The Cops

[Willy G.]

Run, It's the Cops!!!! That's what we use to say as kids doing mischief. I found a good way to find friends is to judge them on their opinion of the Police, if they're still like I was as a kid I don't hang with them as most likely they're still hung up on doing things illegal. The Police have one of the toughest jobs out there, They have to inforce laws WE the people make.
My hats to all LEO's.Thanks for what you do and stay safe.
Thanks, Willy

[Mtclassic]

Willy G., from your post I would enjoy riding with you.

[Sarge7]

I agree with you guys 110% - Working with these guys over the past 11 years has given insight as to what they go through every day. An I agree with Mtclassic on enjoying a ride with you.

[fatboydon24]

I hear my 4 yr old son refer to an officer as cops.Every time I correct him and tell him they are officer,police officers.he then says ok,so will those cops take me to jail.And again,I correct him.As a youth,I showed alot of disrespect to officers,but finally realized they were doing there job,and I was an ass.But thanks to all you officers out there for what you do.

[Neil]

I have no issues with the term "CPOS". It comes from "Coppers" refering to the copper badges that early officers wore. I like the fact that the term is still around; a little bit of history.

Neil

[arealinvestor]

I can't say that I agree with you on your thoughts about cops.Although it's a very dangerous job and requires alot of devotion;I don't neccessarily agree with alot of the decisions, cops make on the streets.I have often seen cops taking authority to far & being blantly disrespectful to people they are sworn to protect.It takes are very level headed individual to be a cop.I think the screening process might be missing a few things that could possibly weed out the few that don't belong.Police Officers are doing things now days that are a total disgrace to the profession.I guess like all other professions they have some that are bad & unfortunately lots of good ones catch a bad rep!!!!!

[HRLYDeuce]

"Police Officers are doing things now days that are a total disgrace to the profession".

Would you mind elaborating on this above comment "arealinvestor". I would just like to be enlightened as to what has changed over the last 20+ years since I've been a police officer.

[arealinvestor]

Originally Posted by HRLYDeuce

"Police Officers are doing things now days that are a total disgrace to the profession".

Would you mind elaborating on this above comment "arealinvestor". I would just like to be enlightened as to what has changed over the last 20+ years since I've been a police officer.

Certainly Deuce!!!! 2 sodomizing incidents in Nyc,Tx trooper in shooting rampage,Utah trooper shooting,PA cop involved in sex acts,NJ troopers in racial profiling,NJ troopers in sex scandal.We can go on all night about NYPD and it's vast array of problems!!!It's a shame!!!I know there are plenty good cops out there doing noble things.It's a shame that a few bad apples spoil it for the rest!!!

[Seags]

Hmmm...this subject is pretty sure to ruffle some feathers, lol. I agree with ALL that's been said so far. I know things may well be different over here in England but there always have been and always will be enough top heavy cops to give the good ones a bad reputation (we called them the 'Fuzz' when we were kids . I'd put it mainly down to attitude. I was stopped (in a car) in France this year and fined 90 Euros for no seat belt. You have to bear in mind that we're not used to guns in England so when two guys stride over with their hands on their guns it can be a bit hairy. These guys were perfect gentlemen though and it was a simple case of a law broken, a fine paid and job done. No holier than thou attitude and no 'gotcha' grin. I wish I could say the same for English police. I was done for speeding in an ex-cop Jag as it happens...37mph in a 30 zone. The older cop was fine but the younger one was a complete twat and it was obvious that he was gonna wind the situation up (and he did). The selection process was mentioned earlier and I seriously believe that has a lot to do with the fact that we do have a fairly high percentage of arses in the British force...not least those in top County Force positions...and the example they set to the newbies is evident. There are regular scandals involving top inspectors and many have ended in resignations lately. How the guys further down the line feel about that I can only hazzard a guess.

I've only been stopped once in the States (routine check) and the guy seemed reasonable enough. Maybe I just wish all coppers and all forces were a little more consistent.

Seags

ps the two offences mentioned above and one more speeding fine in France are all I have to blight an otherwise clean 35 year driving record and given the rediculous speed restrictions now in force in the UK I don't think that's bad going. Speed cameras have all but wrecked riding enjoyment on most UK roads now though. Wide open spaces are a thing of the past over here which is one of the many reasons we spend a lot of time in France...beautiful, safe, half empty fast roads...heaven.

[harleyhornet]

We can go on all night about NYPD and it's vast array of problems!!!It's a shame!!! Yes in the last ten years there have been 2 horrendous incidents of arrestees being sodomized by NYPD cops. There are more than 3,000 cops in NYC, over 8 million citizens can you please eleborate on the "vast array of problems"

[mungo]

Originally Posted by Willy G.

The Police have one of the toughest jobs out there...

I agree. I can't even imagine the stress and tension these guys go through. Even for just a simple traffic stop. They never know when someone is going to fire at them or otherwise put their life in danger.

Originally Posted by Willy G.

They have to inforce [sic] laws WE the people make.

Disagree. We the people haven't made any laws. Only legislators, special interests groups and lobbyist. For example - if WE the people wrote laws, there'd be no helmet laws. I don't remember having my say in the design of that bill.

With that said, a lot of LEOs out there do a fine job. Arrest the bad guy, present evidence against said bad guy, then the judicial system lets the bad guy go with as little as a slap on the wrist.

LEO is a tough job and the pay is not worth what they have to go through.

[Gooms]

There are good and bad in all levels of law enforcement, its a fact of life. I have known quite a few, that are friends and old school mates, and for the most part, they tend to say more negative than positive aspects of the job.
But what really amazes me are how many FAT police officers there are in this world. It's a sorry sight and they present themselves very poorly. Quite frankly, they are not fit to do their job as required.

[03GLIDE_]

I have met good cops and bad cops. I liked the goods ones just fine and the bad ones were like criminals with badges. I have many relatives that are LEO so I see both sides to the story. Being a bar owner I see the bad side of the law. I have had an officer try to tell me who to let in to my bar and who not to let in. He also tried to tell me how to handle weapons and such. He hated bikers in general and we butted heads right away. I mentioned that my cousin was a local Sargent and he changed his tune right away and got in his car and drove off. I have had guns pulled on me at two different times for no reason. I have been cuffed and stuft in the back of a squad car only to be let go. I have been arrested only to be released at a later time with all FALSE charges dropped. I am a law abiding person that just happens to know his rights. Cops don't like people like me. At least the bad ones don't. I ride with Cops all the time. I tell them my stories and they shake their heads in amazement. I have more then a few friends that are cops and hang out with them often. We get jacked up together out riding until the badges come out then it's Oh have a nice day. The bad cops make me sick.

[Seags]

It's an 'abuse of power' issue in most cases. The same with high ranking officials in any area. The main difference with cops is that they attain what ammounts to 'high rank' (ie: they can push you and me around) from day one and many are not mentally equipped to handle that responsibility.

A word that's used an awful lot these days is 'respect'. I have a feeling that the concept of respect for others is a dying notion as everybody have become obsessed with respecting themselves. We're stuffed without respect for others and this is where crooks and cops have an aweful lot in common.

The good cops are the ones with the courage to rat on the bad cops...and we all know what happens to them.

[Willy G.]

Originally Posted by mungo

Disagree. We the people haven't made any laws. Only legislators, special interests groups and lobbyist. For example - if WE the people wrote laws, there'd be no helmet laws. I don't remember having my say in the design of that bill.

Ahh, but we do by our vote. We can if we want to vote out the scumbags that don't do the people's will.