| albertarc |
A POLICE OFFICER SPEAKS (The author of this article was Trooper Mitchell Brown of the Virginia State Police. More about him at the end of the article.)
Well, Mr. Citizen, it seems you've figured me out. I fit neatly into the category where you've placed me. I'm stereotyped, standardized, characterized, classified, grouped, and always typical.
Unfortunately, the reverse is true. I can never figure you out. From birth, you teach your children that I'm the bogeyman, then you're shocked when they identify with my traditional enemy ... the criminal! You accuse me of coddling criminals ... until I catch your kids doing wrong.
You may take an hour for lunch and several coffee breaks each day, but point me out as a loafer for having one cup. You pride yourself on your manners, but think nothing of disrupting my meals with your troubles. You raise Cain with the guy who cuts you off in traffic, but let me catch you doing the same thing and I'm picking on you. You know all the traffic laws ... but you've never gotten a single ticket you deserve.
You shout "foul" if you observe me driving fast to a call, but raise the roof if I take more than ten seconds to respond to your complaint. You call it part of my job if someone strikes me, but call it police brutality if I strike back. You wouldn't think of telling your dentist how to pull a tooth or your doctor how to take out an appendix, yet you are always willing to give me pointers on the law. You talk to me in a manner that would get you a bloody nose from anyone else, but expect me to take it without batting an eye.
You yell that something's got to be done to fight crime, but you can't be bothered to get involved. You have no use for me at all, but of course it's OK if I change a flat for your wife, deliver your child in the back of the patrol car, or perhaps save your son's life with mouth to mouth breathing, or work many hours overtime looking for your lost daughter.
So, Mr. Citizen, you can stand there on your soapbox and rant and rave about the way I do my work, calling me every name in the book, but never stop to think that your property, family, or maybe even your life depends on me or one of my buddies.
Yes, Mr. Citizen, it's me ... the cop!
The author of this article was Trooper Mitchell Brown of the Virginia State Police. He was killed in the line of duty two months after writing the article. As a salute to the millions of police officers who put their lives on the line for us everyday.
:mellow: |
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| Pro Drag |
| Policing a society is truly a thankless job, my hat's off to those who risk their live's daily. :bigthumbup: |
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| MightyMidget |
I have read this before.........It is SO true.......but when i see it again and again I will re read it every time....
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| RezaREX |
| It does make you think. I do understand that with the amount of power and responsibility a police officer carries it is obviously very difficult to walk the fine line of being a respectable law enforcer doing his/her job rather than a jerk on a power trip. I just wish there more officers like you Jim to set a better example of how an officer of the law should properly and tactfully conduct him/herself. Thankfully I have yet to run into a cop who hasn't treated me with the respect I deserve. *crosses fingers* But hearing all these horror stories is sure gonna make me cringe in fear the next time I see red and blue in my rear view. I'm just assuming I'll get pulled over again for no apparent reason as it has happened before. Sure its a hassle and uncalled for but my experiences were heavenly compared to some I've read. |
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| dogstar |
there are some officers out there with more class and dignity than all the gentry in the world, then...
there are cops who need to be taken out and thrashed, as they give the other fine law enforcement officials a bad name.
do notice, i called them different names, officers and cops, because they are different types of people (yes, police are people too)
pray that when you are stopped, it is by an upstanding officer of the law and not some jerk cop.
no offence to you jimbo, if you prefer the term cop, but i figure officer is rather more respectful, and hence use it as a superlative term. |
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| SlowAzzPorsche911T |
| Well Kudos to you officers out there risking your neck everyday... One thing I gotta ask Cst. Flack is... is it true only 1 police officer was killed in duty during a bank robbery shoot-out or something like that? People need to respect someone for what they do... be it a bank teller or a guy pumping your gas.. people make mistakes and I get a kick outta someone yelling at a teller for a little mess-up. Do they come to your work and yell at you? How bout cops... do they come to your work and call you derogatory names? One or two bad experiences with the police shouldn't tarnish your relationship with them.... I've had some bad run-in's and had nice cops.. let me off easy... When I coulda been thrown in jail for a few years, car been impounded a lot more then once... you're not lucky when a cop lets you off... it's the cops discretion so lemme take the time to thank all the cops out there who have a heart.. Be nice and be respectful to a police officer and they'll treat you in the same manner |
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| Nightstalker |
When the cops catch me I just smile and think to my self.. 1 time in 100 is not that bad.. at least these cops have the guts to give me a ticket in person. I hate getting that stuff in the mail.. When a cop catches you do something just accept it, you made the choice to do something stupid. IMO..
Cops are not that bad, the only time they are going to hassle you is if you give them a reason to.. Sadly our hobby makes us a target because of the fact a lot of the guys do things with there cars that is against the law..
As long as your not a nazi cop I tip my cup to you =) |
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| BlueTurboEGG |
quote:
Originally posted by dogstar@Jan 22 2003, 12:18 AM
there are some officers out there with more class and dignity than all the gentry in the world, then...
there are cops who need to be taken out and thrashed, as they give the other fine law enforcement officials a bad name.
do notice, i called them different names, officers and cops, because they are different types of people (yes, police are people too)
pray that when you are stopped, it is by an upstanding officer of the law and not some jerk cop.
no offence to you jimbo, if you prefer the term cop, but i figure officer is rather more respectful, and hence use it as a superlative term.
Couldn't have said it any better.
In all walks of life, there are those who exude Class and those walk with trash.
Don't let the actions of some ruin it for everyone else. |
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| midnite |
i give full respect to any police officer that approaches me, and i'd say 95% of the time i get that respect back.
i know there are a few that are evil and powertrip and try to push us down, and it's unfortunate they bring down the reputation of all other officers with them. but there are people like that in any profession and i'd say the majority of officers that i've talked to are good people. |
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| turbomike |
I agree with all of you... I try to give out the respect...
getting a gun pointed at me for watching a street race is alittle much...
I guess if i wasn't there it wouldn't of happined...
Keep up the good work Jim.............
somthing to think about.......... |
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| Sol Man |
| I know Im old on this one..but I like that |
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| SuperJay |
| Well, that's sadly part of the job and if he can't/couldn't handle it, maybe he should have quit or not even joined the force. It's not like cops don't know people dislike them before they join. Hell before they were officers of the law, they probably hated the cops as much as anybody else! |
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| albertarc |
quote:
Originally posted by SlowAzzPorsche911T@Jan 22 2003, 07:36 AM
Well Kudos to you officers out there risking your neck everyday... One thing I gotta ask Cst. Flack is... is it true only 1 police officer was killed in duty during a bank robbery shoot-out or something like that?
Boy am I ever slow on the ball for this question! Matt if you read this maybe explain a little more the context of the inquiry ... general question or a specific incident? :mellow:
Jimbo |
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| albertarc |
quote:
Originally posted by dogstar@Jan 22 2003, 12:18 AM
no offence to you jimbo, if you prefer the term cop, but i figure officer is rather more respectful, and hence use it as a superlative term.
I do prefer the term officer more but I also don't make a really big deal about some of the other names that are flying around such as cop / flat foot etc. Now if you start calling me a pastry taste testing technologist ... well now that isn't called for!!!!! :P
Jimbo B) |
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| PraxRX7 |
speaking of which, one of these nights we should have a "meet cst Flack" night...
Just tell us when you get a coffee break and we can come join ya! (although I am sure it isn't as simple as a specific time or place...) |
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| Casanova |
| Alot of the cops ive come across have been pretty aggressive and rude at first. But i think its just because they just expect it especially from a young person. Usually speaking respectfully and being polite softens their attitude towards you. It's just like anybody speaking calmly to someone generally calms them down. Police Officers should have a bit more of a sense of humor though like My high school cop used to laugh when id threaten the "Crime Stoppers Club" members as a joke. hehe :bigthumbup: |
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| Z3r03rr0r |
| I have to agree with almost everything everone else has said already. It's pretty simple though if you break a law expect to get caught, if you don't be thankful. Whether or not you agree with that law is besides the point, the officers are there to enforce the law because it is their job even if they don't agree with it. just my 2 cents |
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| SuperJay |
| yeah but what really gets on my nerves is when the cops/officers are out enforcing laws that aren't bad. They can give me a tinted window ticket, meanwhile theres a pedophile or killer on the loose and this cops is worried about my windows?!?!?!? Prioritization should become more of a factor with the EPS, unless making money is the number 1 priority, which I now believe it to be. |
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| Pro Drag |
quote:
Originally posted by inglewood@May 19 2003, 11:26 AM
quote:
Originally posted by SuperJay@May 18 2003, 08:40 PM
yeah but what really gets on my nerves is when the cops/officers are out enforcing laws that aren't bad. They can give me a tinted window ticket, meanwhile theres a pedophile or killer on the loose and this cops is worried about my windows?!?!?!? Prioritization should become more of a factor with the EPS, unless making money is the number 1 priority, which I now believe it to be.
i suppose...but they do have different divisions to enforce different laws, right?
BINGO! inglewood. |
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| SuperJay |
| they obviously do have different divisions, but I feel that they aren't prioritizing well enough. All they wanna do is make money. To me it seems like they don't give two shits about real crime and would rather go out and target crimes that make them money. This is very apparent when you look at the amount fines have risen (which are in effect tomorrow by the way). It's like they only give a shit about the highway traffic act. That's where all the bling bling is. I feel like I live in a communist country. If you take a look at the HTA you'll feel like it too. Theres a ticket they can give you for "leaving your door open" I saw it, it exists. gimme a break, the cops got too much power and it makes me sick. |
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| SuperJay |
inglewood
Why do you stick up for them, you really think the next cop that pulls you over is gonna give a shit about you??? Think again my friend, your a target just as much or more than I am. |
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| Pro Drag |
How many deaths are caused a year by motor vehicle related accidents?
How many people are killed or injured in road crashes each year?
2,917 people were killed and 227,500 were injured in road crashes in Canada during 2000 (the most recent year for which official statistics are available).
Source: Transport Canada - 2000 Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics
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What is the annual estimated cost of road crashes in Canada?
The economic and social consequences of road crashes are profound – estimated to be $25 billion a year. This figure includes not only the direct and indirect costs but the estimated costs of pain and suffering.
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For which age groups are road crashes the leading cause of death?
Road crashes are the leading cause of death for persons age 10 to 24.
Source: Transport Canada – Child Injury Division, Health Protection Branch, Health Canada
What define's real crime in your books? |
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| MightyMidget |
quote:
Originally posted by inglewood@May 19 2003, 10:26 AM
i suppose...but they do have different divisions to enforce different laws, right?
well kinda yes.....the EPS has MANY MANY different divisions and sections......a few for example
economic crime
traffic
patrol
ident
tactical
S.O.S Serious Offenders Section
CARRT Child at risk responce team
human resources
gang
auto theft
street crimes
CIS
arrest processing unit
and many many more
yes there are pedophile around but thats not the point....ITS THEIR JOBS AND yuo dont realize how much they really have to do and "stuff" they have to know......they have the criminal code, all the different provincial statutes (HTA, MVAA, MHA etc)
They do ticket for tinited windows and other such "stupid""dumb"...what ever you call them....they are for a reason....we had a very very long discussion about tinted windows a while ago...search for it and give it a read.......dont be so damning until you have actuallt put yourself in their shoes.....
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| Spike7ss |
quote:
Originally posted by SuperJay@May 19 2003, 05:50 PM
inglewood
Why do you stick up for them, you really think the next cop that pulls you over is gonna give a shit about you??? Think again my friend, your a target just as much or more than I am.
You are a target because you make yourself one, if you follow by the laws that are set out to be followed, you should have no reason to be pulled over, weather its how you drive or what you have done to your vehicle, but thats my opinion. :dunno: :dunno: |
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| SuperJay |
| well it's my car and I will do what I want with it. And I'm sure if there was money to be made by catching Pedophiles... The EPS would be all over it. And if the EPS has "so much" to enforce then why are my windows or exhaust or missing amber corner such a concern. And about your statistics on how many people die every year on the highway blah blah blah, I'm aware of that and it's my choice weither or not I want to drive or not. But of all the stated amounts of deaths and their causes, how many do you think were caused by someone for example "not having amber reflectors on the front of the vehicle" I'll tell you, zero. A real crime to me would be something like an assult or armed robbery etc, violent serious crimes. But hey man, whatever floats your boat. I'm not fond of cops never have been and never will be. There have been cases when I have needed them and they never bothered, like you said "it's their job" well whenever I needed their assistance in the past, they weren't quite doing "their job" were they? But they got no problem "doing their job" if they can make money at it. It's a free country (at least they say it is) and I'm entitled to my opinion, thanx. |
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| MightyMidget |
quote:
Originally posted by SuperJay@May 19 2003, 11:42 PM
well it's my car and I will do what I want with it. And I'm sure if there was money to be made by catching Pedophiles... The EPS would be all over it. And if the EPS has "so much" to enforce then why are my windows or exhaust or missing amber corner such a concern. And about your statistics on how many people die every year on the highway blah blah blah, I'm aware of that and it's my choice weither or not I want to drive or not. But of all the stated amounts of deaths and their causes, how many do you think were caused by someone for example "not having amber reflectors on the front of the vehicle" I'll tell you, zero. A real crime to me would be something like an assult or armed robbery etc, violent serious crimes. But hey man, whatever floats your boat. I'm not fond of cops never have been and never will be. There have been cases when I have needed them and they never bothered, like you said "it's their job" well whenever I needed their assistance in the past, they weren't quite doing "their job" were they? But they got no problem "doing their job" if they can make money at it. It's a free country (at least they say it is) and I'm entitled to my opinion, thanx.
first- :lol:
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| MightyMidget |
quote:
Originally posted by SuperJay@May 19 2003, 11:42 PM
, I'm aware of that and it's my choice weither or not I want to drive or not. But of all the stated amounts of deaths and their causes, how many do you think were caused by someone for example "not having amber reflectors on the front of the vehicle" I'll tell you, zero. A real crime to me would be something like an assult or armed robbery etc, violent serious crimes. But hey man, whatever floats your boat. I'm not fond of cops never have been and never will be. There have been cases when I have needed them and they never bothered, like you said "it's their job" well whenever I needed their assistance in the past, they weren't quite doing "their job" were they? But they got no problem "doing their job" if they can make money at it. It's a free country (at least they say it is) and I'm entitled to my opinion, thanx.
yes its your choice so dont friggin bitch at the world when YOUR choice lands you tickets for things that were YOUR choice. and remember that they are doing things like going to armed robberies and assaults....oh and every person I ve known that doesnt like cops has always been someone that is in trouble with them......I love cops and the job they do.....and I have NEVER EVER had a bad experience with the...and I have NEVER EVER been in trouble with the law.....and I like them......but then again thats the CHOICE i have made......
Its all common sense people.....it all about being RESPONSIBLE for your actions........GROW UP
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| MightyMidget |
quote:
Originally posted by Spike7ss@May 19 2003, 10:40 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SuperJay@May 19 2003, 05:50 PM
inglewood
Why do you stick up for them, you really think the next cop that pulls you over is gonna give a shit about you??? Think again my friend, your a target just as much or more than I am.
You are a target because you make yourself one, if you follow by the laws that are set out to be followed, you should have no reason to be pulled over, weather its how you drive or what you have done to your vehicle, but thats my opinion. :dunno: :dunno:
spike....
i couldn't have said it better myself :bigthumbup:
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| SuperJay |
| thanx I am grown up, I've never been in serious trouble with the cops, and when your bitch ass gets a ticket for something stupid, you won't like it either, Am I supposed to be HAPPY when I get a ticket? thanx I'm not a propped up nerd like yourself. Keep kissin ass buddy, maybe when you do get pulled over you can tell the cop how much you enjoy getting tickets and he might let you off..... :wtf: |
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| MightyMidget |
quote:
Originally posted by SuperJay@May 20 2003, 12:10 AM
thanx I am grown up, I've never been in serious trouble with the cops, and when your bitch ass gets a ticket for something stupid, you won't like it either, Am I supposed to be HAPPY when I get a ticket? thanx I'm not a propped up nerd like yourself. Keep kissin ass buddy, maybe when you do get pulled over you can tell the cop how much you enjoy getting tickets and he might let you off..... :wtf:
man you need to cool down......and well lets just say I CHOOSE to obey the law and so then I DON'T get tickets........like I said its quite simple........you CHOOSE to do that so suck it up when you dont like the outcome from YOUR actions......and ya grow up......
BTW I am not a nerd.......oh sorry a "propped up" nerd....sticks and stones buddy.....did I mention to grow up.....
BTW2- sniff sniff...I smell bacon....... :lol:
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| MightyMidget |
quote:
Originally posted by schlong69@May 20 2003, 12:25 AM
BTW2- sniff sniff...I smell bacon....... :lol:
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not me thats for sure.......
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| Helios |
Superjay,
reading wayyy back, I think you were first complaining that they went to give you a ticket for tinting your windows. But what if your were backing up and didnt see someone at night cause your windows were too damn dark?? I deal with the CPS day in and dayout at my job and I hear constantly about things around this city, and the shit THEY have to put up with. Unfortunetly your attitude about the cops reflects when you deal with them, you treat them like shit.. they wont be so damn nice to you either. I have never had a problem with them.
It is amazing on how when people get saved by them, you love em. But if they bust you, you hate em. ;) |
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| MightyMidget |
thats exactly what I have been saying teh whole time.....but watch out you will probably be called a "propped up nerd".......
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| inglewood |
quote:
Originally posted by SuperJay@May 19 2003, 05:50 PM
inglewood
Why do you stick up for them, you really think the next cop that pulls you over is gonna give a shit about you??? Think again my friend, your a target just as much or more than I am.
superjay, i'm not sticking up for anyone, i'm just trying to spark a bit of a MATURE discussion. i'm just pointing out the obvious, that's all. please dont think i'm attacking you, because i wasn't. yes, i've been at the hands of police officers in the past as well. yes tickets are unfair, but if you have a problem with the law, police can't change it, your politicians can...first place to start is with the political party in power right now. YOU have the power to exact change, if you don't like the fines, vote for the NDP, they're against high cost tickets, because it's unfair to the less fortunate they argue, so if that's what you want, vote for them. the power is in the voters, not the police. |
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| Al36rx7 |
To add a commemt when you are pulled over. If it is at night, turn on your interior light. When the officer can see what is in the car as he or she is approaching it. They will be more comfortable knowing someone is not pulling a gun on them. I would be surprised if they expected anyone to be happy to get a ticket, just do not spout off at the mouth..keep your smartass comments to yourself.
They are just doing their jobs, and yes I have recieved a few tickets where I thought they were unjust. But...I know how few times I was caught for things that I knew were against the law.
As mentioned earlier, policing is a fine line of enforcement versus a cop who tickets for kicks. |
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| Almost |
| I always say thank you whenever someone hands me anything, do it for tickets just out of habit... get's some funny looks from officers when i say thank you when they hand me a ticket...looks kind of like this... ;) |
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