate about it. He is guided by the spirit of the law opposed to the letter of the law. He will bring clothes to the homeless guy down the street. He is gung ho about stopping criminals who victimize people. He feels strongly about the mantra of protecting and serving. He lets people off with warnings, jokes with them, offers realistic advise and shows a human side. This officer typically is an officer at work, not at home. He will act off duty when necessary, but he doesn't take work home with him. He rarely hangs out with other cops, shuns talking about police work at dinner parties and believes he is doing his best to serve his country.
There are more and if you read this post you will probably add more types of cops, many with negative attributes (rightfully so). We are and continue to be our worst enemy in law enforcement. We are held to a standard higher than the president of the United States ("I did not have sex with that woman"...), yet many fail to realize this and allow the gifted responsibility of power to go to their head.
Many (myself included) are so sickened by what is deemed justice that we want to give up. Granted, officers drop the ball of justice often, yet courts, prosecutors and legislators are huge offenders.
My particular job is a proactive enforcement effort- I identify, watch and gather probable cause on criminals who are actively engaging in crimes such as burglary, robbery, fraud, drug activity. I don't enforce traffic laws and can't remember the last ticket I wrote.
I help put away the career criminals, and yet, I see the same ones over and over. Just a recent example- Bad guy on parole for armed robbery, watched doing drug transaction, stopped and found in possession of stolen handgun (from an Army serviceman who was burglarized) and several hundred dollars in meth. He was released the next day by a judge on his own recognizance...think he ever showed up to his next court date?
I have the luxury of enforcing the laws that I feel are in public interest. I am uninterested in your dime bag of weed. I care about your meth though, as I see the great effects it has on society. I am required by law to arrest for domestic violence, but beyond that, it is up to my descretion, which I use numerous times each day.
I carry an Ar15 at work. I feel it helps me be on equal ground with the citizens and criminals. I think everyone who is legally able to own one should. Does that increase my chances of running into one on the street, maybe, but I realize this job is full of unknown and that is one of the reasons I chose it.
Are we being increasingly militarized? Absolutely. Our latest wars have proven to be excellent in testing and creating tactics, as well as putting together fantasticly trained poice officers who bring their knowledge and experience to the table. As much as I would like to have life back to the way it was in my neighborhood when I grew up (no locked doors, keys left in vehicle), our society isn't Mayberry anymore.
Entitlements have taken our society by storm and we in return have an uneducated segment of society, unwilling to work and lending truth to the phrase Idle hands are the devil's playground. In my 5 years on my current squad, I have not served 1 warrant on a residence that hasn't been receiving at least 1 type of government entitlement. We pay them to figure new ways to victimize us. It is sickening and that further jades officers who give a crap about society.
Corruption exists, unfortunately. It does in every job yet it is most disturbing when it comes from those with the ability to change the immediate course of your life. I would content though that while things may be the same in many places, things are changing. I would offer this example- An officer on my partner squad lost his cool and pushed a prisoner in handcuffs after the prisoner spit in his face. The officer immediately went and called his supervisor, telling on himself. He received a heafty suspension without pay and was sent back patrol, rightly so. That is integrity, and it isn't seen as often as it should. But in many places, times are changing. You can file a complaint on me online, and I assure you that I will hear about it.
This is just a job. I have had many others, and made more money at some. I drive a 25 year old truck (not restored), live in a 1200 sq ft house with a wife and 3 kids and buy my clothes at walmart.
Often times we officers "come to the rescue" in posts and threads here. Often times we receive critisism for it. I am not above that at all. Not all officers wait to hear the full story before rushing to judgment. Many do however and that sometimes bothers us that the same idea of waiting to judge is reciprocated.
I had more I wanted to write, but this is probably enough. In case you are wondering, I am officer number four, not because he sounds the best but because I was raised to try to add to society. I am a Christian first and foremost, am quick to give solid advise and I actually give a crap about the vilest guy out there. I have morals and standards, those are not up for debate. I fully expect that before my career is finished, I will have to give up my job because of policies I will be asked to take part in which go against my morals.
If you have read this long post I hope maybe it helps your outlook a little. I realize sometimes things happen to people that cement a feeling for life, I understand that too.
If you ever end up talking with an officer in west side of the greater Phoenix area, and he asks you some silly question like- What weighs more, 5lbs of rocks or 5lbs of wet feathers- say hi to me. I a nice guy and a nice cop.
Thanks for reading,
Jethro
