Ask a Civilian.....

[weliveinflorida]

Originally Posted by That Guy

Here are mine:

Why do people think I'm being lazy and goofing off when I run in and get a cup of coffee or into a store to do something when I work the same hours as you?

(part 2 of above)And why is it that I'm the only person wearing a uniform that gets the grief unlike military folks or utility workers??

TGY

I hear you...I went on a ride along with a friend one day and four units met up for coffee...the radio was DEAD...no traffic at all! I'm there in my plain clothes and they are all there in their uniformed, badged and belted glory...corner table, of course! We keep getting this dirty look from one of those "soccer mommy" types with the obnoxious brats at another table...When we get up to leave (mind you, it was like 7 minutes later)...She makes some snotty comment like "it's about time MY money was being put to use"...f-ing b---h...I shot her a nasty look...I'm just a civilian observer, so I can't get in trouble...and neither can my friend on the SO...He laughed that I got all ****ed about her...He just shrugs it off better, I guess.
Some people are just too ignorant...God how I wish they'd vacuum the gene pool...LOL

[WC145]

Here's a real question for you. Why is it that you people can't seem to realize that we live on both sides of the fence - civilian and law enforcement?
You act like we're somehow different from you and don't understand a thing about you, what you deal with everyday, how tough it is to make a living, the difficulties of raising a family, etc etc. We know, understand, and live all of that everyday and more because we are also facing the same difficulties. Then, on top of that, we choose to work in law enforcement and to put ourselves out there between you and the criminal element, to handle the things that you don't want to see or take care of for yourselves. Stop acting like the cops need to walk in your shoes to see life from your side, we already do. Maybe more of you need to try and see it from our perspective.
I'll bet we'd stop seeing and hearing so many of the same silly *** questions over and over, except maybe for the "Tell me again why you do this job?" ones.

[Wile E. Coyote]

Originally Posted by weliveinflorida

"it's about time MY money was being put to use"...

Or "I pay your salary." When one person said that after I wrote him only one of three violations, I came as close as I ever did to tossing a nickel in his window and telling him "So you're the cheap SOB."

Good thing I didn't. He filed a complaint, because he was a pilot and the cite could have cost him his pilot's license as he had enough points already. When I told the chief about the break on tickets,the chief told him to pound sand (he actually supported us, unlike others I hear of).

The guy didn't know where to stop. His ticket was thrown out because the prosecutor forgot to notify me of the hearing. He came back to the chief to file another complaint because he didn't have the chance to confront me in court. The chief once again showed him the door. Too bad he retired and his replacement caved to any complaint.

[Daedalia]

Originally Posted by WC145

Here's a real question for you. Why is it that you people can't seem to realize that we live on both sides of the fence - civilian and law enforcement?
You act like we're somehow different from you and don't understand a thing about you, what you deal with everyday, how tough it is to make a living, the difficulties of raising a family, etc etc. We know, understand, and live all of that everyday and more because we are also facing the same difficulties. Then, on top of that, we choose to work in law enforcement and to put ourselves out there between you and the criminal element, to handle the things that you don't want to see or take care of for yourselves. Stop acting like the cops need to walk in your shoes to see life from your side, we already do. Maybe more of you need to try and see it from our perspective.
I'll bet we'd stop seeing and hearing so many of the same silly *** questions over and over, except maybe for the "Tell me again why you do this job?" ones.

I think that if you approach this thread with a sense of humor and in the light-hearted spirit in which it is intended, you might feel differently.

[Daedalia]

Originally Posted by 4 Turns

Or "I pay your salary." When one person said that after I wrote him only one of three violations, I came as close as I ever did to tossing a nickel in his window and telling him "So you're the cheap SOB."

Good thing I didn't. He filed a complaint, because he was a pilot and the cite could have cost him his pilot's license as he had enough points already. When I told the chief about the break on tickets,the chief told him to pound sand (he actually supported us, unlike others I hear of).

The guy didn't know where to stop. His ticket was thrown out because the prosecutor forgot to notify me of the hearing. He came back to the chief to file another complaint because he didn't have the chance to confront me in court. The chief once again showed him the door. Too bad he retired and his replacement caved to any complaint.

I get annoyed with people that refuse to accept responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

My colleague's son got into a bar fight with a bunch of football players. Not surprisingly, he got the tar beaten out of him and required serious medical attention. His Mom, a lawyer, was complaining up a storm about the police investigator not taking her son's case seriously. Her son, who is an adult, wasn't even doing all he could to help the case along. My colleague was talking about suing the police department and the university where these football players attend. When she told me that, I told her that it is absolutely terrible what happened to her son but that the police, in large metropolitan areas, are probably tied with...oh I don't know, solving MURDERS, child abductions and the like, that her son should not get into fights with people who can destroy him, and that as an adult, her son, not her, should be following through on the case. I said this all nicely, or so I thought. She stopped speaking to me for a couple of months, and things still are not the same between us.

[fair witness]

I think a lot of people live every day scared of a lot of things they can barely put a name to. Whether they are good enough, whether they are truly loved, whether the ache in their knee is bone cancer, whether the world's about to end.
So you guys are supposed to be keeping us/them safe, right? but they never really FEEL safe, for subconscious reasons, so they're by definition a bit ****ed off, and it comes out in bad jokes and snottiness.

[e-man]

Originally Posted by Daedalia

I am sorry that it annoys you all but I think it is funny as hell that people do that. I have never seen it in person, just read about it here. If I saw it, I probably would laugh hysterically.

Well, don't you know that in addition to enforcing law and order, you are here for our amusement?!

I found it funny about the first 500 times, no ***** really.
What I say now IF i even look and respond is "You sure" I was called for a retarded looking A-hole and well you fit the description...




Well not the second half, only the quoted one

[Mirrain]

Originally Posted by SlowDownThere

Why do people call a police agency looking for a phone number?
Use the GD phone book. I'm not going to look up a phone number for you.

I was thinking the same thing. What is the deal with that?

[Spork]

Why is that you guys think a good time to ask me for directions is during a traffic stop? You see the flashing lights, right? You see me approaching the car that's stopped in front of me, right? So why would you think that's a good time to ask me where X Restaurant is??

Or even better, why do you think I know where X Restaurant or any other place is? Do I look like a map?

And what is it about the word "No" you don't seem to understand?

And please, please explain to me why you seem to think it's ok to go down a street we have blocked off? The BRIGHT YELLOW police tape that states "Do Not Cross" should be a clue. The overpowering flashing lights of police cars & firetrucks should be another. The burning building/car accident/evacuating building should be a friggin clue. The fact that NOBODY ELSE is being allowed down there (including us) should be a big indicator. But yet, you seem to think that because you work down there/your car is parked down there/you just need to get over to such-and-such place/ it's completely ok to jeapordize your safety and mine. Jeeze.

And why would you pass me? You know what the speed limit is, you see me right next to you. So why would you pass me? And they why would you act indignant when I pull you over for speeding?

And yes, I saw you on your cellphone in my rearview mirror. It still counts as an infraction even if you're behind me.

Also, why do you think if you keep repeating the same things over and over, I'll change my mind? You can ask a question a thousand different ways, and the answer's gonna be the same.

Could you tell me why you act offended when I tell you to shut your mouth after you've spent 5 minutes calling me every expletive in the book?

Also, you seem to be misunderstanding the term "public servant". I serve the Public, not you.

Thank you.

[Entre Nous]

Originally Posted by WC145

Here's a real question for you. Why is it that you people can't seem to realize that we live on both sides of the fence - civilian and law enforcement?
You act like we're somehow different from you and don't understand a thing about you, what you deal with everyday, how tough it is to make a living, the difficulties of raising a family, etc etc. We know, understand, and live all of that everyday and more because we are also facing the same difficulties. Then, on top of that, we choose to work in law enforcement and to put ourselves out there between you and the criminal element, to handle the things that you don't want to see or take care of for yourselves. Stop acting like the cops need to walk in your shoes to see life from your side, we already do. Maybe more of you need to try and see it from our perspective.
I'll bet we'd stop seeing and hearing so many of the same silly *** questions over and over, except maybe for the "Tell me again why you do this job?" ones.

WC, your post was very eloquent and a good reminder. Thank you.

You’re right that we civilians don’t always remember that cops are human and deal with the same issues we do, as well as the things we hope to God we’ll NEVER have to deal with. I think if any of us sat down and thought about it we’d realize that you're people just like us, but when you’re citing or arresting us (or when we're posting questions about you citing or arresting us) we may not be in the mood to see it that way. At that point you’re just the big bad cop and we don’t really care if you have your problems too.

But the way we act and the things we say may not necessarily reflect what we really think. Many of us may calm down after an altercation with a cop (or after posting about one) and feel like idiots for the dumb things we’ve said. I hope you can understand that, and forgive us for acting stupid.

Thanks again for the great post.

[Entre Nous]

Originally Posted by Mirrain

I was thinking the same thing. What is the deal with that?

This is a real poser. I myself have accidentally dialed 911 instead of 411. Duh. Fortunately the dispatcher called first before sending anyone.

I imagine that if my car broke down somewhere in the middle of the night I might out of desperation call a police department to get the number of a towing and/or taxi company. It would only be because I was scared and at a loss for what else to do.

As far as calling for any other reason, I just don't know... I'm curious about the kinds of numbers people actually call for.

[Entre Nous]

Originally Posted by Spork

Why is that you guys think a good time to ask me for directions is during a traffic stop? You see the flashing lights, right? You see me approaching the car that's stopped in front of me, right? So why would you think that's a good time to ask me where X Restaurant is??

Good question. For one, I think most of us are not aware of how dangerous traffic stops can be. If we were, believe me, we wouldn't get near one. Also, I know the scary feeling of being lost in an unfamilar area, and the relief I've felt when seeing a police car. It's VERY tempting to pull up behind one and hope for some help. Maybe people are so wrapped up in their own predicament that they just don't think.

Originally Posted by Spork

Or even better, why do you think I know where X Restaurant or any other place is? Do I look like a map?

I personally imagine that the police spend a lot of time patrolling the city, AND that they need to know where they're going to get to a call. So I would tend to assume they know the neighborhood better than the average citizen. I wouldn't mean to be bothersome though.

Originally Posted by Spork

And what is it about the word "No" you don't seem to understand?

This would depend on the specific situation.

Originally Posted by Spork

And please, please explain to me why you seem to think it's ok to go down a street we have blocked off?

I would find it extremely disturbing to see my home in a blocked off area, where something bad was obviously going on, and not be able to get there, especially if I had kids or pets inside. Same with my car. I suppose it would be unreasonable to ask an officer to make an exception, but I can see myself doing it. It would be an emotion-driven thing.

Originally Posted by Spork

And why would you pass me? You know what the speed limit is, you see me right next to you. So why would you pass me? And they why would you act indignant when I pull you over for speeding?

Not sure, Spork. Perhaps Daedalia will give you a better answer. Maybe if they see you fooling around with your radio or computer they think you won’t notice. Or maybe they, like so many drivers, have their heads up their butts and just don’t notice you. Or maybe their speedometers are off, which would explain their indignation when you stop them.

Originally Posted by Spork

And yes, I saw you on your cellphone in my rearview mirror. It still counts as an infraction even if you're behind me.

Fair enough. Go get those cellphone-talkers any way you can!!!

Originally Posted by Spork

Also, why do you think if you keep repeating the same things over and over, I'll change my mind? You can ask a question a thousand different ways, and the answer's gonna be the same.?

Because most people, when someone disagrees with them, believe that the other person has simply not heard or understood them. They’re so sure of their position that they think with repetition you will suddenly see the light. If the stakes are high, you can’t blame them for trying.

Edit - when someone keeps repeating themselves, sometimes it helps to re-state their position before stating yours, e.g. "I hear you saying that those aren't your pants, however..."

Originally Posted by Spork

Could you tell me why you act offended when I tell you to shut your mouth after you've spent 5 minutes calling me every expletive in the book?.

I suppose we think that as a cop you should be used to verbal abuse.

Originally Posted by Spork

Also, you seem to be misunderstanding the term "public servant". I serve the Public, not you..

But I’m a member of the public, aren’t I? Maybe it's the term "servant" which is being taken the wrong way.


Thank you for allowing me to answer your questions, Spork.

[hounddog]

Originally Posted by malka881

Even better, federal, state, and local taxes float with your income. Everything else doesn't. So the single parent living on food stamps pays a higher percentage of his/her income in sales taxes than Donald Trump. The same goes for utilities and gasoline. And there's another tax that noone ever sees line-itemed out. When corporations are assessed taxes, they bump up the prices of their products to cover them, so when you buy a gallon of milk down at the grocery you, not Dean Foods, is footing the tax bill. Nice, huh?

This really isn't all true. After all, I doubt that any single parent living on food stamps pays up to 54% federal income taxes. Most likely, in fact, they are going to only be paying around 15% or so. Now, I realize that you have to make more to get to that level, in fact if you are at that level you are doing ok. However, they are still paying a much higher percentage of income taxes.

However, your point regarding the gallon of milk isn't accurate either (at least not in Michigan) as we don't have tax on groceries. At least until Granholm decides to tax it.

Lastly, all taxes paid are in the end, tax-deductible with the exception of fed income tax. Your plates, gas taxes, sales taxes (on large purchase items), any grocery taxes, state and local income taxes, property taxes, and so on. But in theory, you are right.

[hounddog]

I have a couple of questions for this thread-

1) Why does every frikin moron who while at a party, finds out I am a cop and proceeds to tell me about every ticket that he or his friend couldn't possibly have deserved and how the cop must have made it up? and then stand there and expect me to agree with them?

2) Why is it that minute my food comes at a resturuant some dip sh*t must come to me and start to talk?

3) Why is it that when I'm eating my lunch it is ok for some dumb *&% to sit down at my table uninvited like we were school chums?

4) Why is it that every person I've ever met thinks he knows how to do my job better than I do and doesn't hesitate to dispense advice on the law?

[Operator13]

Originally Posted by hounddog

I have a couple of questions for this thread-

1) Why does every frikin moron who while at a party, finds out I am a cop and proceeds to tell me about every ticket that he or his friend couldn't possibly have deserved and how the cop must have made it up? and then stand there and expect me to agree with them?

2) Why is it that minute my food comes at a resturuant some dip sh*t must come to me and start to talk?

3) Why is it that when I'm eating my lunch it is ok for some dumb *&% to sit down at my table uninvited like we were school chums?

4) Why is it that every person I've ever met thinks he knows how to do my job better than I do and doesn't hesitate to dispense advice on the law?

Can I submit that to Wickepedia as the definition of a rhetorical question?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetorical_question

[Entre Nous]

There are no rhetorical questions in this thread. Hounddog's questions WILL be answered.

[fair witness]

Seems to me that many of the questions fall under one answer: a basic and appalling lack of good manners. I'd never go up to ANYBODY and bug them while they were eating, for example. Or question anybody's right to grab a cup of coffee as needed. "Do unto others" should apply to the police as much as it does to anybody else. Unfortunately (and y'all know this better than anyone) the Golden Rule has become the Forgotten Rule too much of the time.

[tgace]

Originally Posted by Daedalia

I am sorry that it annoys you all but I think it is funny as hell that people do that. I have never seen it in person, just read about it here. If I saw it, I probably would laugh hysterically.

Well, don't you know that in addition to enforcing law and order, you are here for our amusement?!

It stops being funny after the 100th time, which is usually before you finish the FTO program.

As to the "I pay your salary" thing...I work for a Town and unless you pay Town property taxes you do not, in fact, pay my salary. And as I have to live in town I guess I pay part of my own salary eh?

[MattCO]

Originally Posted by SlowDownThere

Why do people call a police agency looking for a phone number?
Use the GD phone book. I'm not going to look up a phone number for you.

haha.. damn i thought thats what directory assistance was for.

[Daedalia]

Originally Posted by hounddog

I have a couple of questions for this thread-

1) Why does every frikin moron who while at a party, finds out I am a cop and proceeds to tell me about every ticket that he or his friend couldn't possibly have deserved and how the cop must have made it up? and then stand there and expect me to agree with them?

2) Why is it that minute my food comes at a resturuant some dip sh*t must come to me and start to talk?

3) Why is it that when I'm eating my lunch it is ok for some dumb *&% to sit down at my table uninvited like we were school chums??

I agree with Fair Witness on the lack of good manners. I would add to that also a lack of common sense and an unhealthy self-centeredness. It is also amazing to me how powerful denial is. Why are people so afraid of admitting that they have done something wrong??

On striking up a conversation when you are trying to eat, I think people respect cops and want to chat with them about their jobs but don't know a good time/place to approach them. When you are eating, you are obviously not working on some emergency and so presumably you have free time to talk.

That said, I still think it is rude to invite yourself to share a meal with someone or interrupt someone eating to ask a work-related question.

[Daedalia]

Originally Posted by WC145

Here's a real question for you. Why is it that you people can't seem to realize that we live on both sides of the fence - civilian and law enforcement?
You act like we're somehow different from you and don't understand a thing about you, what you deal with everyday, how tough it is to make a living, the difficulties of raising a family, etc etc. We know, understand, and live all of that everyday and more because we are also facing the same difficulties. Then, on top of that, we choose to work in law enforcement and to put ourselves out there between you and the criminal element, to handle the things that you don't want to see or take care of for yourselves. Stop acting like the cops need to walk in your shoes to see life from your side, we already do. Maybe more of you need to try and see it from our perspective.
I'll bet we'd stop seeing and hearing so many of the same silly *** questions over and over, except maybe for the "Tell me again why you do this job?" ones.

Sorry about my first response to your post. I mis-read it as an attack on me for starting this thread.

Y'all would be surprised at just how much support you have from regular law-abiding folks. Yeah, we'll b!tch about getting a ticket but, trust me, we know you are out there protecting us. Just like how cops will also complain about getting a ticket when off-duty, professional courtesy aside, but they know what's what in the larger scheme of things.

[OnceBitten]

Originally Posted by hounddog

I have a couple of questions for this thread-

1) Why does every frikin moron who while at a party, finds out I am a cop and proceeds to tell me about every ticket that he or his friend couldn't possibly have deserved and how the cop must have made it up? and then stand there and expect me to agree with them?

2) Why is it that minute my food comes at a resturuant some dip sh*t must come to me and start to talk?

3) Why is it that when I'm eating my lunch it is ok for some dumb *&% to sit down at my table uninvited like we were school chums?

4) Why is it that every person I've ever met thinks he knows how to do my job better than I do and doesn't hesitate to dispense advice on the law?

#1---Do you honestly think yours is the only profession that this happens to? Doctors, lawyers, butchers, bakers and candlestick makers invaribly go through the same thing. People try to 'make conversation' by bringing up or talking about a subject where there is some sort of mutual understanding. Ie...you are a doctor, let's talk about this pain I am experiencing in my neck (or *****) since I chatted with the fellow holding up the wet bar who wrangled me into listening to a diatribe regarding his saintly son getting busted for possession of a measly joint when there are major drug cartels out there that I should be hunting down and arresting..... Doesn't matter how slight the connection, as soon as they figure out who you are they will want to 'discuss' something. Unfortunately--certain professions are more prone to this.

#2 & 3---Because of your job as a 'public servant'--the public sometimes has this idea that you are a 'public commodity', that they somehow own you because your salary is generally paid for by public tax dollars. None of them really think about the fact that perhaps the entire amount of their taxes that was funneled into the budget that funds the police department's payroll accounts for less than a dollar of YOUR entire gross yearly income.

Plopping down beside you like an old friend......see above and add to it: the people who do things like that see you as a 'celebrity' of sorts. It makes them feel special to have others see them in your presence. It's sort of a power thing....cops = power, association to power = 'connections'. Weird as it may seem, it's mostly a 'guy thing'--as if they automatically become more 'manly' because they shared some space with you...

#4---People believe that they become an 'expert' about a particular subject through a personal experience that they have had--or worse yet--an experience that their wife's third cousin's brother-in-law's step sister's kid's friend went through. Knowing that YOU are also in the position of having such expertise, they naturally want to share their profound knowledge with you, even being so kind as to 'educate' you in areas where you are lacking.

Ah, the curse of being you.... Power and Fame has it's ugly downsides doesn't it? Had they taught you this stuff at the academy--would you still want to be a cop? Better you than me--unless they came up with some sort of law that makes it illegal for people to be stupid, I'd end up having to arrest myself for assault with intent.... to knock some sense into someone.

[Daedalia]

Originally Posted by OnceBitten

#2 & 3---Because of your job as a 'public servant'--the public sometimes has this idea that you are a 'public commodity', that they somehow own you because your salary is generally paid for by public tax dollars.

Excellent way to describe it! This is what I have been thinking but couldn't find the right words.

[Mitchell_in_CT]

Look, the next time someone tells you "Hey, I pay your salary!!" just let them know your children need new shoes, school supplies and braces, then demand a raise and up the $ of the ticket.

[malka881]

Originally Posted by hounddog

This really isn't all true. After all, I doubt that any single parent living on food stamps pays up to 54% federal income taxes. Most likely, in fact, they are going to only be paying around 15% or so. Now, I realize that you have to make more to get to that level, in fact if you are at that level you are doing ok. However, they are still paying a much higher percentage of income taxes.

However, your point regarding the gallon of milk isn't accurate either (at least not in Michigan) as we don't have tax on groceries. At least until Granholm decides to tax it.

Lastly, all taxes paid are in the end, tax-deductible with the exception of fed income tax. Your plates, gas taxes, sales taxes (on large purchase items), any grocery taxes, state and local income taxes, property taxes, and so on. But in theory, you are right.

Re-read the post. The tax I was talking about for Dean Foods has nothing to do with sales tax- it is the federal, state, local, property taxes, fees, surcharges, employer and business taxes levied on Dean Foods by the appropriate municipal bodies that they then pass on to you, the customer, in the price of the milk. (You thought they were going to pay them?) Everyone purchasing that gallon of milk pays the same .74 in accumulated taxes regardless of their income. This means more to the lady on food stamps than it does to millionaire software developer, and takes up a higher percentage of her income. This, added to the federal, state, and local assessments and fees is how we get over that 50% mark.

I am also concerned about those deductions you mentioned... Plates are only deductible if they're based on the value of the car, gas taxes are nondeductible, and sales taxes are only deductible if you give up your state/local income tax deduction. Do you need a recommendation to a good accountant?