Who do you protect, who do you serve?

Question

I have several family members that are in law enforcement. So I would like to ask this here...I know their opinion.

Do the law enforcement officers within the yahoo community feel that they are now protectors of the "local, state, or federal" bank accounts? Considering that most laws now contain fines and rarely any real jail time.

Serving to act as enforcers for the mob, instead of the public interest.

Clarification:

You serve those officials (elected) that make law & set fines. Money goes into some account...local, state, or federal.

You enforce the collection of said fines, enforce the laws which have fines, whether the public agrees with the law or not is irrelavent, you job is to enforse and collect. If someone doesn't pay, they are arrested.

Answer 1

Your point is well taken.

Answer 2

NO. A Police Officer is there to Assist Protect and Defend. Assist the General Public.
Protect the General Public
Defend the General Public.

Now who makes the laws that a Police Officer enforces ??
Duly elected Officials.
Who elects these elected Officials ??
The General Public.
Yes the Polcie Officer when off duty is part of the General Public and usually votes in the elections.

Serving to act as enforcers for the mob, instead of the public interest ???

Well as I see it they are acting as "enforcers" for the Public interest since the Public was the ones who elected the ones who made the laws.


Ref Clarification:
How can you say whether the Public agrees with the law or not is irrelavent ??? It is not irrelavent. If the Public does not like a particular law they have the right to petition the law makers and get a law changed. Look at the 18th Amendment - which outlawed the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes. The Public decided that they didn't like this law and the 21st Amendment was passed which repealed the 18th Amendment.
Now during the time that the 18th Amendment was enacted it was enforced vigorously and enthusiastically. Hence we had Elliot Ness. There were many prison sentences passed and even more fines paid. But the Public after 14 years had decided that they no longer liked that law and had it changed.
Rarely do Police Departments themselves receive the money that is generated from citations.
The Police Department does not collect any money. Money is either paid to court or it is sent in to another location. The Police do not collect any money.
The Police are there to enforce the Law.

Answer 3

Anyone who thinks the govt. or police dept makes a profit from arresting people is ignorant and obviously wrong. As for penalties imposed , they are not set by the police , the police enforce laws made by the legislature which is made up of representatives elected by the public so the only people responsible is the general public. Why did YOU support these laws you don't like?

Answer 4

Can you believe someone wrote...." Anyone who thinks the govt. or police dept makes a profit from arresting people is ignorant and obviously wrong."....Has anyone with common sense ever heard of the forfeiture laws. This allows the police to confiscate vehicles, homes or other personal belongings. It has been abused so often by local police. All the sales from the forfeitures goes right into the coffers of the police department. They make a HUGE profit. And they are subsidized by the "DARE" program. This program is just another government "feel good" prgram that police promote insisting it will change the lives of young people. In reality, it is a government grant program for police departments to obtain more money.

Answer 5

The people who serve as police, are subject to follow the laws they did not create. Whether they agree or not with the law is moot.
But when homeland security comes along, there is a metamorphosis from freedom to fascism. The need to protect ourselves will drive our society to such lengths as only prophesied..
Too few realize to stop it. Technology itself has become the driving force that will enslave us all. How many police are there out there who are willing to have a chip implanted in their arm for tracking purposes? What will the officer do who believes it will be the "Mark of the Beast"? He will either have to deny his belief or become the "outlaw"...
On that day the officer will be like the roman soldier who said "Surely, this man was the Son of God"....
Stuck between a rock and a hard place.... I hope he makes the right choice on that day....

Answer 6

They do gang up on civilians, their meal tickets!

I have yet to hear about a cop that had the strength and morals to speak against another one.

Answer 7

You weren't specific as to which mob.

Answer 8

no

Answer 9

no