NYT: As Officers Face Heated Words, Their Tactics Vary

[RamboLiberal]

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A mounted police officer who has been with the Los Angeles Police Department for 25 years said that taking verbal abuse was a regular part of his job.

“We don’t get to tell people what they want to hear,” said the Los Angeles officer, who, like others interviewed for this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid being quoted on duty. “Whether we’re giving them a ticket or responding to some conflict between a husband and wife, we’re not dealing with people at their best, and if you don’t have a tough skin, then you shouldn’t be a cop.”

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But in Brooklyn, a 24-year-old officer, with three years on the force, seemed less inclined to walk away from verbal abuse.

“We say, ‘Back down,’ ” he said. “If they don’t back down and start making direct threats, that’s an offense. They don’t get a free pass.”

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“Let’s say I do a stop,” Mr. Adams(New York, State Senator Eric Adams, a retired New York City police captain and co-founder of the group 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement) said. “I question, and it’s nothing. ‘Sir, I’m sorry, I apologize.’ What’s the reason for staying, if the anger’s directed at me? If it’s directed at a third party, a storekeeper, I stay.”



http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/us/25cop.html?_r=1&hp

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Mr. Adams has the right idea

and the mounted LA cop does as well. I note that the belligerent one has only been on the force 3 years. Does his attitude reflect his inexperience or has training been changed?

[RamboLiberal]

2. I wonder how many of these guys are coming out of the military

used to kicking down doors & abusing the rights of the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan? Not saying this about all troops & cops but IMHO we're getting a militarized police in many areas.

[Jade Fox]

4. This has always been a problem..

Police work attracts more than it's share of bullies, control freaks, and people with serious violence issues. Thankfully, many are screened out during the application process, but not all.

[Jade Fox]

3. ".... if you don’t have a tough skin, then you shouldn’t be a cop."

"We’re not dealing with people at their best, and if you don’t have a tough skin, then you shouldn’t be a cop.”

It's about time someone made that simple statement.

I don't envy the police for having to deal with people at their worst. But it does come with the territory.