Police Appreciation Thread

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

The vast majority of us don't cover things up. We hold each other to a high standard and if one of our own has done something wrong we want them held accountable. There is nothing more embarrassing as a police officer than having other cops on the news for doing dumb or criminal things. It's absolutely maddening as it paints us with the same brush. However, we do want due process like everyone else is entitled to. I really don't think it's too much to ask to want people to reserve judgement until the facts are clear.

I think the other aspect of it is there is a perception that cops get off lightly and/or that complaints to supervising officers aren't taken very seriously. From my personal experience, which certainly isn't indicative of all cops, I've certainly felt frustrated with the complaints process.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I think the other aspect of it is there is a perception that cops get off lightly and/or that complaints to supervising officers aren't taken very seriously. From my personal experience, which certainly isn't indicative of all cops, I've certainly felt frustrated with the complaints process.

I'd like to see some statistics for how often a police officer ends up getting jail time for committing the same type of offense that would land a regular person in prison for. Usually all we end up hearing about punishment wise is the officer getting suspended

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I'd like to see some statistics for how often a police officer ends up getting jail time for committing the same type of offense that would land a regular person in prison for. Usually all we end up hearing about punishment wise is the officer getting suspended

I hate to break it to you, but when a cop is on trial, he is a regular person. Fact is, most (if not all) cops don't have any aggravating factors that would affect sentencing (ie. criminal history). Thus, most see their penalties as rather light and assume it's due the fact they are cops.

Most "normal people" convicted of the same crime without aggravating factors would be in the same boat.

Very, very few people do jail time in Canada for simple assaults or other offences for which police are most commonly charged with.

Further, I would suggest that the general public looks for harsher sentences for cops simply because they betrayed the trust bestowed on them. While I don't necessarily disagree, that's simply not how our system of doling out punishment works.

[TSXCman]

No props for them here. Only problems and mostly out of nothing. I find a lot of young, unintelligent meatheads are armed and enforcing the law.

No thanks

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

No props for them here. Only problems and mostly out of nothing. I find a lot of young, unintelligent meatheads are armed and enforcing the law.

No thanks

Are you based in Calgary? If you are, it's worth pointing out that Calgary has one of the highest public approval ratings in North America.

Further, that whole "meathead" mantra is so old and out of date. Cops nowadays are as diverse as ever, even in Calgary.

[underGRADFlame]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

No props for them here. Only problems and mostly out of nothing. I find a lot of young, unintelligent meatheads are armed and enforcing the law.

No thanks

So then why did you choose to post in the "Police Appreciation Thread"? Just to throw out a insult?

[meanmachine13]

I work for CPS and it's frustrating to see that often the most vocal and displeased people with the police and the criminal justice system are often people that do not have the facts or take the time to research their statements/opinions before making them so public.

I have a biased opinion, but I have nothing but respect for the police and understand what they have to deal with on a daily basis.

[RougeUnderoos]

I'll preface this story by saying I have a tendency to really zone out at times...

A couple years ago I was walking north on 4th street on a Saturday morning near Starbucks there. I'm approaching the intersection at 23rd or whatever it is. There was a cop, on foot, waiting to cross the very same street but he was standing on the opposite corner, waiting for the light to change so he can cross going south.

I was looking right at him, and I just kept going across the street against the red hand. Didn't pause or anything. I jaywalked against the light right in front of him, and I was walking toward him. We had made eye contact. He was in uniform. I knew he was there and I just kept going. I apparently hadn't even glanced at the light. I'm lucky I didn't get killed.

Anyway, this guy is looking at me jaywalking right towards him without a care in the world and he actually puts his palms up and says to me "I'm right here!!" with almost a laugh at how brazen (or stupid) I was being.

I stopped in the middle of the street and blinked my eyes and said out loud "what am I doing?".

He shook his head and kind of snickered again and said "you really should pay attention" and went and got in his car and drove away.

That guy was rad.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

No props for them here. Only problems and mostly out of nothing. I find a lot of young, unintelligent meatheads are armed and enforcing the law.

No thanks

Speaking of "No Thanks".

[Arya Stark]

A while ago I had gotten a ticket on Transit and totally forgot about it. Fast forward a couple years later and I get pulled over and the cop tells me there is a warrant for my arrest. I was shocked as I couldn't think of any reason why there would be one. He told me it was because of a "dumb transit ticket", and by law he had no choice but to take me in. So he then tells me he should tow my car but he is going to let me park it in a residential area nearby. He then tells me he is not going to take me to jail but to the station so I can pay the ticket instead of going to jail and deal with that hassle.

So he puts me in the back seat, doesn't even check for weapons or put me in handcuffs and he's playing sweet tunes the whole way. I get to the station, pay by debit and then he drives me all the way back to my car. That day honestly made me a fan of the police for life.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Are you based in Calgary? If you are, it's worth pointing out that Calgary has one of the highest public approval ratings in North America.

Further, that whole "meathead" mantra is so old and out of date. Cops nowadays are as diverse as ever, even in Calgary.

Calgary does have a top notch officers that are tops in behavior and conduct. Unfortunately tho I do not agree the Meathead mantra is old or out of date. It truley varies from force to force. I have the pleasure on a daily routine of being able to meet officers from up to 4 different police departments a day. Each one does have a different method of dealing with things.

CPS is very professional tho. I have found tho depending in what part of town you are in can vary but for the most part I had nothiing except positive experiences living there.


I once had a group of "Urban Cowboys" try to jump me outside of a pub. Aparently he did not like me talking to his sister . Even tho she was the one that Invited me out to drink at her birthday. The CPS officers came., stayed with me while I waited for a cab , the cab ended up being over 10 minutes so they gave me a ride home. Mostly, we talked hockey the 26 block drive.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Arya Stark

A while ago I had gotten a ticket on Transit and totally forgot about it. Fast forward a couple years later and I get pulled over and the cop tells me there is a warrant for my arrest. I was shocked as I couldn't think of any reason why there would be one. He told me it was because of a "dumb transit ticket", and by law he had no choice but to take me in. So he then tells me he should tow my car but he is going to let me park it in a residential area nearby. He then tells me he is not going to take me to jail but to the station so I can pay the ticket instead of going to jail and deal with that hassle.

So he puts me in the back seat, doesn't even check for weapons or put me in handcuffs and he's playing sweet tunes the whole way. I get to the station, pay by debit and then he drives me all the way back to my car. That day honestly made me a fan of the police for life.

I had a very similar incident. Except they took me to Jail and held me over night.

[Flacker]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

No props for them here. Only problems and mostly out of nothing. I find a lot of young, unintelligent meatheads are armed and enforcing the law.

No thanks

So you haven't noticed the massive influx of seasoned veteran law enforcement professionals that have emigrated from the UK? All I have encountered are friendly, polite, and extremely professional.

[RinkRat]

Originally Posted by Flacker

So you haven't noticed the massive influx of seasoned veteran law enforcement professionals that have emigrated from the UK? All I have encountered are friendly, polite, and extremely professional.

That's why we call Okotoks little Liverpool now.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Flacker

So you haven't noticed the massive influx of seasoned veteran law enforcement professionals that have emigrated from the UK? All I have encountered are friendly, polite, and extremely professional.

Why is that anyway? Is the UK really that bad and/or getting worse with so many cops leaving?

[RinkRat]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

Why is that anyway? Is the UK really that bad and/or getting worse with so many cops leaving?

I can't speak for specifics as to why individuals decided to make the jump, but during the boom CPS made an effort to head over the pond and drive up recruiting efforts for a few years, cheaper cost of living and a pretty substantial wage for the officers that made the leap.

As far as I know they have since reverted focus to home grown solutions for the last few years.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

Why is that anyway? Is the UK really that bad and/or getting worse with so many cops leaving?

I think like any person regardless of profession, they're looking for a better quality of life and Canada offers that. England isn't a bad place to live - it's depressed economically and has some social stresses with immigration and knuckleheads on the dole - but Canada is just that much better.

[HalifaxDrunk]

During game 3 of the '04 playoffs (Kipper shutout and Iggy/Lecavilier fight) I somehow made my way out to Calgary and got a single ticket in the nosebleed-first-come-first-serve seats. I drank double digit heroin beers and made many friends of the people sitting all around me.

After the game we were all planning on hitting the Red Mile together. We sat around letting the Dome empty a bit before heading to someone's car in the parking lot. During this time we were taking pictures.

Two cops made the climb up to the top of the Dome to usher us along. I asked them if they would join us in a group shot, they agreed. I was standing next to one of them and asked if I could wear his hat, he just shrugged and gave it to me. After that one of the other guys turned to the other cop, he just laughed and gave up his hat too. The group told them how I was from Halifax and one of the cops asked if I'm hitting the Red Mile and if I needed a lift over. They were great about everything and really welcomed me to the city. Class acts, both of them.

I'm at work, I'll try to remember to come back and post the pic when I'm home.

[V]

I got in an accident once and my car was an old beater, so it was totaled. I had it towed to the police station, and after filling up all the paperwork the cop told me that instead of towing the car to my place where I would probably then get it towed to the wrecker, he said they could just impound it, and it wouldn't be my problem anymore. Seemed like a good idea to me, until about 2 months later I got a letter from the impound lot that I owed them over $1000 and the cost was appreciating by the day. I freaked out, of course, and called the station for the cop to corroborate my story and hopefully sort it out. He wasn't in the shop that day, but they were able to get a hold of him. It would have been super easy for him to misremember the conversation from 2 months prior, or just completely deny the conversation, because he looked pretty bad, but he actually sorted everything out, got me to come over to sign over ownership of the car to the lot, and then walk away without charges.

Regardless of the fact that he gave me bad advice at the start, he could have royally screwed me over, but did a bunch of work to make sure I didn't get screwed. Very happy with that guy.

[Knut]

I was driving out to Strathmore when my windshield got blasted by a rock big enough to blast glass inwards onto the passenger seat. Pissed off I was speeding on a secondary highway when i was pulled over.

I showed the cop the damage and mentioned that I was not paying attention to my speed due to how mad I was. He said "use the money towards a new windshield instead of me giving you a speeding ticket".

I thanked him and rode away. A Ticket would have made a bad start to the day even worse.