Why are some police officers threatened by civil and constitutional rights of the people?

Question

Some cops are very reactive when citizens learn about their civil rights, their constitutional right to videotape interactions with them, what constitute a violation of civil rights and a reason to file a citizen's complaint, etc.

Why do some cops mind literate, informed citizens so much? Why do some resent citizens that take action against brutality and violations successfully, so bitterly?

Answer 1

Nobody wants to be caught doing something wrong. If *anybody* were doing their job on tape it would be much easier to find cases where they did the wrong thing. In this case, the authority figure feels even more threatened by it as it diminishes their perceived power/control over the situation.

Answer 2

First of all, why isn't a 4 year old in a child safety seat?!?!?? No, your rights were not violated. An officer can question you if he suspects you are doing (or have done) something illegal. He does not have to "tell you why he is arresting you" since he was not arresting you. Of course he can ask you to step out of your vehicle and he can question your child, if he felt the child was in danger. Someone called and probably said you were "beating" your child. You have a knife in plain view when the officer opens your car door. You have. 4 year old flopping around without a car seat. And, you are going off about your civil rights. The officer handled it perfectly. An officer is not required to tell you why he is questioning you. Not sure why you think that. No, I would not call the police. I believe that spanking is appropriate in most cases. Using the word "retarded" as you did shows your level of intelligence. My teenage nieces and nephews did that until we pointed out how inappropriate it was. No, an officer does NOT have to explain his reasons for stopping you. As almost every other poster has indicated. If you are so certain of that, then why did you come on here and ask the question????? FYI, I am s,art enough to use proper child safety seats and boosters for my kids.

Answer 3

I have never had a problem with or been threatened by citizens learning their civil and constitutional rights. I encourage it. My knowing what their rights are it should also help them see what their obligations and duties are. If more people were aware of their duties and obligations as citizens then our job would be much easier. If I give someone a reason to file a complaint against me then I will have to take what is coming to me and/or legally justify my actions. Learn everything you can about your rights ... I do the same thing!!

Answer 4

I guess they mind people who advocate their destruction, rejoice in their deaths, and encourage others to make as many problems for them as possible.

Like you telling one asker "You wouldn't believe how a video camera turns the baddest cop into a cute little puppy."
You have no respect for Police Officers, you are a hater of the first order.

What you don't understand is that Police Officers develop extremely long memories, especially when it comes to dealing with people who declare themselves as their enemy. Something you have done time and again in this forum.

You are not a literate, informed citizen, you are a hater with an axe to grind. You abuse the answers section to talk about how you have been intimidated because you are female and Hispanic, then when confronted by a female Hispanic Police Officer in your other hating "question" you tell her that she has problems with people's civil rights.

You've probably never even experienced Police brutality.
My guess is that you are probably the ex-girlfriend of some poor Officer, or you got disqualified from entering the Academy because you are such a nut-job, or you got a ticket that you couldn't beat, or even worse yet, you were influenced by some liberal college professor with an agenda and your hatred is totally baseless.

You don't seem to understand that your hatred of authority, (probably tied up in some Fruedian daddy hang up) shines through every question and answer you pose in this section.
My hat is off to the others who have endeavored to be professional with you. I have no such intention. I've seen your type so often in my line of work that I know how angry and helpless you actually are inside. You are nothing more than a verbal bully. And this is the only place you can act out.

The most you can do to me is get this answer violated or at very best get me kicked off Y!A. It will have been worth it.
Go for it.

Answer 5

I don't. My issue is with citizens that read "a little" of the constitution, or know "the basics" of their rights. They get their info from incorrect and sometimes completely backwards source.

These people are a hazard to themselves and me. Someone with a just a little bit of knowledge, typically has just enough to make problems. They see one weird video on the Internet or read a few postings written by an ignorant lunatic with an agenda and they think they know their rights.

They then take this "piece" of info and try to jam it down my throat when I'm at work. What they don't seem to realize is that they just broke the law and now everything changes. Alot of their rights just disappeared. That's what people don't get from a reading a 300 word article or a viewing a 10 minute video.

That's when that "little" knowledge becomes big pain and trouble for them.

Answer 6

Here is the issue. Officers deal with misinformed people all the time. I have fought with people in court because they refuse to except the court as legal because the fricken flag has gold trim on it.

I have stopped people who have told me I have no right to see their driver's license.

I have tried to arrest people who have told me I can't legally arrest them without them speaking to their attorney. I've even been told the same thing when writing tickets.

Yesterday I got a parking complaint. Some guy parked on a street that was no parking. I found the owner of the car and told him I had a complaint about his car and he needed to move it. Didn't right a ticket, wasn't mean to him. Simply asked him to move his car. He then told me "I know how this works and I have a f*cking right to know who made the complaint about my car" (his words). I told him it doesn't work like that and he just needs to move his car. He refused to move his car until I told him who complained.

I know my rights and I know what I can and can not do in my job. If you tell me no I can't search when you I have no legal right to do that, I am cool with it. I respect that. If you have a right to speak with an attorney and want to do so, fine. If you want to video tape me from an acceptable distance where I can work without being bothered by you thats fine.

But instead I get people like you who walk up when I am trying to deal with someone and shove a camera in my face. Once I had a guy literally stand 2 feet from me with a camera and couldn't understand why I would tell him to leave.

I love the US, I love the rights this country gives it's citizens. But I like being able to do my job and misinformed people make that extremely hard.

Answer 7

Police officers DON'T mind informed citizens. They do tend to be irritated by MISINFORMED people like YOU. I read the Constitution 3 or 4 times a year. Your question convinces me your NEVER have.

Answer 8

cameras cause a scene to become insecure. the crow gets involved, the victim who was partially cooperative now becomes a loony. as an officer, i have been filmed taking a suspect to court who killed her husband. she freeked out at the sight of cameras. had to cover up with my coat to move her along. scary situation and she was in custody?

i never had anything to hide so maybe that is why i never liked being photographed, but never made an issue of it either. just best to do the arrest and move on. but as i said earlier it has moved some victims and suspects to play for the entertainment of the camera while it rolls.

have had camera tapes done and cleared police of any wrong doings also so play on.

Answer 9

first, rarely are what you think are your "rights" and the actual "rights" you have, the same thing. people say sobriety check points are a violation of their rights. they aren't. I don't mind actual literate and informed citizens. however, those that think they are, usually aren't. like you for instance.

Answer 10

For the same reason you would feel intimidated if your boss walked up and set up a video camera to tape you while you work....its human nature to feel threatened