Na malaka!

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Na malaka!

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Is that an attempt at Greek? If so i hope you know profanity is also against forum rules...even in a different language.

He is not that stupid. I really felt for him when he (on tape and then on national TV) almost forgot his wife's age; now that would have been serious.

Cops are people too. This means that some of them will be racist, some may even be cruel. Would you rather us not have any cops at all or just have a few bad ones? I believe a majority do their job and they do it well. Cops are severely outnumbered. Yet, they go out there everyday and risk their lives for us. Let's show them some respect.

I actually never thought of it that way Fletch. You make a very good point.

Sometimes it IS hard to keep a positive image; not just of yourself, but others as well....

Like I said, great insight.

Kel

In as much as some feel compelled to cut Joe-Police Officer "down to size" from a perceived position of grandeur, many officers do enjoy the idea of responnding to a "higher calling". Having a noble and gallant mission and being the one that is called when people are in trouble breeds and maintains an air of "specialness" that people outside of LE work don't understand and often resent.

It only serves to further separate them in the big picture, to the point where the cops feel like they are barely a part of the community they serve. Obviously, they find support among their true peers, other cops. Many officers I know and work with have very few friends outside of the job. It becomes a big disfunctional family after a while that is harder and harder to do without.

If you have ever heard Dave Grossman, he speaks of Sheep, Sheepdogs and Wolves. The Sheep represent the community, the Sheepdog the Cop and the Wolf, obviously the Predator. It is an empowering analogy for an officer, intended to fire him/her up for a riteous battle to defend those in his charge in spite of adversity and resentment even from the Sheep he protects. The average citizen however, sees this attitude as part of the problem. They resent being thought of as Sheep and believe either that there is no Wolf, that they can take care of the Wolf themselves, or that the Wolf is just misunderstood and needs compassion and rehabilitation.

Two clearly different view points that are destined never to reconcile.

I agree that a lot of the sheep don't realize (or understand) the demands/responsiblities that are placed on the sheepdogs.

That old adage about, "being held to a higher standard" is true. I've watched many many sheepdogs get "put out to pasture" for actions that in the sheep world do not even get a second glance.

I think the sheepdogs analogy is a good way of viewing the job. The ones (that I know) that try to find a "higher purpose" are happier with the job. The ones (again that I know) that are in it for the money are destined to never be completely happy or satisfied.

K

Look, there is no group in society that gets more uncritical support--at least from the white population--than the police. They have little to fear in the grand scheme of things.

Here in Chicago, we have a case where a police commander (John Burge) plus God knows how many officers systematically tortured suspects for two decades. Burge was forced into retirement; he currently lives in Miami and recieves a full pension. In addition, Chicago taxpayers have been forced to foot his legal bills--$8 million so far. No other police in the case are being punished.

I bet if I spent 20 years torturing people in my basement I would be dealt with much more harshly.

My problem: even if only a tiny minority of coppers tortured people, many, many more had to know about it. Burge and his boys had a regular torture cahmber set up in their headquarters, complete with electrical generators for giving shocks.

So if 99% of cops are great people, why didn't anybody say anything?

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So if 99% of cops are great people, why didn't anybody say anything?

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How exactly can anyone here possibly answer that with any accuracy? It was more than a decade ago and none of us were present (including you). We have no idea who knew or why they didn't come forward. I'm not going to defend this man but i'm not ignorant enough to paint all cops with the same brush because a few choose to do things the wrong way.

I'll tell you what...i've run across several civilians in my day who were thieves, coke heads and child molesters. Maybe i should simply assume you are too, by your logic that is. Complete ignorance.