Afraid of cops?

Question

I am terrified of cops and I don't know why. I haven't done anything illegal or anything like that. I'm 16, should I be afraid of cops?

I live in a small town in Texas, the most things cops do is pull over speeding cars. It's strange, everytime I see a cop or cop car a start shaking and feel like I can't breathe, it's kinda scary.

Answer 1

Contact your local PD, ask to do a ride-along with an officer. See what we do, and see that if you're not a dirty you have nothing to fear from us.

Answer 2

Welcome to the 21st century and the endless propaganda machine that has polluted the airways for years with cop shows. Law and Order, Cops, America's most wanted and all the other cop oriented crap has made the public afraid of the cops. That has been the intent all along, Scare the public into submission.
Here are a few things to remember.
1- The cops are not your friends
2- Never volunteer any information
3- Be polite but firm. Even a 16 year old has rights.
4- Check the ACLU website. www.aclu.org
5- Know your rights
6- Cops are allowed to lie when they interrogate you
7- You lie you go to jail.
8- KNOW WHEN TO SHUT UP!!
Seriously, get to know your rights. The US Constitution applies to all of us and so does the Bill of Rights. Schools don't teach nearly enough about the subject, so how are you supposed to exercise or defend your rights, if you haven't been told what they are. If you are still in school, and I hope you are, study the Constitution and Bill of Rights on your own first so you have a good idea and then try to bring it up in Civics class. Be careful, however. Schools are run by the Dept of Education, a Government department, and after all it is the Government that hires the cops who both want you to know as little as possible about your civil rights so you won't exercise the right to keep your mouth shut or to tell the cops that you are not consenting to a search of your home.
Lastly, I understand that you are terrified of the cops. That's what they want. Don't show your terror if you are confronted. Cops are trained to intimidate you and to exploit your fears and use those fears against you. "if you just admit to whatever you'll be so much better off. If you don't coopertate I can make it much worse..." are nothing more than ways to get you to implicate yourself in something you have nothing to do with. Cops will try to get you to implicate others they have nothing on and usually it is some one who got frightened into saying something they'd rather had kept to themselves.

Answer 3

Living in the inner city of Philadelphia, I sometimes feel the same. Some cops are good and some are bad but if you do nothing wrong you shouldn't worry or even see a cop.

Answer 4

Cops are here to help us. You hear people talking about this bad cop or that bad cop but just remember, cops are just like we are. They have a job to do and most of them really are good guys. It is sad that you are afraid of them. Get over it. You can't call a crook if you get in trouble!! Wouldn't do you any good at all. Have respect for our police officers. They have a rough time out on our streets. They are there for us though when we need them.

Answer 5

You need to examine yourself. You may be feeling guilty about something that you don't want anyone to know about. E.g.; a closet homosexual who cannot help feeling and fantasizing about homosexual act, but too ashamed to talk about it. Cops represent "judgement" to a lot of people. Seeing a cop make people feel like they are going to be found out. No one else can make anyone feel guilty. Not the judge, governor, mayor or even the President of the U.S. of A.

Answer 6

Not unless your afraid of pepper spray and stun guns and the pain they produce when applied directly to your body when a cop has a bad day and your the next person they decide to pull over or approach walking down the street minding your own business!

Answer 7

It's probably a phobia of some sort. Just like some people don't like doctor's, you don't like cops. Can't say as I blame you.

Answer 8

it is the fear of the unknown.a off duty officer feels the same as you do.i know during my career that if a officer pulled in behind me i would break out in a sweat.i had done nothing wrong.it is a normal feeling.get to know the officers in your area and it will help.
----retired texas deputy sheriff----

Answer 9

It's perfectly acceptable... everybody says cops are here to help us... well who are they helping? They're motto is to "protect and serve" .. I believe it should be "To harass and violate" ... Cops are very unprofessional, they're prejudice, lazy, they don't know how to look for criminals so they stop teenagers, not just black teenagers, all teenagers.. and shine light in their eyes when we haven't done anything... I have never done an illegal thing in my life, have never had a ticket or anything and I absolutely hate cops.

Answer 10

IM scared of police as well im from california and all they do is harass me and the stare at you to scare you and ask you a million questions. They have no right to even pull me over i did nothing.... Leave me the **** alone. Pigs. Ive also grown up seeing cops kill people for no reason, me being from california " man was shot while handcuffed at the bart in oakland " its completely normal to be terrified of police they go around doing nothing all day they have guns,dogs,tazers so cops have it very easy there job is not hard at all. 1 call they got helicopters and tons of cops by there side. Plz, pigs you have a very ******* easy job.