Respect the general public?

[omshiva]

I must say, I feel differently from when I first initiated this thread a few days ago. All your input has shown that we are all just people. We all care for our safety and well being, and the safety of others, however some of us do it as a profession. Thanks to those of you who do!

[johnthomas]

Ever notice the LEO's that work primarily traffic have a better customer service attitude than all around Officers or detectives? In Fresno when an Officer moves to traffic duty they have special training they go through. This according to a Captain that was on a talk radio show. I think the interaction with LE is relative to the context in which we interact. An Officer coming from a jail after a few years will have a different outlook than a CHP Officer. Like us, they all come from different backgrounds, you get what you give when dealing with officers. Be respectful and don't do or say anything that will turn the LE radar on. If you feel the officer was a jerk, leave it alone and deal with his boss later. If you get a ticket and feel you don't deserve it, go to court with an attorney. Many officers deal with a lot of bad folks and become jaded and suspect of everyone.

[TRICKSTER]

We are basically in a no win situation when it comes to public perception.
I have seen officers get citizen complaints because they were smiling
while doing their job and then others get complaints because they were frowning and seemed grumpy.
Because of this, many officers just keep a "professional attitude". not too friendly, but not rude either, sort of a Joe Friday "just the facts" type of thing. Play the middle and avoid the complaints.

[yzErnie]

There is simply no way to please everyone all the time. As I said above, it is a two way street, respect given = respect received.

[Jack L]

There is simply no way to please everyone all the time. As I said above, it is a two way street, respect given = respect received.

I can add, at times, depending where you work, it's hard to respect the 'general public' in that area. I know it's totally politically incorrect to say it out loud, but that was how I saw the public at times. My partner and I had a standard joke going asking each other; "Where are all the 'normal' people?" on some shifts.

A public servant has to show a lot of restraint at times. For me, that was as difficult as running a complecated call.

[Falconis]

We are basically in a no win situation when it comes to public perception.
I have seen officers get citizen complaints because they were smiling
while doing their job and then others get complaints because they were frowning and seemed grumpy.
Because of this, many officers just keep a "professional attitude". not too friendly, but not rude either, sort of a Joe Friday "just the facts" type of thing. Play the middle and avoid the complaints.

Nope, that'll get you a complaint too. I got one for being too professional after I gave a ticket to this female because she had nothing else to complain about.