Do you have respect for the police?

Question

I hear stories of people saying,anybody can get in to the police,one even told me himself anybody can get in the police.in a way.
what are your views??
I thought it would be a hard job.

I think people lose respect for the police because some take advantage of their status.

all the stories confirm what I thought,it is a hard job.they do have a lot to deal with.
and it sounds intense training.I dont know why people have been saying its easy..... and giving the impression you dont have to be very clever.

and yes,it is a case of one bad egg,spoils the good ones.

Answer 1

To become a police officer where I work, you have to pass a written exam, an oral interview, 3 different background checks, a drug test + a drug polygraph, a physical, a physical endurance test, and both written and oral psychological exams. You can't have a felony arrest, and will be disqualified for most misdemeanor convictions. That's just to get an appointment to the academy. While you are in the academy, you have to deal with physical training, a fair amount of hazing, classroom training in law, report writing, cultural awareness, etc. You run everywhere, and I do mean everywhere.
Once you are out of the academy, you are on probation for a year, you're a rookie. You have to respond to every dead body call, every drunk and disorderly, take every report and recovered vehicle call. All to toughen you up and build your report writing and people skills.
So no, really don't think that just anyone can walk in off the street and do the job. And yes, I respect police officers. :)

Answer 2

I am the wife of a police officer and believe me, it's not an easy job or an easy profession to get in. The academy was the most difficult thing my husband has ever done-both mentally and physically. The rookie year is full of back to back night shifts, overtime, and bad calls. Respect people on an individual basis, know that there will always be bad cops as there are bad teachers, doctors and politicians. Most importantly, the next time you see a police officer, know that they have a family at home and what they are doing is just a job. It pays the bills just like any other job. A police officer isn't a stereotype, it's a job. When they go home they are husbands/wives, fathers/mothers, baseball coaches,etc. My husband still has to take out the trash, unclogs the toilet and smashes the spiders in the house. So if you don't respect a hard working individual that deals with child abuse, domestic violence, gangs, drugs and God knows what else out there...just to pay the bills...then I'm not sure if you have my respect either.

Answer 3

I have lived and worked in Africa, the Middle east and am now working in Moscow. I have nothing but the highest respect for the British Bobby if the worst that people can say is that some are arrogant then we are well off. I have to deal daily with corruption and have in all of the counties that I have worked. The only exception is the UK and I come from Wythenshawe in Manchester it was one of the worst areas around. I can't believe that there are idiots on here claiming to be able to "spot a bent copper", I have never come across one and I've had a lot of exposure to them. They are paid bad wages for the risks they have to take here's a fact for you:

There were 25,368 assaults on police officers in 2006 - a marginal rise on 2002 when there were 24,559. The report said that this translated to 70 assaults a day or one every 20 minutes

Answer 4

After my 2 attempts to get in, during which I did the interview, the 2 written tests, the 5 customer focus scenarios with role playing actors, the medical & the fitness test (all of which I did twice of course) I then started my training.

2 weeks at the headquarters followed by 15 weeks at the training college, where I lived in during the week, with 8 hour, mostly classroom filled days and then about an average of 4 hours revision per night. Interspersed with live scenarios and other forms of practical training. An exam every 5 weeks where you had to achieve a certain level of score and knowledge checks every week.

Then I passed out of training college and had a week’s holiday. Then another 2 weeks at headquarters with more law input then I went out with a tutor for 10 weeks. Then another weeks holiday, then 2 more weeks at headquarters followed by a further 6 week long courses, along with other training throughout the 2 years I was a probationer. During this time I got sent to all the s*** jobs that no one else wanted to do, including all the deaths to deal with and I was monitored throughout by having to complete a large folder evidencing the jobs that I dealt with. This involved a lot of writing that I did completely at home, in my own time, as I didn't have time to do it at work.

Now I'm confirmed in the rank and still learning and will never be an expert Police Officer because it's a job where you are constantly learning.

Lots of people may be able to get in but not everyone can stick at it.

As for respect, I respect everyone who respects me and I never expect to be respected because I wear a particular uniform and do a particular job.

Respect is something that's earned, not given freely.

As for it being a hard job, it's easy and hard in some respects. It is hard to do it right with the majority of people telling you you're doing it wrong most of the time ; )

What are your views?

Answer 5

in the starting up solid success on your training, Secondly Police are literally not cherished because they are those who hand out the large tickets for violations. police officials actually have a stereo type in which they warfare to be overly manly and great frustrating. This creates stress as being recommend to someone and then giving them a $500 cost ticket does not regularly makes acquaintances. I really have a healthful understand for police officials, and that i might want to finally end up being one myself. That suggested I dont like getting a cost ticket any extra then the subsequent guy for a regulation i might want to or might want to not trust Sorry you sense so down about it yet someone must be the undesirable guy, regardless of if its for the forged of everyone else.

Answer 6

Most of the stories you hear about bad police come from either "friends telling friends who heard from somebody else" or from the media.

Obviously, those who've been in trouble will stretch the truth about events to make themselves look better in front of their peers.

The media will sensationalize stories for their perspective companies to make money. We don't pay attention to boring television or newspaper stories...therefore media doesn't make money.

Tell a story about bad cops ...civil rights violations...drunk off duty stories....you get the publics attention...it makes money!

There are bad people in EVERY walk of life...including law enforcement. The difference is...when law enforcement screws up...we do the best to rid or correct our problems!

One means of correcting problems in the profession is by scrutinizing the applicants. We look for education, training, and continued in-service training throughout the career.

The profession has its rewards but also its pitfalls. The main problem being how the profession is criticized so quickly when all the facts are not known.

I don't know of a single fellow officer who would not "target" a bad cop faster than anyone else so that the publics image of the profession is maintained in good favor!

Like educators and the nursing profession, law enforcement does not pay well. Therefore, those who commit themselves to the profession do so for their true care in helping others. Those who talk about "bad cops" are normally those who've either had a bad day themselves....or people like Steve E who himself states he had "run ins" with cops! Read what he says and then think about what I've stated. Sounds like somebody with an ax to grind!

By the way...I was never "picked on" in high school or college.

Best wishes.

Answer 7

I have the utmost respect for the police. Think that they do a great job under extreame circumstances. As always there will be a few bad apples - and that can give the whole force a bad name. It shouldnt. There are good and bad in all walks of life.

Not many of us would really want to do the job......its hard work, long (anti social hours) not great pay etc. But for most it is a vocation - thank goodness for them I say!

Answer 8

This is from a UK perspective.

I do but then again I don't.
I can normally tell just by looking at them, whether they're a bent cop or a straight 1.
I've met the good, the bad & the down-right ugly.

they used to punish a Policeman/woman more if caught engaging in criminal behaviour,
if they were sent to prison, it was for longer,
they were then stripped of their pensions & I thought that was essential to maintaining a high standard within the Force, to continue that practice.
but now they seem to be going the way of so many of our Public Services,
subject to dumbing down,
the human rights act
& most are now run as businesses.

it is a hard job, but it's down to individual choice how hard that is.
the standards to get in have had to move with the times, height restrictions no longer apply,
ethnic backgrounds with the right credentials, can be fast-tracked up the hierarchy, over every other applicant.
I'm not racist, but this has upset many a average white man/woman applying for the same job.
Wales police even admitted they'd turn most applicants away, last year, as they had to stick to government diversity guidelines.

& I find that sad, to turn anyone away when they need more Police is daft!

Answer 9

It is a hard job. think abt the hardships on standing the rain, snow and the heat diverting traffic and driving around to find the criminal if he escapes. The criminal dont care to kill the police but the police have to catch em safe do u know that.

Yes there are rotten people everywhere. So what. I have seen some very polite police.

I wouldnt want to deal with one but i have high respect for em.

Answer 10

It is a hard job, you only have to look at the morons they have to deal with to realise that. They get very frustrated at having to do the job with one hand tied behind their back by the government. It's not the police that are the problem, it is the government's crime policies, or lack of them. Then there's the problem that Society in general has no respect for the law any more.