“except when they are asleep because that’s the only free time they have when they are not working”
I happen to know a couple of good cops. They’re smart enough to do the job in a professional manner when they’re on duty and they keep their opinions to themselves until they’re off duty.
Cops in my town work 8 hour shifts just like us regular schlubs. OT is voluntary. Even the Chicago cop I know has plenty of time off. He just got back from a 2 week bird hunting trip to Nebraska.
“Stating that cop can not expect privacy when on the job is the same as saying that you’d rather have the violence in society than give cops the opportunity to blow off steam when they are working.”
No, it isn’t. My employer doesn’t let me “blow off steam” during my work day. I routinely work 50-60 hours a week, more when I’m traveling. When I’m on the clock I’m expected, no I’m required, to conduct myself in a professional manner at all times on pain of termination of employment.
I don’t get to mock customers who’ve made stupid mistakes while I’m on the job site, especially not out loud over company owned equipment. That’s for after work when I’m talking to my wife, my friends, or my bartender.
I expect, no I demand, professionalism from the cops I pay for. They are, quite rightly, held to a higher standard. In the private sector I can always find another provider of whatever product or service I’m looking for. You can’t do that with cops.
“Any organization is only as good as the worst psycho they tolerate in their ranks.”
This cop needs a serious attitude adjustment. And I sincerely hope he gets it. Perhaps he’s salvageable. If he is, great. If he’s not he needs to go and go now. How this recording got released is pretty much irrelevant at this point. He was mocking a dead woman who’d been killed by another cop. He did it publicly on the taxpayer dime.
That is completely unacceptable behavior. Now the family of this poor dead girl has to see the callous behavior this chucklehead engaged in over and over again. If he has a shred of honor or dignity about him he will apologize loudly and publicly and then go get some professional help.
He obviously needs it.
L
You only know these cops when they aren’t working. Have you ridden along with them when they have to do their job under the worst circumstances? You don’t know your friends as well as you think, because you’re not with them when they are under constant of having to deal with abused children, murdered children, abused animals, the same pile of trash ever single day. I can guarantee you that, to get through their day, they are saying inappropriate that would burn your virgin ears.
I work with the police. I have some insight as to the kinds of cases they have to deal with daily, if they are working in the city.
Cops generally work 12 hour shifts. 4-on and 4-off. That’s pretty standard for most cops that don’t work in small towns. That’s not overtime. That is their standard schedule where I am. When they are working, it’s work and sleep and food. There is no off-time during their on-schedule.
Yes, when they are dealing with the public they should be professional. I am in agreement with you there. However, when they can have a moment of privacy and dealing with other cops or dispatchers, it’s unreasonable when officers, are not dealing with the public, to have to use controlled language.
You are not rescuing children or other vulnerable people from abused situations. Whatever your work is, it is not as deadly to your soul as a cop’s job is.
You don’t speak like a priest when in your car and whatever, but you want the cops to do that. Professionalism with the public, sure. Between themselves, I don’t care. If I were part of a civilian board with this complaint, and it was during a moment between themselves, I would vote on the side of the cop.
Again, your expectations is why 1000 people die every year in Chicago because cops are damned I do not doubt that you’d rather have all the terrible things in society that you can imagine happen, then cops who use salty language or terrible jokes during moments of privacy. That’s a messed up priority system, but you are free to have that. Just don’t complain if nobody is around to rescue the vulnerable because I will point out to you that was your preference, no cops vs salty cops. I will make a point of remembering this and I will watch for you to ask, ‘Where were the police?”