I was reading this post and it got me thinking about my true and honest opinions of law enforcement. I won't lie when I say that I went through a phase of being very critical of cops. I thought they were smug, hypocritical, and had way too much confidence in their own authority.
These impressions were never dispelled, at least by any particular incident. Jethro ran into some really nasty, racist constables who made our lives a nightmare for quite a while before they were proven to be liars.
Another time, some loser, flying on what I imagine was PCP or some other drug that would allow you to kick your leg through leaded glass and run away unscathed, smashed in my parents door when Jeth and I were babysitting my sisters while my parents were in Hawaii. I was eight months pregnant with Gwennie at the time. The cops actually pulled over the friends who had picked the guy up. My sister said she saw him get into the car. The cops let them go and the guy was never caught.
I've gotten two tickets that they seemed to be only too proficient at writing.
They haven't gotten the two cocksuckers who robbed Carrie and me.
So I would think that I have reason to not think highly of cops, at least in our area. But I do. They unequivocally have my support.
One of the reasons is that they really had our backs at the Protest Warrior events. We were outnumbered by some very riled up pacifists who were not happy to know that there were people out there whose opinions diverged from theirs'. The cops took great care to make sure we weren't injured and to inform the "pacifists" that they did not hold the patent on free speech. And even though they disagreed strongly with the "pacifists" politically, the cops took every effort and precaution to keep them safe as well - rerouting traffic so the little bicycling anarchists and the arthritic hippies didn't get hit by those big, bad environment killers known as SUVs.
Even at the time when I held my worst opinions of cops, I've always been willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. I've always been willing to say that their job is more difficult than most and certainly not one that I would want to do. I've cut them slack in that regard. I've even been willing to say that you can't judge a whole profession based on the actions of a few.
But what sealed the deal for me - when I knew where the chips fell (when they were down) - was when I called my stolen cell phone and the gutter-sludge, who had robbed a pregnant woman to get it, answered and asked, "You callin' the PO-leese?"
And I thought, "Yes, you cocksucking swine, I am."
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4 comments:
This one's easy. I have a boatload of friends who are cops and I hear firsthand of what they have to deal with everyday.
I'll stand by them at anytime and yeah, they're just a bunch of regular guys and girls, just like us.
The only difference is, they're scrutinized 24/7 and we have to be caught in the act.
Elliott
www.sparewhiteguy.com
As an average citizen I can understand how people can be against cops, I've run into a few pompous, self-serving, arrogant assholes that wear badges. I have come away from those situations with an understanding of why people call cops pigs.
BUT as a police officer's wife I know the stress they are under, how they rarely receive thanks for the work they do. I know the hours they put in, the birthdays and holidays missed. The calls in the middle of the night saying some meth-head has blown up his house trying to cook some meth. I know that in the public's eye they can rarely do anything right only because so many people think that everything should be done "their" way and when it's not they pitch a fit about how the cops are assholes.
I know that every day my husband goes to work it could be the last time I see him or that our children see him. We know that most of the people he protects and serves are not all that concerned if he lives or dies, just that they are protected (and are more than willing to complain if things aren't done their way) Still, he goes to work willingly and we send him off with a kiss and an I love you and pray for his safety.
To serve others is one of the hardest jobs there is. Those who serve are driven by something that most people can't understand. You are willing to give your life protecting the innocent but you are also willing to die for the scum that wishes you dead. Not many people can say that they would give their life for the bad guys.
Unfortunately most people only focus on the times the cops have let them down. They forget about the other days of the year when they haven't been affected by crime because the police have done their job well. The police are only human but are expected to be super human. As much as I wish it were that way it's not.
It is nice to hear when people can say that they respect the police and know what they are doing is worthwhile. I'm sorry they haven't caught the creeps that robbed you but I'm glad that you can say you trust the police.
(Sorry for the novel!) :)
Thanks for linking that great post by Jack. I've always been curious why people get so freaked out by the perceived ticket "quota", as if it's some big conspiracy. As if ever other job on Earth doesn't have similar "expectations" of performance. I mean, do you go and criticize a teacher who occasionally gives out grades other than "A" of trying to meet her quote of D's, C's and F's?
I've been fortunate and have only been on the receiving end of a bad cop once. He could have cut me some slack but in his defense it was a Sat nite and I had just dropped off a guy who had smoked pot at a party and he stunk up my car with the shit. I was considred guilty by association. Oh well. I still think of cops like soldiers, they are laying their lives on the line for a bunch of strangers who have no idea the magbitude of their sacrifice.
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