Cops...do we need to make changes?

['956Wheel]

I remember as a kid you respected most authority. The policemen were big guys who conducted themselves in a professional manner and thus, IMO, were supported by their community. Now, IMO, many law enforcement officers are little short people who seem to have an "axe to grind". Often their leadership is doing nothing bu beating morale to a subteranian position.



I am not in any way trying to start a big fire here, just looking for opinions. We cannot deny that "street justice" is on the rise and IMO this is due to the "fabric" of society coming apart.



Time to see other opinions on this one.



Mike



** The above is this members opinion and not that of the TDR or its owners/managers.

 

[mdlowry]

I think there are still quite a few out there that became LEOs because of a desire to help. I'm not so sure the same can be said for the chiefs or politicians in law enforcement.

We are becoming an over-legislated society. I suspect we are bordering on a police state if not there already. This type of society will have a tendency to attract people looking for power over others. There are enough laws out there that we have all broken some laws. Put in this position, when I see a police car in my rear view mirror, I have a bit of fear. I'm very concience of what I'm doing.

"Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We want them broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against - then
you'll know that this is not the age for beautiful gestures. We're after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you'd better get wise to it. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes
them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted - and you create a nation of law-breakers - and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Rearden, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with. "

from Atlas Shurgged by Ayn Rand

 

[Rob Thomas]

I think they should pay more attention to "real" criminals, and quit bothering with the "speeders" on the roads so much, not that I speed.



Everyday in the papers and on the news, there's real crimes to be attended to, and where are the cops, hidin' in the bushes, awaitin' speeders.



If they'd spend as much time trackin' the bad guys as they do trackin' speeders on the e-way, we would be better off, IMO of course.



BTW, I haven't have a speeding ticket in 2 years, I'm just makin' a point.



Later, Rob

 

[M Barnett]

I think the answers will depend where you live. I'm fortunate enough to live in a small community. We have great law enforcement, county, city and state.

Michael

 

[Briar Hopper]

It's not the cops. It's the system. Too many laws, and bad laws. Just as the other guys said above. I live in a heavily policed state. So much so, even my trooper friend has remarked on it several times to me. He detests the system as much as I do. Yet he'll pull me over if he catches me speeding. And he knows I'll recognize he has every right to do so.

It's hard to swim upstream to get stupid, unfavorable laws changed. BUT... ...

The rookies are the worst. Had a rookie trooper pull my boy over, he was driving my 2001 instead of his '94. I keep my insurance card in my wallet, none in the truck, kid didn't know that. (traffic busts in KY, y'all better have registration & proof of insurance handy) He opened the glove compartment , rookie wigs out when he sees my Wilson Combat . 45 ACP in there, draws iron on my kid, finger on the trigger and all that. The worst of it all, is it's the law I have to carry it in there, it can't be under the seat or elsewhere. Kid gets handcuffed, rookie calls in local reinforcements, they ALMOST searched my truck... ALMOST. Too bad they didn't, I'd have had grounds for a nice lawsuit. Rookie was carrying on, acting silly, doing the fainting act at seeing the Winchester Black Talons I keep it loaded with. Stupid, silly S. O. B.

That's the problem with the ones fresh out of the academy, they've been propagandized heavily, it takes a few years for reality and the influence of older, wiser troopers to take effect.

 

[mdlowry]

Originally posted by M Barnett
I think the answers will depend where you live. I'm fortunate enough to live in a small community. We have great law enforcement, county, city and state.
Michael

I grew up in the suburbs of Detriot. After I joined the Navy and left, I had more tickets there then anywhere else and I was only there for a couple of weeks a year at most! I'm beginning to wonder if they were paid on commission.

Things are better here.

 

[Snow man]

Rob,I agree that cops do not always spend their time on the most important details,but speeding is real problem here,a seroius one,especially in residential areas. I for one am happy to see an officer taking radar in my neighborhood,I feel its right where they should be,especially a since in the last 5 yrs, everyone is in in such a hurry,and stop signs seem to mean stop only i f you see a cop,or an oncoming car is in the way. We do ned better enforcement of the laws we have now. No new laws until we can enforce the ones we now have. I can say the biggest thing that concerns me is immigration,this is out of control here,So many illegal immigrants,all without licenses,drivng around on our roads,Juts like Briar Hopper said,its the system,not the cops,the system doesnt want to bother processing them. Briar,manys cop would have drawn on your son when that glovebox opened,he should have told the officer he was carrying upon being stopped( i know it wasnt his truck/gun in this case)but a cop doesnt know what he's up against with your son,until he has a few minutes to checkhim out. If you were in his shoes,and had seen what he seen,and maybe even lost a fellow officer to a drug thug or a similar incident,you may have drawn your gun too. My biggest gripe with cops driving is they all seem to tailgate(boy its tempting i want to smoke them out with the comp on 5/5 so bad .

 

[sdalton]

There are good Police officers and bad. Cops is concidered a derrogatory word among police officers, unless you yourself are a police officer and are using the word. I dont know why, but it is. It never offended me though.

A big part of the perception of the police comes from the media and their portayal and overblowing of a select few negative incidents. The good things a rarely shown.

I personnaly feel that police officers have been hamstrung lately by politics and political correctness, to the point of them being very limited in what they can do, or allowed to do.



It is easy to say let us overhaul the police system, and it is easy to rag on the system. But unless you have a better system in mind, it is the best and only one we have. For better or for worse, it has served us well to this point.

 

[The patriot]

Cops are for the most part OK here. I went to school with a lot of them in my town, so I dont get hassled for stupid stuff.

I never really thought of Kentucky as a police state?

Per capita, I think there are more cops in NJ than anywhere else.

I dont know if this is a good thing. I've personally known cops that robbed a bank, and stole from a dept store. (while they were supposed to be providing security) An idle mind really is the devils workshop. I'm not saying that every cop in NJ has too much time on his/her hands, just some.

Eric

 

[Warpig]

Originally posted by Rob Thomas

I think they should pay more attention to "real" criminals, and quit bothering with the "speeders" on the roads so much, not that I speed.



Everyday in the papers and on the news, there's real crimes to be attended to, and where are the cops, hidin' in the bushes, awaitin' speeders.



If they'd spend as much time trackin' the bad guys as they do trackin' speeders on the e-way, we would be better off, IMO of course.



BTW, I haven't have a speeding ticket in 2 years, I'm just makin' a point.



Later, Rob

If my memory serves my correctly Timothy Mcveigh (sp?) was stopped for "just speeding" Everyone in Law Enforcement has a job to do. I don't think the investigators of a Law Enforcement agency are hiding in bushes awaiting speeders.

Rob, I read alot of your posts, and you seem to be an intelligent guy, please think before you post .



Tim Wright

Sergeant Waterbury Police dept.

Waterbury, Ct.

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by sdalton

There are good Police officers and bad. Cops is concidered a derrogatory word among police officers, unless you yourself are a police officer and are using the word.

You sure about that? None of the officers I've known have taken offence to it at all. It's just an abbreviation for copper, the material early badges were made of.

 

[Rob Thomas]

Originally posted by TimWright





If my memory serves my correctly Timothy Mcveigh (sp?) was stopped for "just speeding" Everyone in Law Enforcement has a job to do. I don't think the investigators of a Law Enforcement agency are hiding in bushes awaiting speeders.

Rob, I read alot of your posts, and you seem to be an intelligent guy, please think before you post .



Tim Wright

Sergeant Waterbury Police dept.

Waterbury, Ct.

Tim, it was late last night when I posted, but I still stick to what I said. Timothy Mcveigh?, dont you think thats a little on the "not real common" side of speeders, an isolated incindent (sp?) to say the least.



And yes, they are hiding in the bushes waiting, I didnt make that up, they will sit on the on-ramps, 3, 4, 5, cars, with a "sniper" car shootin' you with radar or lazer, then send the catch cars after the speeders (for the most part).



I know everyone in law enforcement has a job to do, it just seems there's way to many on one job, and not enough on another.



Snowman,



Sorry, what I meant was on the e-way, and majior highways. I agree fully about residential speeders should be stopped. Where I work is on a residential dirt road, where they're are horses, dogs, people, and kids ALWAYS on the road, not to mention the elementary school 200 yards away from me. Do you know how many times I have called the local, and county sherrifs office? Alot, and I have yet to see ANY patrol here, I even stopped a cop one day, and told him that he could park on the side of my barn and wait for speeders. He declined, and went about his "business". Its a 25mph zone and MOST people that drive it are doin' 40+, and thats no BS, its a real problem here, with several people drivin' 50+ regularly. But no action has been takin', they will just bust us drivers on the interstate, where there isnt any stop-light or stop-signs, and everyone is goin' the same direction, doesnt make sense to me.



My point is that there is more important "crimes" to attend to, than people drivin' fast on the e-way.





Later, Rob

 

['956Wheel]

Bill, You are a conocopia (sp) of knowledge! I wonder how many knew that. . I did.



Now, lets face it, if you are sucure and confidant NOTHING can offend you. My buddy Chuck, retired LAPD, has a pig collection! It started as a little joke then took over... there are stuffed ones, ceramic wood you name it. P. I. G. Pride Integregity Guts.



I am in a suburb of L. A. and we are covered by LAPD, and the service is POOR. No it is not the officers fault, per se, but beating on kids is not and should not be tolerated EVER! It serves no purpose and only causes ill feelings... . and riots!



Mike

 

[Koa Man]

I live on a street up the road from the high school. Everyday before and after school, cars are whizzing by 40-50 mph and failing to stop at the 4 way stop sign. My wife had told the cops using laser 4 blocks away on the main highway about this several times. I have lived at my present location 10 years. Not once have I seen them on anywhere within my subdivision. They are usually out on the highway where the speed limit is set an artificially low 35 mph and most people travel 45.



I agree there are a lot of good cops out there, I just wish they would spend at least some time monitoring speeds in the residential roads where going 10-15 over is a REAL danger... not out on the main highway where no one is walking and kids aren't playing.

 

[Rob Thomas]

And one other thing,



About a year ago, on Saturday morning, about 7AM, I was drivin' through my town right behind a cop, just me and him, no one else around. The speed limit is 30mph, he's doin' 20mph, ALL the way through town, at the end of town he moves to a turning lane, no turn-signal BTW, so I jucie it (diesel) to get to the speed limit, he freaks, cuts back behind me and follows me, for THREE MILES. On my arse so I could barely see his lightbar in my mirrior, no doubt runnin' my plate. After his conclusion that I'm not a "criminal", he passes me on the right, cuts in front of me and does a u-turn, and heads back to town. All because HE was mad at me for goin' the speed limit, WTF. I'm sure they have better things to do than harass me.



Later, Rob

 

[R-N-R]

Dang shame that the 20:80 rule applies to the cops the same way that it seems to impact the rest of the world.



Rob, IMNSHO... your 3 mile'r was one of the 80%. More authority than maturity.

 

[sdalton]

Rob, you brought it on yourself by "juicing it" to get to the speed limit. There are laws against that. You yourself were antagonizing the situation with what you did, and brought negative attention to yourself when you knew a police officer was watching. I would have pulled you over and given you a talking to, about the juicing stunt. It was disrespectful and immature. Your attitute when pulled over would have then decided whether you would have received a ticket or not.



illflem: I do not get offended by the word "cop" but it is used in the same manner that "pig" is used by some. Some dont mean it as a term of disrespect and some do. I guess it depends on where you work.

 

[Pit Bull]

When I was a LEO in Overland Park Kansas they spent money up front. Background checks, psychological testing, meeting with a Psychologist, etc. Then you went through the certification training and then field training. We ended up with good Officers. The hard part was keeping them. Not enough pay, most would go on to Federal jobs or business positions.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Koa Man



My wife had told the cops using laser 4 blocks away on the main highway about this several times. I have lived at my present location 10 years. Not once have I seen them on anywhere within my subdivision.

Koa, your talking to the wrong people. Write a letter to the Chief of police and send it certified, state that you are afraid that a child will be killed because of the lack of enforcement at your location. You will get enforcement, big time!!!

 

[baby.driver]

The kidnapper was a fugitive ex-con with nothing to lose and would have killed and buried his victims if the deputies who fatally shot him hadn't arrived in time, Kern County Sheriff Carl Sparks told a Bakersfield news conference Friday.



"Those two girls are safe and I honestly believe they were probably 10 minutes away from being killed and buried out there somewhere in that ravine," Sparks said.



The investigation continued, but Sparks was certain of the kidnapper's intentions.



"He had already hurt the girls _ wasn't anything else to do there," the sheriff said. "He went to a remote area that he should have known he was going to be trapped in. ... I think ... . he recognized the helicopters and he said, 'I got to get rid of these girls. '

Three Cheers for the Kern County Deputy Sheriffs!!!