A Favor por favor

[gigag04]

I've been a member here almost since the beginning, way before I was in LE. I was a spunky college kid and got a CHL and found this forum. I've learned and shared tons in the years past with members of this site. I've bought, sold, and traded guns, I've done shooting, heck I even got advice on getting into LE. I've been hit or miss since then, but anyway...now I work full time as a Local LEO in my city. I've seen a surge in posts, and caught up on ones I've missed, where people come and say some story of mistreatment by the police and "I didn't do anything wrong" and how the officer was a big jerk.

I make no excuses for cops who are jerks. There is no excuse for cops to be discourteous to the general public. I try and be polite to everyone I meet as long as I possibly can. Most of the people I know in my profession are the same.

That said - I have been reading stories from people about some incident they had with the police. I have to ask: Can we try to remember that there are two sides to every story? I know first-hand many of you to be pro LE, and I try to remain as normal and non-cop as possible in my daily life so as to not lose touch with reality. If people at church small groups ask what I do, I usually say work for the city or sanitation department. Often times, in reading stories like this, if one looks into it further they find out that the police officers involved were well reasonable actions based on the persons behavior and or commentary. Unfortunately I see many posts jumping to support the OP of such threads saying "that cop is out of line" or how he should be fired, etc, judging the incident from just one side.

An extreme example of this is granny getting tasered. I'm not saying I would've done it, but initially "she didn't do anything" and the deputy tasered her for no reason. Later we see a video of her cussing and pushing the officer while be warned the whole time (again don't want to debate the action - just highlighting the difference in accounts). Another one (which prompted this posting) is the guy that was at the movies and his girlfriend was crying in his lap. Many of you later caught on the guy was probably not completely honest in his assesment of the situation.

It is hard to gauge a situation when we aren't there. People will regularly call in complaints against officers at my department, accusing all sorts of things. When the Sgts pull the tapes (automatically network download when the car is parked at PD) and review the stop, they can see what really happened. Often times it is the person contacted that has a poor attitude and making excuses/berating the officer.

I'm not asking for us to not hold our LEOs accountable for poor attitudes and mistreatment of citizens. Please don't hear me saying that. I'm all for accountability and criticism. I would just to garner a benefit of doubt when someone is recounting their story of how "these cops ambushed me for no reason whatsoever."

To those of you that have experienced a negative contact from an LEO - I sincerely apologize. I in no way condone his/her actions and continue to work to improve the public's perception of my field.

To put this post in context, picture us having a beer, or playing cards, shooting some clays, or something fun...not heavy and critical.

Regards,

GigAg04

[shortysboy09]

I understand your point of view gig. You are very right when you say there are two sides to the story. Usually people like to add on perceived things the officer did/said that in reality weren't meant to be taken the way they took it. People have a hard time sometimes understanding why an officer wants them to do certain things to keep everyone safe above all else.

On this forum I see more good contacts with officers then bad and I think that's a testament to the point you're trying to make. There's always going to be some bad apples or Officers that are just plain having a bad day. I commend you and all the others in your profession because you deal with irate people and criminals on a very regular basis ( basically every day ).

I, for one, have never had a bad contact with an officer. Call me lucky if you want but I don't think thats the case. I believe if you treat one person with courtesy you get that in return and so far I have treated every officer with courtesy and he/she in return has done the exact same to me. Courtesy might not have got me out of every ticket but at that point I know it's not because he/she wants to be mean. It's because he/she has a job to do, KEEP EVERYONE INCLUDING YOU SAFE!

When it comes down to it officers are just regular people too. They sometimes have bad days. Everyone is going to make mistakes no one is above that.

[Keith B]

I will also remind forum members that while individual LEO incidents/encounters and their actions are discussable, per the rules there will be no blatant LEO bashing. That type of post WILL be removed and the member warned.

[flintknapper]

I will also remind forum members that while individual LEO incidents/encounters and their actions are discussable, per the rules there will be no blatant LEO bashing. That type of post WILL be removed and the member warned.

An excellent rule.

I hope the inverse (LEO having a bad attitude toward the general public), will be enforced here too...if it ever comes up.

I am as pro LEO as they come, but there are bad cops, (I have personal experience). Likewise... there are more than a few citizens with poor attitudes and who are disrespectful. I greatly dislike the "tension" that often exists between the LEO community and the citizenry. I can remember a day when this was not the case.

Things sure have changed.

My hat is off to 90% of LEO.


Flint.

[joe817]

gigag04, thank you for starting this thread. It's high time we give you and ALL LEO's/Peace Officer's/S.D.'s/Police men and women/Cops and EVERYONE in Law Enforcement, currrent, retired and ex a big big thank you for doing what you do, and putting your life on the line for us every single day, both in and out of uniform. And that goes for everyone in fire departments everywhere as well as our EMT's. Those in law enforcement get little recognition for dealing with all of the things you all are charged in dealing with.

Thank you for your service!

Sometimes you have to deal with otherwise law abiding citizens who have broken the law. Those citizens need to stop, and instead of griping why they got a speeding ticket, or running a red light, or what ever.....think why they were breaking the law, and if they get a ticket they get what they deserve. The LEO is just doing his/her job. Nothing more & nothing less.

I'm 62 years old, and have had a "lead foot" most of my life. I've been ticketed more times than I care to remember. I've been ticketed by city cops, DPS, S.D.'s, you name it. And I can NEVER remember having anything but a courteous stop. Unpleasant? Yes...for me at least. But never anything but professional. So I have absolutely no room to complain what so ever.

It irks me to no end to see someone bashing LEO's for doing their job. And I classify those that do, as people who I would not get along with and in all likelihood wouldn't call a friend. And I value friendship very very much.

Ok, I'm off my soapbox. /rant off

[MoJo]

Amen to all the above. There are good cops and cops that are jerks. There good preachers and preachers who are jerks. There are good CHLs and CHLs that are jerks. There are jerks in all walks of life and to single out any group and paint them all as jerks because of the actions of a few is narrow minded. A policeman's job is difficult and stressful if you would like to get a snapshot of what a LEO does and has to know attend your local citizen's police academy it will be eye opening.

[5thGenTexan]

Gigag04

Thanks for the very well put post. As one who grew up with next door neighbor and neighbor accross the street that wee city cops, neighbor three houses down SO and several of the guys I went to school with had dads on PD. I looked at it for a while, brother worked for 2 SO departments I have a healthy respect for LEO's.

I have to a lead foot and have had the pleasure of meeting quite a few officers over the last 40 years of driving. I must say I have had a lot more instances where I could have been cited but was cut loose than I can count. Most of those guys are just out there to do their job and go home to the family at the end of the shift. The few bad apples just get all the press in the paper and online.

No matter how lousy my day when I see the strobes I try to be respectful and courteous. If I get one it's usually no one elses fault so I don't blame the messanger.

Be safe out there.

[gigag04]

Thanks to all that have commented. These posts reinforce the attitudes that I know most of the members of this board to hold.

I don't mind dealing with otherwise good people that for some reason or another are getting contacted by me. Often times people are frustrated at a number of things other than the LEO and just take it out on the officer. No problem - I can understand frustration. Where I take issue is when someone is upset AND UNTRUTHFUL in their recollection of the incident. Then they paint the officer in a negative light when that may have not been the case.

Thanks again guys!

[cougartex]

First I want to thank all of the LEO's for their service, you have a difficult job at best.

My experience has been positive with LEO. I walked in on a robbery at my home in 2005. Several credit cards and other things were stolen. This happen around 12:30pm, I called the Port Arthur Police and they arrived about 1:15pm. I gave the police a description of the robber and items taken. About 3:30pm that afternoon the PAPD returned to my home with the robber in the back seat of the police car.

All of the things taken were returned.

[gregthehand]

Wait a minute....

Before I reply any further to this post since gigag is an LEO and I'm "talking" to him do I need to PM him a scan of my CHL?

Sorry couldn't resist.

[gigag04]

Wait a minute....

Before I reply any further to this post since gigag is an LEO and I'm "talking" to him do I need to PM him a scan of my CHL?

Sorry couldn't resist.

Please include copies of your social security card, credit cards (front and back of course) and your billing address.


Pay no attention to large, questionable charges from such companies as Larue Tactical, Apple Store, and Nismo.

JK - and you don't have to present a CHL unless asked for ID, or to ID yourself.

[joe817]

Oh! Now THAT'S funny!

[bizarrenormality]

QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES?

We should be polite about it but police should be subject to the same scrutiny as everyone else.

[gigag04]

QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES?

We should be polite about it but police should be subject to the same scrutiny as everyone else.

I think police are held to a higher standard of scrunity. Does your domestic violence arrest make the front page news?

[92f-fan]

there are 2 sides of every story
Especially on the Internet you only hear the parts that make the point of the poster

Thanks for your service