You would think that in a civilized, 21st century society on the planet Earth that police officers would be honest with everyone, even suspects in criminal investigations. Why do people have to pull teeth to get some shred of honesty from them? I would really like to know. Seriously. My opinion of police has plummeted to the ground in recent weeks over the ridiculous level of dishonesty that I have been spoon fed.
Comments from LEOs welcome, although grain of salt/rose colored glasses certainly needed.
Paul
2007-03-11 07:28:13 · 13 answers · asked by dunric 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Most people who violate the law have no trouble lying to the Police. If the officer is all sweet as peaches and takes everyone (or anyone for that matter) at their word he will NEVER get anything done.
You have to play on the level of the people you are dealing with. When they are a professional you treat them so, when they are mouthy and use profanity then you talk to them on their level.
2007-03-11 08:20:48 · answer #1 · answered by Kevin 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Paul,
Not ALL POLICE are dishonest. But some are. And if they are proved to be liars I am the first to say they should be in jail (and I'm a police officer).
That being said there are far more good cops out there, who care about their professsion and care about the safety of society. I don't think someone who cares would be willing to give up their life by protecting complete strangers.
During a criminal investigation the police are allowed to lie by the courts. The supreme courts have ruled that sometimes, in an effort to obtain a confession, the police can use ruses to illeciet that confession. After all, putting the "bad guy" in jail is the goal, to further protect YOU.
An example is a burglar who gets caught trying to break into a building. When the officer arrives he finds the man, standing behind the building. Its okay for the officer to tell the man to tell him the truth, because the officer is going to review the video tape surviellance which will show him trying to break into the building (even though the officer knows that there is no video tape). The burglar, fearing the officer is going to find out the TRUTH (which is our goal, to discover and present the TRUTH to a court and jury) the burglar then confesses because he knows the officer is going to find out anyway.
This is one example of a lie can help to uncover the truth, and ultimately stop the bad guy from breaking into your house.
2007-03-11 08:09:27 · answer #2 · answered by JR 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Paul,
You want to see what dishonesty is? Go do a ride along at your local department. You will see how 80 percent of the people the police come in contact with LIE to them. Seriously though, sometimes it comes down to perception. You see a little police interaction and you make assumption because of what you perceive.
If you think you can do a better job stop yer bitchin and man up. Be that guy going into the building after the school shooter when you have no idea where he is. Be the guy cleaning up a dead baby from the middle of the street because the parents are too lazy to buckle em in. Be the guy to go to a door and tell someone they just lost a son/daughter/father/mother to a drunk driver.
Get back to us and let us know how it goes for you when you have taken the blinders off.
2007-03-11 12:02:20 · answer #3 · answered by Kevin C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paul, you need to realize two different schools of thought on this topic.
1. Police officers are allowed to lie to any individual who is being investigated for any crime. The United States Supreme Court says they can.
2. There is a distinct difference between lying to a suspect and questioning an officers morals and integrity.
Its not a matter of "well they are the police, they are always supposed to tell the truth" its simply a matter of to catch a crook talk like a crook...
How honest would the murder suspect be if the police totally relied on his own dignity and morals and just let him give a confession if he felt like it? From my experience not very.
Please keep in mind that you shouldnt generalize an entire profession because maybe just possibly you had a bad experience with one bad apple..every profession has those from police officers to clergymen..
Sometimes officers have to lie to suspects to get the info they need...They have to convince the suspect thats its better to tell the truth and confess to the crime they committed..This is how law enforcement works..Theres an old saying when your interviewing a suspect..."were you lying to me then or are you lying to me now"..cause I have never met a criminal yet who was honest about thier crimes....
And your right in a civilized, 21st century society on planet earth you wouldnt think that police would have to lie..but the same could be said for those individuals who continue to commit crimes in this civilized 21st century society..Face it Paul the world is not a touchy, feely, kumba-ya society. Not everyone wants to have group hugs around the camp fire and share thier feelings...Todays society is cold, heartless, cruel and unfair..as sad as that may be or as bad as that may sound its the truth...
2007-03-11 08:32:35 · answer #4 · answered by udontneed2know 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not all police officers are liars of course, but because it is the 21st century, we shouldn't expect that justice in society has been achieved.
Things can be just as evil now as in manifestly unjust periods of history, they just take different forms|
It would be good if we could count on people's integrity| But the fact is, we have to be careful.
There are more cons out there than we know|
And many of those wear uniforms|
---
2007-03-11 09:01:37 · answer #5 · answered by Catholic Philosopher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The largest majority of police are honest and do not cheat anyone. Suspects are treated properly and legally.
Police are allowed by law to lie to suspects to get them to confess, but this is not wrong it is merely allowed to catch the bad guys.
I am sorry if you had what you thought was a bad run in, but
2007-03-11 10:10:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes we would have to have on rose colored glasses and take everything you say with a grain of salt. At least we agree on that.
You make such general, sweeping statements that it is obvious you got caught doing something wrong and have to take it out on someone. Go ahead, fire away, the motto for the police should be changed from "protect and serve" to "hate us until you need us."
My opinion of you is so low that I imagine the reason you were spoon fed is you were too lazy to feed yourself.
2007-03-11 07:33:31 · answer #7 · answered by Lt. Dan reborn 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Honesty is not the long suit of people under investigation. Therefore, the police cannot be honest with them if they are to catch them.
2007-03-11 07:34:30 · answer #8 · answered by For_Gondor! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
about 12 Years (in Spain) I stuck 2 middle age truly gruesome Romany Gypsies breaking into our living house, and a year later I stuck 3 Irish Tinker adult males attempting to break right into a caravan; 3 years in the past Tinker babies broke into the organization unit i became operating in, in Merseyside; I particularly have seen the state they left a community Rugby field - garbage and excrement everywhere - so some distance as i'm worried Basil Brush Painted them in a reliable ordinary, they ought to no longer whinge... they don't have any suitable to whinge until eventually they form themselves out, stay interior the regulation, and prevent being the stereotype that they hate...
2016-12-01 20:20:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Police officers are trained to lie as a form of investigation tactics. They do it to get you to confess to a crime. They will say things like, "My partner is questioning your friend in the other room and he already told us you did it." They are allowed to and encouraged to do that.
2007-03-11 07:45:00 · answer #10 · answered by Eisbär 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋