Yeah, my first bubble was burst when during my FTO period, my supervising officer said, “We’re gonna follow this guy because he’s colored.”
I’m white as can be, and am certainly not all on-board the race-baiting political-correctness bandwagon, but this struck me as just over-the-top, especially considering he wasn’t doing anything wrong.
While there are good and bad seeds in every organization, I found in WA State anyway, you’ll probably almost always be treated professionally by a State Trooper (but don’t expect to get a warning - They’re out to pad their statistics: Most DUI’s = Trooper of the Year, and they get to pick their car color). City cops vary by chief and environment. You can have a city where the chief is ardent about “community policing” and is always watching out to get the mayor who butters his bread re-elected, or you can get towns that use their police as shake-down artists. (Fife, WA anyone? I can’t think of any other local towns that write tickets on 2mph over the limit in a 40mph zone where conditions and construction aren’t mitigating factors).
Deputies are the real wildcards. We used to say that while troopers deal with 90% good people going to and from work, deputies deal 90% with a lot shadier folks with less backup (and less supervision). No offense intended to the good deputies out there, but the worst behavior I’ve ever seen out of law enforcement has ALWAYS ALWAYS been either county or big city (Seattle).
Sorry for the wall of text.
That distinction about deputies is interesting as Sheriffs are quite different animals than Chiefs of Police from a historical legal viewpoint. State Troopers do seem to be the cream of the crop though.
What you say sounds like Truth to me. I had an experience (not really personal, more observing) with deputies in a small town in TX that def opened my eyes. Another experience in a large town in TX involving city cops that did the same!
Don’t apologize. Knowledge is power. I appreciate the insight.