Respect the general public?

[omshiva]

I don't mean this to come across with 'attitude,' it's just a query: Do LEOs have respect for the general public, or do you see so much sh** out there that we are all walking suspects?

I ask because there just seems to be such a divide between leo and non-leo. I've come across maybe 1 or 2 officers in my years that treated me like the regular person that I am. Even off-duty officers seem to carry a distance, making for the "you're not in the club" vibe.

It seems to me that an inclusive model would serve to release tensions for everyone. Your thoughts?

[sendithit]

Your query is a bit paranoid. Relax. Do as any law-abiding citizen is supposed to do and all is better. LEOs by nature are watchers and doers whether on duty or off...and some watch and do more or less than their colleagues wish they would do

Be that as it may, I doubt most LEOs have an "us against them" attitude, but its good practice to be cautious and maintain good situational awareness whether you're a cop or not...and even more so if you are a cop who wears a uniform in public. There are, unfortunately, members of the BG society who wouldn't think twice about ending a uniformed cop's life if given the chance...maybe your own personal life, too.

So maybe "the look" or "vibe" you see is off-putting to you? Try not to take it too personal...cops tend to be cautious of anyone in public...even of some of their own colleagues. As you yourself have experienced, some cops are just like you and me and not all cops are bad...you just haven't had more opportunities to make new freinds who are cops.

[Samuelx]

I don't mean this to come across with 'attitude,' it's just a query: Do LEOs have respect for the general public, or do you see so much sh** out there that we are all walking suspects?

IMO, there are good people out there these days - a lot of them are "silent"; there are far less innocent people out there than there were the preceding generation(s); there are way too many scumbags out there and many of them are breeding like cockroaches. I get along fine with most of the people I meet on a daily basis. I get along less fine with people who give me attitude when they are in the wrong. I will give the benefit of the doubt to a regular person over a POS just about every time. That being said, and it's sad to say this, but I'll sometimes get along better with a POS who is going along with the program than a regular person who isn't. "Respect" is a two way street - unfortunately too many people blindly believe the media and the media has been doing a hatchet job on respect for LE for far too long now.

I ask because there just seems to be such a divide between leo and non-leo.

Describe please.

I've come across maybe 1 or 2 officers in my years that treated me like the regular person that I am.

What kind of contacts were they? How do we KNOW you're a regular person? Not all POSes are immediately identifiable.

Even off-duty officers seem to carry a distance, making for the "you're not in the club" vibe.

That's a strange observation and expectation. An off duty officer has no requirement to welcome anyone into "the club" - i.e. an off duty LEO doesn't have to be friendly to anyone/everyone - just like every other person in society doesn't have to be friendly to anyone/everyone.

It seems to me that an inclusive model would serve to release tensions for everyone. Your thoughts?

In a perfect world, everyone would get along with everyone and there wouldn't be a need for LEOs either. Until that happens, some of us will have to continue to step up and do the often unappreciated but critical job that we do. We can't always be nice and friendly to everyone and the officer down memorial page website has far too many entries of LEOs who let their guards down.

[omshiva]

Your query is a bit paranoid. Relax. Do as any law-abiding citizen is supposed to do and all is better. LEOs by nature are watchers and doers whether on duty or off...and some watch and do more or less than their colleagues wish they would do

Good points sendithit. I wouldn't consider myself the paranoid type; I'm level headed and calm by nature, but I see your point - relax.

[omshiva]

@ Samuelx ----
IMO, there are good people out there these days - a lot of them are "silent"; there are far less innocent people out there than there were the preceding generation(s); there are way too many scumbags out there and many of them are breeding like cockroaches. I get along fine with most of the people I meet on a daily basis. I get along less fine with people who give me attitude when they are in the wrong. I will give the benefit of the doubt to a regular person over a POS just about every time. That being said, and it's sad to say this, but I'll sometimes get along better with a POS who is going along with the program than a regular person who isn't. "Respect" is a two way street - unfortunately too many people blindly believe the media and the media has been doing a hatchet job on respect for LE for far too long now.
I totally agree with the "Respect" is a two way street idea.

I ask because there just seems to be such a divide between leo and non-leo.

Describe please.
Maybe this is just my perception, a subjective viewpoint. I've had no professional relationship with LE, so don't know the culture, other than how the fantasy media portrays it. I'm just saying that there is a definite us/them thing happening. I don't need cops to be my friend when they pull me over, or interact with me on the street, but for some strange reason I feel "guilty" when I'm in close proximity to a cop. I have no record or any reason to be guilty, but this perception hovers. I guess it's something I need to work on personally.

I've come across maybe 1 or 2 officers in my years that treated me like the regular person that I am.

What kind of contacts were they? How do we KNOW you're a regular person? Not all POSes are immediately identifiable.
The good interactions were typical, like being pulled over on the highway, or being in a public park and playing drums (which I guess is a nuisance to some folk). I was able to have a civil conversation, without there being any tough attitude.
As far as how would you know about me - well until we meet and interact, you can't know, but in my heart I know who I am and what my moral standards are. I suppose they can only be shown by example, in person.

Even off-duty officers seem to carry a distance, making for the "you're not in the club" vibe.

That's a strange observation and expectation. An off duty officer has no requirement to welcome anyone into "the club" - i.e. an off duty LEO doesn't have to be friendly to anyone/everyone - just like every other person in society doesn't have to be friendly to anyone/everyone.
Oh, I totally agree, of course. Maybe I just need to chill and "relax" as Sendithit suggested. It's impossible for those like me to know what it's like to be a cop or an military person for that matter. What I have found with life experience is that if there is something that I have resistance to or conflict with, it usually indicates that there is something there for me to learn from. Thanks for this discourse, as it assists me to unravel my judgements and preconceived ideas into a purer form of witnessing truth.

[SVT-40]

I don't mean this to come across with 'attitude,' it's just a query: Do LEOs have respect for the general public, or do you see so much sh** out there that we are all walking suspects?

I ask because there just seems to be such a divide between leo and non-leo. I've come across maybe 1 or 2 officers in my years that treated me like the regular person that I am. Even off-duty officers seem to carry a distance, making for the "you're not in the club" vibe.

It seems to me that an inclusive model would serve to release tensions for everyone. Your thoughts?

Your post in reverse. See how it sounds?

I don't mean this to come across with an "attitude," it's just a query: Does the general public have respect for LEO's, or do you hear so many bad stories that we are all corrupt or violate peoples rights on a routine basis that you lump all of us into the same group?

I ask because there just seems to be such a divide between leo and non-leo. I've come across quite a few people who treated me like the regular person that I am. Even off-duty, people who find out I'm a LEO sometimes carry a distance, making for the "you're in a different club" vibe.

It seems to me that an inclusive model would serve to release tensions for everyone. Your thoughts?














During my career I respected individuals based on their actions and attitudes.

Just because someone was a crook did not mean I did not respect them. If they treated me with respect, knowing if I caught them dirty they would be going to jail we got on well. I knew quite a number of "regulars" who were far more respectful of me than many numbers of the general public at large. In fact on one occasion A fellow whom I had arrested quite a few times aided me during another arrest when a suspect was fighting with me.

Cops may seem aloof, because being armed they are always "on guard". You never know where a threat may appear, or who is going to cause you grief. That is just common sense.

So maybe try to what you can to better relations between the police and the public at large. When you see a officer in public greet him with a smile and say hello. Tell him thank you for serving your community.

If stopped be polite. You might find a kind word will be returned in kind.

If not then you did your best.

[DEPUTYBILL]

My opinion: To a certain extent,there is an us vs. them mindset. I am not the same person I was 30 plus years ago,when I started in law enforcement. I think a lot depends on the officer,and department itself. I know that were I work(ed). there was/is an agency that came off as "we are the REAL police". All other agencies were somehow not as good as them. It also showed in their contacts with the public. I always tried to treat each contact on and off duty as I would like one of my family members to be treated,until I was given a reason to do otherwise.

[omshiva]

SVT-40 -- Your post in reverse. See how it sounds?

I don't mean this to come across with an "attitude," it's just a query: Does the general public have respect for LEO's, or do you hear so many bad stories that we are all corrupt or violate peoples rights on a routine basis that you lump all of us into the same group?

I ask because there just seems to be such a divide between leo and non-leo. I've come across quite a few people who treated me like the regular person that I am. Even off-duty, people who find out I'm a LEO sometimes carry a distance, making for the "you're in a different club" vibe.

It seems to me that an inclusive model would serve to release tensions for everyone. Your thoughts?
Well said SVT! I get it and agree. It's a shame this feeling even exists. I think LE gets lumped in with government in general, and the media tells us of a growing discontent with government, thus exacerbating the issue.

When you see a officer in public greet him with a smile and say hello. Tell him thank you for serving your community.
And this is close to how I handle myself around LE. I don't go so far as to thank them, but I do naturally maintain an outwardly friendly (non aggressive) demeanor.

If stopped be polite. You might find a kind word will be returned in kind.
It's been a long time since I've been pulled over, but I make every attempt to make the officer feel "safe," like hands on wheel, music off, make eye contact.

[omshiva]

My opinion: To a certain extent,there is an us vs. them mindset. I am not the same person I was 30 plus years ago,when I started in law enforcement. I think a lot depends on the officer,and department itself. I know that were I work(ed). there was/is an agency that came off as "we are the REAL police". All other agencies were somehow not as good as them. It also showed in their contacts with the public. I always tried to treat each contact on and off duty as I would like one of my family members to be treated,until I was given a reason to do otherwise.

Good to know there are LEOs out there with this mindset. And know that this is reciprocated by many, but I'm sure there are plenty of ignorant types that stomp out the good.

[Falconis]

The you're not in the club vibe isn't restricted to just LEO's. Have any friends that work in R and D in any company? Hell those guys don't even talk outside their own teams usually.

With me, I treat everyone with the amount of respect they deserve. I also keep people at arm's length just out of practice (even before I became a cop) just because I am usually suspicious of everyone's intentions till I get to know them.

Me personally, I think the divide is caused on both sides. Not gonna be able to do much about it till each individual comes to some kind of understanding. In my opinion, that's like getting 12 random people to order 1 pizza that everyone will like.

[negolien]

good question

I think it boils down to two things really.

1. Yes , to be fair if they don't know you ingrained training probably puts you in a riskier catagory to them. The only way they survive (like soldiers) is muscle memory. Try not to take it personal he's just trying to go home to his family more than not or heck maybe his last call was a drag out fight w/ a fence hopping crack head carrying a gun /shrug.

2. Those in the field usualy hang with those in the field. It's just easier that way no worries abouty some yahoo at a party toking up a joint if ya know what I mean. Alot of the public servants like that form a differant kind of bond as they all have alot to lose by screwing up on or off the job.

[Roddd]

I treat people how I'd want my family treated. I TRY to treat everyone with the mindset that this is their first and last contact they will have with an officer so I want to make a good impression. We do hear some nasty stuff that wears on you. I know I've taken rape reports that involve children and the very next call is a concerned citizen that I have to contact. I'm sure I wasn't as amiable as I normally would have been, but who would be?

[omshiva]

I treat people how I'd want my family treated. I TRY to treat everyone with the mindset that this is their first and last contact they will have with an officer so I want to make a good impression. We do hear some nasty stuff that wears on you. I know I've taken rape reports that involve children and the very next call is a concerned citizen that I have to contact. I'm sure I wasn't as amiable as I normally would have been, but who would be?

There are some dark people out there.
I hear you about being "off" after stuff like that.

[Roddd]

Yeah some stuff you just can't shake on a short car ride from one call to another.

[yzErnie]

This goes both ways.....Respect given = respect received.