I've talked about this numerous times. It's about accountability and the fact that cops have none these days. Look back to who you grew up with that are now cops? Starting to get it?
One of my best friends from high school is an HPD officer. He was not a jerk, was not a jock, was not any of the stereotypical things that folks tend to associate with cops (regardless of the truth).
hahaha. That's awesome. rep'd. I think you have it backwards. There are bad apples...that are few and far between. Like any job.... As for them being mean...fine, I could careless if a cop is being a hard ass. As long as he's doing his job.
so in incident that sparked this outrage....the flashing lights were too blinding to see that the door might be open???? Because someone might be in such a hurry they zip on by the police car close enough to clip the door, but not attentive enough to see it. I agree..someone could have been seriously hurt if that happened. Sounds like dangerous driving to me. Deadly if anyone was standing by the police car...the car with the lights blazing to warn them that something was up.
And one of my friends is a cop. This doesn't change the fact that, by and large, they're a bunch of dicks. Even cops know that. Ask your best friend.
The police car was facing on coming driver and had his driver door open and not just slightly but all the way. What justification does that cop have for having the door open all the way? He had already gotten out of the car and arresting the drunk . Again the door was extending to the other lane. What justification is there for that? Its not like he was on the shoulder, this was a three lane road. Its nearly 2.30 in the morning I am sure most people are tired. some might be drunk and this cop creates a situation which is not safe. All he had to do is take the two seconds to close the door.
Heres my opinion of cops... Spoiler <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ub5UFUzlo4?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ub5UFUzlo4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
You were viewing the scene for how long? Probably all of 30 seconds that it took you to drive by. You have no idea why the door was open and if there was a reason for it...
^ That was my point, too. Dudes... this is becoming a D&D thread from a minor rant. Sorry, mate, but I don't recall YOU being ever this outspoken about officers and trust me, I don't want to start recalling what every poster's stand is on issues. What accountability are they missing? They're there to give you tickets, they're there to keep the peace... etc. So if they miss closing the door at a traffic stop, that makes them "trash"? That's a bit harsh. If they give you a ticket because you were breaking the law, they're "trash"? I don't understand. I don't have any friends who became policemen. Why should that make me think different? No.
I've talked with him about it. He agrees that the majority are decent, hard working folks and there are a handfiul (relatively speaking) of jerks. It's too bad that you feel that the vast majority of cops are jerks. How many have you had run ins with that gives you that perception? Maybe I would feel differently, if I was ever participating in criminal behavior.
Off-topic: If the choices for the Hangout are needing to be "cleaned up" or everyone b****ing and nit-picking, then I'll take the sex threads and borderline p*rn, please. On-topic: I have to say that my personal experiences with the police have been positive. And I've been arrested. More than once. (It was a long time ago.)
Whats wrong with a little debate and argument. This thread is perfectly OK. Would be boring if no one stirred the pot once in a while. Anyways, my personal experience with cops has been positive. Got caught speeding twice (both deserved), one of the two times the guy let me off without a ticket. I think as long as you treat them like a regular person doing their job, they react to you much more positively. I think FFB's antagonistic nature causes him to view cops that way. oh snap.
I agree. I used to get upset when I was pulled over, and the cops were usually antagonistic. In the last few years, I've been pulled over a couple of times, been friendly with the cops, and they've been good to me. For instance, six or so months ago I was doing 80 on I-10 and zoomed by one of those cars with the low visibility lettering that you can only see from the right angle. I also didn't have my inspection sticker. I joked a bit with the cop and didn't try to pretend that I wasn't speeding and he let me off with only the inspection ticket, which I had erased by getting the inspection fixed. Police are trained to see if you are angry or upset, and they feed off it. If they think you are scared or angry they assume you have something to be worried about besides a ticket. Act like you don't care you were pulled over - say sir, smile and even joke with the cop. Keep your blood pressure down (I believe cops are trained to look at the carotid artery, and if they see it pumping away wildly, that is a red flag). Things will turn out better for you. Maybe it shouldn't be that way, but it is, just like every other human-to-human interaction you have in the real world. If someone comes into your work and starts acting agitated and angry you will treat them differently, even if you recognize later that they had a good reason to be upset and that you might do the same in their shoes.
Oh, BTW, the OP's cop undoubtedly left the door open and protruding so as to ensure a safe walking lane back and forth from the car.
My best experience with a cop was after I got pulled over for 90 in a 65. He wasn't even going to ticket me, but he had to because his sheriff is the one who actually clocked me. I was driving a stretch of open highway with members of the 2003 Gumball Rally as they came through Houston, so 90 in a 65 was pretty tame that day lol. The cop was really cool about it and even asked me about what cool cars I had seen.
I've been let go for speeding (did 80) and I've been caught driving 75 in a 65 freeway. It helps when you pull into a lighted area instead of the road side from a busy highway If you're caught speeding, try taking the viewpoint that that could've been a bad accident. I mean, if you were really in control, you would've seen the cop in the distance and slowed down. Having that attitude takes off the unfairness or entitlement (I demand a warning!) aspect for me. Pigs are doing their jobs and if you're breaking the law, know full well what risks you're taking and the consequences that follow it. It could be a lot worse.
