why R so many cops racists or at least preceived as racists?

Question

How much truth is there in that idea that 'cops are racist'

Answer 1

Little to none. Cops are often painted as racists or bigots (regardless of the officers race) by people who don't want to take responsibility for their actions.

Answer 2

There are good and bad individuals of all nationalities who serve in the police force. Some take their job seriously while others get a power trip and use extreme force. Police officers go through a lot everyday - even though they deserve the utmost respect in the world, many people don't take them seriously and constantly need to be repremanded, no matter what their 'race' may be. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. People shouldn't be painted with a broad brush. Most people who accuse police officers to be racist are usually individuals who will take no responsibility for what they did, and they really don't have any respect for authority. The race card always works in cases with police - that is the main reason.. Other than complete ignorance and lack of respect.

"I believe everybody to be racist to some degree in every multicultural society. It is certainly not a condition confined to white people or police officers. Whilst there should be no tolerance of racism in the police as far as possible. Recruit from a cross section of a society and it will inevitably recruit officers who are racist to some degree even if the officer does not recognise the fact. The answer must be in educating officers, not immediately sacking them for some attitude that may have manifested itself during an incident where they were perhaps under severe stress. If this zero tolerance to racist actions and views was adopted there would be very few persons who serve the public left in employment. We unfortunately do not live in a perfect world." - Steve, Hong Kong

Take a look at the statistics of arrests, etc. (3rd link)

Answer 3

dwmatty19, It looks bad when you suggest that all possible racist cops are white. Think before you answer please. There are a majority of races in the police force, so for one to think that the big bad white cops are racist- is wrong. Do I think that racial profiling exists? Absolutely. It's something that will always be in the justice system one way or another.

People perceive cops as racists because of what is portrayed on tv shows like COPS and news reports. People throw around the word "Minority". I'm not a fan of it, but it's mostly these groups that are depicted as the bad guys on tv and the cops as the good guys.

Answer 4

This is NOT an excuse...just an attempt at an answer. It is very tough to be a cop. To leave your home, wife and family every day...and not know if you will never return. You have to constantly be wary of everyone and everything..while being helpful and courteous to the public..never knowing who your enemies are or those that would do you harm. I dont so much think many cops are racist (though a few can give all a bad name)...I think it has to do with the pressures and intensity of the daily job and unknown faced every day.

Much like soldiers who go off to war normal....but come home traumatized, often unable to go back to regular life...cops enter somewhat of a war daily...drugs, homosides, gangs, prostitution, domestic abuse, gun battles, bank robberies, and on and on...I just think that cops are not always properly supported emotional by their departments and gien proper training as to how to handle all the daily sh*t they must face. So, they take out their aggression and frustration in wrog ways.

Again, I do not agree with it or excuse it...I just think it has less to do with race, in most cases...than stress, overload...and not proper backing to deal with it.

Answer 5

The sad part of it is that the criminal thought is if one makes a complaint of racism or profiling then the fear of lawsuits will make the officer release them from a pending arrest. Wrong!

When running traffic radar at 2am in the morning, dark as dark can be without any road lighting other than the highbeam headlights of an on-coming speeder...I can't see who's behind the wheel of a car. Yet, to claim I profiled or was racist is beyond comprehension. Newsflash....I can't see through your windshield in the middle of the night while we approach from opposite directions...so don't call me racist or claim I'm profiling. Speed radar does not tell me your ethnicity prior to stopping you....but only verifies that you were speeding!

For those who see through the "smoke and mirrors"...thank you for your support!

Best wishes.

Answer 6

I know a few cops and I wouldn't say they are racists. They do arrest people who commit crime and a lot of those people are black. I would say that it was racist if there was one jurisdiction where blacks are arrested in alarming numbers but it is nationwide. You can't tell me that every police organization nationwide is involved in a racist conspiracy.

Answer 7

Little, just look at the people who are typically committing crimes... MINORITIES! Minorities are typically impoverished and live in urban areas with high crime rate, so any jackass can say he is racist because every other guy he has arrested was dealing coke on the corner, but wait since we are black we should not be targeted. Racism is wrong, but if profiling is helping to reduce crime then I am all for it.

Answer 8

The people who call police officers racists are usually those who have continuous run-ins with the law and scream for mommy when they get arrested.

They want you to think that they are the innocent ones and didn't do anything - the cops only arrested them because they were _____________(name your race)...

Answer 9

If you make someone stop doing something that they want to do , even if it is illegal and evil, and they are of a different race, then you are labeled as a racist.

Cops, teachers, anyone that has to use authority are viewed as the enemy for making sure people behave.

Answer 10

Your question suggests that you are referring to white police officers. By it's very nature, your question also suggests that black, Hispanic and Asian officers are not racists. Bad question!