- Jan 12, 2012
- 27,286
- 113
I don't profess to have the ability to resolve this disagreement, but the elements seem pretty simple to me while two basic groups are each failing to account for the other side of the argument. This is largely based on the fact that it is human nature to measure others according to the image in the mirror and to form our expectations based on personal experience.
First, the LEO perspective: It is easy to understand anyone's having the goal to arrive home safe at the end of the day. Honorable officers tend to believe that being honorable is standard. As a result, they do not understand the negative reactions to doing what they consider necessary. Add to this being in an area where s**t happens with greater than average regularity at a time when most of the better folks are in bed, and the knowledge that the person being stopped may have a bushel basket full of outstanding warrants and probably never see the outside of prison again if the officer runs his ID, and serious concern is in order.
Second, the perspective of those of us with significant experience with LEOs who are, well, not of the quality of the prevailing standard among present company. When you have a lot of background with departments full of the worst criminals in the community, it changes your perspective. When your experience is that the cop approaching is most likely NFG especially if he is out late without an audience of bystanders, you can safely conclude that if the cop approaches you with a gun in hand someone is NOT going to leave unharmed and he has already decided that he intends that someone to be you, what are the chances that any right-thinking person is going to be compliant and accept this in the name of officer safety?
Those involved in this discussion are honorable officers and citizens who do not intend to engage in criminal activity or have enough outstanding warrants to paper a wall. Unfortunately, we have to deal with exceptions on both sides and randomly encountering strangers is always going to be a difficult situation regardless of details, more so under the circumstances addressed above. That said, I have a serious issue with police preemptively treating me like a criminal especially in light of my personal experiences in which the shoe fits the other foot quite well.
First, the LEO perspective: It is easy to understand anyone's having the goal to arrive home safe at the end of the day. Honorable officers tend to believe that being honorable is standard. As a result, they do not understand the negative reactions to doing what they consider necessary. Add to this being in an area where s**t happens with greater than average regularity at a time when most of the better folks are in bed, and the knowledge that the person being stopped may have a bushel basket full of outstanding warrants and probably never see the outside of prison again if the officer runs his ID, and serious concern is in order.
Second, the perspective of those of us with significant experience with LEOs who are, well, not of the quality of the prevailing standard among present company. When you have a lot of background with departments full of the worst criminals in the community, it changes your perspective. When your experience is that the cop approaching is most likely NFG especially if he is out late without an audience of bystanders, you can safely conclude that if the cop approaches you with a gun in hand someone is NOT going to leave unharmed and he has already decided that he intends that someone to be you, what are the chances that any right-thinking person is going to be compliant and accept this in the name of officer safety?
Those involved in this discussion are honorable officers and citizens who do not intend to engage in criminal activity or have enough outstanding warrants to paper a wall. Unfortunately, we have to deal with exceptions on both sides and randomly encountering strangers is always going to be a difficult situation regardless of details, more so under the circumstances addressed above. That said, I have a serious issue with police preemptively treating me like a criminal especially in light of my personal experiences in which the shoe fits the other foot quite well.