As a Turk, are you afraid of your police?

Question

Let me put it like this when I am driving in Mexico and my car breaks down on a desolate road, If a cop car pulls up I think Oh know he's gonna wan't a bribe.

In the USA I am so glad to see them.

Wouls you ask a policeman for directions if you are lost, no not the the ones in the tourist areas.

My experience in Turkey was a little is a little more sophticated than watching TV.
BTW, I was there in 99 and worked with British rescue teams for three weeks.
I saw what some of the Turkish police were doing, so please Tevfik, take it someware else.

The Majority of Turkish cops are absolutletly honorable. But why don't they arrest all the crooked cops.

Talat I can always rely on you for nice short answers. Maybe the DC cop didn't have a clue of where it was and just didn't want to say. Like you say they are a reflection of the society they come from.

"selamis" "What do you thing know about İstanbul?" and , "What is your favorite football club in the world?" now those were good questions sorry I can't achieve your high standards of intuitiveness. Guess what some people do fear some Police, It was just a compare or contrast question of something I did not know. But that Istanbul question yeah, that is food for the mind.

Answer 1

My uncle is a retired traffic policeman and he couldn't get along with his mates who took bribes and he was singled out because he didn't.

That said, I have never done anything illegal, so I don't feel the need to be afraid of them. On the other hand, you are supposed to do anything they tell you to do and not resist. If you do, they can get tough.

The only thing we need to have good relations with the police force is know the rules: what they are allowed to do and what not.

Being a law abiding citizen, I hate to see people who try to have their own way with police officers. "Sen benim kim olduğunu biliyon mu?" And I hate to hear them exiled because they "didn't know who that person is or just didn't care".

James, that's "a lot of bigotry against Turks"; people like to put us in a bad light all the time. We dislike American policies in the Middle East, but have no prejudice against Americans themselves. Of course, I wouldn't recommend to anyone, from any nation, to mention how America is bringing peace and democracy to third world countries. You may receive dirty looks, even dirty words. But violence? Not if you are not a British hooligan swearing to a Turk's mother. Then, I wouldn't guarantee anything.:P

Answer 2

If you have somethıng to afraıd of than be afraıd. I can not see a poınt ın thıs questıon. Why should you a afraıd ıf you are a Turk. I lıve ın london where sopposed to have the most polıte polıce on earth. But are they. I have come across wıth some pıgs ın my lıfe that you be horrondous to hear about. If the polıceman ıs bad ıt ıs bad where ever you are.
I was at a rally 2 weeks ago there were 20 Brıtısh Polıce there.
They were all brılıant apart from one whould have made HItler sound lıke a cınderalla. And Mussolını would have run mıles away from hım.

Answer 3

I'm not a Turk but I never was afraid of the police. When I did encounter them they were usually very polite and actually quite inquisitive about me - asking me what I was doing that night, how I liked Turkey, etc. On occassion I heard about them asking for "soup money" but you'll find cops willing to take a bribe anywhere.

Answer 4

no but I used to be when I was about 2-3 that is :)))

Answer 5

Is the a lot of biggotry toward Americans in Turkey? Or do just a few people feel that way. I've been getting warned not to tell anyone I'm American when I'm there. I just don't see the point. If I'm polite, courteous, and friendly, should I have to hide the fact that I'm an American?

Answer 6

Why should we? They are normal turkish people so? :)) and u can ask them for everything.

> it was my first day alone in Istanbul with my burden and asked police for a direction of my school (i went there before but couldnt get the direction), they took me there with their car :))!
>one day me and my friend were eating balıkekmek (fish and bread>fast food) and two policemen were near us. we start conversation, they asked us if we were students (so we didnt have money) so they ordered two lemonades for us. (good couple) This was in eminönü.
> one day, one day...
>one of my best friends dad and mum were police(men?).
bla blaa..... also my a few friends of my father and a few not-so-close relatives of me.
> they are working for us, their salary is our taxes. so?
> and one day: hehe it was nice watching how a good-looking policeman was answering a gay tourist's silly questions patiently in Sultanahmet (Istanbul). :))

no problem with them; just dont believe "everything" u see on your tvs: u know it s not so easy to rule such a country like US!!

edit: they are also so useful when u are late for your exams bla bla.. at the end: they are useful..

EDIT 2: "In the USA I am so glad to see them?" If u were "COLORED", would you also be so GLAD?????????? (this is my question) WE always see some of YOUR POLICE doing sth.

Edit 3: we are happy with them.

Answer 7

Like with any policeman, if they're nice of course I won't be afraid of them. If they look really stern and unkind, then I'd be scared of them.

Answer 8

Not so much in Cyprus, but I had some bad experiences with the police in Turkey. So, yes I don't want to encounter them. As for the UK police, they seem to be so gentle and always ready to help with a smile.

Answer 9

No i am not afra'd of them , usually they are nice people but of course there are some who love to bribe and there are some who are crooked. But generally they are ok .

Answer 10

I didn't do anything to break the law, so no, I am not. -Yeah, I know I am boring :) -

Usually they are very helpful if you ask them for help.

Actually one day they stopped us for speeding, and when the car wouldn't start , they helped to jump start it, we chatted about families etc. and bring me water for my dogs.. They still gave us the ticket though :)