A friend or a foe?

Personally, I feel a bit uneasy around police because I've seen a lot of corrupt cops on the force. I have known some good ones, but a lot of the ones I've encountered have been brutal and plain out rude, like they were on a power trip from their positions. I know there're plenty of ones out there that aren't like that, but I'm stuck remembering the bad ones the most clearly.

Hi Hydraloth, Maybe there are still some good cops in our country. But bad cops are more, you're right! I am also scared to be out in the roads at night and encounter a police coz they might do something bad, as I've seen on the news. I've been in a Middle East country before, and I think some police are also scary there. Maybe because some of them wants to power trip, I've encountered one that nearly took me to the police station just by sitting in the car with a friend when we parked in a lighted area in front of the gate of a public park just beside the guard house! Had I not called my Arabic company PRO I think I ended up in big trouble. But I must admit too that some of them are really helpful and call them for help when some rude guy do something bad on you, for sure they will come and attend to your complain.

I've lived in two countries and found the police VERY different between them. France: the French civil police (in cities, etc.) are, well, not liked. They're seen as stupid, aggressive, unnecessarily bureaucratic and all the things associated with small men and women on a power trip. Personally, I never had any trouble with them since I'm English but speak French (so they're more forgiving). The military police (Gendarmes) who look after rural areas are MUCH better - they're efficient, polite and smart (though a lot stricter). Never had any real trouble with them, either. U.K.: the police here are lovely. I'm not a criminal and, although we all bend rules sometimes, the UK police tend to be much nicer people than I've encountered elsewhere. I may just be lucky but I've always had a good laugh with them because I'm honest and open.

Well the fact that I almost got run over by a police officer when I was walking through the park might have played no small part in it. :) But seriously, I think that human nature indicates that were are going to be distrustful of any authority figures that are out there. Anyone who has any measure of authority, we are going to look at very carefully. For right or for wrong, they could be more than fair. However, don't delude yourself saying that there are a lot of cops out there who after having a bad day, will not take it out on people for the most minor infractions. Technically when a cop is nearby, they might be nearby for a good reason. And I think that many of them enjoy the fear they inspire in the common man. And many of them are fair.

IF we have done nothing wrong, or do not have any guilty conscious, why should we feel scared with police around? In my opinion, police are just like us, human beings. They are not that powerful, instead strangers and people around us are much dangerous. I don't feel anything whenever i see police around, they can be patrolling or simply out for lunch and whatever. It's their job. I'm a common civilian and seeing them around is part and parcel of my life.

I live in the US although they have been cruel videos on the news about how polices take advantage of people and hit them or something that's very rare. I think polices could take advantage of you if they think you don't know your rights, I know my rights so if i police is trying to to cross the line with me I tell them what my rights are, but like i mentioned that's very rare. Whenever their is a police i feel secure because I know if a police is around the place I am in it's less likely something bad would happen. Every night at my neighborhood polices pass like 10 times during the night, is because our neighborhood is private. I feel secure because things rarely happen in my neighborhood because they know polices are around.

Police in my home country in most cases are honest and decent people. They do not take any bribes. When my 4 year old son sees a police car he gets very excited. He also loves to see fire engines and ambulances. I am a primary school teacher. I eat a vegan diet. Some of my vegan friends have been on marches when the police have turned up. I know a lady that went to a demonstration and was running along in a crowd. She began to fall so reached out to grab the hand of her friend. However she got hold of a police man's arm. He arrested her and she ended up getting a criminal record. My teenager son went to a trip and was left behind. It was lucky he went and told a police man. The head teacher went up to the city to collect my son. I was so delighted to get my son back home. So therefore I think with a problem like a left behind student the police can be helpful.

I fear policemen because they are portrayed in a brutal manner in movies. Also in our society it is a taboo -- to visit police station--even the traffic police nowadays are rude and are interested in taking money. Of course they do not disturb old guys like me. I do feel uneasy in talking to police guys because they are strict and more demanding also.

Police officers often tends to create an image that makes every one scared, i think it has to be like that naturally. Many police officers in different countries are corrupt, due to their low salaries. But I think they can be good friends.

for me, the presence of a police would make me feel secure but there are also exceptions like when the police looks like a suspect rather than a police. sad that we have a bad reputation for our cops here in the Philippines. it's maybe because of the administration or the cops themselves. i think they would not be rebelling if the administration is working well to them, to us Filipinos.

Funny you said this, but you are right. When I see a cop, I feel scared and safe both. It is an odd feeling. I think the uniform causes us to feel that way, but some are dangerous while others are not. My son got beat up by one that he was alone in a room with once. glowin100