What happened to law enforcement?

[JR]

WiredGeorge has hit the nail on the head. Much of this has to do with foggy recollections often viewed through rose tinted glasses.

I've had some serious problems with over educated idiots, as my father called them, when interacting with police on various emergency scenes. Once, such a paragon of policing sent my partner and I up three flights of stairs to help a gun-shot victim. As we made it to the landing, we heard a voice saying "you, with the pistol, drop the gun!!" Seems that the scene wasn't secured, but our well-educated LEO had deemed it important to get help to the BAD GUY who had been shot. Needless to say, our next "conference" wasn't a happy one for him, or his Lieutenant. God save us from those who believe that a degree automatically infers intelligence.

As for the speeding. I drove a Department marked car for over a decade. At first, I scrupulously obeyed all traffic laws, and caused huge traffic jams on highways. Everyone though that I was a cop, and I always had some idiot block the left lane just far enough back to impede anyone from passing. So, speed limits were the first thing to go. I did NOT, however, blow through lights or stop signs, even when responding, and legally authorized to do so.

Is there a "familiarity breeds contempt" type of action going on? Yep, I believe so.

As far as ignoring speeders, or those who make improper stops, it's like this. You ticket them, they ask for a court date. So, you go and sit in court, often for most of your day off. Then, the judge offers them PBJ, or lets them go, because it's a first offense. How long would YOU last faced with that?

I was a Driver-Instructor-and Examiner for both the PGFD, and the USPS. It makes me watch others a little more critically. I'll guarantee that MOST of those complaining about failure to come to a complete stop don't do it, either. By law, that means a full, and complete, stop. Most of the drivers of today never make that happen, rolling slightly even when being tested. I also challenge just how well we pay attention to the posted speed limits. Most of us think nothing of doing 30-35 in a posted 25 mph zone, or 60 in a 50-55 mph zone. We have all kinds of excuses for that, but are still breaking the law.

I will agree that many police push the limits in just about everything they do. Yet, looking at many of the posts here, it would seem that we do, as well.

[stallard]

I will agree that many police push the limits in just about everything they do. Yet, looking at many of the posts here, it would seem that we do, as well.

Difference is, I did not swear to uphold the law!

[MOONDAWG]

Unfortunately in law enfocement you can have 300 to 30,000 LEO's in your agency doing an outstanding job to the point of dieing for the public they serve; and the few bad apples are all the public "seems" to see.

As the old addage goes....One "Ah Sh**" wipes out a thousand "At-A-Boys"...

[Argos]

A person will work hard to do the task assigned be they good people. Surprisingly most people are good people. This goes for police as well as anybody. However, take a good man on a tough task and mire him in a system he knows in his heart to be wrong and wicked, wrap him in politics and red tap, then tosss on conflicting, inscrutable laws in numbers like the stars in heaven and the good person will break, turn aside, or see the writing on the wall and never even enter the force. What is left are burnt out and dissolutioned good men and the bad men who seek power over others.

My grandfather was an officer in the Bronx in the 20s aand30s. What is wrong today that can restore policing is quite simple. Less laws, less new crimes. Stick to the oldies but goldies, a long time ago we had a rough enough time keeping those straight and remaining just. We need to aid and enable ouur LEOs to do their job with less hand tying and politics. The rest will sort itself on its own and the boyscouts will return to the job and good men will not be burnt out crushed under the heavy wheel. I would say more but typing this on a droid2 keyboard has been a challenge.

[fishinkeylargo]

......I see police vehicles speeding while not inpursuit of a law breaker, police vehicles running stop sign/lights again whilenot in pursuit. And my favorite one is watching the police ignore other vehiclesrun stops light/signs, speed past them change lanes without signaling,ect. What has happened to our lawenforcement? Do they not get paid to keep us safe or do these motor vehicleviolations not count as breaking a law anymore?.....

It happens everywhere, some places more then others. Then the towns complain they don't have enough revenue to keep the LEO's working. Hey, write traffic tickets, make the streets safer and get the revenue you need.

[Denton]

An ol' Army buddy ETS'd while we were dog handlers so he could join the Alabama Troopers. He tried to talk me into going with him, but I wasn't sure if the Ruskies might try and cross the gap, so I stayed.
He worked patrol, narc dog, and later started into the supervisor roles. He retired as a major.

All those years working, he never violated the uniform traffic codes. Never. Ever. When it was time to go to Montgomery for training, other troopers hated it when James would drive. They were used to doing twenty-thirty over, just because they could.
Yes, cars would get bunched up because so many people are afraid to pass the police. James would simply take an exit, then immediately re-enter the highway. Simple.

There's never been a time when certain liberties have not been taken. Does it make them look like screaming hypocrites? Sure. Aren't we all? Yes.

Except for James, and he's retired, now.

[NYPD]

We all know Police Officers (one way or another)....you can watch them, work around them, and be friends with them --- until you've actually worked on the street as an LEO, you have no idea what the job entails.

For me to "keep my cool" for so many years in the largest, most crime-ridden City in the Nation, let's just say it took a lot of hard work and dedication.

[FLETCH689]

we can force the police to start doing a better job by doingbetter ourself. If we start to follow the traffic laws and teach our childrento drive better then the poor drivers will stand out more. If they stand out thepolice will feel the need to do something about them. At the same time if more of us start drivingbetter then maybe we will start following more laws and not just traffic laws.

[elPescador]

I'm glad you got it off your chest, neighbor !

[MadKaw]

No, police are not paid to keep us safe.
DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services.