July 3, 2000    
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Do you trust the police?

Yes, as I have mentioned before, my boyfriend is a cop in Detroit. I   don't know how he does what he does. There is so much power and so many decisions to make that will effect the course of someone's life. That is not an easy thing to balance! But, I think it is like any other profession. Most of the men and women out there are good people trying to do a difficult job the right way. But, of course there are always gonna be some lazy people or some sleeze balls. That is human nature. I just think that you have to look for the best in people and treat them they way you want to be treated. 99% of them are not out there to harrass you or give you a hard time. They are tryiing to do their jobs and keep us safe. Next time you have a dealing with them, ask yourself if you would want to do their job and really think about what that means. Babysitting dead bodies until the coroner arrives, removing children from their parents, dealing with drunks and their domestic problems, having to pretend to empathize with murders, rapists, drug dealers and spouse abusers to attempt to get a confession from them, keeping a mind on keeping themselves and others safe, having friends and family only come to you when they need something or have a problem. Our society depends on these people to keep it running constantly while you and I go about our lives. Cut them some slack, its not easy.

Kathy, 26
Garden City
, MI

I trust the Individuals that I have met who are police officers and I have come to appreciate how difficult being a police officer must be.As an organization, however, I often feel that police departments do not have adequate leadership and don't create a culture where police are seen as a trusted and valuable part of the community. All police departments should have civilian review boards to check abuse and those in leadership should lead by example. As an organization, I'm not sure that I trust police as a whole.

Felicia, 34
Somerville
, MA

I trust the police the same way I trust anyone: by letting them earn my trust. Some are corrupt and some are not. It's the way of the world.

Amy, 23
Baton Rouge,
LA

To an extent.

Karen, 20
Marshelltown/Ames
, IA

No. I think there are a lot of really good cops out there, but for the most part, I think that they're a bunch of jerks on power trips. The fact of the matter is, if all police were good people, they wouldn't have the reputation for being @#%holes that they have. I think that a lot of it has to do with the training tactics of police. They are trained to not "take any crap" from people, and this leans them psychologically toward thinking that everyone is trying to give them crap. I think that police have a job to do, and nobody should critisize them for doing it, but on the same token, I believe they should stick to doing their job and not think too highly of themselves, like some of them obviously do.

Socrates One
Lowell, MA

I suppose I do trust the police, but if I were gay or from an ethnic minority my answer would probably be different.

Shanna, 15
Cardiff ENGLAND

For the most part yes. You hear stories about them all the time, but I've never had any personal reason not to trust them.

Tracy, 24
Ocean City
, NJ

Generally, yes. I was brought up on stories of great-uncles who served as mounted policemen and police chiefs, and I was also on very good terms with the village policeman in the town where we spent summers.

Jane, 60
West Linn,
OR

No. I think that, for a large part, they do a good job and provide a worthwhile service, but I have never seen one who wasn't pretending to be a total mega-testicle badass every second of their lives. They are thugs on the constant lookout for potheads and people without their seatbelts on.  The one time I did anything more illegal than private drug use (some minor vandalism), the cop who caught us bragged about his skills in wrestling and kendo while his partner berated a confession out of one of my friends. He flexed his arm to show us his bicep. Fucking simian.

Anthony, 25
Baton Rouge
, LA

For the most part. Now, if I were a man and black, I might have reason to feel otherwise. But I, myself, don't have a problem with cops.

Firelady, 22
Dallas,
TX

Yeah, pretty much. I don't really have a reason not to, but I'm sure there are lots out there…

Jeremy, 13
Highlands Ranch,
CO

I guess that I would have to say that I don't really trust the police. I haven't had much interaction with them though.

Kate, 19
Bellingham,
WA

Yes, I do trust the police.

Laura, 35
Lowell
, MA

I tend to trust the police. I am female, white, middle-aged, well-educated and thoroughly respectable. I'm not sure that I would have the same confidence as a member of a minority group

Jill, 59
Saylorsburg,
PA

In general, yes. My best friend, Mike, is a Chicago cop. He grew up with me in a small town in Indiana - went to a Big Ten university and got a job in sales after college. He then decided he wanted to move to Chicago and become a cop! Big lifestyle change!!! He was my roommate for almost 2 years, so I'm used to being around a lot of cops! Mike's cop friends are kind, generous family men with good hearts and good intentions. I guess, like in every industry, there are the good guys and the bad guys. I would like to think that there are overwhemingly more good guys than bad......but I may be a little too idealistic!

Susan, 31
Chicago
, IL

No, I've been pulled over too many times, purely because of the car I have been driving at the time (below speed limit and non-erratically) to believe that they aren't bigots.

Nikki, 27
Kirkham ENGLAND

No I don't trust the police because they always have an alterior motive and they're mostly racist, prejudiced, and always believe the older person.

Melodi, 19
Hlliard
, OH

Totally.

Jami, 27
Lowell
, MA

Trust them? Well, they don't always show the best judgement. Like when a cop gave my bestfriend a traffic ticket and then kissed her.

Jaden, 21
Brampton, Ontario CANADA

I've worked with enough ex-cops to say 'no' mainly because they're insane.  Also I don't agree with many laws and since a cops only job is to enforce the law (not 'protect the people') even when they do their job right I have to disagree with what they do.

Alias Irrelevante

generally no. . . . .I trust that they believe they are doing the best thing in the bigger context, but I don't trust they are intelligent enough to realize the full weight of their given roles in our society and therefore, often, misuse their power.

mothmc, 35
Los Angeles,
LA

I have many close friends that are policemen, and I would definitely trust them with my life. I believe all policemen have good intentions, however, certain situations make them snap. They have one of the toughest jobs in the U.S., and don't get paid anywhere close to their worth.

Kevin, 33
Sugar Hill
, GA

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