Honest question for LA area cops

[Kaendar]

Why are most of you so cold? Notice I said "most", because I have come across a few that still care. I lived in a small town before, and the cops there act like normal people. Even if they are arresting you for whatever they still respect you and talk to you like you are a person. I noticed cops here in LA act like everyone else is peasants and they are the lords of the land. Now im no cop hater or anything, im going to be a 31B in a few months and when im done in the service I plan on joining a local PD. I just want to know why most LA cops cant even say hi. They cant say watsup or how you doin, unless its to another cop. Why not stop and have a conversation with civilians sometimes instead of look them up and down suspiciously. Little kids look up to you, when they get excited from seeing your cars or motorcycles maybe shake their hand and make their day, dont just walk away and pretend like u dont hear them all ecstatic about the police man.. I live in an LAPD area, and noticed all the boots are really nice. They act like they have on the uniform to help, not harass. But give em a year or 2 and they go on like robots, ignoring everyone unless they are arresting them or writing em a ticket. Sorry for the rant. And a big thumbs up to the cops that do it for more than just a job, but to actual come out and help ppl.

[Kaendar]

To the admins: I am not trying to cop bash, just asking a serious question. Like I said, I plan on being a LEO

[Ron-Solo]

It just happens because in a lot of areas, people treat you like crap, so you build up a wall of defense. That wall can go up or down, depending on your day. It takes work to keep the wall low.

LE has been tasked with doing more, with less resources for years now. When you chase calls all day long that are absurd, if wears you down. That's why I was glad I worked LASD. It gave me lots of opportunity to perform different jobs, different stations, etc. to avoid that burnout.

[Samuelx]

If you say "most" cops, that means that over 50% of ALL the cops in the group are doing what you say they're doing (or not doing). So, have you met more than half of ALL the cops in the "LA area"?

FWIW, I lived in other places before coming back to So Cal (LA) in 1983. A lot of So Cal people seem much more distant/cold in general than people in most of the other places I've lived - but I wouldn't say "most".

[pluke the 2]

if i risked my life everyday for others to be safe i'd be one cold son of a *****

quit your whining and stop with the rhetorical questions

[Chontkleer]

Could be also be just a matter of alertness. In a small town I imagine the average cop wouldn't have their guard up. In Southern CA and the like, every traffic stop could be your last, every person who strikes up a conversation could just be trying to disarm you before blasting you.

[Kaendar]

If you say "most" cops, that means that over 50% of ALL the cops in the group are doing what you say they're doing (or not doing). So, have you met more than half of ALL the cops in the "LA area"?

FWIW, I lived in other places before coming back to So Cal (LA) in 1983. A lot of So Cal people seem much more distant/cold in general than people in most of the other places I've lived - but I wouldn't say "most".

Most meaning most of the ones I have encountered, and ive encountered alot (not because I was in trouble lol)

[Kaendar]

Could be also be just a matter of alertness. In a small town I imagine the average cop wouldn't have their guard up. In Southern CA and the like, every traffic stop could be your last, every person who strikes up a conversation could just be trying to disarm you before blasting you.

I understand this. But the other day me and a friend hung out a chick fil a in LA, which if there are any LAPD on here, they know which one im talking about (near chipotle south of downtown). Its a major police hangout during chow breaks. I ate outside and more than a dozed officers walked past me in the span of about an hour. I smiled and nodded at each one, and only 2 said hi. The rest looked me up and down like I was some kind of feral animal.

[IA300]

I understand this. But the other day me and a friend hung out a chick fil a in LA, which if there are any LAPD on here, they know which one im talking about (near chipotle south of downtown). Its a major police hangout during chow breaks. I ate outside and more than a dozed officers walked past me in the span of about an hour. I smiled and nodded at each one, and only 2 said hi. The rest looked me up and down like I was some kind of feral animal.

In SoCal, it's uncommon for someone to initiate a greeting with a LEO, makes us think you may be up to/hiding something and you could be using your politeness as a distraction. Just sayin that's what I usually think.

[Kaendar]

In SoCal, it's uncommon for someone to initiate a greeting with a LEO, makes us think you may be up to/hiding something and you could be using your politeness as a distraction. Just sayin that's what I usually think.

Wudnt that be considered profiling tho? I just want some nice cops that can go around waving and looking like a normal person other than some arresto-bot 2000

[jhmc2000]

I say hello to cops all the time. My brother is one and thought it was the polite thing to be doing. Did not realize that made me guilty of something.

[Kaendar]

I say hello to cops all the time. My brother is one and thought it was the polite thing to be doing. Did not realize that made me guilty of something.

My thoughts exactly

[2002zo6]

I worked in downtown LA for six years and some LAPD do have that attitude even to officers in other agencies. However, on the other hand, do you see all of the videos popping up on the internet involving some azzhat trying to push an officers buttons so they can tape it. It is hard to figure intentions of some people when being approached. Sometimes I feel bad later on when appearing "cold" to someone, but I have never been video taped allowing someone to push my buttons. Just don't take it personally.

[CBR_rider]

Sure quick to cast stones aren't we, op. Anyway, to answer your question there are a myriad of things going on: some Leo's do become jerks, some are nice but focused at work, some are actually working on something and don't want to be distracted, some don't want to engage in random conversations because there are folks who see this and complain about them being lazy, some have had a douche try to initiate a conversation and then push their buttons hoping for a rise and YouTube stardom, etc.

[mixicus]

Sure quick to cast stones aren't we, op. Anyway, to answer your question there are a myriad of things going on: some Leo's do become jerks, some are nice but focused at work, some are actually working on something and don't want to be distracted, some don't want to engage in random conversations because there are folks who see this and complain about them being lazy, some have had a douche try to initiate a conversation and then push their buttons hoping for a rise and YouTube stardom, etc.

...or just want a few moments of peace to eat 'lunch' that's a few hours over due and clear your head from the last number of calls while the radio is quiet before getting sent on another.

OP: join up and become one of those cops you'd like to see (liberally paraphrasing an often quoted man).