Why do some cops seem arrogant?

First I have to point out that I’m seeing some of the Us V. Them mentality right here in this thread. I’m also seeing aspects of an elitist mentality in some of the responses by the police.

I don’t have much interaction with police officers but the times that I have even as a security guard they’ve been courteous and professional and I’ve had them thank me for my assistance on a few occasions.

The site I work at now is out in the boonies and I can literally go a week without interacting with another human being through out the course of my shift but I have worked in a couple of sites where anyone that got in your space could be a threat and after a while that does change how you interact with people.
 
fdw said:
Most all cops I've met are very personable, even the one who pulled out his service revolver and ordered me back to my car as I approached his at night :eek:. (he had pulled me over)

Once he got to my window, he said don't ever approach a police car if you are pulled. I said yes sir and he gave me a warning and wished me a good evening :D
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I scared the poop out of a cop at work one night he pulled someone over outside my fence so I walked up to see what was going on.

We had black on black uniforms at the time and he didn’t see me standing in the shadows until he caught me out of the corner of his eye, I think he jumped over his patrol car and I’m certain he had to go home and change drawers
 
I have never had a problem with a single LEO. Sure, they are terse and to the point sometimes, but they are just doing their job. I like them. I make it a point to thank them for their service, and I sometimes ask them how they like the new Chargers. Some still hold a torch for the Crown Vics, I can tell you.
 
A guy I worked with years ago was a deputy working in a courthouse. He was a slightly built guy, short, very friendly, and loved to chat with a good sense of humor.

On his way home, he stopped to help a motorist in what looked like a disabled car.

As he approached, the drivers door opened, a hand came up and shot him a couple of times. He ducked behind the trunk, drew his revolver and emptied it into the back of the car as it sped away putting bullet holes into the trunk and blew out the rear window.

Bleeding, he went back to his car, and called in the make and model with plate info!

You never can tell who will be tough and have the guts when bullets fly until the bullets fly.

The shot up car was easily spotted, the bad guy busted into a house and barricaded himself in, and a police sniper killed him.

That no good low life had shot a couple of VA state troopers baiting them with a phony disabled car bit.

How any police officer helps anyone roadside anymore is a miracle. How any cop is still nice after being on the job a while is a miracle.

Daryl is still a nice guy after all that, so it goes to show ya; cops are people too, a cross section of society.
 
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I have the deepest respect for law enforcement. They have a very stressful unrewarding job. I can't blame them for some being on the edge.

We were stopped by two vt game wardens once. While at my camp on my land while leaving to go hunting. I could see they were nervous as they got out of there truck. There we were with guns in our hands. I told my son to put them on the ground.
Then things were ok. Everyone was calm and we talked.

My point is don't make there job harder than what it is.
 
For most people at least 95% of their experiences with LE is with traffic officers. It follows that means a ticket and tickets cost money both in a fine and higher insurance. I suppose there is a tendency to want to shoot the messenger. Since it`s illegal to shoot the messenger the next level is to hate the messenger. I suppose this explains 85% of this subject.
 
Everyone a game warden deals with is armed. Maybe not if he is checking fishing license`s and catch's. When I was a boy the wardens didnt always go armed. Once I was present when a wisconsin warden was giving a out of state guy a ticket for fishing past warning signs near a dam. The guys were from probley around chicago and one popped off, "What`cha going to do if I dont show up in court?" The warden calmly told him, I will come to get you and you will pay my expediences. Later I worked for the department myself as a lower level grunt starting out. I was assigned to check a couple lakes on opening day catchs for research. At that time I was assigned to get info for the state biologists to manage fish, laws etc. I seen three guys that was probley grandpa, father and son walking up to the lake going to fish all three loaded up with fishing poles and tackle. They seen me walking towards them armed with my clip book. I was a good 40 yards away and the father yelled out, "We aint fishing, the boys fishing!" Of course that really meant, "We aint got license`s and the boy dont need one yet!" Actually, it cracked me up!
 
When I was growing up, I was part of the street racing scene in my home town. Needless to say most of my encounters with law enforcement were somewhat negative. I brought a lot of it on myself & I know that now. However, on more than one occasion I was threatened with violence because I wouldn't admit to knowing the names of participants in a race. This made quite an impression on me & colored my perception of LEO's for a long time. It wasn't till a good while later when I was working the graveyard shift at a convenience store that I began to realize how difficult their job is & how happy I was to have them around when things at the store got shaky. Having said that, I want to say treat me with respect, & you'll get the same. Treat me with contempt, expect the same. I cooperate fully when pulled over, & try to make it as painless an encounter(for both of us!)as possible. If you assume that everyone you interact with is a dirt bag, its insulting to people who don't fit that description. A self fulfilling prophecy. I don't believe that all LEO's are "good guys", but they're as close as we will get.
 
feralmerril said:
For most people at least 95% of their experiences with LE is with traffic officers. It follows that means a ticket and tickets cost money both in a fine and higher insurance. I suppose there is a tendency to want to shoot the messenger. Since it`s illegal to shoot the messenger the next level is to hate the messenger. I suppose this explains 85% of this subject.
Click to expand...

To paraphrase Richard Pryor , Old men don’t get to be old without knowin’ sumpin.
 
Dave needs to get on here. His perspective is always outstanding. This is the kind of thread that has gotten me in trouble in the past. My biggest problem with LE in general is the attitude of the "blue line". Cops who break laws, don't get turned in by other cops. I'm not talking homicide, but domestic violence, inappropriate behavior with women or minors, illegal perks, including kickbacks, etc. I know most of LE are good servants, and dedicated. I even understand a lot of what happens at the end of high speed chases. It's just pack mentality, chasing trash who is holding the public hostage and putting you in jeopardy at the same time. I'd be a loose cannon, too. As far as me directly dealing with cops, I'm no perp, I'm a taxpayer, I should be treated as such, until I may become a serious suspect.
 
Just to kind of add onto some of the above. It's an inside joke amongst LEOs near me about drinking and driving. There are a lot of police officers in my area who get drunk and drive. Officers from the Philadelphia Police Dept. are the biggest violaters of that, but I have also seen suburban police officers (and even a few state troopers) put on loads and then drive home. I've also heard stories from guys I went to high school with who are on the job. They're talked about drinking while on duty. They've also joked around about incidents where they would get drunk off duty then drive to the Delaware River and start shooting at buoys.

Again, I have a lot of respect for LEOs, but to sit there and say their behavior is justifiable because of what they deal with is just absurd. I also don't find it fair that a LEO will give another LEO a pass on DUI, but the LEO who got the pass will lock other people up for driving DUI. I do NOT condone driving under the influence by anybody, but I do see a lot of hypocrisy. My point isn't to LEO bash. My point is to show that like everybody else, LEOs aren't perfect. If anything, society should hold them to a higher regard. They are public servants and role models for the community.
 
I also have the utmost respect for cops. I will respect any man till he shows me he needs to be treated otherwise. That includes law enforcement or any other profession.

People make the mistake of thinking that cops need to be perfect. Like any profession, perfect isn't always possible. Sure we can hold them to a higher standard but who's standards? Ours? Our standards differ from person to person. So they must be held to standards set by their department. Blue line or not they will be dealt with eventually if they step out of line.

And these days with the internet and cameras everywhere, cops can't eat a donut without someone watching them. How would you like someone watching over your shoulder every time you turn around?

When serving the public you will often hear the term "The general public is stupid". The "customers" that cops serve are almost always stupid. Cops get paid to deal with them at their worst. So do I but to a lesser degree thankfully.

Some people have a problem with authority. But without cops, who is going to do the things they do? You? Me? Yeah right. :rolleyes:
 
if I may, my wife is career law enforcement of over 20 years in a good sized department (375000 population as part of a larger overall metro area) and is a LT. I have met (and worked at my part time job) with several of her coworkers, as well as 2 police Chiefs of neighboring towns. Most of whom I meet are great to work with and hang out with. Some of her other friends? DB, must have been bully'd as children, knuckle headed A.H's...every time you see them at get-togethers, out and about...EVERYTIME. One even snorted to my wife when we were first married " Huh...why would you marry a civilian?" I never said much after we discussed my MOS in the USMC, things like that :)

I have worked in education for 13 years now...to end this soapbox...and you would not believe (or you might) the arrogant, elitist, snotty, holier than thou that work in the field. Just horrified they have a special needs student in their class, or how dare someone fail their test..etc
 
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