Curiosity about the LEO profession

[EngrSorenson]

This came up (off topic) from the recent events discussion on the application of the recent Supreme Court Ruling.
I'm curious because ethics is interesting, but only when there's a dilemma.

Have you ever had to enforce a law you didn't personally support, or arrest someone you really didn't want to?

Nothing to read into too deeply here, just curious for the sake of curiosity.
As a side note, I went to high school with a guy (I'd even call him a friend) that had a real authority problem, and that was often a rubbing point with... basically any manager, teacher, etc.
He wanted to become a LEO, but his ultimate goal was not just any LEO; he wanted to be internal affairs. A police of police. (adds up, right?)
Thankfully the candidate system weeded him out real quick.

Bonus alternate question, and as a long time personal fan of "The Wire"- can you enjoy crime drama tv shows?

 

[Billy The Hungry]

While I think this is a great question, I doubt you'll get many responses here.

Some food for thought,

They have mouths to feed, a house and vehicles to lose, debt to pay off and a lifestyle to maintain.

I do security work and I often have to enforce rules that I personally think are silly. Their jobs are much more serious and stressful than mine, usually.

I don't think too many officers would admit to this one way or another. It's lose/lose.
Hazzards of the job I guess.

I have my own opinions about it all but they don't belong here.

 

[jmh33]

Proud father of 2 LEOs. Son is a Pgh city detective. Daughter a local boro officer.
The story’s they tell.
John

 

[Blues]

I worked in federal law enforcement for 20+ years.

It was rare that I ever arrested someone I felt didn't have it coming. In one instance, an overzealous prosecutor had me testify at a grand jury against my advice and beliefs, which resulted in the arrest and indictment of someone that was cooperating with me on a narcotics investigation and whom I suspected very well may have been involved...but I did not feel that we had sufficient evidence to arrest and prosecute at the time.

At a pre-trial hearing the federal judge could tell from my demeanor on the stand that something was troubling me during my testimony. He asked what it was, I asked if I could speak freely and he told me to go ahead. I told him that I felt that the individual might very well be part of the criminal conspiracy but that I didn't feel it was fair to have him be judged by jurors who would never know the minutiae of the case as I did, and as I wasn't fully convinced (yet) of his guilt, that it wasn't right to have them make that assessment. In other words, proof beyond a reasonable doubt had not been obtained.

Judge agreed and the indictment was dropped. I pissed off a prosecutor, but that didn't bother me nearly as much as possibly putting someone away for many years when I wasn't (yet) convinced of his guilt.

Over the years, I also had the opportunity to disobey what I considered an unlawful order, and prevailed in that matter as well.

I worked both sides of law enforcement. Three or four years on the internal affairs / internal security side...and the balance in the street working narcotics, money laundering, arms smuggling and terrorism related matters. Also a several month long undercover assignment into mob and outlaw motorcycle gang activity.

Things have changed a lot in the intervening years. I started in the early 80's and left while Bush (the younger) was in office.

ETA:

I absolutely loved "The Wire"...though the shows I feel strongly (positive) about are relatively few and far between. So many just have no clue.

In movies, I liked "End of Watch" and "Colors" among others.

When they get it right, it's a good thing.