I don't understand why I don't like this part of my job?

Question

My job entails that I work with police officers on a daily basis. I am however, not an officer myself, I work for a company that prevents money laundering, fraud, kidnapping, etc.

Today I got a congratulations from a superior because my work had gotten 3 people arrested, and they plead guilty and are now in prison. This isn't the first time I have gotten someone arrested, but I don't feel good about it, like I should.

I don't know why...the only thing I can think of is I was raised in the "hood" and have seen many of my friends arrested, and me having to bail them. I know I am doing a good thing, helping these people get arrested, but I don't feel good.

I think that's why I don't feel good when I get someone arrested, if there are police out there...have you ever felt bad when someone is arrested?

Just thinking about it. Most of the crimes where my work have gotten people arrested is non-violent.

There was a case where I was happy this person was arrested. He was told by his doctor that he had terminal cancer. He then proceded to buy a gun, and ammo, pistol whipped his wife, kidnapped his kids, drove north.....way north. I found him in some small town, the RCMP surrounded the place and he was taken in without the kids being hurt. That arrest I was happy and proud of, as someone could have been hurt.

Answer 1

I understand how you feel exactly.

While I have never felt any sadness for putting away a Murder, Child Molester or Rapist... I have felt bad for a few people.

I have especially felt bad over the years hauling off Mommy or Daddy in a Domestic Violence case. No, I of course do not condone the crime, but it takes two to tango as they say. Nothing worse then handcuffing the alleged aggressor and watching the children cry and then the other spouse start to feel remorse and feeling that this family is now a ruined mess forever.

I have also felt bad for kids that I have had to arrest. Take a 14 year old who goes into Wal-mart and steals a CD as his family has no money to waste on such luxuries. You talk to him and see he is just a good kid that screwed up and just wanted ONE CD and now he is going to Juvie.... Sucks.

It’s not the kid’s fault his family is poor or made bad choices in life and now lives hand to mouth.

Tugs on the heart strings.

So, yes I can understand fully.

What you must always try to remember is this in your job: These people you are collaring are all adults committing crimes they premeditated and they all know they are wrong.

Its not YOUR fault they committed these crimes.... And just think of the victims. You may feel like you have ruined this crooks life... But how many victims lives have THEY ruined?

Keep up the good work... You are an honorable man. Your humility and ability to see that and ask this question make you a good person with compassion!

I rarely give stars to questions... You question surely deserves one! Here you go, Grats!

Answer 2

Coz ur compassinate and do realise wat it is like being poor. Seen people suffer due to lack of resources, etc. As u say u've been raised in the " hood" and experienced ur friends getting arrested u somehow know they were not doing wrong deliberately but due to the circumstances.

Iwud only feel bad when a person is compelled to commit fraud or some petty crime when he/she is in dire need of money so that they can eat some food or try to support a disabled family person, Ofcourse it's a crime but sometimes circumstances maybe responsible for the person to commit some crimes.

When the crime is huge and to the extreme it's not a good thing to pardon such a thing. In doing so u'd put oil to the burning flame and let it thrive more.

Hmmm if getting somebody arrested is saving him from becoming a threat to the society and to himself/herself then yes I'd say arresting is right so that they can truly make themselves to be a better person. At times realisation is wat some people need.

Wat u mentioned of the guy with cancer he was not stable mentally and went way out of hand, he shud be placed in psychiatric surveillance. But even if that was not the case he sure was a threat in general.

Sometimes we need to keep aside our emotions so that we don't do injustice and commit emotional crimes ourself.

If u feel sorry and help a criminal someday then ur the one committing emotional crime which is almost equivalent to comitting actual crime with that person. U'd then be termed as partner in crime.

People in the criminal workforce have to be so hardhearted and so stable that if they start getting way too emotional then real criminals wud be on the loose and thats a scary notion.

Answer 3

Yes. Sometimes good people go to jail, I'll be the first one to admit it. There are some situations where we HAVE to make arrests, regardless of our personal feelings about it. Discretion only allows us so much before we are mandated to do certain things. Other times, I'm happy as hell that a particular person is going to jail, because they deserve it. They're street trash, and have no business being out and about, causing hate and discontent.

Answer 4

i understand fully. prison is worse than a waste of time - it is a very expensive solution, breaks apart families, eliminates stability (which could help the offender stay out), and usually seems to lead to a worse problem going out than coming in.

also, isn't it interesting that in 1997, blacks constituted 49% of the prison population, verses 13% of the general population? less opportunity & stability causes more people willing to risk life & limb chasing after 'the prize.' the same is true in the rest of the world; terrorists are not born, but made

all you can do is try to do your job, and maybe spend some of yor spare time in your neighborhood trying to make a positive difference, and hope. there is always hope

Answer 5

it is a pleasure to read that a cop somewhere does not think beating on citizens is the way to go and that they are making good decisions and the tough calls using judgement / responsibility respect for their badge

you message says ..gotten 3 people arrested. do people not do things that cause them to be arrested ? i assume gotten means your investigations/evidence was legit ?

Answer 6

IT IS NORMAL TO FEEL BAD ABOUT TAKING SOMEONE AWAY FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS. KNOWING YOU DID IT DOES NOT MAKE IT EASIER.

LOOK AT IT THIS WAY. YOU HAVE A JOB TO DO AND THAT ENTAILS CERTAIN THINGS THAT YOU DO NOT LIKE. (INFANTRY- SPECIAL FORCES-KNOW YOU ARE PROTECTING SOMEONE BY HAVING TO KILL SOMEONE?)

IF THE SHOE WAS AS THEY SAY ON THE OTHER FOOT WHAT WOULD THEY HAVE DONE-ARRESTED YOU AND NEVER FELT BAD.

YOU HAVE A HEART AND THAT IS GOOD. BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHY YOU DO WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE YOU ARE GOOD AT IT. IT IS A GAME TO THEM. THEY KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO GO TO JAIL AND THAT IS THAT. THEY KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO DO TIME AND THAT IS A PART OF THE GAME. YOU WON THIS TIME, THEY WILL WIN ABOUT 5-6 MORE TIMES BEFORE THEY GET CAUGHT AGAIN. THAT IS A CALCULATED RISK THEY TAKE.

YOU DID NOT DO THIS TO THEM THEY DID IT TOO THEMSELVES. YOU DID YOUR JOB AND THAT WAS TO BUST EM. THEY DO THEIR JOB AND THIS TIME THEY LOST. THIS TIME YOU WERE BETTER. IT IS ALL AGAME TOO THEM. THEY DO NOT FEEL REMORSE UNTIL THEY GET CAUGHT AND REALITY HITS HOME.

SHAKESPERE WROTE IN MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: ONE GUARD AT THE CASTLE WAS TALKING TO ANOTHER ONE AND HE SAID" YOU KNOW ----FEELS REMORSE ABOUT THE CRIME HE DID." THE OTHER GUARD SAID " THEY DO NOT FEEL REMORSE, THEY ARE SORRY ONLY BECAUSE THEY GOT CAUGHT."

BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE. YOU WILL ONE DAY FIGURE OUT THAT THEY DID NOT CARE, IT WAS THE THRILL OF GETTING AWAY WITH IT. LIKE A CLEPTOMANIAC.

Answer 7

Thank you for bringing this up.
police and people like you don't arrest people or send them to jail because they like to or want to. They do it because they have to. They try to keep us safe.
our society is based upon law and order.Obey our laws and there is nothing to worry about. break the law and you pay the price.
law enforcement is the dirty work of society. Someone has to do it, or we live in a state of chaos.

Answer 8

I have to say that in all my years as an officer, I have never put anyone in jail that did not belong there. Many people come from modest or bad backgrounds and are still able to make ethical decisions and possess integrity. If you feel bad about putting a criminal in jail, my opinion would be to find another job. As for officers out there that feel bad for the person that they are putting in jail, remember, they made the decision to commit the crime. I can empathize with the victims of crime (I include Innocent family members of criminals) but never once in my career have I felt sympathy or empathy for a criminal. They make their own choices based on their own morals.

Answer 9

If your friends are going to jail and you are bailing them out then they aren't very good friends. You should be proud of getting criminals arrested. Maybe you feel bad because you think that you are taking away the freedom of people whom you identify with your friends. Well, just keep in mind: It's their fault for going to jail, not yours. Thank you for helping society by isolating people who are purposefully a burden on others. :)

Answer 10

i know it doesnt feel good to get arrested!