Joined: 13 May 2011 Age: 55 Gender: Male Posts: 13,144 Location: The end of the northwest passage
15 Feb 2017, 7:40 pm
It's been about even. I always treat them with respect, and do what I can to keep them feeling safe. About half have been professional, and about half have not. It's a small sample, but it doesn't reassure me about their screening, training, or institutional culture.
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Joined: 24 Dec 2016 Age: 39 Gender: Male Posts: 126
15 Feb 2017, 8:44 pm
kraftiekortie wrote:
Usually, if you're not doing anything wrong, you won't get the attention of law enforcement.
A large number of people I know have had negative interactions with the police that have been instigated as acts of aggression. Some of my 'favourites':
-My father was beaten by police on several occasions in the '70s as a migrant worker just trying to make an honest living. -A friend of mine had his hand broken with a police baton while trying to remove himself from a (peaceful) protest -Another was tased for trying to retrieve his skateboard that was stuck under a fence -I have been stopped and searched based on my appearance several times and have been subject to illegal use of my data.
I don't believe for a moment that the institution of the police has the interests of the population at its core. Its agenda is dictated by government who have their own interests to protect. Meeting a good police officer doesn't change the fact that the organisation is fundamentally rotten.
Joined: 8 Mar 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 12,997 Location: Southeast U.S.A.
15 Feb 2017, 10:49 pm
None of the poll options really apply to me.
I have a general distrust of law enforcement as a whole. One on one, most of my dealings with them have been relatively positive. I have, however, observed a tendency in some of them to have to dominate every situation, even when it’s not a situation. The need to be the alpha dog taken to absurd levels.
They will go to great lengths to cover up thier transgressions. As a whole, they have mercenary values and will enforce without protest anything they are ordered to by their masters, and this is probably their most damning fault IMHO.
_________________ "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson
Joined: 27 May 2016 Gender: Female Posts: 686 Location: South-eastern Washington
16 Feb 2017, 9:11 am
Negative. I've avoided any issues with police because I'm a white woman and look kind and younger than I am, but I've observed plenty of s**t growing up in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood. Unduly violent, power tripping, cultish (god forbid you ever question something a police officer did to someone to another police officer, even if they don't know the officer in question) people. Police officers are indoctrinated honestly, I knew someone prior to becoming a police officer and could have rational discussions with them on police brutality and after they finished academy if you ever question anything an officer has done (even shooting a non violent, unarmed civilian) he starts immediately defending them and going "you have no idea what it's like to br a police officer they had a good reason for what they did."
The cultish indoctrination is the worst part imo, because they won't question and they won't speak out against officers who harm people. They not only defend them for on the job violence, but also for domestic abuse, which is incredibly high with officers.
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Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Age: 57 Gender: Male Posts: 3,986 Location: Frå Nord Dakota til Vermont
18 Feb 2017, 8:23 pm
Raptor wrote:
None of the poll options really apply to me.
I have a general distrust of law enforcement as a whole. One on one, most of my dealings with them have been relatively positive. I have, however, observed a tendency in some of them to have to dominate every situation, even when it’s not a situation. The need to be the alpha dog taken to absurd levels.
They will go to great lengths to cover up thier transgressions. As a whole, they have mercenary values and will enforce without protest anything they are ordered to by their masters, and this is probably their most damning fault IMHO.
Yes basically. They are a neutral force AFAIK, and I generally have no issues with them, as I am not one to create issues for them. At the same time I am quite critical of the 'Sheepdog' paradigm that they follow due to the fact that they can create a situation where there was none to begin with in order to gratify the fact that they are doing their job of protecting society.
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Joined: 8 Mar 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 12,997 Location: Southeast U.S.A.
18 Feb 2017, 10:17 pm
Fogman wrote:
Raptor wrote:
None of the poll options really apply to me.
I have a general distrust of law enforcement as a whole. One on one, most of my dealings with them have been relatively positive. I have, however, observed a tendency in some of them to have to dominate every situation, even when it’s not a situation. The need to be the alpha dog taken to absurd levels.
They will go to great lengths to cover up thier transgressions. As a whole, they have mercenary values and will enforce without protest anything they are ordered to by their masters, and this is probably their most damning fault IMHO.
Yes basically. They are a neutral force AFAIK, and I generally have no issues with them, as I am not one to create issues for them. At the same time I am quite critical of the 'Sheepdog' paradigm that they follow due to the fact that they can create a situation where there was none to begin with in order to gratify the fact that they are doing their job of protecting society.
This is a good example of over-domineering just because they can. Here a guy has just been in an accident and Johnny cop comes along and without asking the guy if he is okay starts demanding that he get out of the rolled over vehicle. When he doesn't, our hero gets all authoritative and tries some pain compliance tactics in the form of a wrist lock. All this because the obviously shaken motorist didn't egress the rolled over SUV fast enough for the Johnny Cop's liking.
True, the roof over them could have fallen because one of the supports was damaged by the accident but it appears safe enough for the time being AND the cop could have approached from the other side.
_________________ "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson
15 Feb 2017, 7:34 am
