Question regarding LEO's

[MrDig]

I have to question some of the attitudes towards Law Enforcement Officers, that seem to be predominant at THR.
It seems as though many think LEO's are the enemy, all sworn to take our guns away from us. But in my experience this is not the case. I live in the Minneapolis St. Paul area and it seems more like the County Commissioners and City Councils in the area have it in their heads that I don't need a gun. Most of the LEO's I have dealt with are in favor of Law Abiding Citizens owning Firearms. This is not necessarily true of the Administrative side of Law Enforcement. But most of the Cops on the street seem pro gun rights.
I have respect foe LEO's since they do a job that I am physically not able to do.
They have Administrators, the Media, and Private Citizens, constantly nit picking the work they do, and their work is to protect us from the Bangers, Thieves and Junkies that are a plague to society.
They stand as a line between me and those that would do me and mine harm as do our Soldiers.
I for one am as Grateful for LEO's as I am for the Men and Women Serving in the military.
I am not so naive as to think all LEO's are good, I just think by and large they deserve more gratitude than they receive.
I question the attitude in general, What is it about LEO"S that makes a person distrust them, If they have not broken any laws?

 

[orangeninja]

MDig...I too noticed this about THR...though it has settled down a bit. You are right, most cops love an armed victim....most politicians don't.

Thanks for the post.

 

[Darth Ruger]

I must have missed some threads. Can you post links to some recent threads that contain a lot of LEO-bashing?

 

[orangeninja]

I must have missed some threads. Can you post links to some recent threads that contain a lot of LEO-bashing?

Not really of recent. And it seems to be more an attitude than outright bashing.

 

[WT]

Okay, so what's the question? I don't see any question framed in MDig's comments.

 

[TallPine]

Question regarding LEO's

Okay, so what's the question? I don't see any question framed in MDig's comments.

The answer is 42

 

[Sindawe]

I have to question some of the attitudes towards Law Enforcement Officers, that seem to be predominant at THR.
It seems as though many think LEO's are the enemy, all sworn to take our guns away from us.

A somewhat necessary evil. In an ideal world, people would respect and honor the rights of others, and those who did not would soon be culled from the gene pool by those whos rights they infringe. But we don't live in an ideal world, so....

I will grant that my views are colored by the all too frequent incidents of LEOs abusing and killing their fellow citizens in pursuit of the WOD.

 

[MrDig]

WT I edited the original post to end with a question.

 

[Henry Bowman]

The answer is 42

If you're going to turn this into a caliber war thread, the answer is .45!



Seriously, it is the age old issue of "Us vs. Them." Some of "them" are some of "us," but not all. Heck, sometimes it seems like some of "us" are some of "them." Understand? Many tyrrants want LEOs to be one of "them." They want and need the fire power on "their" side." They don't trust "us." Some LEOs aspire to be petty tyrrants (i.e., one of "them"). But many LEOs realize that they have much more in common with "us."

Simple, really.

 

[Tequila_Sauer]

Of my 3 best friends, 2 are active police officers, and 1 is set to graduate from the academy (he'll be hired within a month). I have a healthy respect for police officers, but I will never believe in this system we have whereby people are pulled over and ticketed for doing 71 on a 60 mph highway but the idiot that drives all the way to the front of a long line of cars on an exit ramp and attempts to butt in (impeding the flow of traffic behind him, which is extremely dangerous) seems to never get snagged.

I can not stand when people do that.

 

[jsalcedo]

Personally it is a case by case attitude problem.

If I support a cop in a thread nobody notices.

If I take a cops actions to task I'm a cop basher or cop bigot.

Regarding my experiences, my police contact has been 1/3 neutral 1/3 really good 1/3 really bad. I'll ignore the other 1%.

The bad experiences really stick out for me and since I am not or have never been a criminal or disrespectful to a police officer.

My life experience tells me there are certain professions that attract those who seek power and dominance over others.

To summarize you can't paint all police officers with a broad brush.

All police officers are NOT JBT's

You also cannot assume that all police are there to protect and serve.

 

[middy]

I have a problem with people who ignore the Constitution of the United States because their boss told them to. I don't care if it's a LEO or my grandmother.

 

[Berek]

The answer is 42

Ok, you found the ultimate answer, but what's the ultimate question?

 

[Gordon Fink]

There are a great many unconstitutional “laws” in place throughout the United States—and a great many more that are merely unjust. Cops are the ones who enforce these “laws” … so, politically, cops are sometimes the enemy, at least by proxy, which is very unfortunate for all of us.

~G. Fink

 

[pharmer]

Also depends on where you live. Lived the first half of my life in NJ, knew lots of cops, none were pro RKABA types. Here in Fla know lots of cops, almost all below the rank of captain are pro RKABA. Joe

 

[TallPine]

what's the ultimate question?

That's a good question ....

 

[Rezin]

Ok, you found the ultimate answer, but what's the ultimate question?

What is 7 X 6?


DON'T PANIC!





As far as the topic, I never really noticed it. I think this is a rather balanced site as far as LEO opinions go. I have seen MUCH worse, believe me!!!

 

[Atticus]

Politically, the FOP and assorted Chief's of Police and Sheriffs Associations are to the LEO what Jesse Jackson and the NAACP are to African Americans. Unfortunately, the rank and file take a lot of heat for the attitudes and political stands of the leadership.

 

[Werewolf]

In our society Law Enforcement represents authority at its most fundamental level. Some folks are comfortable with it; never questioning it; even demanding it. Others constantly question and challenge it.

It is, IMO, those who are not comfortable with unquestionable, unchallengable authority (which law enforcement most certainly represents) who are the sources of what the OP deems LEO bashing.

I myself fall into the crowd that questions and challenges authority when IMO the exercise of the authority is either onerous or unnecessary. My personal bug-a-boo is the LEO who cannot abide anyone questioning their authority and takes what ever action they deem necessary up to and including force to assure compliance simply for compliance's sake.

Sometimes emergency situations occur where one simply must obey; so let me make my self clear - I am not talking about the LEO who orders an armed or violent suspect to the ground with probable cause or one that orders a citizen about to protect them or any other emergency situation. I am talking about the LEO's that expect obeisance and treat citizens like subjects. I'm talking about the LEO's whose actions remind me of the parent that demands of their child, DO NOT TALK BACK! and GOD help you if you do. Those guys have the power to ruin one's life - completely - with little more reason than their authority was challenged. They may only represent 1 LEO in a thousand but you never know whether the LEO you're dealing with is one of them until it is too late.

The sheep have nothing to fear from that type of LEO, they bow and scrape, grovel and comply without shame or question. The LEO that demands such unquestioned obediance is too common to ignore and thus some folks have developed an attitude of US vs THEM in order to (rightly or wrongly) protect themselves.

When concerns are voiced those that note them are usually deemed Cop Bashers. Sometimes that's exactly what they are doing but most of the time they are simply articulating - poorly in many cases - their concerns and why they have them.

 

[WT]

"What is it about LEO"S that makes a person distrust them, If they have not broken any laws?"

So many LEO's break the law, how do we know the officer we are dealing with is not one of them?

In my area we have officers who are hit men for the Mafia, rape women pulled over for traffic violations, deal drugs, rob banks on their way to work, sell illegal weaons, etc. The state PBA once reported that 40% of officers have substance abuse problems. (My contacts in the state police thought it was only 30%.)

One acquaintance is a LEO. I asked him why he doesn't report infractions by other LEO's. His comment, "I don't care if my sergeant deals drugs. If I'm in a gunfight and I need help, he will be there."

I think our black members of THR could add their own special observations.

Is that an answer?


PS: the son of my best friend is a LEO. He once told me he hoped that he would do nothing that would make his parents ashamed of him.

 

[f4t9r]

I have to question some of the attitudes towards Law Enforcement Officers, that seem to be predominant at THR.
It seems as though many think LEO's are the enemy,

I do not agree, I have seen many threads that are positive towards LEO.
Yes when one leaves a gun in a parking lot or on top of a car , you will get some comments and funny statements , but I believe that would be the case no matter who makes a mistake. A guy screws up and he/she is sure to hear about it no matter who he/she is or what they do. I feel a high % of THR members support the police and the military and everyone else who puts thier life on the line for this Country.

 

[TallPine]

What is it about LEO"S that makes a person distrust them, If they have not broken any laws?

I have to say that some of the comments made by some of the [perported] LEO members of THR and TFL over the last few years have caused me to distrust LEOs.

 

[jsalcedo]

I have to say that some of the comments made by some of the [perported] LEO members of THR and TFL over the last few years have caused me to distrust LEOs.

Coffee cans come to mind for some reason

 

[beaucoup ammo]

Jsalcedo Nailed It

People (myself at times) tend to shade with a broad stroke on occasion. If ever there was a thankless job, it's Law Enforcement. Certainly the power that goes with it invites an element who's last thought is to "protect and serve".."bully and push" gets them out of the sack every morning.

But, ook at the gig, and think about the influence it could have on you. Dealing with the really worst of society 24/7 has to take a toll on a man or woman over a period of 10 - 15 years. Your initial intentions might take a turn along the way, after seeing first hand the mindless violence and heartache these scum bags leave in their wake. And every day more laws are passed that render a LEO legally bound to protect the BG's rights AND deal with the attendant paperwork, rather than just slam the clown's a** in jail and get back on the street to help "Joe Taxpayer."

My brother was a LEO in Corpus Christi for 30+ years and the good ones FAR outweighed the bad ones.

He'd come home (sometimes at 8AM depending on the shift) have a double shot of Jack Black with a Bud back, fall into bed and then we'd go fishing with some of his friends. I use to think (and told them so) they fished to get the smell of the street off!

You can't judge til you walk a mile..yadda, yadda.

Take Care

 

[armoredman]

I am a Correctional Sergeant - hate us; everyone else does. We don't care anymore who hates us, as the inmates do, the people on the streets, and a large percentage of street LE despise us. It's OK, go for it. Thick skin comes in prison....