Good Cop, Bad Cop (it's long and boreing!)

[sumabich]

As I often say, I have such big concepts but such little words! Here lately I have noticed a general "they're all bad" LEO attitude. I've read discussions that "they will follow orders when the feces hits the fan, murder innocents, etc. I have "perked" on this for a few days and just have to say, LEO's are just like us, diverse in attitude,likes, dislikes, good and bad. I don't doubt some will follow orders to the letter,I don't doubt some don't deserve to wear the badge (see waco HBO tape)but I know some (I'm not LEO) I'd trust with my life and call them friends. Let me tell you about my community........ Our local Shuriff, is a political critter, has his own swat team and will do anything to get in the news (by the way hes a demntocrate) he has further political aspirations. Most of his guys have attitudes. Witness a few weeks ago. My company hires a lot of temp employees, and even though they're suppose to screen for criminal record every once in awhile they screw up. From my office, I saw an unmarked car in the parking lot 4 of the county's finest in dark blue suits went to the reception area and wanted to search for someone, I interceeded and took them elsewher to talk. They finally gave me a name and I told them no such person was there. I had a real delemma because I do carry sometimes and by state law I am suppose to tell any LEO who approaches. I saw lots of guns. Anyway, after letting them know this person wasn't there and spending a lot of time explaining that it wouldn't be a good idea to "search" the place they finally left. The more I thought about the situation the more it bugged me (I'm better now) I couldn't understand why they first didn't call to ask if that person was even there and why all the guns. Before this sheriff, they would call if the person was there we cooperated, gave information and have even called to let them know when the person showed up. Keep in mind this happened shortly after Heir Reno's raid in Miami so I am a little put off by any show of force. I don't doubt that the tone of the leader dictates how the force acts. In our town (pop.20,000) lives (in my humble opinion) the finest LEO leader and group that ever walked the face of this earth. His officers have a tough job because as we all know in the city is where the action is. They are human beings who treat others with respect. My next door neighbor is one of them and I know in his earlier days he was a little crazy, but when the chief came on board that changed (by the way, he's Republican) I think the whole department changed as a result. This leader sets a great example and it shows through the entire force. The officers are allowed to think not just follow orders and protocal. Wanna talk abuse of power? About two years ago an officer from an adjoining state came to town (after the fact they called it a cop suicide) he was messed up with drugs and was probably drunk. His life was falling apart and parked himself in the parking lot of the city police department. The Chief isolated the situation, then began to talk to the man as he sat in the parking lot with a gun to his head. Our Suriff got his little swat team, and wound up killing the poor soul. I called it murder after seeing the tape. The next morning the surriff was on a plane to go to Kalifornia for a talk show on "cop suicides". To this day I believe the Chief could have talked the guy down and probably would have got him the help he needed. If I'm ever up on the roof with the Mauser I pray that the Chief and his guys are there because I know I'll get a fair shake I trust he and his officers with my life. I really think they will Serve and Protect! If it's the shurriff, I'll just be another suicide statistic! Find the good ones. Get to know them, invite them for supper and be a friend. PS the Chief has told me that if the graduates of the local CCP progam needed to they could use the City range any time! How many others are there like him? If so let me know. We need to spend more time talking about the good ones!