It was suggested I introduce myself...

[roopull]

So, here's my introduction!

I am not a cop & have no desire to become one. I am simply one of those guys driving along minding my own business. From time to time, I wonder how cops keep their cool & DON'T kill some of the idiots they encounter. Other times, I wonder how some cops have survived past their first day on the job.

A big concern of mine is what I see as a huge difference in how police view the world when compared with how regular citizens view the world. Most of the folks I work with, friends, and family all have a powerfully negative view of the police (although I'm sure few of them would openly express it to an officer!) At the same time, the police officer I'm acquaintances with and the Sheriff's Deputy I'm friends with have an equally powerful disdain for society at large.

So, I thought I'd track down a forum & see what cops are saying... After reading around a bit, I can honestly say I'm a bit shocked by what some of the cops on this forum are saying. I hope that posting contrary (yet respectful) opinions won't get me banned.

Talkatchya,
Brian

[Valor55]

Just keep in mind that we see the underbelly of society on a daily basis. We deal with stuff that would horrify and shock any decent citizen. We also realize we are only dealing with a minority of society.

[tomahawk134]

Not at all Brian welcome to the RP Board .....

[BP348]

Brian,

Welcome to RP. It's hard to explain to non LEO's what we do day in and day out. Load a few kids into bodybags after a car accident or cut down a helpless girl who was tied to a tree and raped while trying to come to the U.S. for a better life and you may get a small look at what we deal with. I for one would like the opion of a non LEO in the forum keeps us in check with the rest of the world.

[Apollo8138]

Welcome to RP Brian!

[roopull]

Thanks for the welcomes, guys.

Being that I've known quite a few "LEOs" over the years, I do get to hear about much of what they have to put up with. And, if you've ever arrested my brother;) , you know I have some decidedly unique experience with law enforcement, myself.

There is clearly a huge gap between how LEOs and non-LEOs view the roll and performance of police in our society. Ignorance, arrogance, defensiveness, and narrow minds are the only things to blame (that's on both sides of the badge, obviously.) If that bozo with no seatbelt had seen the crushed torso of the guy you just saw - thrown from his car at a measley 45mph, he may not have such a bad attitude when you give him grief over no belt. Likewise, the first time you wear handcuffs because of a Sherriff Dept's clerical error & pay several hundred dollars in impound fees, you may understand why folks might not have too positive view of being pulled over! You know, you don't get that money back if you're innocent!:eek:

Anyhoo... there's an old proverb that goes something like, "There is no man you could not love if you could only hear his story."

I like to think that's true & promise to keep that in mind while I'm here on this forum.

Thanks, guys...

[Switchback]

Welcome aboard, Roopull.

[w1zard]

Welcome to RP! Glad to have you.

[Feisty]

Welcome to RP. :D

[mcsap]

Welcome to RP Brian.

We deal with a segment of society that you as a decent citizen don't want to. The good people of this world have an occasional interaction with us from being in a crash or maybe getting a ticket, even making a complaint about another person. We end up spending a lot of time dealing with drunks, drug addicts/ abusers , crazy people, DUI's , domestic fights etc.

We deal with people whose lives are lived frm one paycheck to another going frmo one bar to another. One hit of drugs to another. Don't care if they are suspended or don't have insurance. Don't care if they get locked up because they will see their friends. Don't care if they get fired because there is another minimum wage job out there or they can just steal your stuff instead of working.

It is certainly not an easy job to go from dealing with an 81 year old widow who is complaining about hers neighbors cats being on her property ( which is quite a crime to her) to dealing with two drunken and fighting 20 somethings who are unemployed but have money to buy beer and drugs and want to argue and fight with us because we are interfering with their lives.

We appreciate people like yourself who can understand the job we do requires us to constantly be able to deal with ALL types of people under ALL kinds of circumstances and yet we have to maintain our professional image.

[roopull]

Alrighty... my first day & I've already had a thread closed on me.

You guys be honest... if I dare to admit that I don't trust cops or dare to say something bad about cops - in general - should I just pack my things & pretend I never found this forum?

I was 100% sincere when I said:

A big concern of mine is what I see as a huge difference in how police view the world when compared with how regular citizens view the world.

I'm a member of a few forums & must say I don't understand the desire to close/edit forums & posts by moderators. If my comments are stupid/insulting/whatever, then I would think it would be self evident to anyone reading & therefore not require any moderating action - unless, of course, I am vulgar.

I was not.
If a link has been removed by a Mod, it is not to be reinserted. Last warning.* Canuckofapeach

If I cannot be honest with the police - even in a forum - then there is no hope. We can just remain "them" and "us."

...kinda' let down.:(
-Thanks,
Brian

[Valor55]

Alrighty... my first day & I've already had a thread closed on me.

You guys be honest... if I dare to admit that I don't trust cops or dare to say something bad about cops - in general - should I just pack my things & pretend I never found this forum?

I was 100% sincere when I said:


I'm a member of a few forums & must say I don't understand the desire to close/edit forums & posts by moderators. If my comments are stupid/insulting/whatever, then I would think it would be self evident to anyone reading & therefore not require any moderating action - unless, of course, I am vulgar.

I was not.

Here's the thread... I welcome and even request your comments.
Click Me.

If I cannot be honest with the police - even in a forum - then there is no hope. We can just remain "them" and "us."

...kinda' let down.:(
-Thanks,
Brian

Read the Forum Rules that will help you.

This site is for and about Police. We aren't here to be bad mouthed. If you have nothing nice to say then don't say anything at all. You can go on plenty of political forums and discuss how much you don't trust police and blah blah blah.

But here, you are in our living room. You can be respectfull or leave.

[roopull]

Wow... you two guys have made it clear how you feel. Please put me on your ignore list. Anyone else who does not want me to be honest with them, please put me on your ignore list as well. I'd rather you offend me & I offend you than to have anyone lie for the sake of not rocking the boat.


Likewise, there was absolutely nothing disrespectful in the post... nothing nearly as disrespectful as what has been said in the past two posts in this thread, the thread that was closed, nor the PM I received.

I did read the rules of the forum & the most of the stickies. I was especially impressed with this line

There will be no more warnings. Bans will follow. Should you feel the need to attack others, you will get a time-out. I don't care if you are a veteren verified attacking a newbie troll. It doesn't matter. While seniorty has it privileges, this is not one of them.

I was told via a PM that I lost all credibility being "a newbie non-cop" with the opening of this thread...

Likewise, I believe this, being from the Forum Rules, speaks directly to the resentment of my non-cop status:

I have been asked numerous times if we plan to make this site "strictly law enforcement," and the answer still is "No." The reason is, I believe it takes non-LEO's as well to help the interaction with the forums.

I wrote:

I hope that posting contrary (yet respectful) opinions won't get me banned.

BP348 wrote:

I for one would like the opion of a non LEO in the forum keeps us in check with the rest of the world.

Thank you BP348... I feel I could get the same benefits from speaking with open minded cops.



I am not a troll, even though it would appear I have been labeled one. I would truly like to listen to what you guys have to say - how you view certain laws - why officers behave in certain ways during traffic stops - a whole plethora of things I cannot even begin to touch on, here. I would hope that my efforts in explaining myself thoroughly make it clear I'm not hear to start fights, arguments, flame or anything like that...

I mean no disrespect when I say I do not trust cops... that is a broad generalization, but it is absolutely true. I have no reason to trust a complete stranger, especially one who is armed & has such broad legal power over me. I think I would have to be a fool to trust a cop I do not know. Consider that from a non-cop point of view. Of course, in certain situations I have and would trust cops. But, when the blue lights go on, I trust a cop no more than a cop should trust me.

That does not make me 'anti-cop' or anything like it. Policing is one of the basic functions of government. Society absolutely cannot function without policing. Yes, I am a libertarian. That means I believe in very limited government. Being that policing is one of the basic functions of any government, obviously, I believe in policing. However, if there is a rift between the people and the police, it limits the police's ability to do their job effectively. So, being here will hopefully be a learning experience for me... and maybe you.

So, if I have offended you by saying I do not trust cops, I apologize. I mean absolutely no disrespect. If those words are unacceptable to you, I would politely ask that you put me on your ignore list so we can co-exist on the forum...

We appreciate people like yourself who can understand the job we do requires us to constantly be able to deal with ALL types of people under ALL kinds of circumstances and yet we have to maintain our professional image.

Couldn't have said it better myself. The appreciation I feel for the services the police perform is immense...

And once again,
Thanks
-Brian

[Jynkxxie]

Listen, I am going to make this really simple for you. First, we cannot and will not put you on ignore, we are the moderation here. Secondly, this board is not your sounding board. It is not your soap box. If you have an interest in Law Enforcement, in its community, and the issues that surround it, then please feel free to jump in constructively, not as a critic. If your intentions are genuine, as you say, then perhaps you do best to just sit back a while and observe, get a feel for what this board is really about. If those are not your intentions then perhaps you need to find another discussion forum. I ask that you leave this issue here. If care to take it up further, do so in PM's, which is where your last post should have been. A little late, but that is why this thread is being closed.

[wild800]

Here's the thing, if I want to hear how screwed up cops are I will just go in to work. I come to this forum to communicate with like minded individuals, not to read about the reasons why you distrust me.

You didn't lose credibility because you aren't a cop, there are plenty of people on this site who aren't cops.