Screw over the cops and the cops fight back

[crozby 0]

If handing out warnings has the same effect as fining motorists then they shouldn't fine them in the first place.

Local governments turning minor breaches of the law into a source of revenue is simply wrong IMO.

One of our London councils (Westminster) raised $73 million in parking fines alone last year.

[genoyamamoto 0]

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It's a small step from this to being "crooked".

That's a big leap, actually that's a huge leap.

Back up your statement, show me how and why. My opinion has come from being around law enforcement a good part of my life. I have a feeling you're basing your opinion on nothing more then the movies.

So your opinion is better because you are biased by your lifelong experience of being around law enforcement?

If your job doesn't offer you what you perceive as fair compensation, go find another one, just like the rest of us.

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[PhillyKev 0]

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If your job doesn't offer you what you perceive as fair compensation, go find another one, just like the rest of us.

Wrong. The rest of us have the right to organize as a labor force and strike. Cops don't. This is their recourse.

[AggieDave 6]

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So your opinion is better because you are biased by your lifelong experience of being around law enforcement?

In terms of the cops becoming crooked cops due to wanting a pay raise, yes my opinion is more valid then DiabloPilots. I'm basing my opinion on experience and reality, not on fantasy from the movies.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[genoyamamoto 0]

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Wrong. The rest of us have the right to organize as a labor force and strike. Cops don't. This is their recourse.

I have no right to organize as a labor force and strike. What are you talking about? They can fire me at any time for any reason. Cops can't quit?

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[genoyamamoto 0]

Tell me how cops become crooked. I have no idea.

edit: I meant that as an honest question. I have no idea how they do end up crooked. Thanks.

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[PhillyKev 0]

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I have no right to organize as a labor force and strike. What are you talking about? They can fire me at any time for any reason.

Wrong...it is illegal to be fired for joining or belonging to a union or striking as part of an official union action. Doesn't matter if you're at a right to work, or work at will state. That's part of federal labor laws. Also part of that law is the restriction on police and certain other public servants who are not allowed to strike, unlike everyone else, including you.

[genoyamamoto 0]

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Wrong...it is illegal to be fired for joining or belonging to a union or striking as part of an official union action.

So how did Regan get away with firing all those ATC's?

Back to the cops: Can't cops quit their job? If your job sucks ass so bad why not just quit? If you think your employer is shafting you why not quit and go get another job? Is it that difficult to walk away from a situation you don't like?

Seems to me like companies are always looking for ex law-enforcement officers for security work.

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[favaks 0]

This is a free society. If they don't like their job, quit. If the job doesn't pay enough, get a different job. There is no difference whether you are a police, waiter, teacher, software developer, and etc. Just because you're a police, it doesn't mean you're entitled to something special. There is always somebody who is willing to do the work for less, and maybe even do a better job.

favaks

[billvon 3,070]

>Imagine if our military stopped picking up the brass at firing lines
>until they got better pay.

No problem at all. And if the cops stopped picking up their donut boxes and coffee cups at the station I'd have no problem with it either. But a traffic cop's job is to enforce the traffic laws. If they stop doing their jobs then that's a problem.

>They're still doing their job, they are just letting auxiliary functions, not
> significant to their primary purpose, slide.

A cop's job is to enforce the law and do what he's told to do by his superiors, just as a soldier's job is to defend the US and do what he's told by his superiors. A refusal by either one is a problem.

(aggiedave said:)

>Finally some police officers are taking a stand . . .

No problem at all. Make a stink about low pay. I'll vote to raise it.

>still fully performing their job to the extent of the law . . .

Unless it is truly your claim that people have essentially stopped breaking traffic laws, then police have stopped doing the same job of law enforcement. That's not OK.

>Since you don't believe these officers are in the right, please tell us how
> they should go about fulling providing their services as required by law
>and not be screwed by the city council.

1. Do the same good job they were doing before.
2. Bitch loudly about it; give a deadline by which they must be given a raise.
3. If they don't get a raise, start quitting and getting other jobs. Eventually the city council will have to raise pay to keep cops.

[PhillyKev 0]

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So how did Regan get away with firing all those ATC's?

Because they were federal employees with a no strike clause in their contract and treated the same way these cops are. They were striking illegally.

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Can't cops quit their job? If your job sucks ass so bad why not just quit? If you think your employer is shafting you why not quit and go get another job? Is it that difficult to walk away from a situation you don't like?

First of all, quitting is a little more drastic than striking, or not writing tickets.

And second, if it is determined that multiple cops are quitting due to a labor dispute they can be ordered by law NOT to quit. If they then don't go to work, they can be fined or jailed.

[AggieDave 6]

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Tell me how cops become crooked. I have no idea.

edit: I meant that as an honest question. I have no idea how they do end up crooked. Thanks.

It comes down to ethics, from what I've seen. The temptation can be there, especially depending on the job the cop has. For instance, a traffic cop may be tempted to take a bribe, a drug enforcement cop may be tempted to steal drugs/money for his/her own gain.

So IMO it comes down to people that are morally bankrupt are more likely to take that step; however, low pay and low appreciation from the public/superiors/city government can and has pushed some cops over the edge.

Luckily, from what I've seen its very few and far between due to the police officer's convictions. Many see an attempt at bribing as a severe insult and react in that manner.

That's just what I've seen, though. YMMV

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Kennedy 0]

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3. If they don't get a raise, start quitting and getting other jobs. Eventually the city council will have to raise pay to keep cops.

Or the cops can be ordered not to quit. See Kevin's reply to Geno. This is a very common, if not universal, truth.

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

[fenceline 0]

1) Warnings have the same affect as fine.

On most people most likely, how though do you determine which these people are is the question. In general a cop only knows this person for a moment and bases alot of his discretion on those moments. Given the surrounding traffic, the offense and honestly the fine for the offence, one or the other is chosen.

2) Officer Discretion

Law states discretion is part of an officers investigative authority. Its also his and his alone to enact. It is usually against policy for one officer to order another to issue or not issue a ticket. It brings evidence into disrepute.

3) Police Unions

Police are considered a essential service and legally are not allowed a strike in the typical sense of the word. The union acts on there behalf as any union does, however, if those talks go sideways, the officers can't picket. Hence they are forced, if need be to use other methods. In some depts, where only a mustache is allowed by policy for facial hair, guys will grow beards or goatees. Some depts won't allow baseball caps, and the officer will wear those. Other stop writing tickets and issue warnings. Legally, by legal precedence, this is acceptable as there is nothing requiring an officer to issue a ticket under any circumstance. Its a type of silent protest.

On a side note, there are some officers that honestly feel they are not out there to serve and collect. Dedicated traffic officers can write 20 to 50 a day. Regular street cops that go to calls, maybe one or two, if that. Its really not that consistant one officer to the next.


Just my two cents in general.

[fenceline 0]

In the US, some city unions have worked out contracts where city employees such as waste collection, street maintenance and similiar jobs make more than emergency service workers (police fire ems which are also city) I say this not to make light of what they do (non-emerg), its hard work and they deserve every penny as well. But lets face it, how many of these people have the risk daily of
A) dealing with violent people
B) walk into burning buildings
C) risk disease/death by contamination
D) risk death by car accident responding to emergencies.

These people run to situations that everyone else is running away from, and don't get paid any different that anyone else that is a typical city worker. Now I know I'll get the "they can quit", "they chose that work" and similiar comments, and I will agree with those and possibly more as well. Its just all and all, the ratio seems off.

Done rambling, should know better than to respond to this stuff at this time of night.