To any policemen out there.?

Question

If you break the law yourself, such as rolling stops at stop signs, or drinking and driving, or speeding etc. Should you really have the right to go to work the next day and write tickets for the things.

This is a real question. It is something that has always bothered me and I would like to know how the cops view this.

To anyone who wants to know I have a very good friend whose son was arrested for possesion.I know the arresting officer personally and know first hand that he smokes once in a while himself.

This along with a couple of other recent encounters with cops have left me a bit concerned about my local police force.

I would appreciate some non defensive honest opinions.

Yes I mean first hand knowledge as in I have seen him in the act.

By rolling stops I mean just slow rolling through stop signs, instead of stopping completely.

Same thing with the speeding, I refer to off duty activity.

Anyway thanks for the answers.

Answer 1

If you're talking about actions off duty I'll tell you I speed. I got Speeding tickets before i was a cop. I've had Mustangs and motorcycles....I have been an officer for two years. I have not written one speeding ticket. I won't do it. I'll write the heck out of red light runners, stop sign runners, no lighters, etc. I don't do that stuff.....I reference to drugs...I know of no officer that smokes dope. That stuff is off limits. I did it in high school. I came clean in my interview. Heck, high school was 11 years before my hire date. I had been in the military for five years and even went to college. Where yes I drank. I never drank and drove. On friday I arrested a department of corrections officer for DUI....it wasn't my proudest moment. But, it does happen. I hope i covered alot of angles here. To all LEO's, Co's, Fire, EMS, etc, please do not put us in that place.....it is tough.

Answer 2

Speeding and rolling stop signs are not criminal offenses. Drinking and driving isn't against the law, drunk driving is. Don't try to justify your friend's son criminal activity by saying the cop does it to. If the cop does it he shouldn't be a cop but at least he isn't stupid enough to get caught. I'm sure cops don't nail other cops for minor traffic violations but I'm sure they don't like dirty cops like the guy your talking about.

If somebody works at a pizza shop and gets free pizza do they have the right to charge other people for pizza. Life isn't fair, just because your upset that some old lady decided to pull into your parking lot when she got pulled over don't start questioning the integrity of police officers. Get over it and move on, in other words get a life.

Answer 3

In a perfect world the enforcers of the law would be the ones who toed the line on and off duty. As you can plainly see, they are not. However they are given the job to enforce the laws that include all of the infractions you list and many more. I have personally written tickets and then been ticketed a few days later for the same offense. In my case the law enforcement bar on my license alerted the CHP officer that I was a member of the law enforcement community. I fully expected at that time to have him give me a warning and send me on my way. He did not. He issues a citation and simply told me that "I should have known better." However most drive just as poorly as the citizenry they enforce the traffic laws against, and usually don't get ticketed as a professional courtesy.
As far as drug use is concerned there are lots of agencies with lots of standards, but in mine they have random drug testing and you will lose your job if you test positive. So if you want the job, stay off the stuff. Most of us have seen enough lives ruined by drugs to not have any interest in the at all, and most of us drive prudently because of the mayhem we have had to witness on the highways.

Answer 4

I am more than sure that a few cops have stood in front of a judge for things they did wrong, but cops are human too and the also deserve to let loose, not meaning doing anything illegal, but they have to the right as anyone else to go to a bar and drink or dirnk at home, and if they get in trouble, well then they have to face the consequenses.

Answer 5

Well....a good question so let me answer as best I can. The field requires of it's personnel ethical behavior. Police officers are held to a higher standard than the average civillian. This is why you see cops go to jail and punishment much more severe than say it was a civillian.
Now, that aside, police officers do it (the stop sign stuff/speeding) because in most cases they can get away with it. Is that right? Certainally not. I used to joke and say that it was a "perk" of the job but in all seriousness its improper and we are not exempt or above the law either. In fact as i said....we're held to a much higher standard than say you.
Now..the cop who smokes weed. An idiot that gives us all bad names. For all my years on the job I have a funny philosophy. Although I am not pro-drugs I always felt there were some (like marihuana) that should be treated like alcohol. As far as prescription stuff, crack, crank, heroin, etc....bad stuff and considerably off the charts in comparison to the "soft" stuff.
But to get back on track...if you smoke weed in your house...good for you. Take it outside your house and now you become fair game. Same goes for selling. You sell...you know the risks. Accept the consequences.
Cops who smoke dope AND let that be known are stupid. One because they are flaunting breaking the law and two...they obviously don't care about their career.
Sadly its usually the younger cops who get jammed up. As you get older you realize just how vunerable you and your career are.
As you grow older in this job you also find that your outlook in dealing with the public changes. I've found that I listen better and am abit more compassionate with some people. Twenty years ago I would have felt differently but sometimes it's hard dealing with a legitimate complaint by someone and not seeing them as your mother, father, brother or another family member. I know how I'D want a member of my family treated by the police if they needed the services of the cops.

DISCLAIMER: Sympathy does not extend to people who constantly call the cops to use them as "tools" to get back at your neighbor or others who have insulted you whether it be real or imagined. It also doesn't extend to people who are rude, obnoxious, demanding ("I pay taxes". No sh*t. What do you think? That I'm exempt?)

You can't look at it as "How can he/she write tickets etc and yet their guilty of the same thing". Its simply enforcing the law. Its your job. However its career suicide when you as a police officer make it well know that the laws were to be enforced with you (as a cop) being the exception.

We're all human my dear as you well know. Some people do what they do because they don't think the consequences will be bad to deal with. In this field though, I've seen that the consequences ARE always bad in most cases.

So don't lose heart. Every career has its 10% of jerks. We aren't all bad. In fact..thanks for asking one of the few thought-provoking and intelligent questions here when it comes to people who wonder about the psyche of coppers. You're welcome anytime to stop by the station and have a cup of coffee with me. Thanks again.

Answer 6

Police Vehicles were not subject to vehicle and traffic laws where I worked, but violations of traffic statutes could result in departmental charges. I think that Police should set an example, and use common sense. Stopping for stop signs being a prime example. Have I gone through stop signs without using emergency equipment? You bet, responding to burglary calls, etc. where I didn't want to alert the suspect to my approach, but I also had to be extra-vigilent for other vehicles.

As far as illegal drug use, turn him in. He's a danger to the people he works with and is not trustworthy.

Answer 7

Officers that use illegal narcotics of any kind are an insult to the rest of us. Most depts have random drug tests (and should). There is no excuse for that behavior.
As for speeding and violating traffic laws, that is different - here's why:
Most depts are undermanned. When an officer gets a call for service, he tries to get there as quick as possible. Not every call is a "code" call (lights and siren) but some do have the potential to get bad fast. Therefore, many officers will try to arrive as fast as possible - sometimes violating traffic laws. If you are the one waiting for the officer, this is greatly appreciated. If you are the motorist that observes him violating traffic laws, you think he is just going to get something to eat.
Many officers get into the habit of 'routinely' violating traffic laws because most of their shift - they are rushing to calls.

Hope this helps.

Answer 8

Ofcourse police aren't above the law..but if someone gets a ticket for something, they have to stop saying "well what about that guy?" It's really stupid. Take the blame, and mind your business.

Answer 9

attempt this one..... A cop became into on his horse waiting to flow the line, while somewhat lady on her new bright motorbike stopped beside him. ”impressive motorbike,” the cop mentioned. “Did Santa deliver it to you?” ”sure Sir,” the little lady mentioned, “He advantageous did!” The cop appeared the motorbike over and exceeded the girl a $5 cost ticket for a secure practices violation. The cop mentioned, “next twelve months, tell Santa to place a reflector easy on the returned of it!” The youthful lady appeared up on the cop and mentioned, “impressive horse you have have been given there, sir. Did Santa deliver it to you?” enjoying alongside with the girl, he chuckled and responded, “sure, he advantageous did!” The little lady appeared up on the cop and mentioned, “next twelve months tell Santa the **** is going below the horse, no longer on precise.”

Answer 10

would i be the same person you call when someone breaks into your house, kidnapps your child, burns down your house?
now who would you call when this happens, intoxicated cop?
Your brain would be racing so fast that you wouldnt even know whos sober and who isnt, you would just be saying thank you.
don't paint with such a broad brush, there actually there to protect you and yours, say thanks for risking their lives for yours.