Alright. I really feel i need to get this off my chest cause of many Comments i seen and Judgement Against The Police in the United States and just to Clear things up... :) This is a Friendly Chat nothing Against anyone/Views about the Department!

 

        I live in new york and seen the bad and the good. And i must say Being a Police officer Is not a easy job. Alot of people always want to say or Scream out Police Brutality When something happens. The Difference with Police Officers and the Criminals is Rules. Police Officers Have to Follow Chain of command and Rules... As for Criminals well. There isn't no rules matter of fact the United State laws is to protect the Criminals not the Right . Sad to say But True. For example In the US Police have to Deal with Stress , Trouble Makers , Getting Sued , Who have guns, Who have Connections , and number one the Unknown that can happen.. For example. a Police officer Stops a Kid and the Kid Pulls out the weapon and Aim at the cop. the cop Kills the Kid.... with 4 to 5 Bullets...Now people blame the cop but never stated kid is wrong for having a Loaded weapon. now Put Your mind set in the officer Position. What if that was you. and all you see is a kid. with a handgun Getting ready to shoot. you have 1 second to think and make a Action. which you must deal with ( Stress , OMG OMG OMG , Aiming , Is there people around the suspect, Will the suspect Shot me first, Will i miss and kill someone , and so on, 1 second to think and make a Action. Sadly out of 100 people only 5 to 6 people will see what the cop have to go thru. As for the Kid Its pretty Simple. Shoot and Kill and run....Not thinking.... in this case alot of people said the cop was wrong... 

          What i have notice also is when a police officer do a good deed and there job no one really care or to even give respect to a police officer for what he have done. for example a cop in NY bought a homeless man a pair of Boots and socks,,,, 1 Ny police officers Died to save a person in a burning Building and 1 injured.. i even witness police officers Helping the elders cross the street . Hell i even seen officers let people go for driving without a license and giving them a chance to get home and park without jail. or even a ticket..... Again im a Tow truck driver and i see alot of things on the road and it hurts to see people Bad talk the police that serve and protect for us to keep the street Save....

 

 

(just a side now )

 

I know there is alot of Cops that Ends up Abusing power or Acting like a Dick but just think about it. They wasn't like that when they started. Because of months/days of Abuse they end up being more Aggressive. Its not a Excuss for a police office to Abuse someone. 100 percent noT but cops are people and at times need Help to d eal with there Issues as well..... Being a cop is a Great thing but its very Demanding on your life /Family.....

 

Anyways I just felt i needed to express how i feel and would like other people to Express how they feel as well..

I'll be honest, I stopped reading half way through because it felt like a lecture.

I hate people who don't catch onto things OP said and just ignore everything LEO's go through, then jump in to bash them ASAP for doing something totally justified.

I'll be honest, I stopped reading half way through because it felt like a lecture.

 

I didn't mean for it to sound like a Lecture but it was just something i kinda felt that needed to be said. you know... anyways its just to inform people more about what US police go thru thats all!

I have to believe it's a tough job sometimes, just like any profession.  Cops are professionals, and should have the training necessary to learn and maintain their professional conduct and what is expected by the brass, and most importantly the citizens.  After all, they literally work for us; The Citizens.

 

I think cops have way too much "authority" as it is in the US, and this authority is growing in leaps and bounds.  One huge issue I have is that they definitely shouldn't be running around the streets with M4s (Posse Comitatus Act prohibits this) or other military grade long arms.  Shotguns are fine but why the M4s (rhetorical question)?  These types of firearms are not necessary in day-to-day patrols, but that's not to say they are never needed either...but so rare is the case that this is not a typical scenario.  

 

They don't need APCs or drones either, every damn department having a SWAT team: crazy...it's getting to be a police state over here and American's don't like authority in their grill all the time, it's inbred into our DNA here, to "live free or die trying".

 

I do respect the police and what they do though.  They don't make very much money at all, and have a potential of getting killed every day...so kudos to the good cops out there, they are the majority.  I just disagree with many policy's trying to be implemented over here in the US.

 

EDIT: one thing I have noticed though, the officers seem to love what they do, regardless of the low wages....it seems like it's be a fun job.

 

Anyhow, my $0.02 worth.

 

DrDetroit

 

 

Edited May 7, 201411 yr by drdetroit

I think cops have way too much "authority" as it is in the US, and this authority is growing in leaps and bounds.  One huge issue I have is that they definitely shouldn't be running around the streets with M4s (Posse Comitatus Act prohibits this) or other military grade long arms.  Shotguns are fine but why the M4s (rhetorical question)?  These types of firearms are not necessary in day-to-day patrols, but that's not to say they are never needed either...but so rare is the case that this is not a typical scenario.  

 

Not exactly so. Long guns have begun appearing more commonly used by perps, leaving law enforcers in need of much greater firepower and range to neutralize the threat than what a service pistol or their shotgun may have. Incidents such as the North Hollywood bank robbery, Chris Dorner manhunt and many others in between have proven that it is necessary to have patrols carry this caliber of weaponry with them to prepare them for such situations. Since these LEO's are also trained to use them, long guns have become a valuable tool when tac units aren't there to help patrols.

 

 

They don't need APCs or drones either, every damn department having a SWAT team: crazy...it's getting to be a police state over here and American's don't like authority in their grill all the time, it's inbred into our DNA here, to "live free or die trying".

 

But yes they do. APC's are a great tool for getting law enforcers where they need to be SAFE when they're under a big threat. They aren't that commonly mobilized too, but when they are, it's for their best. Drones? I can imagine they're a great tool for tracking down perps on the run. They're not your military type drones armed with missiles by the way as a lot seem to think for some reason. Not every department does have SWAT. Why a lot do though is understandable, violence in the states isn't that rare and larger incidents that require tactical intervention are bound to happen more easily and they do, SWAT teams are highly essential even if they're on stand-by.

 

People don't get most of the stuff is implented for officer safety. Like any firefighter or military soldier is granted equipment for their safety, so are the police. They shouldn't differ from it at all. Because of violence dangerous in nature is all too common and criminals have access to weaponry dealing damage in great lenghts, law enforcement agencies must have the upper hand.

I read the first sentence.. I think everyone knows a cops job is difficult but it's not the most difficult job in the world.. now I WISH people would put aside their obsession over cops.. what about a truck driver? they spend months away from their families so you can eat & have clothing, what about a tow truck driver that gets up at 3am just because your drunk ass couldn't give his friend the keys and sleep it off and wrap your car around a pole killing himself & his girlfriend.. what about the tow truck operator that has to flip that car over so fire can cut the bodies out? reading this stuff gets old.. & is old.. all of these jobs are thankless jobs, so gets used to it, people just don't care & watch WAY too much T.V.

 

EDIT: So I noticed your a Tow Operator as well, so YOU understand the long hours we spend from our home, many nights leaving the wife/girlfriend home in bed alone, getting home going to bed when she's going to work, cops work their shifts and go home.

Edited May 7, 201411 yr by Slimory

I think everyone knows a cops job is difficult

 

You'd be surprised.

 

And no one here is saying it's the most difficult job or important, I know I don't think it is. I appreciate all everyday jobs, a society wouldn't functions without majority of them. I can safely say though that all emergency service personnel are working one of the more toughest and important jobs in society.

 

I read the first sentence.. I think everyone knows a cops job is difficult but it's not the most difficult job in the world.. now I WISH people would put aside their obsession over cops.. what about a truck driver? they spend months away from their families so you can eat & have clothing, what about a tow truck driver that gets up at 3am just because your drunk ass couldn't give his friend the keys and sleep it off and wrap your car around a pole killing himself & his girlfriend.. what about the tow truck operator that has to flip that car over so fire can cut the bodies out? reading this stuff gets old.. & is old.. all of these jobs are thankless jobs, so gets used to it, people just don't care & watch WAY too much T.V.

 

 

You are correct for sure Slimmory.  I think every job has it's stresses and disappointments, the usual ups and downs.  I know mine does....love it, hate it...love it, hate it. Stress...stress...Stress...

 

Truck drivers in general have their own sacrifices as well.  My buddy got into that profession, so did my uncle.  My buddy hates it, but my uncle loved it but had to retire.

 

I have to respectfully agree/disagree with Olanov.  Most of those cases you sight are very rare and extreme examples.  In my mind those examples don't warrant every cop being a para-military soldier; cops are 'peace' officers, not a military organization (Hence thePosseComitatus Act.). 

 

Those firearms are meant to kill with the highest efficiency possible, which a soldier needs...a cop's job is to protect and serve, they don't need tools to kill efficiently.  Very rare are there out-and-out gun fights, if you take into account all the millions of stops/contact cops make every day.

 

However I do agree we need to make sure the police do have the necessary tools to make it  through their shifts and get home safely.  In high-crime areas (like Detroit), I can see this being a necessary issued weapon, but not even sure about that...but not  in the trunk of a PI in Troy or Birmingham (high income, very low crime areas of Metro Detroit).

 

 

Good day!

 

DrDetroit

Edited May 7, 201411 yr by drdetroit

I have to respectfully agree/disagree with Olanov.  Most of those cases you sight are very rare and extreme examples.  In my mind those examples don't warrant every cop being a para-military soldier.  They are 'peace' officers.  Those firearms are meant to kill with the highest efficiency possible, which a soldier needs...a cop's job is to protect and serve, they don't need tools to kill efficiently.  Very rare are there out-and-out gun fights, if you take into account all the millions of stops/contact cops make every day.

 

Gunfights sure are rarer than usual contact, but they also happen all too often. Sadly with the amount of assault rifles out there, police also find themselves more outgunned than before. We're talking about the kind of weaponry that can go through vehicles, vests, houses. It's just the fact criminals have too easy access to the type of firepower.

 

 

This is the kind of shit that is the on the rise. Criminals aren't getting all dumber. There's been quite a few cases now where they have ambushed officers with such weapons or used them to literally hunt LEO's down. Even a lot of the mass shootings have been conducted with the firewpower.

 

Yeah, they are peace officers and they do protect and serve, but there are a lot of people out there who don't care about that and want to take the fight to the police and increasingly with the firepower mentioned earlier. Fact is, police need the assault rifles whether you like it or not. Should give you a good reading about the issue at hand: http://csgv.org/resources/2013/what-law-enforcement-says-about-assault-weapons/

Edited May 7, 201411 yr by Olanov

Okay....

 

Who cares what other people think? if you let these "cop haters" get to you, have a fun career in anything but police work, because if you let it get to you don't become a cop.

 

Second

 

Cops don't shoot to kill, they shoot to stop the threat, when someone was shot 9 times that's because it probably took 9 times for them to stop moving and reaching for their gun.

 

This isn't the movies, one bullet doesn't stop someone, unless its right between the eyes, usually takes more then a couple to stop someone specially if there on some drug.

 

If you ever want to have a successful carrier in law enforcement, can't let this stuff get to you, because if you say one stupid thing your entire carrier is over, you only have one chance to be a cop. If you get fired you're never going to be hired again.  Keep this in mind, a owner of a basket ball team got banned for like, lost his team, and fined over a million dollars, for saying something stupid. Just imagaing what will happen to you if you say something stupid as a cop.

 

 

Edited May 7, 201411 yr by Darkangel

I do have to agree with Olanov here.

It does seem that they are getting necessary in the increasingly more common cases of criminals with high end weaponry breaking the law.

And it's not like the Officers take out the M4s on every stop.

 

If you're concerned about the AR15s mostly gathering dust in the boot of the vehicle, then I think it's worth it, just in case that next traffic stop has a wanted (or unwanted...yet) criminal with a M4 or such a weapon with him & hates police.

People just give the police all kinds of sht, no matter what they do.
I bet you if there happens one incident where a officer was killed by a person with a AK, they'll blame the officer because he either, didn't have the appropriate weapon to counter the AK, didn't have the "correct" training, or he deserved it because he was a "pig".

 

Officers do only enough that is necessary to maintain peace & ensure the safety of everyone in almost any situation.

They are our Front line of defense against crime.
If the front line of defense is armed with just a pistol (against enemy's having a AK, M16, etc.) then it doesn't matter what your 2nd or 3rd line of defense has (SWAT, etc.), you still lose lives in your front line.

EDIT: Changed all M4 text referring to police issued M4 to AR15.

Apparently, me mixing the two up makes me an idiot & I have to shut up now. So....yeah, last post on this topic from me (or will it be?)

Edited May 7, 201411 yr by Rocking_Star101

I do have to agree with Olanov here.

It does seem that they are getting necessary in the increasingly more common cases of criminals with high end weaponry breaking the law.

And it's not like the Officers take out the M4s on every stop.

 

If you're concerned about the M4s mostly gathering dust in the boot of the vehicle, then I think it's worth it, just in case that next traffic stop has a wanted (or unwanted...yet) criminal with another M4 or such a weapon with him & hates police.

People just give the police all kinds of sht, no matter what they do.

I bet you if there happens one incident where a officer was killed by a person with a AK, they'll blame the officer because he either, didn't have the appropriate weapon to counter the AK, didn't have the "correct" training, or he deserved it because he was a "pig".

 

Officers do only enough that is necessary to maintain peace & ensure the safety of everyone in almost any situation.

They are our Front line of defense against crime.

If the front line of defense is armed with just a pistol (against enemy's having a AK, M16, etc.) then it doesn't matter what your 2nd or 3rd line of defense has (SWAT, etc.), you still lose lives in your front line.

 

Please. Stop.

 

Doesn't matter what type of weapon you have unless you know how to use it. Nearly all fire fights involving police officers were with in 7 feet, could have a machine gun doesn't mean your going to be assessing the threat anymore quicker then a officer with his side arm.

 

Second cops don't use m4's they use AR-15s they're very different guns. You need a special permit in almost every (or every) US state to legally own a rapid fire weapon (burst or full auto.) 99.99% of rifles you see in licensed gun stores are simi automatic only. Let me say this again, cops use AR-15s (m4a1 is a military issued rifle) and the public doesn't have legal access to fully automatic weapons unless they have a special permit.(which is pretty hard to get)  

Reminds me of how often I've seen people confuse the two. Lol.

Well, the point I was trying to make was, all of these jobs are very much so thankless jobs, they are difficult & occationally hard to stomache.. these jobs, Police, Fire, EMS, Towing all fall under the category of an Emergency Service, but Towing, people see you as a nuisance more often then not, we are killed on roadside more then Police, Fire & EMS combined every year, people should respect each of these jobs as a whole, it's people that make these jobs difficult because they are too busy in their car talking on the phone, eating etc to even care about an Emergency.

they definitely shouldn't be running around the streets with M4s (Posse Comitatus Act prohibits this)

Posse Comitatus says absolutely nothing of the kind. It says that members of federal military forces, aside from the Coast Guard, may not enforce the law unless Congress has specifically authorized it (e.g. in cases of insurrection, which is why Eisenhower sent federal troops to enforce school integration, and why the military can intervene in riots). It says nothing at all that even remotely relates to the *style* of enforcement. The key thing is "federal": a state's National Guard, when not under federal control, is perfectly allowed to enforce laws. States can have their own *military* personnel, in regularly organized National Guard units, enforce the laws whenever they damn well please. It cannot *possibly* be interpreted to say "military-style weapons aren't allowed for civilian police".

Posse Comitatus says absolutely nothing of the kind. It says that members of federal military forces, aside from the Coast Guard, may not enforce the law unless Congress has specifically authorized it (e.g. in cases of insurrection, which is why Eisenhower sent federal troops to enforce school integration, and why the military can intervene in riots). It says nothing at all that even remotely relates to the *style* of enforcement. The key thing is "federal": a state's National Guard, when not under federal control, is perfectly allowed to enforce laws. States can have their own *military* personnel, in regularly organized National Guard units, enforce the laws whenever they damn well please. It cannot *possibly* be interpreted to say "military-style weapons aren't allowed for civilian police".

 

The Posse Comitatus Act is to prevent military from acting as police, basically...you are 100% correct.  So my point, and I may have not presented it well, is that if it quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, swims like a duck; it's a duck.  The police use, train, and act as a para-military style organization...or heading in the direction quickly, so they are a para-military organization; no?

 

In other words, and in my opinion, the cops are using gear and training as a para-military organization would (i.e;swat or the other rapid response teams, even some of this training/gear for the patrolman).  This is where I say the Posse Comitatus Act is being violated.  

 

I'm not sure if it's ever been tested in the Federal Courts...but all you have to do is look at these guys to understand they ain't just "peace" officers.  Take a look at the BLM in Nevada for example.  You'd think you're in Iraq or Afghanistan.  That is where the police violate said act.

 

Anyhow, I get your point and agree with it on it's face.  Dig deeper and you should understand where I'm coming from.

 

Good day!

 

DrDetroit

I really like this topic, because i think it's a pretty important subject to discuss.

Of course with me living in Germany i can't really speak from any experience standpoint whatsoever about U.S Law Enforcement Officers.

 

Personally i do believe that it's a tough and hard Job. Especially when you're doing it in the U.S.

I think people shouldn't judge Officers just because they where a Uniform and a Badge. Everyone is different. Just because somebody with a Uniform gave you a hard time and maybe was acting like an asshole in the past. You shouldn't assume that every other Cop out there is an asshole too.

 

Like Olanov said in another Topic somewhere. "There are Cops and there a Pigs" I agree with that Statement alot. Of Course there a Pigs out there abusing their Power, but there a also good Cops out there helping people and doing their job the best as they can.