Why doesn't the show COPS fully realize the duties of an officer?

[OddArt]

This is a serious question. I think the show cops is more realistic than hollywood movies or police chase type shows. I realize it's still a show for entertainment but I think it shows what types of people cops deal with.

But many officers say cops don't really show what it's like. So, I'm asking all of you LEOs...what is the show lacking?

[EX_529]

The reality that 80% of the job is boring. COPS shows the 5% of total adrenelin rush.

I watched COPS in Kansas City last night - cool episode. They were serving an arrest warrant and the scrote didn't want to give up - his whole family and friends got involved and next thing you know, 8 other officers came on the scene code 3. In the end, the suspect and his family and friends were in the wagon together. I never saw a cop sweat so much!

[99TAC]

booking prisoners, night court, and paperwork are nonexistent on the show.

[mrbelvetron]

*not a cop*

I did see one episode where the whole thing was people being put in the drunk tank.

[jaunt10]

i remember that one COPS episode where they showed that one legged cop chasing a suspect. Then when caught the cop just could not stop wheezing. then the suspect asks him "why are you so tired? couldnt handle the chase?" Then the cop says "I caught you didnt I?" In the end the one-legged cop won. Shows some real determination.

[JimDeGriz]

Originally posted by EX_529
The reality that 80% of the job is boring. COPS shows the 5% of total adrenelin rush.

is the other 15% just dealing with dumba##es.

[jaunt10]

sounds like a Naval Aviator's job: tons of sheer boredom compiled by small bursts of pant splitting exhilaration.

[mcsap]

Hey Jaunt, try Depends ! JK

They would need to spend a month with us to get enough material for a one hour show.

[jaunt10]

haha, actually the female pilots here have to use depends, there is really no way for a female to relieve themselves in the plane they call what they do "strategic hydration". For us guys theres a relief tube that fills to the rim before you finish.

[imalazypup]

Originally posted by jaunt10
haha, actually the female pilots here have to use depends, there is really no way for a female to relieve themselves in the plane they call what they do "strategic hydration". For us guys theres a relief tube that fills to the rim before you finish.

I hope my future wife isn't an airforce/naval pilot.

[OddArt]

Originally posted by DC Law
COPS doesn't show the mundane.
You don't see officers directing traffic at accident scenes or running Radar/Laser. You don't see officers checking for fishing or vending permits or taking reports for things that happened earlier. They also don't show car searches that don't pan out, or arrests for things like operating with a suspended license or DUIs that aren't hillareous. You won't see cops on TV helping lost people get to where they're going and they won't show the teduim that goes with undercover and stakeout operations--just the dramatic conclusions when things all go right.
COPS is a good show--even if they do show a lot of unsafe stuff, no doubt done because officers are showing off--but it can't show everything because most people don't care about the hum-drum.

So basically, the show doesn't show (no pun intended i guess) the boring stuff.

[scootsmo]

It leaves out the days where you have to drink a pot of coffee to keep from falling asleep and driving in circles on your beat when not a soul is out. I work in Chicago and I would consider it a fast town with a lot going on but when you watch an episode of COPS you think "this town must have the most crime in the entire country." This is after watching Albuquerque and Fort Worth.

[Srebeiro]

I love wathcing cops in Albuquerque beacuse my ex just moved near there and its like hahaha sucks for here then I realise I live in San Francisco...:(

[K9 Police]

Doesn't show you being called to a residence for 50th million time for a juvenile runaway report. Or going to property damage report to property damage report. Everyone nailed it. You watch COPS and I wouldn't be surprised if you think that all we do is chase people, get in fights, bust dopers, and get into vehicle pursuits.

K9

[besafe2]

This may be just a second to the other posts, but cops does not show the hours of paper work & the hours of court time....