Do people really use the term "Pigs" anymore? If you think cops are conducting too much personal business on taxpayer money, you'd go crazy knowing what your average state or federal worker is doing all day. Probably logging in to some forum.

04 5AT Coupe, DG/G, premium
"If we weren't all crazy, we'd all go insane!"

 

lol..ya...thats true...at least i dun have to see them and have them go pull me over...i guess?

 

Catafish.....just out of curiosity, who said he was "on watch" as you put it? Maybe he was on his way home from shift? maybe he was on his way home from a deposition, court appearance, etc?

There is ALWAYS a complainer....

Anyhow, I only think that "FOP" card works with FHP or something...I know the FOP and PBA and I can tell you that a "card" isn't going to get someone out of a ticket if I stop them. Even the emblems on the license plate won't do anything for ya unless you are a cop yourself, which 90% of cops won't put those on their tags anyhow....

That "FOP" card is new to me and I've been a cop for 4 years in SFLa...

 

mstaxman,
I DO go crazy thinking about the entire federal system. If I had my way, 95% of the government would be privatized....the first to go would be the United States Post Office and the public Police wouldn't be far behind (before you flame, check a few of my links and read up on such a philosophy).

Is the term "pig" used anymore? Sure it is, but I refrain from using it because name calling seriously detracts from valid points debated in a reasoned fashion with other adults who's opinion I'm trying to change. Besides, some cops genuinely think they are doinig the right thing and some actual do do the right thing. Plus, I try to make assertions based purely on fact and reason and I'd hate to be flamed for using a derogatory term and have my point missed or upset someone with an equally valid opposite opinion which may also be based on fact and reason.

If you're really interested in changing the way the world works, and aren't hung up on "throwing away your vote", do something about it and vote Libertarian this year.

http://www.lp.org/
http://www.reason.com/
http://www.cato.org/

P.S. Sorry for the hijack, but this smacked of an Off Topic thread to begin with.

2004.5 Coupe/5AT/Ivory/Everything but front spoiler/Nismo CAI/Crawford V5

 

SC6MT,
Even if he was not on watch, in a public funded vehicle he is still a "representative agent" of said police force and wielding an implied authority, not to mention conducting personal business while in use of public property.

I'm not exactly a complainer. I'm very politically active and although I like to point out wrongs, I actually make attempts to "right" things, with my money, my time, and my words. I wasn't trying to fault you for anything or label you, and I won't chastise you for your opinion. I was trying to express a valid counterpoint and you're entitled to yours.

Since we have an actual cop here, let me ask you this....the last time you went to eat at a local restaurant, did you pay your bill? If you were offered a comp, and accepted, you are perpetuating the "extortion model". The implication is that you'll look out for the restaurant better after the comp, or that you'll be attracted there more because of the comp. In my book, this is extortion, bribery, whatever you want to call it.

If you were offered a comp, and paid anyway, let me be the first to identify you as one of the few that actually bring honor to the badge. While managing restaurants for several years, I can attest that you would be an exception, not the rule.

If you're a cop yourself, why should you be pardoned any more than a Quicky Mart attendant? or a cabbie? Whether you're a cop, or card carrying member of the FOP, is irrelevant. Penalty should be administered without prejudice.

Here's my take on it:
http://www.lp.org/issues/lp-oss-bp.html

2004.5 Coupe/5AT/Ivory/Everything but front spoiler/Nismo CAI/Crawford V5

 

Libertarian? Haha. Yes, especially if you're a Democrat, please vote Libertarian!

Also, I think it's pretty retarded to think that receiving a discounted or free meal is extortion. You need to relax. Cops get pretty crappy pay and people hate them for sometimes the stupidest reasons. They also have to deal with the most retarded people on earth. I think you crying foul because some restaurant owner is thanking them for their services with a compensated meal is preposterous. The POs aren't coercing or intimidating the owners into giving them anything for free. It's the owners that have decided to do so on their own. If you're "party" ran everything, I might be arrested because I was polite to an officer and you understood that to be a bribe. Stop being so extreme and have a little moderation with your cup of tea.

 

That was a very interesting paper. I dig the content of the message. I have been complaining about the monopolized political system in this country which is ruled by dems and reps. What we need is more choice. I hope the libertarians can get to be a true alternative to the current 2 choices that exist.

 

anthor,
Despite the inuendo that I'm retarded, I assure you I am not, I'll address your only point, which I am interpreting as, "Because it's crappy pay and they have to deal with retarded people it's ok that they receive free meals"....precisely my allusion to the Quicky Mart employee or the cabbie. They should be comped also based on your premise (I'm sure you have more but that's the only one I could find in your post). They get paid little, they are a service to the community, and they deal with retards and get shot alot (more than cops actually). I'm using hyperbole here, so go gentle on me.

I can tell you from first hand experience that restaurant managers feel like they will get something in return for this and that they feel pressured into doing it, as it is common practice. I know this seems like a small thing, but it is INDICATIVE of larger issues at hand. Regardless of the magnitude, it still qualifies as extortion. It was a trite example that I'm generalizing to larger points.

mambo,
Please, if you're going to throw your vote away, don't do it on Nader! The libertarians are an actual legitimate party that will be contenders some day. Probably not in my lifetime but I'm doing my part.

2004.5 Coupe/5AT/Ivory/Everything but front spoiler/Nismo CAI/Crawford V5

 

cops do not get crappy pay...you don't have to choose to be a cop for your profession...all you have to do is to study harder when you were little (jk) oh ya..btw...USPS is not owned by the federal government anymore (private since like..the last 5 years)
i don't think ANYONE should be pardoned if you break the law...i dun care if you are the president of US ...if you break the law....you do the time...

 

Tak, cops do get crappy pay. $50K is not a lot of money as starting pay, especially to get shot at by gang members and yelled at by retards. I'm also not a cop nor did I say anyone forced me to be a cop. I did study when I was little and your posts would be easier to read if you followed a little verb tense consistency.

Cat, chill. The CIA doesn't have spy satellites reading your mind and they're not pointing lasers at your globus pallidus. Take a deep breath. First off, I love how you put something in quotes that I never said. Hmm, nice. I hope you know that putting something in quotations means it was quoted. Self explanatory.

Second, some people actually think that what the police, military, and firemen do is honorable, and they thank them for their services with free/discounted meals or throgh other compensation. I think it's pretty sad to give in to some peer pressure and offer discounts for that reason. Makes me want to cry. I don't think it's the POs fault that the store owner has low self esteem. I also highly doubt there's a group of bandit cops going around threatening stores to give them discounts on food. I think it would be easier to just pay for the meal.

Third, you also point to larger issues, but don't mention any specifics that plague the force. Why list the smaller points when you have larger ones? Doesn't make any sense unless you're generally just paranoid about all of government...which does all make sense.

I don't see how you make this comparison between law enforcement and a convenience store owner. Hmm, I hope you were just being retarded like I previously pointed out and really do see the difference, but are just ignoring it. Just in case you don't, the cabbie or convenience store owner isn't a public servant, sworn to protect the community even at the cost of his or her own life. If my cabbie or convenience store owner had that much passion when serving me, I'd take him out to lunch as well. It's okay to say thank you. Let me also make myself clear here and say that I'm talking about allowing store owner to get away with murder or some other serious crime because of a free meal. That's stupid if a police officer did that and I think he/she deserves to get severly reprimanded for it. So my only point here is that you really need to do a little silencio and calmate!

 

do u have any idea what kinda pay people getting out there and what's the average pay of the population? its not even half of 50K....for the kind of education they've got (not many of them went to grad school i dun think) i think they r making very good money...and 90% of them dun get shot at by gang members...i am sure about that....and "yelled" at by retard...ask any customer service people..they make like half of 50K and still get yelled at by whiny stupid *******s
i am just saying...they r not underpaid by any mean...if they are...just quit..cuz for every job out there...the salary is based on demand....if a company need more people..and no one is applying..they WILL increase the pay...kinda like cost/demand thingie.....50K is not a lot of money as starting pay??? what are you smoking..ENGINEERS now days don't even start at 50K....

i am totally against having special treatment just cuz u r a law enforcement agent or soldier or fireman and what not...you do what you are getting paid for....i never got anything for writing a computer program...or proving a theorem...which can eventually save lifes and help the world and what not...but i don't...i get PAID for it...why should they abuse their power? (in a way)

 

Frist off..... $50K starting salary is BASE PAY.. Tag on court time, over time, detail pay, etc and you can EASILY make $70K+....

Second off, I cannot vouch for all agencies, but we have a 20 and out program, which means after 20 years of service, we can retire, never work again, because a cops pension is awesome and allows them to up and leave with no financial difficulties. I'll be retiring at 43 years old while most people end up retiring closer to 60.... spend more time with my family and my kids, to me its well worth it...

CATA...in response to your "do you accept a comped or free meal..." Sure I'd accept it. Generally as a rule I always decline, but most mgr's INSIST on it. I honestly do not see a problem with this at all. We are public servants and most resturaunts and food chains feel as though having lots of cops in their establishments provides a sense of security and makes patrons want to eat there. Is this proven? No. but from what I have been told by majority of resturaunt mgr's, this is there reasoning. Since you were in the resturaunt business, if an employee goes and eats there, don't you give them a discount? If so, what's the difference if a cop gets one? They are there providing a sense of security for them, it makes them happy, so be it....

The comment about the officer who pulled up next to the guy and asked him about his G35... You have seriously got to be kidding me if you have a problem with that? Most people sit there and say "cops are *******s, etc etc etc" and here this cop is pulling up to him at a light to say "nice car, I've been thinking of buying one...." Where is the problem in that? Are cops supposed to be robots? Not look at anyone, just Write tickets, arrest, write tickets, arrest? Look up the term COMMUNITY POLICING and you can tell me where this applies....

 

anthor,
The quotes were my attempt at using the keyboard to indicate a paraphrase of what I thought your only descernible thesis was. Given your ad hominem argument we don't have much else to discuss.

SC6MT,
Mgrs insist on it because they think it will buy them more protection. Particularly if there's alcohol or nude women working, cops get a free ride. This is implicitly a tit for tat (no pun intended). Yes it's a small deal. And I'm not wiggin about it, but it does chap my *** when I see "public servants" come in to the local nudey bar night after night under the premise that they are "keeping an eye on things", meanwhile finding their favorite honey and playing a little grab *** until they get a call. BTW, I wasn't the top dog at any establishment I worked at so it wasn't my policy call to begin with. If it were my restaurant or bar and I wasn't serving up booze or nudey girls, I'd instruct the wait staff to leave a bill just like everyone else.

This was ONLY AN ACADEMIC point I wanted to make, perhaps to add a little color and counterpoint that no one had pointed out yet. I thought a good exchange of ideas between adults might be interesting, and didn't mean for this to be taken so literally like I will march to Washington to protest the comps at restaurants! As politically active as I am, I tend to see things differently then most when reading about "public servants" (since they're compensated, I don't tend to think of them as servants any more than anyone in the workforce is a servant) and jus thought I'd throw out a different opinion.

No it's no biggie that he pulled over that guy while driving in a public vehicle either. It's a small point, but one that I thought was indicative of a larger problem I have with our system. Like I said, it's "one more reason" why I don't favor the public police force institution as we know it. Not any major reason, but a contributing factor that shapes the opinion I have that there is just too much government and our society leans too close to socialism and too close to government controlling the means to production.

I meant no disrespect to you and I'm sure you do your job well and have nothing but good intent. I should have clarified my thesis more and said that it is "one more reason why I don't favor our current system of law enforcement". The people in the uniform are people like anyone else, not robots, and I don't expect them to act like them. What I DO expect, is that when the local, state and federal governing bodies literally rob my income and redistribute it; then, threaten me with homelessness if I don't ante up with property taxes, I expect that any public employee operate in an objective fashion. This means consistent deployment of citations (no breaks because they gave money to police's Labor Union) as well honoring other social norms that the rest of the commoners abide by (no bribes, extortion, payola, etc.).

I hope you take what I say with a grain of salt and understand that I'm only trying to provoke some thought about this, and not getting my drawers in a wad over something that, I AGREE, IS TRIVIAL. So, sorry I didn't make that more clear to begin with and hope you don't take my thoughts personally. They are really not that extreme and I offer you all my respect for being able to offer such measured responses. Cheers!





2004.5 Coupe/5AT/Ivory/Everything but front spoiler/Nismo CAI/Crawford V5

 

Catafish, Maybe the officer was on a break (they get lunch breaks) when he stopped to talk to the driver of the G. Most agencies allow you to eat you know. The officer was in his "office" and able to respond to emergency calls. He was not out writing tickets (or what I am sure some people think, illegally collecting taxes).

Also, officers do not "penalize" citizens, that is illegal. He was issuing a summons. A ticket is not a penalty, you go to court to fight the ticket. If you pay the ticket, that is your own fault.

And if it makes you feel better, even if the restaurant gives discounts, I make up the difference in the tip. I don't eat at restaurants that don't charge money.

And what establishment do you work or know of where an on duty police officer frequents nudie bars, or just night clubs and hangs out? It is your duty to report him to either his supervisor or whatever Internal Affair type unit exists at that department. Officers are allowed to do bar checks to verify that all of the activity occuring there is above board.

 

i agree..most agency allow people to take breaks...i do not think they could in any way use their authority to stop people though (its one thing if they just happened to stop together...but by the impression i got ....the COP stopped that person...how is he supposed to know if the cop was using his authority or not..if he doesn't stop..he might've got in trouble...maybe i read it wrong)

again..i for one respect cops...GOOD cops...but not some cops who would abuse their authority or get advantage just because of their profession other than getting paid