Found this info on the Internet,Food for thought....

Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
As a Law Enforcement Officer,my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception,the weak against oppression or intimidation; and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights to liberty,
equality and justice. I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule;develop self-restraint; and to be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed both in my personal life and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of the department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that which is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duties.I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices,animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting
gratuities. I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith,and I accept it as a public trust to be held as long as I am true to the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession - law enforcement.

The Actual Police Code of Ethics
As a Law Enforcement administrator, my fundamental duty is to ensure my own future, I will safeguard the lives and property of my police administrator buddies and administrative superiors and to protect my department against oppression or intimidation and lawsuits. I will do whatever I damn well please and if anyone looks to me to be an "example" that's their own
stupidity. In the face of danger, scorn or ridicule I will beat the **** out of anyone if I have the opportunity (if no-one is looking). Until then I will harass anyone who would dare offend or challenge me.I will lie in court,falisify evidence and if Im really pissed off, your going to get
shot.I'll tell the news media you had a gun or were reaching for a gun or you were high on drugs,they never check the facts,they allways beleave everything I have to say,nor am I ever tested for drugs (we get them free from our drug busts,along with the money).I am allways portrayed as a hero.The district attorney is paid to defend me and rarely files charges
aginst any police officer.I will protect and never reveal any corruption that I see about my superiors because they will then ensure my career will progress.I will allow my personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or friendships to influence all my decisions. I will compromise with anyone willing to pay me off to keep my mouth shut and I will not report the crimes
of other police officers and I will engage in corruption if it protects my accomplices. My badge is my symbol to hide behind; to use to bully others and intimidate the weak civilians that were stupid enough to come into contact with me and not understand my motivation (I hate everyone). I will achieve these objectives and ideals, or face being framed by my department;
dedicating myself before my superiors (who think that they're above the law) and sacrificing those that are below me that refuse to adopt corruption as they cannot be trusted.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Georgia, at least around Atlanta, has DOT trucks called "HERO" units (Highway Emergency Response Operator) that roam the interstates and assist motorists who have broken down. They help to change tires, supply enough gas to get to a station, provide emergency lighting and "interference" for what could otherwise be a very dangerous situation, etc.

Yeah, we have that too. They're called Motorist Assistance Patrols here. Only on Interstates and heavily traveled roads, though.

I have to say it all depends on the cop. I remember my first ticket was when I was on my motorcycle, I pulled out of school and I swear this guy must have wanted to give me a ticket for the longest time. He was unmarked and hidden, I leave the schhol zone wanting to get home, he pulls me over and says I was following the "white" car in front of me to closely. I say officer "it was a blue Nissan Maxima in front of me you must have mistaken me for some1 else" and I get "your the only motorcycle that drives to school". To me that was a BS ticket and cost me a nice little bundle when I wasnt working 1 week before my 17th birthday.

i just love people who think they know anything about the law saying cops can't do this or blah blah. like seatbelt stops being cause to search the vehicle? no...but they can search if either a) you give them consent (how most searches happen), b) they have probable cause (don't need a warrant for vehicles because they are mobile), or c) you have someone in the car that is on probation/parole and have a 3 or 4-way search clause. Don't be intimidated if they ask to search, feel free to say "yeah I mind", most of the time they'll drop it. granted there's bad cops out there, just like there are bad anything else. they say one bad cop can ruin things for 1000 good ones. you rarely see a news story "Local Cop did good job today". most of you who resent cops know that you probably deserved it because you WERE doing something wrong, you're just butthurt that you got caught.

quote Originally posted by James Bond 007:

LOL!!

I've never been in a situation where the cops mistreated anyone. Actually almost every situation I've been in the cops have been too lenient; the way some of my friends/family drive I think they need tickets.

I have only had one ticket so far and I was going 10+ over the limit so the ticket was justifiable. The cop wasn't being a loser so I didn't see anything wrong with what he was doing.

Now I am sure that there are plenty of cops out there who just want to have their little power trips, but for the most part all of the cops I have encountered/met have been really good people. Think of all the people you know and how many of those people would be 10x worse as a cop than the actual bad cops you have met.

quote Originally posted by Jermz238: most of you who resent cops know that you probably deserved it because you WERE doing something wrong, you're just butthurt that you got caught.

Like when I got pulled over after leaving a bar for suspicion of DWI. The officer said I was "weaving inside the lane." After passing the field sobriety test and blowing a 0.03 on his portable breathylizer, he let me go.

He was a jerk and only pulled me over because I was leaving a bar. I wasn't doing anything wrong and he was still a jerk.

Or the time my car was broken into and I had the police come out to investigate and take a report? He didn't even look at the car close enough to notice the stereo head unit that I had reported stolen was still in the dash board.

If so many people have a poor opinion of police officers, maybe - just maybe, the officers and department in general should look in the mirror for the problem? To be sure many people who get busted and are guilty have a poor opinoin of police, but it's much too easy a cop out (no pun intended) to blow off most complaints as sour grapes for people who got busted doing something wrong.

quote Originally posted by cliffw: Well, my point was not directed at the situation that you had per say, sorry. I meant it as an illustration that any of us set the stage by the first thing(s) we say and do. Also, the question was unnecessary although understandable. You are gonna find out anyway. No sense questioning the officer's intelligence. As I said...

Ah I see now, thanks.

quote Originally posted by Fastback 86: I see your point, but I think its a perfectly reasonable question to ask, and one that the officer should be expecting anyway. I would think that any officer who wants to live to see his next traffic stop would always expect trouble and be happy when there wasn't, rather than the other way around. In this case, I only asked what the problem was because I knew I didn't do anything illegal, and aside from not having a front plate, I was right. Like I said, I know that giving him a hard time and pissing him off is only going to make things worse. I guess I just didn't realize that police are (apparently) hyper-sensitive about the first words out of your mouth when they pull you over. Its not like anyone enjoys being pulled over or is still having a good day after those lights come on.

It isn't that cops are "hyper-sensitive"---but they are alert for any sign of trouble from the persons they stop. It's a matter of survival.
Most cops, the ones with any sense, anyway, HATE making traffic stops. Next to domestic violence calls, it's the most dangerous thing we do. You never know in most cases who you're dealing with, and there's always the fun of having to dive for the ditch when the soccer mom on the phone in her SUV nearly runs you over, while you're talking to someone you've stopped who wants to argue about the light you both know was red. The worst thing, though, is getting barfed on by a DUI, usually when it's nice and hot out. Good times...
What I want to do is to give you a different way to approach the situation, and maybe have a better outcome. Good luck to you.

I haven't read the whole thing and don't really care to, but I see a common theme and I need to pipe up.

Tickets do NOT generate any revenue for the officer. It does for the city, and the officer does not see a penny, so why would he care? They don't get ANY bonuses, congratulations, or anything for a ticket.

More warrants are found by doing "stupid" traffic stops than any other way. Yea, let's not do traffic stops and let the criminals be out on the streets even more.

So what you get stopped, you were drinking AND driving = illegal, anyone that idiotic should be taken off the road. It's sad, especially here in VT, people are on their SIXTH DUI/DWI offense and are still out on the road.

Sadly, officers can not prevent crime, they can make you feel safe when they drive through your neighborhood once in awhile, and that is partially their job - there is a certain name for it but I forgot it - the officers can't be everywhere, all the time.

Who knows, maybe you looked like a certain runaway - or DLS - or any number of wanted people, and yeah they were fishing but they were wrong, it happens.

If you're one to complain about cops not doing their job all of the time, so it'd be a good idea to bring them to court to waste more of their time being inside a court room, than out on the roads.

Maybe it's just a Vermont thing but here we do unlock doors and change tires for people a lot of the time. I have yet to deal with an A-Hole cop, I have been pulled over for the "license plate out" excuse, they weren't out, I didn't lose any sleep over it. It was Saturday night in a college town, my girl and I were driving around after a birthday party, but we both don't drink, the cop was great about it, I did everything calmly and maturely and had a good night. It lasted all of 5 minutes.

I never heard about the seatbelt law - but in Vermont searches are getting very strict. Search subject due to arrest doesn't even stick here anymore. You have to have consent or a warrant. The seatbelt law here isn't a primary offense either - you have to get pulled over due to something else.

quote Like I have said in other threads, given the choice between responding to a call about a woman being raped by gangbangers, and the option to stop a person who may have a slightly too dark shade of window tint or some other minor infraction, most of the cops I know would choose the latter because of the feel good factor for them.

I'm thinking it is your police department, because what cop would not what to find a bunch of gang-bangers at their worst? Ability to draw guns, arrest the real bad guys, potentially shoot or fight? I've yet to meet one cop that would love to do that above all else.

The city I'm in has 1 potentially a-hole cop. Maybe I'm just lucky or can look past the once-in-a-while bad one and move on with life.

The way I see it, it's the courts and the city that make the cops look bad, they're doing their job enforcing the laws set in place by the courts. They are only allowed to do so much. Here you can go into a parking lot, attempt to open every single car/truck sit INSIDE of said vehicle, and touch everything, and nothing can be done to you. If the owner comes up and punches you in the face, they get arrested for assault.

Sorry for the long post, just sick of people constantly bitching about the police. If you think you could do a better job, man up and join the force, see what it's like. Look into a little, get educated about it, don't just sit there and whine all day. Maybe I'm just sick of ignorant people...

ace35,
How large of a city do you live in? My assumption is one of 50,000 or less. Come to the big city. Live in or near a real ghetto. You'll get a full experience of a-hole cops. I grew up in a small town (3000 people), went to college in a small town (9000 people) Eventually, I moved to Omaha, NE and then to the Twin Cities, MN. I live on the fringes of the ghetto. There are lots of a-hole cops and very few cops that respect you. I'm white, college educated (Criminal Justice degree to boot!) and drive a Buick (Hey, its got a 3800SC in it at least!)......... I still get "hassled" by a cop when pulled over. God help me if I get pulled over by a black cop driving in the ghetto!!

The city I live in now is under 10,000. I have yet to be pulled over here but I do know all the cops. I was pulled over in the big city of Ohio when we were lost in a "rough" neighborhood, I'm pretty sure we were the only white folk around. But the officer told us to follow him and got us out. That was my only big-city experience. Burlington was my other but even they barely brake the 40,000 population.

Aceman, it depends on the big city you're talking about, too. Here, we have seven levels of scrutiny for EVERY complaint generated by the public, and that doesn't include the U.S. Courthouse at 8th & Broad, where if you do something REALLY stupid under color of law, the Department will happily throw you under the bus and wash their hands of you.
We have a chief whom most of the officers cordially hate.
I don't like his methods a lot of the time, but I will say the son of a bit@h does his damnedest to run the cleanest, most professional department in the country, and demands a fair day's work for a fair day's pay. He also demands ABSOLUTE accountability, and any officer receiving a citizen complaint, or caught in violation of any policy, is not only investigated by every level of that officer's chain of command, which is documented in writing, and justification has to be made for those findings, but the investigation is duplicated by OPA (our Internal Affairs), and in the case of any officer-involved shooting, also goes to the shooting review board, the district attorney's office, AND the Davidson County Grand Jury.
...our chief also does his best to make sure the public is well aware they have the power to complain.
Personally, I like the direction the department's going, I just don't agree that holding a sword over one's head is the best way to motivate people. It's effective in the short term, but for only as long as it takes people to find out how to get around you.

I usually get around to relating this story in most of the "cop" threads that get posted here.
Might as well...

I worked for Motorola for ten years. My particular shop maintained the communictions for Dekalb County, the 2nd largest county (and police department) in the state.
I got to know a lot of the officers, administrators, and even some of the muckity-mucks fairly well. My conclusions were that it was just like any other cross section of society. You had some people who were truly dedicated to the profession (in every sense of the words), and a few who had no business carrying a badge and a gun. Fortunately, the latter were greatly in the minority. (Unfortunately, just like any other group, the troublemakers are the ones who make all the noise, and get all the press.)
There were a few who enjoyed being badasses (particularly a couple of the SWAT guys), but most of them just wanted to go home in one piece at the end of the day.

My ticket history?
I'm 50 years old, and lived in that same county most of my life. I never received a ticket I didn't "earn", and was given a pass on a few that I should have received. (Strangely enough, the big "passes" were not from the department that I maintained. No "professional courtesy" was involved.)
I should add that I have always driven with "enthusiasm", and have always worn my hair longer than most folks.
I do, however, always try to be decent to the officer, and not give him any sh!t.

I will add that the last ticket I "earned', the officer (Atlanta City) was obviously NOT comfortable.
It was 2:30 AM, Christmas Eve morning. I was on a nearly deserted I-20, driving a black, lowered, S10 with tinted windows and a burned out inside light. Had Dekalb county plates. (By that time, Dekalb was harvesting the largest portion of suburban gang-bangers in the state.)
The last thing the officer expected to see was a middle-aged guy and his sleepy wife.
The ticket? 72 in a 50. I was doing every bit of it, too.

If I had any advice, it would be to stay cool. Don't be a smartass. And say "sir" at every available opportunity, even if it grates on your last nerve.
OTOH, it doesn't bother me. I say "sir" or "ma'am" even to people much younger than myself. (Hard to tell over the phone.)
It's a "southern" thing. I use it liberally. In my profession, it also helps to make my customers feel important. And they appreciate it.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 06-16-2007).]

quote Originally posted by ace35: officer does not see a penny, so why would he care? They don't get ANY bonuses, congratulations, or anything for a ticket.

Exactly.. why should he go take money from the people and hand it to his boss? It's his job, thats why.

Theres a reason suicide and alcoloism plagues so many departments. On a subconscious level it eats away at their soul unless they just dont give a rats ass.

And unfortunately many of them develop a "not giving a rat's ass" attitude to cope with the reality they face every day.

This is for the ladies who might read this thread.
This may or may not get you out of a speeding ticket but more than likely it will.
If you are pulled over by a "male" officer they are more than likely going to ask you why you were speeding.
Here is what you should say... I know I was speeding officer and I am truely sorry but I just started my monthly and I am just trying to get to a store to buy some pads.
I know that sounds like a disgusting thing to say and trust me the male officer will be so caught off guard, that you said it, he will more than likely let you go with a warning.
Us guy really don't want to deal with that problem.

My father having been a cop for 25 years and now retired, told me a woman said that to him once and he was so taken off guard he let her go without even running her license!

quote Originally posted by JimmyS: The seat belt law is one of my pet peaves and I hate it with a passion! I also believe that it is against my right of freedom of choice. I see nothing wrong in chosing to not wear a seatbelt. I am not putting anyones life in danger but my own and that should be my choice.

I was going to discuss this issue, but what's the point? Charles Darwin covered it pretty well years ago.

Without delving into the goodness or badness of officers, answer this question.

When you come across a cop during the commission of your daily LEGAL routine, is your feeling:

A: I feel much safer knowing he/she is around.

B: What am I doing at this point that will attract his/her attention?

Gene

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Charles Darwin covered it pretty well years ago.

Yeah, he never wore one, .

B.
I'm not going to lie, I fear them for a variety of reasons.

(singing) Oh, I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay, I sleep all night and I work all day...

quote Originally posted by Vonov: (singing) Oh, I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay, I sleep all night and I work all day...

Thanks for that visual.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Thanks for that visual.

Lol, I was gently poking fun at Bill's earlier post about hiding up in a tree.

Geezs, that's one who slipped through the cracks. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/...s/wisconsin_shooting

Yes...that department has already admitted they didn't do any psychological testing. Think that policy will change? Probably. It probably wasn't happening because the city deemed it too expensive. Gee, I wonder if what they were saving will cover the cost of the lawsuits that the families involved will surely bring? Somehow, I seriously doubt it...
And as I posted elsewhere, WHY in God's name would you, as an employer or government, put a deadly weapon in the hands of someone without at least making some effort to check their stability/sanity???

Geez, what a fruitcake! Unfortunately I doubt that a physiological revue of him would have discovered evidence that he would go off like that, possible I suppose, but unlikely. It's my opinion that physiologists are basically weirdo's that get into the profession because of their own problems.......... and no, I do not have any personal experience with physiologists other than dating one, and my mother has her degree.

After all, look at some of the nutbags they let on to the force as it is!

In today's episode of Cops Gone Wild, a SWAT team tackles and arrests a man for.... Jaywalking.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.c...334765_robert09.html

As infractions go, jaywalking is minor. It's not the sort of thing anyone expects will lead to scrapes, bruises and a night in jail. But what happened to Benjamin De Jong and his girlfriend after a Mariners game Sept. 15 is more than a simple case of jaywalking.
...
De Jong admits he and his girlfriend jaywalked across First Avenue in Pioneer Square -- just like a throng always does after a sporting event.
...
"As we were 5 to 10 feet from the curb, an unmarked vehicle sped toward us," De Jong said. "He hammered on his brakes. Two guys jumped out wearing dark clothing."
...
De Jong -- 5 feet 7 inches tall and 150 pounds -- said one of the men from the van grabbed him from behind and brusquely turned him around. He said he saw the second man from the van jerk his 105-pound girlfriend by the arm like a rag doll.

"Yes, I used choice words that night," De Jong said. "Any guy would if he saw what was happening to his woman and thought a couple of thugs were doing it."

De Jong was tossed on the ground. His knees got bruised. Blood oozed from his elbows. He was handcuffed and taken to jail. He faces pedestrian interference and obstructing charges. His girlfriend, Kristen Heidt, also 22 and from Canada, was roughed up; bruises were left on her body -- and she has photos. She was not taken to jail or charged, even though a police report says she grabbed an officer during the confrontation. Heidt remains shaken up.

In fact to add to my previous post I believe the cop physiological profiles parallel that of criminals. I think it has to do with needing generally aggressive people to do the job. Which I suppose is understandable.

Some cops believe they shouldn't have to obey the laws because they're cops.

http://www.copswritingcops.com/home.html

quote Originally posted by RandomTask: Some cops believe they shouldn't have to obey the laws because they're cops. http://www.copswritingcops.com/home.html

Hahahahahaha! thanks for the link!

quote Originally posted by Red88FF: In fact to add to my previous post I believe the cop physiological profiles parallel that of criminals. I think it has to do with needing generally aggressive people to do the job. Which I suppose is understandable.

Actually, you are for the most part correct...however, for successful cops, there are three major differences in the profile besides respect for the law (and physiology, BTW, is a whole different field of study; we're talking psychology here):

1. Most cops are goal oriented; that is, they are willing to work (legally) towards something they value.

2. Cops are future-oriented; they do not dwell on past hurts or insults, and they think through consequences, and have long-term goals.

3. Lastly, and this is the biggie, they are centered outside of themselves; the most important person or persons in their life is not themselves. It is part of what motivates them to enter a service profession, such as medical, firefighter, soldier, social worker, etc...

EDIT: You'll notice I said "successful" cops...

[This message has been edited by Vonov (edited 10-10-2007).]

quote Originally posted by Vonov: Actually, you are for the most part correct...however, for successful cops, there are three major differences in the profile besides respect for the law (and physiology, BTW, is a whole different field of study; we're talking psychology here): 1. Most cops are goal oriented; that is, they are willing to work (legally) towards something they value. 2. Cops are future-oriented; they do not dwell on past hurts or insults, and they think through consequences, and have long-term goals. 3. Lastly, and this is the biggie, they are centered outside of themselves; the most important person or persons in their life is not themselves. It is part of what motivates them to enter a service profession, such as medical, firefighter, soldier, social worker, etc... EDIT: You'll notice I said "successful" cops...

Well said. I think sometimes the psych training doesn't differentiate enough between "agression" and "dominance." You need dominant personalities. People who take charge of a situation - with force if necessary, but not necessarily agressive people who tend to want to use force first, rather than only when it's needed.

quote Originally posted by Formula88: Well said. I think sometimes the psych training doesn't differentiate enough between "agression" and "dominance." You need dominant personalities. People who take charge of a situation - with force if necessary, but not necessarily agressive people who tend to want to use force first, rather than only when it's needed.

Excellent observation, dead on the mark...a good cop would generally have the same personality as your average German grandmother---you vill do as she says, and if you're goot you can haff zum ztrudel---und if you are bad, she vill take you by ze ear und you vill not move from vereffer she zitz you down; uff course, zat iss azzuming you are ztill capable off zitzing down, mit your fanny on feuer...mit NO dizcussion.

About once or twice a week the local police in the neighboring town sit at a diner that is just off the highway exit ramp. When you come off this exit, there is a stop sign, and you only have a choice of going right or left. The right turn goes to a business/dead end. Now they park 2-3 cars there and stand outside with flashlights. There have been as many as 6 officers standing there.

When coming home last night with my cousin we are joking about if they will be there or not, and as we come off the ramp we see they are there. So we put the blinker on, stop at the stop sign and make the left. All of sudden one of them is flashing his light wildly to get our attention, so we pull around the next corner and he starts with the "license and registration". I asked what I did wrong and he said I didn't stop for the sign. I told him (nicely) that I did stop, I live in town and know they are there, I saw them there, there is no reason I would run a stop sign, let alone right in front of several police officers. He says well you didn't stop. So I hand him my license and my cousin asks if she can give him her ID since its her vehicle. (her ID is for the neighboring police department since she is a dispatcher). He hands us both ID's back and says your ok to go.

My guess is they make up the running the stop sign, just to stop and check you out further.

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"what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul"

[This message has been edited by Gecko (edited 11-02-2007).]