[Politicalmom]

Many of us wouldn't be so bitter if we didn't see the "little people" being prosecuted for things that the "elite" get away with.

I recently read a professional police message board, and the contempt shown for the average citizen was disgusting. And the
unspoken rule that no erring cop EVER is to be held accountable by other cops is absolutely horrifying.

[oneolcop]

I can't say what you say isn't true sometimes. Have you ever told an off-color or crude joke. Cop humor, venting, disdain for citizens is something we, who are professionals work against. BTW many "professional" police aren't PROFESSIONAL. Law enforcement officer are largely drawn from the lower middle class, they are frequently under-educated and sometimes not well trained. Have you personally had a bad experience, or are you relying on the word of others and on emotional need for life in a perfect place? There's no place like perfect.

That being said, I spent the vast majority of my career teaching and enforcing the service ethic to my subordinates. Perfect? Nope.

In another thread, I encouraged freepers to DEMAND professional service from their police departments. I would submit to you that you should do the same.

Statistically,a fraction of one percent of police contacts turn out negatively. I spent 21 years working for a large metropolitan police department. During that time, the department was frequently criticized for brutality, racism, etc. I worked in a black part of town, with gangs and other real bad guys. I never tolerated racism, rudeness, or any other kind of bad behavior. Are there bad cops? YES. Are there substandard law enforcement agencies at all levels? Yes. But not all cops are bad and not all agencies are bad. If you want bad, go to Mexico, Pakistan, Iran. You'll see bad.

When I was teaching democratic policing in the former Yugoslavia after the Bosnian War, I had a WOMAN police officer tell me that if a woman walks down a dark alley and gets raped, it's her fault. I call that bad. In Pakistan,when they want a person to confess, they put him in a room with a cobra and wait for him to confess. That's bad. Here, we could improve. But considering how bad it could be, it's not all bad.

My daughter chose a career in law enforcement. She's college educated, intelligent, dedicated to her profession. She is highly ethical and dedicated to public service. She's not bad. I urge you to engage, to talk to your elected officials if you have concerns, ask for a ride-along and see it through the eyes of the cops. To sit on the sidelines and chip at law enforcement is easy you may even find it emotionally satisfying. To engage is much harder and can be emotionally draining. Your choice.