How do LEO's feel about...

H

Hoodoo

Joined
Aug 18, 1999
Messages
2,355
Being slammed on the forum. There are a lot of LEO knife fanciers here. Some I've developed quite a good friendship with. Every so often I see LEO's getting slammed. And I don't mean specific cases that are brought up but a general disrespect for LEO's. I'm not trying to put LEO's on the spot here but I was curious how they felt about being "run down" on a public forum. Is this something you feel just comes with the territory or what? Is being a LEO a "thankless" job? Dentists and lawyers often get the same treatment. We seem to feel we can regularly slam them and care less that we are dealing with real people. I do it all the time without even thinking about it. Maybe that's the problem.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Hi Hoodoo,

I hope I'm still one of the ones you have a good relationship with, or I'll blame you for my lack of progress with whittling!
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(Speaking of which, I gave my nine year old nephew his first pocket knife, a stag Bulldog whittler, yesterday.)

Personally, I think a lot of it comes with the territory, and I wince whenever I read about (or hear about) an LEO who goes bad, takes money, or otherwise engages in criminal activity. It's a black eye for all of us.

I've had to arrest one like that (I wasn't in IA) and he got thirty years. Not pleasant, but I have little sympathy for bad cops.

When you take the oath and put on the badge the public has the right to have certain expectations of your conduct and character. That is only fair.

What rankles me is not the legitimate grievances, but the tiresome inferences that LEO's and their agencies are involved in some conspiracy to deprive citizens of their rights. It just ain't so. (Yes, excesses occur, mistakes are made, and some cops are just not fit to do their job. Period. But there is no "conspiracy".)

I sign my posts "Live Free Or Die" and mean it. I have been an LEO for going on twenty years and I pride myself on the good job I do.

I've not lost a trial in that time, nor have I had a prisoner or defendant accuse me of dishonesty or abusive treatment. I do it the way I feel it should be done and I feel most do. However, those that "don't" get almost all of the ink and that is the way of the world it seems.

My somewhat more than two cents worth.
Thanks for asking and for listening.

Blues



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Live Free or Die

Blues' Knife Pix
 
It's not a thankless job, there are lot of people who thank us for what we do. On the other hand there are many that have had a bad experience and cannot seem to forget about it. We take it personally when another cop screws up. I think many of us with we could have a few minutes alone with these scofflaws so we can show them how we feel.

Just for fun's sake lets look at some other professions that get dissed frequently. Are you one of these?
  • Teacher ???
  • Used/New Car Salesman ???
  • Priest ???
  • Pentecostal Minister ???
  • Mechanic ???
  • Pawn Shop owner ???
  • Gun Dealer ???
  • Refuse truck driver ???
  • Construction Worker ???
  • Insurance Salesman ???
  • Cab Driver ???
  • Al Gore ???

Lots of people get hassled because of their profession. It shouldn't be an issue, with the exception of Al Gore, there is no excuse for him.
smile.gif


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EXCUSE ME WHILE I WHIP THIS OUT.
**Blazing Saddles**

kansasC.gif
 
Originally posted by aflatfoot:

Just for fun's sake lets look at some other professions that get dissed frequently. Are you one of these?


  • Lots of people get hassled because of their profession. It shouldn't be an issue, with the exception of Al Gore, there is no excuse for him.
    smile.gif
Click to expand...


  • Don't forget academics. You know how diabolical us professors can be. If there is a professor in a whodunnit, he/she is almost always the culprit. But just out of curiosity, what percentage of the crimemongers on a daily basis that you arrest are college professors? Not to mention we get bashed regularly for living in "ivory towers." Eggheads with no common sense. Growing up blue collar and living bluecollar most of my life, I can say with pretty fair certainty that academics don't corner the market on a lack of common sense.
    smile.gif




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    Hoodoo

    I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
    JKM
 
Blues,
I haven't been doing too much whittling myself lately. Last thing I whittled out was a rooster from a twig but haven't gotten back to it since. Too many twigs, so little time... Glad to see you have your nephew heading down the right road. Will he be arrested if he takes that knife to school?
wink.gif
BTW, I wish I was your nephew; I'd like one of those Bulldogs too.
smile.gif


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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
"Oh" your a fireman? You got it made, just hang around and eat and play cards." Yes,and do cpr on old people wearing diapers,pull burned kids out of fires and patch up bullet holes in drug dealers,why don't you take the test? I guess theres a lot of jobs people take shots at,I just kind of let it go because you only hear from the complainers and there only a few (but the ones you remember).
 
flatfoot, I'm glad to hear that where the buffalo roam people still say thanks once in a while. Unfortunately, I can assure you that in the major urban centers (NYC for example) policing is absolutely a thankless job. There are many reasons for this, too many to go into, but the bottom line is that the police are seen as an occupying army. I've seen crime victims sitting in front of their residences WITH the perpetrators of crimes against them, and say NOTHING to officers searching for the suspects because they actually hate the cops more than the bad guys. We should have our heads examined for doing this job! Why do it then? I guess so that the people that bad mouth us don't have to. We're out in the night, the cold and the rain so they can be safe and warm in their beds. It's called sacrifice and dedication.
 
On a barely related note, Blues wrote that what rankles him "is not the legitimate grievances, but the tiresome inferences that LEO's and their agencies are involved in some conspiracy to deprive citizens of their rights. It just ain't so. (Yes, excesses occur, mistakes are made, and some cops are just not fit to do their job. Period. But there is no 'conspiracy'.)"
Well, fellow knife nuts, as a one-time member of the media, I can identify with Blues' concerns. Let me just say here that what rankles me is not legitimate grievances but the tiresome inferences that media professionals and their agencies are involved in some conspiracy to deprive citizens of their rights. It just ain't so. (Yes, excesses occur, mistakes are made, and some reporters and editors are just not fit to do their job. Period. But there is no "conspiracy."
 
Well I am not an LEO, but as A regular guy I would like to publicly say THANK YOU to all of you who are.

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Brian
AKTI# A000991
b.teel@lycos.com
What's the best folk dance for my monkey?
 
Originally posted by bteel:
Well I am not an LEO, but as A regular guy I would like to publicly say THANK YOU to all of you who are.
Click to expand...

I'll second that!

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Thanks for asking! Also, thanks to those of you who went on record with the seemingly heartfelt "Thanks."

I must agree, I cringe when I hear about LEO's accused of misconduct. And yes, those allegations give each of us a black eye.

When a LEO takes the oath, he/she is entrusted with the pulic faith and confidence beholding of the office. While the vast majority take their oath very seriously, there will always be that sad few who abuse their title.

What rankles me however, is the seeming reluctance of people and the media to acknowledge the professional services they receive. There are hundreds of thousands of LEO's out there who bust their hump daily to provide professional service AND strive to be the role model type citizens they are expected to be. Even more so, there are hundreds of those LEO's who are downright Heroes in the truest sense who receive little or no recognition for their heroics and their service to the community. During a relatively recent news braodcast here, an LE Awards Ceremony received 21 seconds of coverage, while inmate toilets in the local prison received over one minute of airtime. So much for Justice.
 
Thanks HOODOO, and all you other LEOs. There is a LEO that lives a couple of houses down from me. Never even thought about telling him thanks, but I sure will now.

Dan

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Shamelessly promoting his wife's buisness :)

http://www.gogetemgear.com/
 
I saw a bumper sticker once... "If you think education is expensive, you should try Ignorance."

In my 15 years as an LEO, the ones who frequently complain about our presence when we are called for something that they are alledgedly doing, are the ones who complain loudest about our long response time when THEY call 911. In short, most people want laws enforced on someone else, and resent it when we are called to enforce it on them.

I am also a firm beleiver in the 90/10 rule.
It goes like this. 90% of the population is "Good". 10 % of the population is "Bad". 90% of our contacts is with the 10% bad, so we began to think that 90% of the population is bad. Kinda like the 5 blind men who tried to describe the elephant by touching only one part.
As a training Officer, I try to get rookies to understand that the 90/10 rule IS NOT TRUE. I try to give everybody a chance to let me know which category they fit, but please remember, you never get a scond chance to make a first impression. Quite often, the first words out of the offender's/ violator's/ suspicious person's mouth sets the tone for the whole contact.
Yeah we get slammed frequently. But it comes with the territory. My bumper sticker: "If you don't like Law enforcement, try living without it!"
My 2% of $1.00

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Mark, Isiah 40:31 They that wait on the LORD shall mount up with wings as eagles...
 
Hey Hoodoo good thread topic.
I myself have been in law enforcement for over fifteen years . Yes it sometimes is a tiresome and thankless job. ( to you who said thank you ... you are most certainly welcome and it is my plasure serving you guys) The only thing that rankles me in here is when we are on a topic about what so and so carries is when some one in the thread tries to get off topic and use it as a forum to slam on LEOs I don't mind them slamming but I came here to talk about knives and fun stuff like that ...that is what i am here for. if you want to slam on LEOs start a seprate thread and we all can talk about it there How about it guys?? Oh well this is too long see you next time
 
Well,

Hoodoo- Thanks for bringing this up.

And Law Enforcement Officers in eyeshot of this...

Thank you, the job you do is without equal, and utterly necessary. You will never get enough recognition.

Now, with that said, let me bring up a connected issue.......

I often hear people complaining about cops and all this and all that. And my response is invariably this....

"I believe police officers have the hardest job in the universe. They are caught between those in power who do not listen to the people, and the people who will not make those in power listen."

Good Luck Gentlefolk of Law Enforcement, and Stay Safe. I fear it will only get worse.

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Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

>>--->Bill Siegle Custom Knives<---<<
-http://www.geocities.com/siegleknives-

Talonite Resource Page, nearly exhaustive!!

Fire Page, metal match sources and index of information.

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.
 
Don't forget academics. You know how diabolical us professors can be.
Click to expand...
Yeah! College professors, always trying to nail some young coed!
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Now onto:
flatfoot, I'm glad to hear that where the buffalo roam people still say thanks once in a while. Unfortunately, I can assure you that in the major urban centers (NYC for example) policing is absolutely a thankless job
Click to expand...

I guess thanks is where you get it from. If you know that you have done something to make a life better, then it's thanks enough. Even thought your perception of me is "Mayberry", we have plenty to do, including babysitting the 3rd largest Methamphetamine producing state in the union. My area is especially handy for tweakers since it sits alongside I-70 right between KC and Denver.
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EXCUSE ME WHILE I WHIP THIS OUT.
**Blazing Saddles**

kansasC.gif


[This message has been edited by aflatfoot (edited 10-22-2000).]
 
Getting slammed is not really upsetting. It unfortunately happens all the time. I'm called a racist, and a host of other wonderful terms throughout an 8 hr shift. You just get used to it. Being an LEO means that you must have a thick skin about you all the time. Unfortunately most people hate LEO's until they need one to save their buttocks. Then all of a sudden we become your best friend. It's a relationship of convenience to the public at large. Getting slamed on the forums is the same thing. Big talk from some people that have no appreciation for those who risk their necks every day. Sorry if I sound bitter.
 
flatfoot,
brother, if I gave any impression of disrepect I fully apologize, it was in no way intended! Cop is cop is cop. When the people in the smallest town in America call for help, the folks who answer the call are as blue as any "big-city" dick. What I meant was really a bit of jealousy for those who can serve in a community that wants to work with law enforcement to make life better. In that situation a difference can really be made. I get to the memorial in D.C. as often as I can and I'm fully aware that the price of freedom IN this country was paid by our brothers and sisters coast to coast, most of whom were not from big urban departments. Again, sorry for giving the wrong impression.
 
THANKYOU to every LEO who puts their life on the line everyday to protect honest citizens. My brother in law was Chief of Police of a small town near here for several years so I have a small understanding of the dangers you face everyday. What's that saying? "If you don't like COPS, the next time you need help, call a HIPPIE." There are many other public servants who deserve special recognition too, firefighters, EMS, Military, etc, but LEOs consistently face the greatest danger in my opinion.
 
Actually, statistically firefighting is more hazardous than law enforcement.
But I do like having both groups around to put out fires and lock up creeps.
 
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