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?”
“Have you ridden along with them when they have to do their job under the worst circumstances?”
Yes, I have. I volunteer for my town CERT team and work with the Fire Corps. Any other questions? I’ve done about half a dozen ride alongs over the last few years. Seen some nasty stuff, too. A dead kid hit by a drunk was about the worst. Although there was the drunken idiot who thought it would be a good idea to walk along railroad tracks at night. He was scattered for about 100 yards or so.
Once again, being inside a city owned vehicle talking on a City owned radio is NOT a situation where anyone has an expectation of privacy. I don’t understand why you can’t grasp that very simple fact. Every word he utters is subject to FOIA requests. That’s just the world we live in. And he should know that. If he didn’t that’s a very big problem.
Half the country right now is just waiting, cell phones in hand, for cops to screw up so they can yell “See! They’re all heartless ***holes!” And this bonehead handed them a perfect example on a silver platter. He should be disciplined for that alone if nothing else.
He’s made the job of every other cop on that Department more difficult because he didn’t use his head. THAT is the problem I have with him.
Is being a cop a tough job? Damned straight it is. Do they have to deal with the absolute dregs of society? Damned straight they do. Do they have to deal with decent people who are having the worst day of their lives? Once again, damned straight they do. THAT is exactly why cops need to be professional at ALL times while they’re on the clock.
Cops have a tremendous amount of power so they absolutely MUST be held to the highest standards of behavior. If they’re not then everyone suffers. The good cops who get compared to the boneheaded ones AND the public they’ve sworn to “serve and protect”. His behavior eroded the trust between the Department and the public. THAT is the problem here.
I don’t hate cops. We need good cops. Hell, we need a lot more good ones these days. But what we can’t have are cops who can’t keep their damned mouths shut when whats left of an innocent girl is being scraped off the bumper of a police car.
L