Why do cops get so mad when citizens investigate their activities and uncover wrong doing? Is it because their power is threatened.
I work for a corporation and we are audited for procedures all the time.
Why don't cops want people to know what their constitutional rights are? But I guess that's paramilitary forces are for.
www.copwatch.com
www.policeabuse.com
www.knowyourrights.org
2007-10-23 07:57:03 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
because they're incompetent, and they fear that your aware.
2007-10-23 09:02:57 · answer #1 · answered by John 5 · 2⤊ 8⤋
This is more of a rant than it is a question.
I don't know how it is in other departments, but I can tell you that at mine, officers are checked on their adherence to procedure on a daily basis.
I'm a patrol supervisor (Sgt.), and it's a big part of my job to make sure that my officers are doing their jobs properly. If they aren't I take whatever action is necessary. It doesn't make me mad when citizens come to, or call, the police station and want to make a complaint because they felt the officer did something wrong. I have no problem with that at all. What I do have a problem with, and I see it more and more, is people showing up on traffic stops and other police activities and interfering with video cameras and questions about things that they are not a party to. When someone else puts themself at a scene we're at, that's one more person our attention has to be focused on. And that's one more person who's safety I need to try to protect should something go wrong. It can be construed as obstruction and hindering and I would really caution people against it.
Having said that, I'll also say that I could care less if people want to videotape police activity. The producers of COPS made a heck of a profit off of it. But the COPS cameramen were given body armor and specific instructions - DO NOT GET IN THE WAY. If you feel like you have to whip out a camera and take my picture, I'll be sure to smile, but be across the street or somewhere that won't cause my attention to shift to you, please.
Also, it's been my experience that a lot of people aren't clearly aware of what their rights, and mine, are. I've had a lot of people say "You can't do that," when the law says I can. I'm sure you wouldn't want someone coming to your job telling you that you're doing something wrong, when you absolutely know that you're not.
Be fair. You say "why do cops...?" like it's all of us. I'm not naive, I know that there are people in my profession that do wrong things. But it's foolish to assume that it's all of us.
2007-10-23 22:02:12 · answer #2 · answered by landshark20904 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Your question is seriously flawed.
You cannot rightfully challenge a police officer's authority unless he/she is out of his/her jurisdiction AND you haven't committed a felony.
You can rightfully uncover wrongdoing! Wrongdoing is not within the officer's authority. Ever!
What bothers cops is some punk claiming his/her rights are being violated by being stopped, detained or arrested. Fact is, you don't have "rights" until you are arrested.
I don't know any cops that don't want people to know their rights. The problem is, most people think they know what their "rights" are from watching TV which has little or no basis in reality.
I worked as a cop and in corporations.
2007-10-23 16:34:47 · answer #3 · answered by rjrmpk 6 · 5⤊ 2⤋
If you are in a situation where you think they are wrong, you allow them to cite you and whatever then ask them about it politely. I once got pulled over for speeding, I took my ticket then asked the trooper if he had a minute to answer a question. The question was "Why do I see cops speeding all the time without their lights on and usually at shift change?" He didnt like it but he talked to me and knew I wasnt trying to get out of the ticket because I already took it without complaint. Be respectful, by and large they are honest, hardworking people trying to keep the rest of us safe.
2007-10-23 16:50:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Probably because 99 out of 100 people do it in the wrong manner.
Challenging authority is fine, but that does not relieve your responibility to do what you are told. Do what the officer says, and take the matter up later. That is what the complaint procedure and attorneys are for.
2007-10-23 15:32:56 · answer #5 · answered by trooper3316 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
if the officer is secure in his her arrest, why does it piss them off?
you work for a corporation and are audited for procedures all the time.
what type of procedure are you audited for?
are you brought to TV about your audits ever or put on a camera light while you are being audited?
if you have never had a suspect and a crowd, then you know nothing.
2007-10-23 15:05:27 · answer #6 · answered by ahsoasho2u2 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋
They want you to know your rights. But they just want you to cooperate so the process is a lot smoother. If you break the law, you get a ticket, then after that you can dispute it all you want; however, if yuo're caught breaking the law and you try to dispute while recieving a ticket...the situation is going to be worse.
the Officer wants to give you the ticket about as much as you want to get it. So if you make his/her job harder, they have the right to get upset. there's a process that works. It's worked for years, that's why so many people get off in court; but if you try to act all Johnny Cochran on the street and circumvent the process, then your screwed.
These guys deal with assholes day in and out...why not just be cool and own up to your responsibility? Be cool, and make everybodies day better.
2007-10-23 15:04:42 · answer #7 · answered by Double Dee 2 · 5⤊ 5⤋
What makes you think that Police Officers aren't audited all the time.
You accusations are not based on fact.
2007-10-23 16:29:52 · answer #8 · answered by CGIV76 7 · 6⤊ 3⤋
Why do people make wild baseless accusations? Why do people assume they know what other people want or think? Why do some people feel it is appropriate to attack the very people that place their lives on the line everyday protecting the community?
Thats what criminals are for.
2007-10-23 15:03:58 · answer #9 · answered by davidmi711 7 · 9⤊ 3⤋
Somebody call the WHAAAbulance!!
2007-10-24 01:33:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dude, don't be dumb. Just cooperate with the police and show lots of respect. It doesn't matter that you don't want to. They can make your life hell if you p*ss them off. And for what purpose? It doesn't cost you anything to show a little respect to some poor guy who's doing a really sh*tty job for a really sh*tty salary.
2007-10-23 15:02:24 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 5⤋