>>IMHO They deal with so much trash, that some forgot about the good citizen, and start to treat all contempably.
That’s the excuse that the thug cops always give. I don’t buy it and here’s why: for almost every criminal the cops deal with, there is a victim. Are they trash too? Also, cops deal with accidents and spend a lot of time handing out speeding tickets. Is a citizen trash for exceeding the speed limit?
You were correct in the first line of your post. It is gang mentality. If a person isn’t wearing the cop’s “colors”, they are not even human to the cop. That’s one of the things that allows a good family man to put on the uniform of any totatlitarian regime and then to go out and commit atrocities and come home to read to his children at night with a clean conscience. Because in his mind, everyone he abused during the day was trash.
Couldn't agree more. The thug cops I've dealt with seem to always have an emotional issue and their motivation for being a cop was to have power over others (without consequences to themselves).
That being said. I've trained and worked with hundreds over my career and one of my best friends is a cop (San Diego PD). His complaints mirror yours, but from my experience, I believe the majority are good men and women. I have dealt with rookies that were definitely in it for the power trip. Worst thing in the world is a 21 year old with a badge, gun, and chip on his shoulder.
Personally I'd make all rookies go two years on the job without wearing a sidearm (although there'd be an AR in the trunk minimum for an active shooter scenario). Don't know how it would fly but it would be interesting to see the results. Don't know if it's still the situation, but LAPD made officers go "one up" because two officers tended to escalate situations while a single officer would be more cautious and call for back-up if needed.
That's my two cents and I respect your viewpoint. I guess I feel a little defensive for law enforcement sometimes because like in all professions, one asshole can really make tough for the good guys.