A tribute thread to the men and women in law enforcement

[NJmaverick]

A tribute thread to the nearly 18,000 officers that have made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our safety. Let us never forget their sacrifice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUK28E9cKnM

http://www.nleomf.com/index.htm

[Shell Beau]

1. My brother is in law enforcement, and I respect what he does.

I could never go to a mother and tell her that her child was just killed in a car accident. Especially since he was the one at home when the cop came to my house to tell us that my other brother died in a car accident. He had to do that the other day. Just another day on the job. Sad. Hard. He isn't the same person he used to be before he got into law enforcement.

[NJmaverick]

2. I have know a lot of people that become police officers

The experience definately changes many of them.

Those notifications have to be one of the toughest parts of the job, especially when it involves the death of a young person. I have to think tasks like that and dealing with the dregs of society on a regular basis has to have an impact on a person.

[pokerfan]

9. I know one who became a fed

and it completely transformed him into a rabid drug warrior.

[NJmaverick]

10. Well they often look at it this way

Buying illegal drugs, just puts bullets in the guns of people that would happily kill him.

[pokerfan]

11. I can appreciate that

but it doesn't explain why he's rabidly in favor of the drug war in the first place.

He says drugs are immoral, excluding alcohol of course. Drugs are simply bad and are destroying civilization.

Before he became a fed, he never talked like that.

[Shell Beau]

12. Their minds do change. I think it has a lot to do with

what they see on a day to day basis. My brother sees the worst of the worst. He has a hard time seeing the positive in people sometimes and that is sad. But with what they have to see all of the time, it is hard to blame them.

[NJmaverick]

13. I think it's a matter of experience (like SB says)

You may see drug users who have no problem functioning in society. The law enforcement people see the people who use drugs and don't do so well. They see the ones where drugs have destroyed lives. They also see what ugly stuff that goes into supplying those illegal drugs for people. The stuff most drug users never really think about.

[pokerfan]

14. Not really

He's not so much dealing with the dregs. Those are generally left for the local cops to deal with. He mostly deals with the trafficers, many who don't even use their own product.

And his attitude changed before he even became involved in any cases.

I'm not arguing that drugs aren't bad. I'm just saying that the law enforcement approach isn't working.

[NJmaverick]

15. Well the way I see it, law enforcement is charged with enforcing the laws

not making them. So it's not fair to pin unfair laws on them, so to speak.

[pokerfan]

16. I agree

But I don't see law enforcement running around championing laws against bank robbery, kidnapping, etc. the same way they champion the War on some Drugs.

"Let's do some good." -Elliot Ness

[SPKrazy]

17. Legalizing drugs

or at least pot

would take the crime out of it

we spend so much more "interdicting" marijuana than we ever confiscate, what a fucking joke

cops, I respect the ones who respect the law they are paid to enforce.

[NJmaverick]

18. I would agree, legalizing pot would be a great idea

let the police concentrate on the real crime.

[mainegreen]

3. It's not a popular opinion, but police are like the rest of us: most are good people.

It's just that the douchebags really stick out because of the damage they can do as an officer.

I can't imagine it's easy putting your neck on the line to basically help people who think you're a prick simply because of your job.

[NJmaverick]

4. I would agree with that

You know the down side of that, is that as a result police often will then hang mostly with other officers. This only creates a sense of isolation and disconnect.

[Kali]

5. Reelect Larry!

sheriff of my county - good guy

not to mention he personally has rescued me 5 miles from our hq and gave me a ride home, twice

[NJmaverick]

6. You have an HQ? n/t

[Kali]

7. common name for main house on a ranch

kinda pretentious of me since it is our only house:rofl:
but the shop, main corrals and barn are up here too

[NJmaverick]

8. ahh, OK I thought you were some para military person or something

I guess when you have a ranch, you can start naming the various buildings.

[Kali]

20. I just work here.

although I'm in line, as it were. "The headquarters" is a location thing. We use "the house" too. Like "lets get these calves back to the house and wean them" or some such, with no intention of putting them iside the house, bet rather to pen them in the corrals at ... you got it... the headquarters. :D

[skygazer]

19. Something one of my paralegal professors pointed out to us

She used to be a defense attorney and she pointed out to us that while we generally hear about the times cops fuck up, the great majority of the time, they get it right, in a very difficult job.

I have a lot of respect for cops and most of those I've met or had dealings with were fair people just trying to do their job. And I've had my share of dealings with them. :P

[NJmaverick]

21. Well said! n/t

[applegrove]

22. Thank you for protecting us from evil freaks.

[NJmaverick]

23. and criminals that would do you and your family harm

[applegrove]

25. And thanks for putting up with freaks as the day is long to protect society

from the assholes.

[Ptah]

24. A thread from June 10, 2008

Thousands turn out to honor slain Tucson police officer:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=7819838