Over at Blue Must Be True, Karl Mansoor’s homage to honest cops, he posts a list created by a police instructor, Dave Smith (sounds liek alias to me) over at PoliceOne. It’s one of those lists that tells us how the police view life from the inside of Fort Apache looking out.
1. Never run from me. My dog likes it, and I’ll just find you again… soon.Karl decided to throw in a few “nevers” of his own:
2. Never put your hands where I can’t see them… ever!
3. Never touch me, just pretend I am on fire because you will get burned.
4. Never fail to stop when I turn on my lights to pull you over; “World’s Greatest Chases” isn’t a reality show you want to get on.
5. Never argue with me. I am looking for facts not opinion… least of all yours.
6. Never lie to me, I am not one of your parents, and I probably already know more than you think.
7. Never get involved in a police action if you aren’t the complainant, a witness, or a suspect… it usually doesn’t go well.
8. Never tell me you have only had two beers, tell me the truth… we have tests.
9. Never threaten your kids with the police unless, of course, they need to be arrested!
10. Never tell me you didn’t know “that” was against the law; it doesn’t get you off and makes you look even dumber.
1. Never use more force than is absolutely necessary. Excessive force is Constitutionally unacceptable.
2. Never treat the public with disrespect. Always speak politely.
3. Never conceal the truth, even when, and especially if, the complete truth is detrimental to the police.
4. Never try to make up laws! You don’t get paid to make the laws, you get paid to enforce them.
5. Never get pissy when a citizen asserts his rights. If you want to enter my home or car, you’re going to need probable cause or a warrant, because you’re not getting my consent, (no matter home much you bitch, whine, or threaten). Not because I have anything to hide, but because I don’t want the police to forget we have a Constitution.
6. Never lie in your police report or jury testimony; you never know when there is going to be video to contradict you.
7. Never put your ego above your duty
8. Never use your office to settle personal scores
9. Never use your office to subvert the democratic process
1. Never forget that you are a public servant, not a public master.
2. Never forget that “servant” is as dignified an occupation as you make it.
3. Never forget that your credibility, and that of your fellow officers, is like a balloon — one little prick can damage it beyond repair.
4. Never forget that they guys who are telling you how special you are have their own agenda, and it’s not public service.
5. Never forget the Peelian Principles; they’re every bit as true now as they were then.
6. Never forget that the world is full of backstops, and some of those backstops have loved ones.
7. Never forget that you are a person, not “law enforcement.”
8. Never forget that the coverup gets you in more trouble than the mistake, as it should.
Followed by Nemo :
1. Never forget that the person you are dealing with my be another LEO’s family member – how would you like another LEO to treat them the way you do?I know how much people love lists, so I figured these lists had a little something for everyone. Sorry that this post isn’t really about the top 10 people to follow on Twitter. It’s just that a lot of people seem much more interested in whether their name is on such a list than they are in cops and constitutional rights and such, so I figured that by using a misleading title, a few of them might actually read this post and broaden their horizons a bit.
2. Never forget that the taser is the (mostly) non-lethal tool of /last/ resort. You supposedly have a brain – use it!
3. Never forget that with every encounter with the public, you are affecting the public’s trust in your fellow-officers. Negative word-of-mouth is one of the strongest advertising forces there is. Think about it!
4. Never get to thinking you are Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris has been known to roundhouse kick people pretending they are Him
5. Never forget that you not only serve the public, but that without the support of the people you serve, you cannot do your job.
6. Never get to thinking that the cops on TV dramas and in movies do things that you can get away with.
7. Never ignore the Constitution – it’s the only thing that keeps Others from putting YOU in a small, dark room, and beating the crap – or the life – out of you. Likewise the people you care about.
8. Never forget what Joe Friday said: “It’s an endless, thankless, glamorless job that’s gotta be done.” If you want thanks and glamor, got try your hand in Hollywood – if you can.
9. Never forget that one “oh, crap” erases one hundred “atta boys!”, and this applies to how the people you serve, as well.
10. Never forget that you are neither judge, jury, nor executioner, nor should you try to influence them to rack up a higher score. The only thing worse than you screwing up and blowing a conviction of the guilty is screwing up and convicting an innocent – even if the one innocent of your charges is actually guilty of worse.
11. (Bonus) Never forget that you are human, and subject to the same foibles that the people you interact with.
12. (round dozen) Never forget that the misdemeanor of your brother officer that you turn a blind eye to damages us all worse than the minor felony of a habitual offender.
13. (Baker’s dozen) Never forget that trust is a very delicate thing. Treat it as you would a fragile, precious crystal sculpture – that you promised to keep safe for your mother.
Discover more from Simple Justice
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Never believe your job is to punish.
All excellent additions.
There are comments I’ll make regarding his but since this is Scott’s blog, I’ll keep them as polite as possible:
“3. Never touch me, just pretend I am on fire because you will get burned.”
Unless I am under arrest, don’t touch me either. We’ll all just get along so much better that way.
“4. Never fail to stop when I turn on my lights to pull you over;”
Never expect me to pull over if you are in an unmarked car. Don’t get stupid or crazy when my wife or daughters drive to crowded, well lit areas before they pull over.
A couple of omissions, corrected:
5. Never argue with me. I am looking for facts that support my theories, not opinion… least of all yours.
6. Never lie to me, I am not one of your parents, and I probably already know more than you think, and even if I don’t, I think I do. . .
6.5 On further reflection, it’s probably a better idea for you just to take the Fifth and keep your piehole shut.
We are sorry to inform you that you have failed the police exam. You correctly answered all the questions.