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I’m old. I know a lot of retired LEOs. We talk a lot about old times and generally stay out of the weeds. In the 80’s - 90’s, I did a lot of contract work around LE at all levels other than Fed. County Sheriffs Deputies and staff were always the most approachable and seemingly genuine.

Something I learned quickly is that if you had something private to share, you didn’t share it with a COP. They don’t do privacy and confidentiality well. However, if you get on the “Team”, you’re good - everyone has your back. But I digress.

My assessment is that 99% of LEOs are straight-up folks with a strong ideology in the Civil Society Compact and do their jobs with that overarching cause. But I’ve heard, seen and witnessed how brutal, ugly and dysfunctional LEOs can be for reasons beyond anyone’s control. Some too heinous to post here or anywhere else. It shocks the soul.

I’ve had precious few contacts with LE on the “professional-level” other than a traffic stop here and there over many decades and a few incidents of “citizen assistance” and “welfare checks” for neighbors or family. I have NEVER departed those instances without saying “Thank you”, even when it was going to cost me a fine for doing something I should not have been doing. They have jobs I would never go near and I still have an appreciation of giving service to community.

Let us not forget to call out the scumbags that are psychologically deficient for that role in society and shouldn’t be anywhere near the civilian population, but sometimes get into the LE system where they become sociopathic and mentally ill. It’s a sad Paradox and like any other collective, throws shade on the entire category of LE. Not an easy fix.