Why do community police bully minor offenders but powerless to stop major crime?

Question

In Central London I saw them bully people who were drinking in the street, even though everybody is drinking and smoking outside the pubs. Meanwhile I witnessed a mugging, aggressive drug dealers and dodgy prostitutes who 'clip' 'customers' who they dont try to stop.

Answer 1

because minor offenders are ussually submissive and easy to over take and the police feel they some kind of real powerat that time. here in pulaski virginia. the real major offenders never get what they deserve. drug money is the biggest part of keeping this towns head above water. it needs the revenue. the town counsil has ruined this town by running off all buisness and turning away all newcomer buisnesses.

Answer 2

If a PD takes the time to reduce the minor crime, major crime drops. This has been proven time and time again in every jurisdiction that has tried it.

Just exactly how do you think we catch the major criminals anyway...its actually because of good patrol work, ped stops and traffic stops. Those who commit major crimes, also commit minor crimes.

The only time (so-far) I've arrested someone wanted for murder, wasn't cos I was part of some imaginary team, looking for "big time criminals" 24/7, it was on a minor public intoxication call. According to DOJ statistics 60% of criminals in jail were arrested because of a "rountine" traffic stop. This is for all felonies including murders, rapes, assaults, robberies etc.

A good street cop responding to so called "minor offenders" will have more affect on illegal guns, drugs, gang-bangers and street crime levels, than ignoring the small stuff.

As for the ignorant comments about cops only dealing with minor offences 'cos we're scare of big time criminals, that's pure BS. Last five officer involved shootings in my city, all involved initial contacts due to so-called minor crimes. However, in each case the perp was armed, and based on their extensive criminal histories, what I guess you would call a "major criminal"...

Answer 3

What type of major crime? Like murder? Community police usually don't have the labs and resources necessary to investigate and solve crimes like that. Mostly though the answer to your question is that community police believe that most major crime is a direct result of ignoring minor infractions, so if they keep a tight reign on the minor crimes, major criminals will avoid their community.

Answer 4

Well, minor offenders are easier to handle than major crime cases. If you are a cop would you rather exchange fire with a coupla bank robbers with cannon size weapons or write out parking tickets instead.

Answer 5

Uh, just sounds like your guys' cops are sissies..

Cops in the U.S. crack down on every little thing. Sometimes too much but, I guess that's better than not at all. If the cop over-reacts, it's always settled in court anyways...

I see a lot of cases though in other states where the cops don't get enough experience but when something big happens like hostage they're like hiding behind the cruiser door on the cell phone, "Mom, I'm on call at a hostage situation, I don't know what to do.... I know but I'm scared! I don't want to die or get shot!.....Okay I'll call you when it ends. It will probably be on the news, watch it. I love you.... Okay, bye.."

Answer 6

Because there's no danger to their lives when confronting minor offenders; but organized crime is a much bigger fish and besides some police officers are corrupt.

Answer 7

Local police tend to get a feeling of "owning" their town. So they get a little arrogant about it, but when big stuff happens they think "oh im just a small town cop I cant handle that".

Answer 8

I think wayne said it all.

The police are not out there in the mass numbers to catch criminals....period. They are out ther to give tickets and make money for the city they work in.

Citys hire them because the police department is a money making / hidden tax operation.

I had the radio stolen out of my car. I found out who stole it myself going around the neiborhood. I then called the police to have them go to thier house to get it. I had evidence that tied them to the breakin.

The officer told me that there is nothing he can do and that it is best to wait. i said 'wait for what'. he said they MIGHT bust them and then I MIGHT get it back. I said 'Ill go get it myself' and he told me that was a bad idea because then they might just get rid of the radio. Ah gee I would hate to make the little bastard waist a perfectly good radio; WTF!!

Oh I went to the house, talked to the kids brother who stole it and told him I wanted the radio back or hes going to jail. Guess who showed to my door with my radio and him mommy the next day....Thanks cops you really helped.

I have caught radio thiefs 2xs and the police never assisted.

Answer 9

power trippin.. the big ones get away from small minded people , cause their egos get in the way of the job..... minor offenders are small potatoes, and that is probably what they are better at....

Answer 10

I think it's like the food chain. A small fish won't eat something larger than it.