I just got felony arrested, not kidding.

I thought the American police are trained to shoot before checking the licence. 

Always talk to a person!!!!!!

Vompatti wrote: I thought the American police are trained to shoot before checking the licence.

No, that's just the rubbish some people continue to perpetuate.  The reality is, most of the officers I've met, at least in this state, have always been polite and professional.  Generally, if you follow the instructions you are given, and don't shoot your mouth off and argue with the police, you will have a good outcome. 

Most of the people who end up hurt by police precipitate the problems with their behavior.  But you wouldn't know this by watching the media, who love to endlessly show the horrible video of the rare abuse cases to make that "the norm". 

Yes, there are a few bad apples and abuse occur on occasion.   It is the perpetuation of the myth that this is the norm that just drives me insane.  Because it is pure lying on the part of those who do it. 

Brian, this post is not directed at you in any way.  I'm glad your situation turned out OK and you got your vehicle back. 

Glad you got your car back, Slarti

Isn't pulling a gun on someone suspected of nicking a car just a LITTLE bit over the top? Or is it just this soft, Liberal Brit?

Finnforest wrote: Vompatti wrote: I thought the American police are trained to shoot before checking the licence.  No, that's just the rubbish some people continue to perpetuate.  The reality is, most of the officers I've met, at least in this state, have always been polite and professional.  Generally, if you follow the instructions you are given, and don't shoot your mouth off and argue with the police, you will have a good outcome.  Most of the people who end up hurt by police precipitate the problems with their behavior.  But you wouldn't know this by watching the media, who love to endlessly show the horrible video of the rare abuse cases to make that "the norm".  Yes, there are a few bad apples and abuse occur on occasion.   It is the perpetuation of the myth that this is the norm that just drives me insane.  Because it is pure lying on the part of those who do it.  Brian, this post is not directed at you in any way.  I'm glad your situation turned out OK and you got your vehicle back.

Negoba wrote: Finnforest wrote: Vompatti wrote: I thought the American police are trained to shoot before checking the licence.  No, that's just the rubbish some people continue to perpetuate.  The reality is, most of the officers I've met, at least in this state, have always been polite and professional.  Generally, if you follow the instructions you are given, and don't shoot your mouth off and argue with the police, you will have a good outcome.  Most of the people who end up hurt by police precipitate the problems with their behavior.  But you wouldn't know this by watching the media, who love to endlessly show the horrible video of the rare abuse cases to make that "the norm".  Yes, there are a few bad apples and abuse occur on occasion.   It is the perpetuation of the myth that this is the norm that just drives me insane.  Because it is pure lying on the part of those who do it.  Brian, this post is not directed at you in any way.  I'm glad your situation turned out OK and you got your vehicle back.    It still baffles me when people lip off to police officers. I don't carry a gun, never will, and I'm not going to piss off someone who is armed, let alone one with the force of law on their side. When you're with an officer, you do what you're told. The time for arguing your point is later with your lawyer present.   An officer, who was sitting monitoring a busy commercial area about 2 blocks from my house was randomly shot point blank, probably a gang initiation. Couldn't pay me enough to do that job. There is alot of corruption to varying degrees in American police departments, but it's a thankless job. I have nothing but respect for someone willing to do that public service legitimately, and there are many.

Right on, Jay.  When we were robbed, the officers were so reassuring to us when we were clearly shaken, they went above and beyond the call.  Other times when I've been pulled over I've been treated very courteously, I suppose because I return the same behaviour to the officer.

My biggest problem is just the ridiculous misrepresentation of reality.  The reality is that the bad apple cops are just a tiny minority of the overall cop population, but some people choose to flip this and portray all officers as bad people.  Everyday, so many people interact with officers who do their jobs by the books, helping people, risking their lives to save people in some cases.  Yet, we have these people in our society who choose to intentionally misrepresent the statistics to portray cops as monsters.  Up is down, black is white, cops are evil, and criminals are to be coddled. 

These people would have the ultimate wake-up call if they ever get to see what society looks like without the rule of law.

seventhsojourn wrote: I don't doubt it's a thankless job, but that doesn't excuse them abusing their powers.

 

lazland wrote: Glad you got your car back, Slarti Isn't pulling a gun on someone suspected of nicking a car just a LITTLE bit over the top? Or is it just this soft, Liberal Brit?

Maybe he was arrested by Gene Hunt. 

I've worked in several psych wards where security has to physically restrain people who are either a danger to themselves or others and may have limited control of what they're doing. Appropriate force is a very difficult thing to know and decide especially in the heat of the moment. Fortunately the most effective thing usually is a "show of force." In the psych ward, it means 3 guys about 300# or so walking in with a guy in a white coat (me). When it's clear who's going to win if there's a tussle, even most psych patients are smart enough not to start anything. As a result, most of these situations are resolved with no physical contact at all.

Edited by Negoba - April 28 2010 at 15:01

I usually distrust of police officer's discretionary abilities...