General Discussion

MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts) Thu May 30, 2013, 10:23 PM May 2013

Do you feel comfortable with your local cops? [View all]

It's interesting...

I live near Boston, about a mile from The Bomber Brothers' last stand. Been living here for 20 years. Perhaps I'm nuts, but our local cops, in my town and in neighboring towns, don't worry me at all. In fact, I like 'em. In my dealings with them, they've always been nothing less than pleasant and helpful. When I saw the picture of the Brookline cop delivering milk during the Watertown craziness... not surprised (but still amused).

Our state troopers... not feeling quite as good, but not awful, either.

But it seems like many others on DU see their local police as threatening. I don't think they have a perception problem - I think that they probably have good reason for this.

So I'm curious to see, in general, how people feel about their local law enforcement. I'm particularly interested in how other Boston-area folks feel - perhaps I'm just being overly optimistic about our locals.

Thanks!

49 votes, 0 passes \| Time left: Unlimited
	I feel threatened by local law enforcement
	17 (35%)
	I\'m just OK with local law enforcement
	10 (20%)
	I\'m fine with local law enforcement
	22 (45%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

142 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Do you feel comfortable with your local cops? [View all] MannyGoldstein May 2013 OP

No problems here in Sarasota County,FL. nt greytdemocrat May 2013 #1

Small town cops can be bad news when they get bored. Archaic May 2013 #2

You must be white and over 50 newmember May 2013 #3

Well, you're half right. MannyGoldstein May 2013 #4

Yes, that is an excellent point. Maybe the MOST important point. Bonobo May 2013 #16

Some shitty cops like to beat up on women just because they can. MADem May 2013 #27

That is classic roid rage DiverDave Jun 2013 #132

There might be reasons for that, too. Honeycombe8 May 2013 #37

This is one of those pipi_k May 2013 #87

It's a problem. Israel profiles, and takes people aside and extensively questions them. Honeycombe8 May 2013 #122

If you aren't black or Latino and young tblue May 2013 #52

39 year old Mexican/Russian AnalystInParadise May 2013 #64

That' good for you but... Bonobo May 2013 #65

I don't know enough to say yes or no AnalystInParadise May 2013 #67

You say "for more good", but admit there are a lot of bad cops to people "that give attitude." n/t ieoeja May 2013 #82

And I agree with you there as well. IrishAyes May 2013 #106

He was probably angry IrishAyes May 2013 #105

I've seen how some of my local cops treat women. Lunacee_2013 May 2013 #86

Santa Claus - I just remembered IrishAyes Jun 2013 #136

^this^ Warren Stupidity May 2013 #69

I am white, 51, college educated, suburban mom etherealtruth May 2013 #130

Class, race and lifestyle all enter into how people will answer your question Fumesucker May 2013 #5

Isn't it also true that those upper class preppy types Honeycombe8 May 2013 #41

Wow. ForgoTheConsequence May 2013 #49

I didn't mention race at all. It seems your own racism is showing, if that's what you saw Honeycombe8 May 2013 #115

Judge Judy is entertainment. ForgoTheConsequence Jun 2013 #131

These so-called reality shows IrishAyes Jun 2013 #137

Well put! ForgoTheConsequence Jun 2013 #141

You bring up a "valid" point. The victim should always be blamed, whenever possible. LooseWilly May 2013 #61

Well, There Is Such a Thing RobinA May 2013 #77

It's human nature. People react to how THEY are treated by someone. Honeycombe8 May 2013 #120

Good post. IrishAyes May 2013 #107

Oh, pleeez. Middle class and upper class people don't have butlers, and most don't have secretaries. Honeycombe8 May 2013 #116

What victim? Who is talking about a victim? You got a name? nt Honeycombe8 May 2013 #118

If you are getting your ideas about people from TV that may not be an accurate depiction Fumesucker May 2013 #80

So you agree that younger males have "issues" with authority figures? That's my observation, too. Honeycombe8 May 2013 #117

I think those who have an attitude with authority figures never really lose it Fumesucker May 2013 #128

i think there is much unwarranted cop-bashing here on DU and this is arely staircase May 2013 #129

Absolutely, but it's clearly a sacred cow that this be ignored. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #92

This is true. As I pointed out above, cops aren't usu on the lookout for a middle aged female serial Honeycombe8 May 2013 #121

Young men (and woman) have alot of chemical imbalences going on DiverDave Jun 2013 #133

Want to hear something odd? IrishAyes Jun 2013 #138

sweet, thanks DiverDave Jun 2013 #140

I live in a rural area and the nearest town is very small. Brickbat May 2013 #6

Live in Georgetown graywarrior May 2013 #7

Did you pick option 1? rug May 2013 #22

No graywarrior May 2013 #24

Georgetown was pretty upscale last time I looked. IrishAyes May 2013 #108

GTown MA? Hahahahahahahaha! graywarrior May 2013 #109

Ooops! Obviously we were referring to different places. IrishAyes May 2013 #112

No problem. graywarrior May 2013 #114

This rural county . . . Anymouse May 2013 #8

I'm happy my local cops are out doing the thankless job they do. n/t Skip Intro May 2013 #9

As someone who would like to go into law, I am comfortable with our local police PennsylvaniaMatt May 2013 #10

Once you understand that my local cops love any excuse to bust down a door, they're pretty good. Ian David May 2013 #11

Small town pinned between a major city and rural Pennsylvania. onehandle May 2013 #12

Of course I feel threatened. Denver's cops are fucking thugs! backscatter712 May 2013 #13

Yeah. Big city cops are absolute thugs when it comes to the downtrodden. (WARNING graphic image) Nye Bevan May 2013 #18

And why is it that (until the guy with the milk) is pretty much the... TheMadMonk May 2013 #34

Yep. For every cop buying a homeless guy a pair of shoes... backscatter712 May 2013 #38

A few bad eggs shouldn't spoil the whole bunch. W/o law enforcement there would be anarchy. Honeycombe8 May 2013 #43

No they shouldn't but when the good close ranks behind the bad... TheMadMonk May 2013 #47

I don't believe that's true at all. I think it's in CERTAIN urban areas... Honeycombe8 May 2013 #123

You might want to tell that to all those out of towners who have had 10s of thousands... TheMadMonk Jun 2013 #142

some people here are determined to post every bad story there is hfojvt May 2013 #59

"good" cops look the other way when DiverDave Jun 2013 #135

Why did you restrict this to local police? Bonobo May 2013 #14

I guess because we're more likely to actually know whether our local cops are OK, or fascists MannyGoldstein May 2013 #17

It should be more than a feeling. Bonobo May 2013 #19

Is it conceivable that cops can be reasonable people? MannyGoldstein May 2013 #26

Oh absolutely. Bonobo May 2013 #28

And I'm 100% certain you're right about that. IrishAyes May 2013 #111

My experience in life has been that jimlup May 2013 #15

I agree. Bonobo May 2013 #20

Other, you should ask nadinbrzezinski May 2013 #21

I have had few interactions with local police ... DreamGypsy May 2013 #23

Off topic but I remember the Paramount Theater in Idaho Falls CokeMachine May 2013 #91

I get along with the cops in my area. hrmjustin May 2013 #25

aka how much white privilege do you have RainDog May 2013 #29

^This^ Race & class privilege me b zola May 2013 #85

This message was self-deleted by its author JimDandy May 2013 #30

I live in a very small town dlwickham May 2013 #31

High-speed chases where people die for stealing at WallyWorld or for running a stop sign have made Mnemosyne May 2013 #32

Where is other? nt Mnemosyne May 2013 #33

Not really. Some are terrific, some are completely incompetent. closeupready May 2013 #35

Poll has no value without info about race, age and gender eridani May 2013 #36

In Philly, it depends on the district you're in. GoneOffShore May 2013 #39

Are you kidding? We live in Las Vegas. Our cops are so bad LAPD uses them to excuse their own Egalitarian Thug May 2013 #40

I am drmeow May 2013 #42

Nope, not really, now that you mention it LadyHawkAZ May 2013 #44

It might be interesting to re-run your poll with an environment category: petronius May 2013 #45

My community is very racially segregated Downtown Hound May 2013 #46

More comfortable than with the police wannabes and their weapons. Hoyt May 2013 #48

Fact. Mopar151 May 2013 #53

+1. (nt) Paladin May 2013 #73

Good to see white privilege alive and well. ForgoTheConsequence May 2013 #50

It depends. Is anyone naked? jberryhill May 2013 #51

The ones we have now are OK tularetom May 2013 #54

I am a white female, over 60. SheilaT May 2013 #55

Would it be accurate to say that they haven't para-militarized the police in your area yet? AnotherMcIntosh May 2013 #56

in general, i'm ok with them. only one questionable experience, but it was also understandable HiPointDem May 2013 #57

Local police lied and provoked to get rid of local Occupy. snot May 2013 #58

"Do you feel comfortable with your local police" = "are you white and middle class?" Spider Jerusalem May 2013 #60

Some, I am fine with and respect. Jamastiene May 2013 #62

From Revere... Jasana May 2013 #63

pretty much. I'll never trust cops in general cali May 2013 #66

I'm fine with our County Sheriff's Department... Earth_First May 2013 #68

Where I live they are fine Aerows May 2013 #70

Threatened? No. Uncomfortable? Yes. Phentex May 2013 #71

60 year old white male sorefeet May 2013 #72

I have no problem at all with local LEOs, city or county. Some of them are the same age as bike man May 2013 #74

I feel just fine with them. NCTraveler May 2013 #75

I think it's natural to feel uncomfortable Shankapotomus May 2013 #76

I normally like our local cops but then I remember...... OnionPatch May 2013 #78

Joe Arpaio Recall Bid Fails 05/30/13 08:11 PM ET EDT AP Zorra May 2013 #79

I'm a white thirtysomething in NYC, I <3 cops! sir pball May 2013 #81

Local or whatever damnedifIknow May 2013 #83

I was beaten in the streets by Portland PD me b zola May 2013 #84

Fine (nt) bigwillq May 2013 #88

I love my local cops - it's one of the reasons I live in this township n/t TorchTheWitch May 2013 #89

Yes Marrah_G May 2013 #90

Yes, but I know the CoP on a first name basis. Rex May 2013 #93

if i were male + of color i would not be so comfortable around cops in nyc La Lioness Priyanka May 2013 #94

Sorry, I'm from Texas and I feel THREATENED by local cops. Th1onein May 2013 #95

I get along quite well with my local cops. zappaman May 2013 #96

I really have no problem with my local cops. RebelOne May 2013 #97

My locals are better than those I grew up with, but they've been highly visible recently. politicat May 2013 #98

I have no problem with the cops in my area rollin74 May 2013 #99

I'm fine with Dallas-area cops derby378 May 2013 #100

Bridgewater NJ JustAnotherGen May 2013 #101

The cops I've encoutered here 4_TN_TITANS May 2013 #102

More like wary than threatened KamaAina May 2013 #103

I've lived all over the U.S. IrishAyes May 2013 #104

Comfortable? No way. kenny blankenship May 2013 #110

I was just thinking about the Atlanta Sheriff who was murdered Savannahmann May 2013 #113

K&R DeSwiss May 2013 #119

I can beat that. HolyMoley May 2013 #124

I'm curious: how did you feel when you woke up to that craziness? MannyGoldstein May 2013 #125

Fortunately, I didn't have to deal with it directly. HolyMoley May 2013 #126

Fuck 'em PopeOxycontinI May 2013 #127

I consider ALL Law enforcemnt a direct threat to my person until they prove otherwise. YeahSureRight Jun 2013 #134

I live in a town of 5000 a la izquierda Jun 2013 #139