Why do we cower to police intimidation? ?

why has our mentality changed so over the years that even when we know we're right about something, more often than not we let serious or even minor issues go by the wayside? do we fear police beatings? false charges being brought against us in retaliation for standing up for our rights?something they may do to other family members?what would you do if you were in any way wronged by the police? how far would you go for justice? or would you be paralyzed by fear?
Additional Details
i'm not trying to "validate"my question. this is not a rant. it is a legitimate query. over the years the citizens of the u.s. have indeed (in my opinion) become intimidated / terrified to stand up for themselves. i am not one of them. that is why my question stands: why do we (citizens) cower to police intimidation? see question in law&ethics re. 911 transcript for reference. i am not anti police by the way. i had an uncle killed in the line of duty and other friends and distant family still on the force. thank you trooper 3 and all others. my question still stands????

trooper3316

A specific example, or a link to a story could validate your "question". Without a link, it seems more like a rant to me. It leaves me nothing to base my answer on.

cmdrbnd007

I don't fear the police and don't have any idea why you would.

joseph b

The reason is simple, people see the uniform and gun, but fail to see the guy inside. Most people look at cops and get their idea of what they are like from Hollywood.

The irony is most people who get in trouble with the cops usually bring it on themselves. I know many times when many people talked themselves out of a warning and into a ticket or even jail.

In areas where you see communtiy policing, people don't fear the police, they respect them.

Many people are ignorant of what the job entails. Again they watch TV and think that every cop has access to the stuff on CSI, or that because some SWAT guy in a movie did some fancy move, that in real life it can be done.

Diana B

"it is a legitimate query."

Oh, it's a rant alright, you dress up your claims as rhetorical questions - you're not interested in getting any answer that questions whether the question is even legitimate and you provide no factual basis backing that legitimacy, just hyperbole ("cower" and unsubstantiated drivel about intimidated citizens). Obviously your writing this question proves you're not all that intimidated, and in NY we've prosecuted both dirty cops and cop killers. Your question doesn't stand unless you can provide specific facts proving a genuine condition and a legitimate question in search of answer that you might not like. Simply tossing in family members in service does not give you license to make widely vague claims about police intimidation.

"what would you do if you were in any way wronged by the police?"
Go to the civilian complaint review board in NY. Elsewhere, go to Internal Affairs - that whole myth of the Blue Wall of Silence doesn't mean anything there.

"law&ethics re. 911 transcript for reference."
By any chance, you are not Thomas J. Wheat? That's the name of this person who would make all sorts of wild, accusing and rhetotrical questions, then post as his only basis some other article of questionable relevance.

Now that's a question - it leaves open what the answer is.

Russ

We? I do not know any person to this day that has been intimidated by police.
Our mentality changed? Not mine nor anyone I know.
We? I nor anyone I know has ever feared being beaten by police.
False charges? I was arrested one time in my life, and I was guilty of the charges against me.
I can only conclude that you have some sort of a phobia regarding authority figures?

Lana K

good question. i would be too scared to stand up. but if it was a serious situation, i would probably get others on my side and protest or something

babygirl

have you ever seen their sticks they carry? that intimidates me...
we had a problem with the local police cause they made false statements in a report..we brought it up to our attorney and the charges were dropped..
the officers werent too happy but oh well..
anyway when driving we make sure we obey the law cause sure dont want them pulling us over...

Jupiter Ceasar Leprechaun II

Has never happened to me. Gotten some tickets ( speed traps ) but that just money grabbin. While some cops are bad apples i think that the vast majority are decent

If ii did and it was minor i would not bother if it was aggregious ongoin i would stand up

Jayme

My story, this will answer your question. Help me and many other Americans with a free will get past this corrupt government. It is communism swept under the rug.

PLEASE READ MY STORY!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080910131431AAJpFN8&r=w

Charlie D

"We" fear the police because, over time, they have proven the old axiom "Power corrupts".
They have proven that they can abuse and mistreat law-abiding citizens for any or no reason, and the judicial system generally allows them to get by with it.

Copgirl

Stop ranting. Next question.

Natasha B

I don't
even when accused or wrongly ticketed
I go fight it in court
I have never needed a lawyer and I always win....because when I am right I'm right
I will never cower to anyone.

I dont fear them at all. They piss me off sometimes when Im being issued citations but in my heart I feel that most of them are here to serve and protect. But as with anything else, there are some bad seeds. I am not intimidated by any authority figure. I know my rights and know that I am not doing anything wrong that should warrant fear.

gvnlyn

Because most people are uneducated about their basic rights. Their right to remain silent above all, as well as their right to an attorney, their right to leave unless being charged with a crime, and general knowledge of police tactics, good-cop vs. bad-cop, and their right to fabricate any lie to get a suspect to confess.

People should educate themselves on their rights. I am not intimidated by the police at all. I know my rights!

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