<p>[ABC-7</a> reporter and photographer handcuffed, detained while covering I-10 wreck - Newspaper Tree El Paso](<a href=“http://newspapertree.com/news/3700-abc-7-reporter-and-photographer-handcuffed-detained-while-covering-i-10-wreck]ABC-7”>http://newspapertree.com/news/3700-abc-7-reporter-and-photographer-handcuffed-detained-while-covering-i-10-wreck)</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/699251-one-more-reason-why-i-have-little-respect-police-officers.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/699251-one-more-reason-why-i-have-little-respect-police-officers.html</a></p>
<p>Didn’t they teach you in Forum Etiquette 101 not to cross post the same thing in multiple forums?? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I am curious in the differences in the responses from college students and parents.</p>
<p>As in any occupation, there are good ones and bad ones. You can’t blame an entire profession for some jerks. By the way, I didn’t even read the link. My answer stands.</p>
<p>OK, I’ll bite as an adult. I would say about half of my encounters with police officers, both in cities and suburbia, have been negative. From simply being lost or asking a question, to car accidents and having my house broken into, some officers have been pleasant and helpful, while some have been threatening and seem to be on a power trip.</p>
<p>I tell my kids: If a police officer tells you to do something that is not illegal, then do what he tells you.</p>
<p>Lots of things could have happened before that clip. Yes there were other cars there. Maybe the police officer was trying to clear all the cars away so that traffic on that side could move more freely (reduce the chance of another accident happening).</p>
<p>Reporters are known for getting in the way. Maybe the extra “liberties” the reporter was trying to take was possibly causing problems. The article did say that the reporter ignored repeated requests prior to the beginning of the clip. So the reporter is not an innocent victim. I’m not saying that the Policeman could not have handled it better.</p>
<p>Maybe if people respected police officers more, there wouldn’t be these problems.</p>
<p>Make sure when you have an encounter with a police officer to show just how much you do not respect him/her. I am sure that will enhance your experience.</p>
<p>I work with police officers and am married to one. Most are fine. They could be the father, brother, aunt, cousin of one of your friends. What you do need to know is, when a a public safety officer requests you do something, go ahead and do it. If you have a problem with it, take it to the precinct / command officer. Arguing with the PO on the spot almost always ends up badly for the citizen. The PO doesn’t know you or your intentions. His job to take control of the situation. If you disreguard the request, you do so at your own risk.</p>
<p>Again, if you have an issue with how you are being treated by the police, comply for the moment, but by all means take your complaint to someone who can hear it, and do something about it, rather than arguing with the PO and making a iffy situation into what could be a fatal situation…where you may have been right, but you’re injured or dead.</p>
<p>Oh by the way, did you know that in some jurisdictions, if you have a complaint, you can (and should) and the police officer for a complaint form. He must comply.</p>
<p>No, don’t complain. I did that and then was threatened by the police later - “I know where you live.”</p>
<p>Yes of course, silly me. I forgot the generalization that applies to all police officers. All over the country. Every single one is the same. I forgot.</p>
<p>Forgive me.</p>
<p>I have had both positive and negative experiences with cops. Everywhere from working for two that run a charity poker league to one that tried to give me a ticket for doing nothing wrong- because his daughter didn’t like me. (Ticket got thrown out and he was reprimanded).</p>
<p>But here, I agree that the it appears the cop was overstepping his bounds, but he seemed irritated before he even confronted the reporter. My guess would be that he had asked the reporter to clear out before the incident began and the reporter didn’t listen.</p>
<p>There are good and bad in every profession–including the media, who seem to be quite famous for some of the things they try to get away with!</p>
<p>I was pulled over for a perceived blowing stop sign with my 14 y/o in the car. I “know” this area is red zone known for pulling people over for said offense. I did not go thru the stop sign. </p>
<p>Cop said to me, “what your going to lie in front of your kid”
I was speechless, my d said (the ever so child that nobody should be unjustly accused, oh the injustice of it all type)
“my moms not lying, she didn’t go thru the stop sign”</p>
<p>Cop now says, “Oh bad enough your lying now you get your kid to lie”</p>
<p>Rule #1: Do not argue with the guy with the gun.</p>
<p>Rule #2: When in doubt, do what the guy with the gun says for now and later complain to his superior.</p>
<p>I’ve had mixed experiences. I live in a township where the county sheriff deputies respond to 911 calls. Had an atrocious experience once (cops did not do their job, contributed to the death of a family member who was not taken in for a psychiatric hold during a psychotic break). I wrote a letter of complaint to the sheriff, who didn’t bother to respond to my letter. So I campaigned against the sheriff in the next election, and helped defeat him by about 130 votes (of ~150,000 votes cast). The new sheriff seems to be doing a better job training his deputies - - had to call 911 related to domestic violence more recently, and they were tremendously helpful, couldn’t have asked for better.</p>
<p>If you have a bad experience, you definitely should complain up the ladder. Including over the police chief or sheriff’s head if the situation is serious and you don’t get satisfaction. In my case, “over his head” meant taking it to the voters…</p>
<p>Some sheriff/police departments (maybe most) have a process for taking and handling complaints (check the website or call the department). Not saying you will get satisfaction, though.</p>
<p>A very nice, smiling officer opened the door for customers yesterday at the local convenience store. I wouldn’t mind having him pull me over, because he didn’t have that chip on his shoulder yet. No doubt the chip comes from the overall lack of respect for authority in our culture. But that said, it seems that some guys and gals enter the profession because they truly want to help people. They’re the rescuers at heart, and are generally wonderful. Others are into the whole the-guy-with-the-gun-is-boss mentality. Give them a shoulder chip too, and they can be really obnoxious. They’re usually the ones that shave their head, swagger like cowboys who just go off a horse, and look at you like you’re filthy vermin.</p>
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<p>Yes, especially those on motorcycles.
From personal experience, it has been quite negative.
Filing a complaint generally gets you nowhere. Their superiors back up their men.</p>
<p>Yup. That was the beauty of having an elected sheriff at the top of the chain for me. Took my story to our county’s voters, and they apparently agreed that there was a lack of accountability and appropriate training for our officers.</p>
<p>^ Thats awesome intparent - getting an incumbent sheriff out of office is no small feat. It would be great to get Lee Baca out of LA county, but its just not happening.</p>
<p>My D and her BF were on their way to a science museum in a city near us. Had Mapquest directions, which were quite confusing, so they finally got off the highway they were on (going through a city) to regroup. Immediately pulled over by multiple unmarked cars, then ordered out at gunpoint. Car illegally searched and Bf roughed up. Police wore plainsclothes and refused to show badges. The crime, as best as they could tell, was being young and long-haired in an area where drugs might be sold. they kept showing them their map and directions, to no avail. Nothing found, because nothing to find, and finally let go.</p>
<p>Later found out that a ticket (failure to yield–trumped up, there was no one to yield to) was on record but had never been issued to them. You bet they’re complaining (I will be surprised if they get any response.)</p>
<p>there are lots of wonderful police, but the refusal to hold the bad eggs to account taints everyone’s perceptions. And it’s too important a job to let that happen.</p>
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<p>Authority is earned, not granted. I tend to believe that it’s a good thing that Americans distrust authority. It’s one of the hallmarks of a democracy that its citizens are always ready to “throw the bums out.” Including, of course, non-elected agents.</p>
<p>That said, while cops are “guilty until proven innocent” in my book (for better or for worse), I do believe that most police are genuinely good people. I just think that the position sucks and the power can be bad for people.</p>