REALLY Officer? Are you insane?

[LSmith]

So sorry for the misunderstanding, let's try again:

- not all police officers are mentally or emotionally unstable, never implied that, but this one more than likely has had some emotional break of some kind, based on the seriousness of his actions. Police officers are not immune to personal issues, yet I find so many people think they are (that’s kind of what I thought the OP was implying, sorry), and of course there are unstable teachers, doctors, mechanics, etc. never implied otherwise, but we aren’t discussing those.

- the study was a massive undertaking in cooperation with the police, for the purposes that I described.

- in our community, the officers had the highest rates of issues based on other emergency personnel (fire, ambulance, nurses, doctors), but again, this isn’t as valid a factor as this study was specifically done with police officers, so it just showed that officers weren’t immune to abuse or addiction problems, like many people think.

- if anyone honestly believes that I would teach my students that police officers are not valuable members of society, than you have some serious issues. My students have their own opinions, based on the treatment they give to the officers, and how the officers treat them back, it has nothing to do with us as teachers. We are struggling each and everyday to squash these stereotypes, and remind them that they need to stop breaking rules and bothering the police in the first place, but it’s difficult as our students deal with officers a lot, and this forms their opinions.

- nowhere did I imply that I don’t value officers, quite the contrary. I have no disdain toward that profession at all. I think they are highly selfless in protecting the rest of us, but many people think that the police are immune to any personal issues, and that was the focus of the study I spoke about. We got to speak to some of the officers, and our professor was the police psychologist/criminologist, and they all told us it was helpful as there is a certain stigma with officers, and emergency personnel in general, and that is why they were happy to participate.

Again, sorry if anyone misunderstood my initial post. I was only commenting on that officer, and provided evidence of a study that showed that some officers do deal with some major personal and emotional issues. The officers who spoke to us, said a lot had to do with the seriousness of the job, but a lot of them also said they had been dealing with those issues before their jobs as officers. They truly seemed grateful, as the end result was a better understanding of the risks involved in their jobs, and new programs and procedures had been put into place to help them when they displayed personal issues.

Absolutely nowhere did I say I don’t value officers, or, that they are all mentally unstable, so for those who were hurt with my post, I greatly apologize. I was only speaking about the group in our community, who participated in the study.

The OP's post title seemed to suggest that she can't imagine an officer not being mentally unstable, and so that is what I was addressing. It's just like people who can't believe that teachers, lawyers or doctors can display major personal issues, of course they can, just like anyone can.

Tiger

Honestly, I think the only one that misunderstood your original post was you. Maybe you should reread what you wrote.

Although you apologize in this post I think you really nailed your true feelings with the last sentence of your first post:

"Of course, not all officers fall into this category, but I have to say, of the ones I know personally, they have no issues with breaking rules and bending the law to suit them. I don't know about abuse and criminal actitivites, but my neighbor officer frequently breaks parking and noise bylaws on our street."

Bet you would have no problem banging on his door in the middle of the night if you needed an officer fast. I also bet he would jump out of bed to help you.

 

[crashbb]

Honestly, I think the only one that misunderstood your original post was you. Maybe you should reread what you wrote.

Although you apologize in this post I think you really nailed your true feelings with the last sentence of your first post:

"Of course, not all officers fall into this category, but I have to say, of the ones I know personally, they have no issues with breaking rules and bending the law to suit them. I don't know about abuse and criminal actitivites, but my neighbor officer frequently breaks parking and noise bylaws on our street."

Bet you would have no problem banging on his door in the middle of the night if you needed an officer fast. I also bet he would jump out of bed to help you.

Also sounds like a very crappy study. It makes comparisons (police officers are "highest") but didn't actually have any data for the comparison groups. Not a study I'd ever be citing. Unless, of course, the PP is just taking the results out of context.

 

[Tiger926]

Honestly, I think the only one that misunderstood your original post was you. Maybe you should reread what you wrote.

Although you apologize in this post I think you really nailed your true feelings with the last sentence of your first post:

"Of course, not all officers fall into this category, but I have to say, of the ones I know personally, they have no issues with breaking rules and bending the law to suit them. I don't know about abuse and criminal actitivites, but my neighbor officer frequently breaks parking and noise bylaws on our street."

Bet you would have no problem banging on his door in the middle of the night if you needed an officer fast. I also bet he would jump out of bed to help you.

I can see how you would come to that conclusion. The officers did spend a good deal of time talking to us about breaking of rules and such. It was interesting because they commented on how it's difficult to get people to follow rules, if you yourself are not following them, but they implied this is the way it is.

As clarification - the study did survey other emergency personnel, but not in the depth it did with the officers, as they themselves were actually instrumental in getting the study off the ground. I actually heard some officers speak on it, whereas we didn't hear any other emergency personnel, so for me, I don't put as big a value on that factor, as some of the other ones. The study authors and police had this data from other groups, but weren't sharing it, as those other groups weren't as big a part of the study. This is what was explained to us. Since I like hearing straight from the source, that's why I mentioned this - the data is valid, as they validated it, but for us students, and the community at large, we didn't have access to all of the small details in regards to the other emergency personnel who were studied.

Sorry, and hope this clears it up, Tiger

 

[luvsJack]

Wow. And ya'll think the city in the OP was overreacting? I think a few of ya'll are doing that too.

Tiger was not putting down police officers. He/she(?) was simply stating some facts that were found in a research study.

The REASON they have so many mental issues is BECAUSE of the high stress/danger factor of their job. Just like the high rate of issues found in soliders. Its just a sad fact of the job. Doesn't make them any less human but more so.

 

[jaminmd]

I agree.

Have YOU ever been shot at at work? Do YOU wonder every day at work if you will come home tonight, with the answer "no" being a daily possibility? Do YOU turn on the news and see a co-worker who's been killed EVERY WEEK and wonder if it'll be you next?

Maybe if you did, you'd have a different "mental" outlook as well.

Everyone should walk a mile in a LEOs shoes before they make such generalizations.

So far this year, an officer who was just doing his JOB, selflessly protecting YOU and YOUR FAMILY was KILLED. I highly doubt their wives, children, patents, family and friends would appreciate your generalization.

Your area or not, this is ONE crazy out of THOUSANDS, and ON THE JOB, most who would take a bullet for SAFETY.

You should be THANKING a police officer, not spitting all over them.

As the wife of a Federal LEO, thank you!

 

[LSmith]

As clarification - the study did survey other emergency personnel, but not in the depth it did with the officers, as they themselves were actually instrumental in getting the study off the ground. I actually heard some officers speak on it, whereas we didn't hear any other emergency personnel, so for me, I don't put as big a value on that factor, as some of the other ones.

Sorry, and hope this clears it up, Tiger

Proving my point that the study is biased and therefore garbage.

I'm sure your darling bullied high school students were perfectly innocent but then again you didn't hear the other side of the story. Do you really think that police officers (most of whom are fathers) go around to high schools bullying kids? I bet you would be shocked to know how many of those "bullied" students pack heat. I do know because my husband was on the Gun and Gang task force and used to have to follow around these little innocents at school in plain clothes making sure they didn't kill someone and no this wasn't at what was considered a "bad school" or "bad area", quite the contrary.

My point is don't believe everything you hear, read or even see. Even if you learned it in UNIVERSITY or read it in the PAPER or saw a five second clip of it on the NEWS.

 

[jaminmd]

I would be more concerned about the over-reaction during the "manhunt" than the officer who made it up.

Overreaction? I find your remark offensive.

It's unfortunate this moron makes cops look bad but was it also an overreaction when two weeks ago a Lakewood NJ cop was shot & killed while he was in his patrol car, never even having a chance to defend himself?

Cops have to look out for each other because it seems most citizens could care less.

 

[punkin]

Why is everyone picking on Tiger926? I thought her post was very balanced. I don't think she ever said all police officers are bad. In fact, she said the absolute opposite. I think some posters' overreaction is exactly comparable to the police dept.'s overreaction in the OP.

 

[luvsJack]

Proving my point that the study is biased and therefore garbage.

I'm sure your darling bullied high school students were perfectly innocent but then again you didn't hear the other side of the story. Do you really think that police officers (most of whom are fathers) go around to high schools bullying kids? I bet you would be shocked to know how many of those "bullied" students pack heat. I do know because my husband was on the Gun and Gang task force and used to have to follow around these little innocents at school in plain clothes making sure they didn't kill someone and no this wasn't at what was considered a "bad school" or "bad area", quite the contrary.

My point is don't believe everything you hear, read or even see. Even if you learned it in UNIVERSITY or read it in the PAPER or saw a five second clip of it on the NEWS.

How is it biased if the officers themselves helped to get the study going? I am not following you.

Maybe the officers that wanted it done are able to see the problems going on and know that something needs to be done to help fellow officers.

Police officers see things that most of us cannot begin to imagine. Of course they are going to have problems from that. They are only human.



BTW, I know 3 police officers really well. One of the three has some serious anger issues. He has admitted several times to being overly agressive (I won't say beating, but hitting and such) with someone they are questioning or arresting just because the person did or said something he didn't like. He tells us all the time how little the person has to do to be considered "resisting arrest". Makes me really wonder about his sanity somethimes. I don't think all officers are this way, I don't even think the majority are; but to think NONE of them? That is just unrealistic.

And I have the utmost respect for anyone that puts thier life on the line to keep my family safe so I am NOT meaning any disrespect to the profession.

 

[luvsJack]

Overreaction? I find your remark offensive.

It's unfortunate this moron makes cops look bad but was it also an overreaction when two weeks ago a Lakewood NJ cop was shot & killed while he was in his patrol car, never even having a chance to defend himself?

Cops have to look out for each other because it seems most citizens could care less.

Ok--sorry. I swore I looked at your post and you had quoted me! Now who is overreacting. LOL

 

[jaminmd]

Who said that it was an overreaction that a cop was killed? I never said any such thing and Tiger never said that ALL officers have mental problems.

Again: I have the utmost respect for the profession and the uniform. But I do have the sense to realize that they are human beings. Just like soilders that come home with PTS, a cop that has mental issues still deserves our respect but also needs help.

And what on God's earth does any of this have to do with a cops looking out for each other?

I was quoting someone else, not you.

 

[Robinrs]

Wow. And ya'll think the city in the OP was overreacting? I think a few of ya'll are doing that too.

Tiger was not putting down police officers. He/she(?) was simply stating some facts that were found in a research study.

The REASON they have so many mental issues is BECAUSE of the high stress/danger factor of their job. Just like the high rate of issues found in soliders. Its just a sad fact of the job. Doesn't make them any less human but more so.

The ones who live the life are defensive, understandably. I'm in the media and it's so FUN reading all of the lovely things people say about us on this board everyday, too!

 

[w0rM]

Holy smokes! That's nuts!

 

[LSmith]

How is it biased if the officers themselves helped to get the study going? I am not following you.

Maybe the officers that wanted it done are able to see the problems going on and know that something needs to be done to help fellow officers.

Police officers see things that most of us cannot begin to imagine. Of course they are going to have problems from that. They are only human.


BTW, I know 3 police officers really well. One of the three has some serious anger issues. He has admitted several times to being overly agressive (I won't say beating, but hitting and such) with someone they are questioning or arresting just because the person did or said something he didn't like. He tells us all the time how little the person has to do to be considered "resisting arrest". Makes me really wonder about his sanity somethimes. I don't think all officers are this way, I don't even think the majority are; but to think NONE of them? That is just unrealistic.

And I have the utmost respect for anyone that puts thier life on the line to keep my family safe so I am NOT meaning any disrespect to the profession.

If you are not following me I can't help that. Reread the posts in the entirety.

I know three teachers very well and one has some serious anger issues and she tells me it's because of her job. She always tells me how aggressive she is with the children. I really wonder about her sanity sometimes. Also, there once was this study... OK this was written tongue in cheek but do you get my drift? Insert another profession with cop and realize how that sounds.

Who here has said that no police officers have mental problems? Name one.

 

[Planogirl]

There's overreaction all over this thread - first the city's reaction and then the reaction to a study that was cited. I think that further research is needed before I would buy into the study results but I can see the high stress of being a police officer affecting some people.

Officers are fine people and I appreciate them more than words can say. I would never presume that there wouldn't be individuals that would take advantage of their position or might be affected by their jobs however. The fact that such a study was undertaken indicates that someone thought they saw a problem developing. Maybe it's being blown out of proportion but that doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.

 

[LSmith]

Maybe it's being blown out of proportion but that doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.

See that is the whole point. Nobody that has posted here yet has said that it doesn't exist so I'm not sure why people keep repeating that.

See below for "blown out of proportion" (bolding mine):

"There was an amazing study done in my area on police officers, and it found that many of them had serious emotional/mental issues. The higest rates of: domestic abuse, substance abuse issues, manipulation/cover ups were rampant, bullying behaviour, etc."

"It is a high-risk field, and many officers exhibit impulse control issues. My highschoolers are repeatedly beat up, questioned and threatened by officers, and it's getting to be a problem, as many of them don't trust the officers around here anymore."

 

[Planogirl]

I agree. Blown out of proportion on both sides.

However the word 'many' can mean a lot of things. I would be curious to know what percentage actually constitutes 'many'. Of course, one is actually too many but is quite a bit different from 10% or 25% or whatever.

 

[luvmy3]

Proving my point that the study is biased and therefore garbage.

I'm sure your darling bullied high school students were perfectly innocent but then again you didn't hear the other side of the story. Do you really think that police officers (most of whom are fathers) go around to high schools bullying kids? I bet you would be shocked to know how many of those "bullied" students pack heat. I do know because my husband was on the Gun and Gang task force and used to have to follow around these little innocents at school in plain clothes making sure they didn't kill someone and no this wasn't at what was considered a "bad school" or "bad area", quite the contrary.

My point is don't believe everything you hear, read or even see. Even if you learned it in UNIVERSITY or read it in the PAPER or saw a five second clip of it on the NEWS.

Interesting how you are jumping all over the pp when the bolded part of your post shows your own bias.

 

[luvsJack]

I was quoting someone else, not you.

I know, I went back and corrected myself.

 

[LSmith]

Interesting how you are jumping all over the pp when the bolded part of your post shows your own bias.

Yes, I am biased when I hear someone say that the cops are repeatedly beating up and questioning her highschool students and she understands why they don't trust the cops.

Can't say as I believe that it is happening repeatedly to innocent kids and that the cops are getting away with it. Since we live around the same community and my husband is a cop I know that if someone files a complaint it is taken very seriously. Trust me, the parents and media would be all over that. Also, I'm pretty sure that the teacher would have an obligation to report that abuse.