That's a problem. When you demand something you automatically put people on the defense. Maybe you should expect it and if you don't get it then go from there. Demanding only shows that you are trying to impose your power over someone. I've tried to talk to some of my friends who are cops and some get it and others don't. Just because you wear the badge doesn't mean that you get respect. Just like most other jobs, you have to earn respect and "demanding it" is not earning it. It's all about attitude and if you come across as demanding respect, then forget it, you will never get respect.

 

Agreed.

You demand respect from officers, so why cant the officer demand respect from you.

 

As from the devils advocate, I do not expect or desire a thank you, and had you read my earlier post, I stated that I knew what came with the job when I signed on.

 

When I was a kid I had two cousins who were officers, two brother inlays who are officers, my grandfather was sheriff of a county in WKY and I was taught to respect and admire officers. I think it is a commentary on today's society that everyone try's to rationalize everything or blame some else for their actions. Meanwhile, police officers are taking on a huge responsibilty when they take the job. They also take on a huge liability.

 

It is clear that there is no way to change your mind about police officers, and I ignored that fact when I entered this thread with a response which is completely my fault. But I bet my retirement, which is not that much, that if you told us what you did for a living We could rail on that profession for a while too.

 

I have several close friends who are coaches, and they take more abuse than anybody should have to stand, but they are still there and so am I. I guess the reason is that we care regardless of the less than enlightened folks that we have to deal with on a daily basis.

As for earning respect, that is impossible in this job. The only way to earn your respect is to not enforce the law on you and to enforce in on everyone else.

As for earning respect, that is impossible in this job. The only way to earn your respect is to not enforce the law on you and to enforce in on everyone else.

 

I don't necessarily agree with that. I think you have to assess each situation differently, depending upon the actors involved.

 

I don't disagree that enforcing the law is the most important thing. For that I am grateful. All I'm saying is some there are different approaches to each situation.

 

Obviously, if you approach a situation where the actors are hysterical and either in immediate danger or putting someone else in immediate danger, a firm hand is usually warranted. But it should also be a calm, reasoned hand as well so as to diffuse the situation rather than escalate it.

 

Through my work, I've had many dealings with law enforcement officials, generally in a collaborative fashion. At times it has been on the wrong side. I've found the calm and collected ones do best, and are shining examples of their profession, and the hyper-aggressive kinds and power-trip kinds are the ones for whom trouble finds.

As for earning respect, that is impossible in this job. The only way to earn your respect is to not enforce the law on you and to enforce in on everyone else.

 

It's all about attitude. A person can earn the respect of others by showing respect and not demanding it. That can be accomplished in any line of work. I expect an officer to be respectful to me and in return I will show the same respect. I play by the same rules as everyone else and I don't expect any exemptions. I know who has the power if I get pulled over for speeding and I accept the consequences. I've had some who were very polite and respectful and there have been others who were not. Both types were just doing their job but some were doing it better than others and I respect them for that. They didn't demand my respect, they earned it.

It's all about attitude. A person can earn the respect of others by showing respect and not demanding it. That can be accomplished in any line of work. I expect an officer to be respectful to me and in return I will show the same respect. I play by the same rules as everyone else and I don't expect any exemptions. I know who has the power if I get pulled over for speeding and I accept the consequences. I've had some who were very polite and respectful and there have been others who were not. Both types were just doing their job but some were doing it better than others and I respect them for that. They didn't demand my respect, they earned it.

Did you earn theirs? Does he have to show you respect first or are you respectful from the start? Problem is, no matter how nice the officer is at the start, an awful lot of people have punk attitudes from the get go.

Did you earn theirs? Does he have to show you respect first or are you respectful from the start? Problem is, no matter how nice the officer is at the start, an awful lot of people have punk attitudes from the get go.

 

You can say the same thing about the officer. Many times both are very polite and courteous. However there's also a lot of times where no matter how polite/respectful the driver is, the cop has a punk attitude from the get go.

Did you earn theirs? Does he have to show you respect first or are you respectful from the start? Problem is, no matter how nice the officer is at the start, an awful lot of people have punk attitudes from the get go.

 

I was respectful with all of them, "yes sir", "no sir", etc. However, there was still some of them who had the punk attitude and wanted to let me know they had the power. They were almost trying to bait me to be disrespectful. It is those type that don't earn my respect.

I respect police officers, but the "yes,sir" "no,sir" should be no different then if you were speaking to any other adult. I respect the fact that police officers put their lives on the line and don't get compensated fairly for it. I don't respect the attitude that I've gotten the 2 times that I've been pulled over for speeding. I once got pulled over for a field sobriety test (which I failed, supposedly) and the breathalyzer (which I should have refused, but didn't and PASSED). I was obviously coherent and responsive, since I passed the breathalyzer, yet the police officer from SOUTHGATE treated me like a moron. So, so far, I've had 2 encounters w/ officers in the course of a traffic stop. Both times the officers showed little respect to me. Now, I know four FT. Thomas police officers (where police have the reputation for being jerks) who are very, very good guys. I enjoy the conversations that I have with them. So, I'm not going to paint w/ such a broad brush. I am specifically speaking of the two officers that I have encountered. The way that they treated me did not deserve a "Yes, Sir" response.

I don't mind cops. I always use the yes sir, no sir approach and I'm generally pretty honest. Since I started driving 6 years ago I've been pulled over 35 times, it was starting to get so ridiculous that I've kept track. I've never received a ticket, and only been pulled over for doing something illegal twice.

 

I had a headlight out for a week, and in that span I got pulled over 21 times. One night, I was pulled over 3 times in the same stretch of road.

 

I've been pulled over 4 times for my car being black and the cop thinking I may have stolen the piece of crap. I got my car painted from white to black and you can easily tell because it's such an awful job.

The two times I was pulled over for something illegal, I rolled through two stop signs. In the first instance, He asked me what my hurry was and I told him that I didn't have one, and I wasn't going to lie I just didn't stop. He said don't do it again and let me go.

 

The next time I rolled through a stop sign I was trying to find a house we were looking at to rent. The he pulled me over, then proceeded to say that the car had a "hint of marijuana". Which made me laugh because neither myself or my friend had ever touched the stuff, so I let him search the car. He lets me know that he found some seeds and stems in my floor board, which was a lie, so I told him he better take us to jail if that's the case. He got a funny look in his eye and said no that's okay you just shouldn't do that stuff. I informed him that me nor my friend have ever tried the junk, and he was a little more red in the face.

 

Another time I was heading home from work, and I had no idea what I could of done. The officer gets to the car and asks me if I know why I was stopped. He informs me that it was because I didn't have my seat belt on. Which I did. I'm normally mellow mannered but I was irate, I brought out the sarcasm here, which I know was wrong but I was so shocked. He took my rant for about 2 minutes then said, Son, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and walked away.

I don't mind cops. I always use the yes sir, no sir approach and I'm generally pretty honest. Since I started driving 6 years ago I've been pulled over 35 times, it was starting to get so ridiculous that I've kept track. I've never received a ticket, and only been pulled over for doing something illegal twice.

 

I had a headlight out for a week, and in that span I got pulled over 21 times. One night, I was pulled over 3 times in the same stretch of road.

 

I've been pulled over 4 times for my car being black and the cop thinking I may have stolen the piece of crap. I got my car painted from white to black and you can easily tell because it's such an awful job.

 

You say you have only been pulled over twice for something "illegal"?

 

1.) having a headlight out is a violation and you can be stopped for it.

 

2.) the other times you were stopped and not given a reason, or you may not know the reason, but there could be many things they stopped you for that you aren't even aware of.

I must say this thread took off and lasted way longer than I thought it would.

 

It is my experience that if you show/give respect to the officer, they will do the same to/for you.

The two times I was pulled over for something illegal, I rolled through two stop signs. In the first instance, He asked me what my hurry was and I told him that I didn't have one, and I wasn't going to lie I just didn't stop. He said don't do it again and let me go.

 

The next time I rolled through a stop sign I was trying to find a house we were looking at to rent. The he pulled me over, then proceeded to say that the car had a "hint of marijuana". Which made me laugh because neither myself or my friend had ever touched the stuff, so I let him search the car. He lets me know that he found some seeds and stems in my floor board, which was a lie, so I told him he better take us to jail if that's the case. He got a funny look in his eye and said no that's okay you just shouldn't do that stuff. I informed him that me nor my friend have ever tried the junk, and he was a little more red in the face.

 

Another time I was heading home from work, and I had no idea what I could of done. The officer gets to the car and asks me if I know why I was stopped. He informs me that it was because I didn't have my seat belt on. Which I did. I'm normally mellow mannered but I was irate, I brought out the sarcasm here, which I know was wrong but I was so shocked. He took my rant for about 2 minutes then said, Son, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and walked away.

 

That seems to be a good one that they use. Last year I was going south on a road and a cop went by me who was going north. I would say that we both were going 35 mph (not speeding at all) and it was pitch black dark outside. I look in my rear view mirror and see that he turned around and was speeding to catch me. He pulled me over and I asked him what I did. He said that it appeared like I didn't have my seat belt on. I did but there was no way he could have even thought I didn't because there was no way he could see that in the dark. He was "fishing" for something and used the seat belt as an excuse to pull me over.

I will say this....some of you would never make it in my line of work! :lol: