how do you guys view police and why?
486564
The Police are in the forefront of anything/everything to do with the law and therefore the scapegoats for untrained magistrates, do-gooders and the uneducated public. Example - an elderly lady is mugged in the street for her pension. Two members of the public give chase and catch the mugger. While he's being questioned by the Police the elderly lady suffers a heart attack and dies. The police would like to see him sent down for at the very least manslaughter but all he gets is 60 hours of community service from the judge, because the social worker (who obviously knows him because she's worked with him since he was first convicted for stealing a car when he was 13) convinced the judge that it was not the muggers intention  to harm the victim. He came from a broken home and needed money for drugs, although 'he was trying to wean himself off them'. The Police are left with the unenviable task of telling the family, hours of paperwork, court attendance etc etc. All for what? To arrest the mugger another day for a similar offence. This time the victim survives so he gets a years probation on top of his community service. Neither the community service or probation attendance is enforced as the criminal always has a good excuse for not turning up.  He even, on one occasion, produces a letter 'from his mum' to say he has to attend a job interview on a probation day. This of course is seen as a positive step on his part by both the probation officer and the social worker who pat him on the head and tell him how clever he is, even though he says afterward that he didn't get the job. This is not a ficticious case but it is an insult to all victims and their families, and causes despondency and immense frustration to the Police who were the ONLY ones doing their job properly. On the other hand, approach a Police Officer for directions and they'll give them to you, always with a smile. They do their job regardless of being IMO very underpaid and living 24 hours a day with constant criticism, bad press and violence or aggravation towards them and their families Personally I thnk they're fantastic but then I'm only a victim, not a criminal...
997876
Depends on where you are.  Police are generally local departments governed by local politics.
757203
Uh, you're kidding, or being facetious right?\n\nLaw enforcement personnel are sworn to uphold the law.  To degrade oneself by stooping to levels that perpertrators do makes any officer partaking in "street justice" a criminal, and therefore not truly an officer of the law, and not worthy to carry a badge.  \n\nThe court system is not perfect, but it's what we got.  When citizens get tired enough of youthful offenders stealing their hard earned belongings or assaulting them and begin to petition the law makers, then the court system may finally begin to work the way we all hope.  \n\nAny adult, police officer or otherwise, who takes out physical justice on an intellectually and emotionally immature person...read juvenile (sorry folks, that's what they are) are cowards.  Part of L.E. is rehab.  Cops aren't just about putting people in jail, they also assist in programs to help kids stay out of trouble.
476111
*TROOPERS*\n BOY POLICE COME AFTER US EVEN WHEN YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!!! I THINK THEY LIKE THEIR SIRINS TO GO OFF AND MAKE NOISE..(LOL)!!!\nP.S THE ONLY TIME I LIKE A POLICEMEN IS WHEN THERE HOT LOOKING..AND US WOMEN KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THERE..HELP SOMEONE IN NEED LIKE IN DANGER..AND PROTECT OUR KIDS THAT OUR ON OUR STREET FROM HARM AND DRUGS AND STUFF!!!\n~BLESSINGS~\n LYNDA R.LEAVY
1094513
Most people feel uncomfortable around the police or any authoritative figure.\nOnce I stepped outside the house with a bag full of rubbish to put in the dustbin. Standing outside was a policeman in uniform. (The next door neighbour's brother)\n'Hello' say I 'Just putting the rubbish out'. \nHow dumb.
656101
Do you mean to the police, or to the people they arrest?
1094435
ex cop turned Mommy  lol\n\nDWI enforcement was my favorite part of the job.  I had a real knack for it and that was one area I really felt like I was making a difference.  If I could get them off the road for at least the night, I might save one innocent life.\n\nHate?  Stinky people.  *gag*
382104
The police department.  They have a tone of them.
332135
Yes...like most of the public you have good and bad police officers.  Bad police officers make up just a small percent of the entire law enforcement community.\n\nThe police powers are you speaking off, the powers of arrest.\n\nIn order for police officers to do their job well, they are vested by the state with a monopoly in the use of certain powers. These include the powers to arrest, search, seize, and interrogate; and if necessary, to use lethal force. In nations with democratic systems and the rule of law, the law of criminal procedure has been developed to regulate officers' discretion, so that they do not exercise their vast powers arbitrarily or unjustly.\n\nIn U.S. criminal procedure, the most famous case is Miranda v. Arizona which led to the widespread use of Miranda warnings. U.S. police are also prohibited from holding criminal suspects for more than a reasonable amount of time (usually 72 hours) before arraignment, using torture to extract confessions, using excessive force to effect an arrest, and searching suspects' bodies or their homes without a warrant obtained upon a showing of probable cause. There are exceptions or exigent circumstances such as an articulated need to disarm a suspect or searching a suspect who has already been arrested (Search Incident to an Arrest). The Posse Comitatus Act prevents the use of the U.S. military for police activity, giving added importance to police SWAT units.\n\nBritish police officers are governed by similar rules, particularly those introduced under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, but generally have greater powers. They may, for example, legally search any suspect who has been arrested, or their vehicles, home or business premises, without a warrant, and may seize anything they find in a search as evidence. All police officers in the United Kingdom, whatever their actual rank, are 'constables' in terms of their legal position. This means that a newly appointed constable has the same arrest powers as a Chief Constable or Commissioner. However certain higher ranks have additional powers to authorise certain aspects of police operations, such as a power to authorise a search of a suspects house (section 18 PACE) by an officer of the rank of Inspector, or the power to authorise a suspects detention beyond 24 hours by a Superintendent.\n\nPolice officers face many dangers in their jobs. Police officers are constantly being faced with the unknown and the unpredictable. They never truly know the outcome of any situation they enter into. This can make policing a dangerous profession. Dangers faced by police include death, increased risk of infectious diseases, and serious and minor trauma, both physical and emotional. These dangers are encountered in many different situations i.e. apprehension/arrest and investigation of criminals, conducting vehicle stops, investigating people and crimes, protecting the public from dangerous situations or individuals, investigating traffic accidents and witnessing the carnage that often results from those accidents, responding to suicides and directing traffic.\n\nHowever, many police officers do derive a genuine sense of job satisfaction from their work, especially when a long investigation has been successfully completed. On a day-to-day basis, officers can often see the results of their work in their ability to help members of the public, even with incidents of relatively minor importance.
748898
People who don't fit the traditional "police" physical mold would probably be great as an under cover officer.  Since most people have an image in their minds of what a police officer looks like, no one would suspect you.\n\nThere are long lists of people in this world who persevered even though people said they shouldn't.  Michael Jordan was NOT chosen for his basketball team in high school the first time he tried out.  Just think what his life and the world of basketball would be like today if he hadn't tried out again.   A famous hockey player Wayne Gretsky once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you never take."\n\nDon't let what other people say make you lose your dream.  If you dream is being a police officer, then do it!!  If you don't make it the first time, try again.  Think of Michael Jordan.  Try again.\n\nThat's what makes America great.......if you have a dream, any dream, and you are willing to work hard enough towards your dream, it really can come true.\n\nGood luck to you!  Sounds like you have a good heart and any police force would be lucky to have you.\n\nRobin
330436
You know, it's probably best for me not to vocalize on this subject but I'm going to take the plunge and do so.\n\nI have had the same problem so far in my life.  I find that the Police are very arrogant and misuse their authority.  I know policemen that break the law regularly: smoking pot, taking steroids, and blowing off illegal fireworks on the 4th.  Yet, turn around and give me a ticket for going 5 miles over the limit.\n\nTruly, someone needs to do some undercover type work and expose many of the corruptions in the police force.  They are in a position to abuse authority...and they do so, and don't get caught.  They don't seem to view the public the same as other people do.  They have exalted themselves, in some way, above the public.\n\nIn the average cop, you'll find a good portion of Arrogance.
714468
I feel bad that so Meany people have so little Faith in the police, after all they are your first line of defense. Most of the time they will give their life for people that do not like them, it is a thankless job. Police do not go around shooting people for the hell of it.
417954
I feel they do to some extent.  I feel people have a misconception as to what a police officer does.  I work for a city through the parks department and working with the public I can sympathize with police because, quite frankly, there are a lot of dumb asses out there.  And although there is a lot of politics involved, I feel when it comes down to it the police do there jobs.
72486
Ballons huh, yes in that situation I could see your point and I could relate, \nI don't like to see a cop car with its lights flashing behind me! thats what I don't like.\n(and thankyou)!
19810
A very difficult job. They deserve our respect, for without them, there would be real h*ll to pay. BTW, I am speaking regarding police in the US.
55548
The size of a police force depends on the support of the police in that community.  Taxes pay for police officers.  If the community wants more cops, they will let the mayor and city councel know.  If they feel there are too many cops, they will demand the police budget gets cut.\n\nMany cities constantly feel the budget crunch.  Elected officials decide where money is needed and where it can be cut.  If you want more police coverage make sure you vote for officials who support the police, either with personnel or necessary equipment.
479992
Who cares what the personal opinion of some police officers are? They, as police officers, are supposed to be bound by law and arrest those who are doing ANYTHING illegal.Their personal opinions do not matter. If they have a problem with that, then I feel they are not loyal police officers doing the job they were hired and trained to do.