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10 things cops know that you don't
11 years ago
Written by Doug Wyllie, Editor in Chief of PoliceOne
It’s become abundantly clear in the past few weeks that the press and the public have very little real understanding of police work. And something we’ve learned over the years is that during times of stress and tension, a good chuckle is extremely effective medicine.
So, here are some things most people don’t know but cops do. Add your observations in the comments area below.
1. Most cops understand why tickets are necessary, but don’t particularly like writing them. Well, unless they happen to stop “the guy who pays their wages” and then writing a ticket isn’t so bad.
2. The vast majority cops have never shot anyone, but most cops can recite a detailed list of people who are/were deserving of being shot because they posed a deadly threat. This means that most cops have successfully defused a potentially deadly confrontation using only words and less-lethal weapons.
3. Most cops wonder if they have something better to do until the person asks in that whiny voice, “Don’t you have anything better to do?” It is then — and only then — the cop knows the answer to that question is, “No. This is good as it gets.”
4. Most cops know the driver they just stopped had more that “two beers” and can estimate with reasonable accuracy how many beers a driver did, in fact, have.
5. Most cops like donuts, but so does everybody. They are deliberately made to taste really, really good so people will want to eat them. Please pass me another donut.
6. Most cops wonder why so many members of the community choose to pick up a mobile phone and record them while the officers are rolling in the dirt with an assailant rather than offering to help the officer.
7. Most cops don’t know the color of the people they stop before the traffic stop takes place. This is especially true when those people are driving cars with tinted windows at night.
8. Most cops know that if you fix that muffler / tail light / other mechanical issue for which they’ve stopped you, the cops will stop stopping you.
9. Most cops know it is impossible stop a squad car fast enough when the drunk in the back seat says, “Stop! I think I’ve got to puke.”
10. Most cops know that the national media do not pursue the truth, they pursue a story. Their story and the truth are too often a little like fraternal twins. They are related, but cops can’t explain why they don’t look anything alike.
It’s become abundantly clear in the past few weeks that the press and the public have very little real understanding of police work. And something we’ve learned over the years is that during times of stress and tension, a good chuckle is extremely effective medicine.
So, here are some things most people don’t know but cops do. Add your observations in the comments area below.
1. Most cops understand why tickets are necessary, but don’t particularly like writing them. Well, unless they happen to stop “the guy who pays their wages” and then writing a ticket isn’t so bad.
2. The vast majority cops have never shot anyone, but most cops can recite a detailed list of people who are/were deserving of being shot because they posed a deadly threat. This means that most cops have successfully defused a potentially deadly confrontation using only words and less-lethal weapons.
3. Most cops wonder if they have something better to do until the person asks in that whiny voice, “Don’t you have anything better to do?” It is then — and only then — the cop knows the answer to that question is, “No. This is good as it gets.”
4. Most cops know the driver they just stopped had more that “two beers” and can estimate with reasonable accuracy how many beers a driver did, in fact, have.
5. Most cops like donuts, but so does everybody. They are deliberately made to taste really, really good so people will want to eat them. Please pass me another donut.
6. Most cops wonder why so many members of the community choose to pick up a mobile phone and record them while the officers are rolling in the dirt with an assailant rather than offering to help the officer.
7. Most cops don’t know the color of the people they stop before the traffic stop takes place. This is especially true when those people are driving cars with tinted windows at night.
8. Most cops know that if you fix that muffler / tail light / other mechanical issue for which they’ve stopped you, the cops will stop stopping you.
9. Most cops know it is impossible stop a squad car fast enough when the drunk in the back seat says, “Stop! I think I’ve got to puke.”
10. Most cops know that the national media do not pursue the truth, they pursue a story. Their story and the truth are too often a little like fraternal twins. They are related, but cops can’t explain why they don’t look anything alike.
2. And that's likely the greatest measure of an officer. How many times they didn't end up in the headlines. Speaking from my own (vastly different) experience, no one ever thinks of you when things are going well.
5. Run Command: Find/Replace donut with Pepsi...
6. Interesting. I was always taught to say well back from an officer engaged with an assailant. As an untrained bystander would only make things worse.
7. If you can tell the race/nationality of someone passing you at 70 MPH then you need to apply for a job as a sharpshooter!
8. But what if I don't want the spotted canine offer to stop chatting with me!?
10. *Sigh* Perhaps someday they'll get back to reporting the news rather than manufacturing it
2: not from lack of thinking about it sometimes
3: so cliche' but it actually happens
4: except for the one who drank a quart of JD and had a snootfull of blow (.54) wtf !
5-8:lol indeed
9: never that unlucky!
10: journalism isn't popular, sensationalism is and seems to help pay the bills.
2.This is especially true when as a cop your allowed to go one lvl of force higher then what or who is threatening you. Ive been in more scuffles then id like to count when i was cop.
3.agrees with the big kitty. I usually will respond with something snarky, but in a funny and respectful way.
4. Also, your breath smelling freshly good........is a dead give away.
5.I looooooove donuts, but avoid them more then eat them. Dont want to get fatter then i already am >.<
6. helping an offcier whether then record it would be more preferred then just standing by looking like a robot holding up a phone, whether your trained or not.
7. nothing else to say other then, this is completely true.
8. again true. dont want to be constantly stopped for mechanical issues that should be fixed and are against the law when they are broken. Fix the dang thing >.< usually after the 3rd time ive pulled someone over for the same reason ill right them a ticket for it. that money could have better been spent taking the time to fix it.
9. lmao, people seem to underestimate the speeds at which a squad car can get up too especially a pursuit car, even worse when the person your perusing forgets or doesnt know they have a governor on their car.
10 This is why i dont watch the news they edit and stories and tell lies because bad news sells and money is all they care about