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In my nape of the forest, we have four sets of cops:
a) state police (almost never seen) b) Cook County Sheriffs (either in courts, forest preserves or county accident or murder sites0 c) Big city police (chicago) d) suburb police.
For the most part, state police are professional, calm, and rarely get into trouble. Cook County sheriffs deal with the scum of the universe. From wife beaters to parole jumpers, from kiddie rapists, to drugged up murderers, from catholic priests to drunk drivers. I know many of them, and they are all pretty fair, well trained, careful people. They have a few nuts in their midst, but, they do their best to keep them under control. Chicago cops are well trained, hardened, hard nosed, folks who have to face drug lords, gang bangers, and nuts on the street, each and every day. I know many of them, too. Each one may be rough around the edges, but they take no shit from anyone, nor do they hand it out unless it is a matter of life and death.
Suburb cops? Whew, different story. I am lucky that my local force is polite, friendly, helpful, and keeps my town and area safe and sound. Sure, they set up seatbelt and DUI traps on some big intersections, but frankly, after the drunk hit us at 60 mph, I'd like to see more of that. Good people.
But, a couple of suburbs to the west, slightly north, and it is a whole different ballgame. If you like shiny cars, with lots of lights, if you want to carry a baton, a big gun, and push people around, AND if state, county, city, and other police refused to employ you, boy did you find a comfy home. I am not the only person who deliberately strikes a path around those suburbs, just to stay away from those assholes. There aren't many police forces that bad in Illinois, but I can name three that deserve federal investigations.
The vast majority are doing their jobs. You may not like the result, but I doubt you can imagine what it is to walk a beat, thinking that there's a big bull's eye on your back, in certain parts of the City.
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