Tgace said:
Maybe I miscommunicated, I was trying to say that generally, LEOs expect people to be compliant under all circumstances, since they represent the powers that be and are just trying to sort out a situation and resolve it, however, this is where a fundamental disconnect can happen. People that believe they are innocent of wrongdoing may not want to be put into the system for very good reason and may choose to express themselves in some fashion and from an LEO standpoint this could lead to an escalation of action, since of course, from their perspective, they're always in the right. Could it also be that you were rightfully concerned and upset for your GF, but expressed it in a way that didn't help the situation at all? Hind sight being 20/20 you should have called first and then left. You know that now it seems, but where I think there is a confusion over who is responsible for what. Cops are not responsible for anyones emotional state, nor are they responsible for how poorly a person maintains composure.psi_radar said:Ha ha, I didn't recommend a solution for a better system since I can't think of one.
I didn't really want to tell this story, but this is how I got my point of view. In college a girlfriend of mine was being stalked by an ex-boyfriend. I was on the phone with her one night when he broke into her apartment and started beating her up. I lived about three miles away. This being before everyone carried a cell phone, I drove up as fast as could and didn't call 911 until I arrived at her dorm. The ex had already left. When the police finally arrived, they immediately claimed they could smell marijuana smoke. This was before they even asked my GF whether or not she was ok and needed medical attention. We hadn't been smoking, and the smell, well it was a college dorm for chrissakes, it's soaked into the walls. I got upset with the deputy because he seemed to have no interest in going after the ex, or the medical condition of my GF, just in the source of the pot smell. I got in an argument with him (nothing physical) and I ended up being in "the system" for about a day, missed a test and a class. My frustration was rooted in the fact we called for help, and what we got in return was the shaft. The ex, on the other hand, never suffered any repercussions, as I recall. On a happy note, the girlfriend healed up all right.
So I feel some individuals in the law enforcement community have misguided priorities. Hey, we're all human, right? I believe they are truly the exception, I have utmost respect for most LEOs--the majority of whom regard their jobs as protectors of the community first. But overzealous, powerblinded LEOs are out there. One episode of COPS should provide sufficient evidence of this. The power an LEO weilds honestly frightens me, since in the wrong hands it can result in life-altering encounters.
The "us vs them" mentality is a survival mechanism, and is necessary to some extent. If a police officer approached every situation with full trust in the individuals in question not to harm them, there would be a lot of dead cops out there. You must remember, most of the people officers come into contact with are not happy about them being there and a good number of them would just as soon shoot a cop as to give them a statement. I hate to put it this way, but if it comes down to hurting someones feelings in order to go home at night, I'm gonna hurt some feelings. Cops are not there to make you feel good about yourself, or to make you feel good about the situation you are in. First and foremost is officer safety. They are there to protect you and to enforce laws. (dead cops cannot do this.) And if he thinks there are drugs around, there is a good chance that there are people using those drugs, and in most cases if there are drugs, there are weapons and people unconcerned with using those weapons. You must remember, not everyone thinks like you and not everyone respects the police. Therefore, it is necessary to an officers survival that he treat you as though you are a threat. Cops do not know you, they do not know that you mean them no harm. A large percentage of the people they deal with on a regular basis DO mean them harm if they get the chance to inflict some. A cop who does not approach you as a threat is a careless cop. Do not take this as if I'm saying that cops should be rude and uncaring, they should however come across as confident and in charge. One can be polite and still be effective. But if impoliteness is what it takes to get control of the situation, I'm all for it. Your feelings are secondary to my safety.psi_radar said:
It's due to these facts that we civilians, who are NOT about breaking the law as a course of our regular activities, can best assist the system by just following orders when they're given. If we want our tax dollars to work efficiently, let these guys do their jobs. If you've done nothing wrong, what's to worry about? If you have, accept the consequences and move on.muaythaifreak said:
