Are Police Officers a Big Deal?

Hiya Guys and Dolls,

We all get ticked off when we are stopped by a police officer and get nailed for speeding, not making a complete stop at a Stop Sign (i am notorious for this one), didn't use our turn signal or have on our seat belts.

I was at dinner the other night with a friend and we overheard a fairly loud conversation at the table next to us that made us stop and think how much we don't appreciate the Police who put their lives on the line every day.

It was two guys discussing the Boston Bombing. One of the men was irritated about all the "hype" given to the Officer who got killed. He went on to say "why are they making such a big deal out of this Cop when there were citizens who died too". The guy he was with completely agreed with every word he said.

I have to admit it made me kinda mad that there was such lack of respect for this Officer. I wanted to turn around to his table and ask him how many people he knows that risks their lives every day and what the heck do you do for a living!

That officer who was killed was doing his job. There are not too many jobs out there where you risk your lives. And for many police officers they are under paid and people don't realize the dangerous situations they are put in even if it is a simple traffic stop.

Sometimes i think it is a love/hate relationship. When we need protection or are in a dangerous situation they are the first ones we call and we couldn't appreciate them more. But when we get pulled over they are our worst enemy!

Do you think Police Officers don't get the recognition they deserve or is it too hard to find empathy  after paying a $200 ticket for speeding?



Lips

You  have the officers that truly respect their jobs and those that don't. You run into bad cop after bad cop and they tend to spoil it for the group. I think every police officer starts out wanting to protect and serve but they end up protecting and serving the wrong ones whether it's political or just an abuse of power. I respect their position but I wish there were more good guys out there.

I think they have a crappy job putting up with thieves, murderers and basically the scum of the earth and they probably don't get the recognition they deserve.  I don't think I would want to do their job. 

I agree with you blue i think they put their neck out there. I have to be honest when i do get stopped by a cop i get reallllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy mad! But at the end of the day after it is all put in perspective they do have a tough job and don't get paid nearly enough for the protection they provide.

One should respect somebody that gets killed or injured on the job, fisherman, policeman, driver, whatever the job is called.

Nobody likes to receive a ticket, but 9 times out of 10 we deserved it. It is thier job.If we don't  do our jobs we don't have a job. They serve thier communities willingly, knowing  the crap they will take somedays just doing that job.
Just remember this next time you see the red and blue lights coming it may be to save your life.
When we are in trouble who do we call first!  911 and they always come.
I for one couldn't or wouldn't do that.
Thank god for the angels on earth our Policemen and Fire services.
Just my 2cents,
imakin1

I've found that people who slag them, dislike them or refer to them as porcine tend to the type of people who would justifiably have them on their case.
keep your nose clean and you'd rarely have to interact with one.
some power trip, some are in it to make a difference..it's a job and a tough one...I say cut the poor guys some slack, maybe even a thanks once in a while

Hi All,

I have visited this site for awhile but have never signed up until I saw this post. I am a female police officer and it is amazing the reaction I get from people when they find out I am one. It's either respect or fear, I tend to think the fear shown is due to the fact that they themselves have a shady past.. I have to admit prior to becoming an officer I to had that mentality towards the law, we are all not bad. I think at times those (bad cops) give our job a bad rap lose their compassion for the everyday person because we unfortunately see the ugliness in people on a daily basis. I try my hardest not to lose the very thing that made me want to become an officer and that is to serve and protect with honor.

Fried-eggs

It must be draining and effect you mentally. Police officers see quite a bit and it shows you a different side of people. You see the worst of the worst. Much respect for what you do and it's good to see that there is a cop that's still out there to protect and serve wit honor.

Hi fried eggs,

Welcome to LCB! So glad you joined our community. It has to be tough on an officer must less a female officer. It takes a lot of courage to do what you do and so many people don't realize how often you are put in serious situation.

I appreciate that you serve and protect!

Lips

Hi Fried=Eggs, love the name, Big Warm Welcome to LCB!!

What would we do without you? Any person with even less than common sense knows what our world would be like without law and order, its the grandest of nessessity, still it's not appreciated and recognized enough mostly by those who break the law and know they are doing it, you put your life on the line to protect us from the monsters that society has created, even to those compassion is shown, you are the most nieve yet the most intelligent jack of all trades, some people believe a police officer knows and can do anything, and without hesitation you do, above and beyond, to serve and protect... I do believe theres good in the bad that goes for the police officers too, most I see are simply just doing their job, a job I could never be brave enough to do, roundin' up these fools and putting them in their place, keepin our streets and neighborhoods safe and peaceful, with all my heart Thank you

I have a police officer who comes in every night after his shift, he gets a few things for his family, I am always relieved to see him, he made it another day, cuz lord knows its a crowded jungle out there, I always thank him.

Hey there Karp,

While there should always be respect given to anyone who loses their life on the job no matter what their profession is, but I thought this thread was more directed to job where a person walks in everyday not knowing if it will be their last.

Fried-eggs

They sure are a big deal when you see them lights in your rearview mirror when you doing something you ought not be doing. On the other hand they there when you need them. Police are in the same class as the army on the battlefield everyday and earn every silver ounce of that badge.

True, but fishermen and drivers don't have the safest professions out there either.