Why people tend to be negative about Police Officers?

Question

I don't understand why some people tend to be so negative about Police Officers. There are some lame movies and this famous story about donuts. Jeez, Police Officers are amazing people. I'm not saying all are, however, it doesn't apply to each and every one of them. I always see them driving by patrolling the area and I feel safe. It's not their fault people drive too fast without a seatbelt, or do drugs and participate in illegal acts.

As a 16-year-old I really appreciate what they do. And how they encourage youth to lead themselves to the path of righteousness. While we're sleeping in bed these people are out protecting their community. They too have a family to return to. So do Firefighters who run into burning buildings to save a life. And Paramedics who give the same care to their patients like doctors only difference is that they do it at scene alone with a crowd watching by or in a house with extra dim lights.

When I hear sirens, I think of them as a celebrity on a red carpet. Only difference is that celebrities get awards later on. When it’s a Firefighter, Police Officer or a Paramedic they usually get a person breathing their last few breaths and depends on saving their live; a burning building with a child still left inside or a drunk who just wouldn’t put down the knife he’s threatening people with. And they go with no guarantee to come back.

I usually walk up to them and ask for an autograph. When I look into their eyes, I see pride. Something else I see that I can't really describe, they've seen too much of; the pain. And it makes me want to hug them. They deserve much more respect and I wish people could see that.

Well, Police Officers are different in all countries. I'm a proud Canadian. Where I live the Police are very depenable and have have excellent skills in policing.

I'm moving on to Gr.11 next Sept. However, I'm currently writing a complimentary letter to my local Police Department, Fire & Ambulance Stations. They have proven to be commendable in every way and I'm very proud of what they do. I still wish more people understood...

Answer 1

Well, I am definately someone who has a negative view of police and Ill explain why. I find it hard to swallow that people that are given that kind of power with how little education is required. I know this is stereotyping but Im gonna give you some examples of some things Ive seen police officers do that makes me dislike them. These are all things Ive seen first hand:

-police confiscating someones pot at a Dave Matthews concert and taking a hit of it

-police dragging 16 year old kids and throwing them on the street and kneeling on their heads because they were driving through a known drug area, the kids were lost and had nothing on them and had their vehicle searched without their permission.

-an off duty police officer rear end a car when he was drunk and get out and try to fight the driver of the other car even though he did nothing wrong. Then when I witness said he saw everything, one of his friends got out of the car and punched him.

-numerous times Ive seen Police officers writing false info on police reports to incriminate people

-Ive seen Cops lying while interrogating people, specifically minors to scare them into confessing, whether it worked or not is not the issue. They are violating civil rights.

My problem with Police officers is that they can ultimately get away with anything because of their status and thats scary to think about. There are many corrupt, unethical officers out there that feel they can do whatever they want just because they are cops. There should be much higher qualifications to become police officers because of the amount of responsbility they posess. There are going to be people, especially police officers, that disagree with me but if any adult who has been out of their house has seen at least one instance of a police officer severely misusing their power. If people are granted that kind of power they should be put in jail if they abuse it at the levels they do.

With great power comes great responsibility

Answer 2

We live in a society where nothing is ever our fault; there is always someone or something else to blame. I am a police officer and I have done many things... I have changed tires, I have rescued elderly people from a river, and I have written traffic citations. I have also responded to accidents where people have been decapitated and have been in situations where I have had weapons pulled on me. If I write you a ticket for speeding, it's because I don't want to explain to your mother, father, sister, brother, children, ect, that you're not coming home because you did something stupid. Been there, done that. If I tell you to keep your hands out of your pockets, it's because I can never be 100% sure of what's in there.

However I would like to say that the majority of the people that I come into contact with thanks me for doing what I do, and I only get the occasional goof that runs at the mouth. I don't do this job for the money (I'd be a actor if I wanted that), I don't do it for the power (there's A LOT of things that I can't do that regular members of the community can). I do this job because my grandmother taught me long ago to not just sit back and complain about everything if you don't have the intent on doing something about it. The neighborhood may never be perfect, but I have earned the right to complain when need-be.

Answer 3

I am glad to know that at your age you admire Police Officers, which tells me you are a good kid. Please stay that way. Some people have a negative impression about Police Officers is they think because a handful of Officers were crooked, then all must be crooked. Also, the media can be blamed for a lot of the negative attitudes people have towards Officers because very seldom we see or hear more of the positive things Officers are involved in. Sure the media present their positive stories about Officers if it's a life or death situation, but, they don't really report the stories about the positive things that an Officer does in his/her community when they are not on duty. As the old saying goes, "one bad apple spoils the whole barrel", well that's how it is with Officers. I agree that some should not wear the uniform because they do not uphold the law and they think they are above the law. You know what, I think this would be a really good school project for you when you go back to school, if you are not in school already. Your voice can be counted and heard especially by your peers. I think your age group can and will provide a more realistic insight for some of us adults who teach our children not to trust in Policer Officers. Sure would like to know how your project turns out, if you decide to do it. Check with your local Police Station and let them know your are interested in becoming an Officer. You can join the Explorer or Cadet program and that would be another state for you to make a difference to help change the minds of some of the people living in your community.

Answer 4

1. They make their primary job cracking down on speeders and people who don't wear seatbelts. I am not saying they shouldn't enforce these laws, albeit stupid laws, but it should be at the bottom of the list.

2. They are just plain rude about stuff when you have to deal with them.

3. They never do anything for you. "SERVE and Protect" is what they are supposed to do. If you are broke down on the side of the road chances are a cop will drive right past instead of offering to help.

4. Finally, because they are never there when you NEED them. Like when someone breaks into your car it takes them an hour to show up. I can tell you right now that you're never more than a couple miles away from a cop giving someone a ticket.

I'm not saying that all cops are bad, but for the most part their priorities are all wrong and many of them are abusive of their power.

Answer 5

There is a saying power corrupts. In todays police department this saying has been found to be true more often then not. Police have a higher rate of commiting crime then the typical member of the general public. Police routinely lie on the stand (test-a-lying) when called to testify in court, this is doubly true when another police officer is being accused of some wrong doing. And finally the us vs them mentality of most police just further seperates these people from the communities that they are supposed to serve.

Police are public servants who now think they are gods.

Answer 6

Because they pretend to know everything. I know they're imperfect, but they don't seem to and that's the problem that alot of us civillians have with them. It's not so much that they're imperfect as that some of them carry themselves as though they are. Imperfection is easily forgiviable as long as it is admitted. Another good point was brought up by the person who was mentioning the problem some of them have in regards to not catching the people who commit major crimes because they're so busy chasing after people who commit minor ones. Breaking the law is breaking the law, but unless a police department has enough officers to chase after ALL of the law breakers, it seems to me as though they might want to put less time into enforcing minor infractions and more time into chasing after more dangerous criminals.

Answer 7

Thank You!

In my experience, the people who constantly complain about the police have been doing something wrong at one time or another and that is where they got the bad experience with the police from.
If you do nothing wrong, you should only have good experiences with the police. It makes since.

Answer 8

You're exactly right, they deserve our respect. We were just talking about this in class the other day, when people are driving next to cops they get nervous, when they should feel protected.

Answer 9

You have a good attitude and you are correct. It's just like any other profession, the few bad ones ruin it for the good ones! People have a tendency to stereotype and lump all people in together. There are good cops and there are bad cops, just like there are good doctors and bad doctors.

Answer 10

people tend to be so negitave because we see them use their authority for themselves-like turn their lights on just to get ahead of traffic or things like that- i see that everyday on the highway-their not all like that- i know some great ones-i just wish they wouldnt do that- it would make people appreciate them more