I have known many police officers. I have known them personally, and hate to say, professionally. Hell, at one point, I was on nearly a first name basis with the local court judges for traffic offenses in Anchorage.
That being said, I can honestly say as a citizen who has received a handful of deserved and a couple undeserved tickets, I would much rather be pulled over by Pony than Wicked Webby (no offense intended). Pony seems a little more even, whereas Wicked seems a little more jaded. As a citizen, I know that when I go to court, I am automatically assumed guilty. My word, no matter how accurate, is always judged less than the officer. Deserved, or not. As a citizen who pays more than his fair share in taxes, enough to employ an officer or two in some places, I have mixed feeling on the "professional courtesy". I have seen it in action. I have seen the law declared on the bottom of tickets that it is illegal to dispose of tickets without the courts approval, only to know that tickets that have been written against police and their family members have "disappeared". To some degree, that is simply corruption. Describe it as you will, defend it as you will.
As a plain citizen, I can understand protecting your own. But, taking the punishment like a man for your acts seems pretty reasonable to me. Go figure. Of course, maybe I should become an IRS tax auditor and expect the same "professional courtesy"? Would you feel that is appropriate if I decided to pay no taxes and call it a "courtesy"? Or would you see it as hypocritical, unethical... or criminal?
See, silly me, reading slogans on police cars, including "Integrity" and thinking it should be applied to all citizens. And while it may be ingrained to have a distrust for the public you are serving, I seem to feel that Integrity is a black and white issue. So, if a professional courtesy exists, how far does it extend? Is it just speeding tickets? Or as a citizen, should I also assume it means petty theft? Or larceny? Or "freebies" given by an appreciative public? Or a blind eye to more serious crimes? Where is the line drawn?
While the police officers have discretion in writing tickets, they shouldn't let someone free based upon the job they do. And while I am appreciative of the sacrifice and duty that those who protect and serve (be it military, domestic and fire), I am also dismayed by the silent majority who allow those who are not fit to serve to continue. For you are judged not based upon the best, but the worst. As a member of the public, as you judge us, we judge you. You at times assume the worst.
I have known officers who have bragged about the petty offenses they commit. The expectation of the "professional courtesy". And the power trips that some have. And those are the officers that I don't want on the streets.
I don't mind my tickets. The last couple were on stretches of open road. One was 21 miles over. The police officer, a trooper, gave me a ticket for that amount. He simply explained his position. I knew I was caught and pulled over immediately. I was in a car in the middle of nowhere (i-80 between SLC and Nevada). The last one was in Mississippi on my motorcycle. He was headed in the other direction. 26 over. I saw him, slowed down and awaited for him to catch me. I pulled over when I had the safe opportunity. After all this, me driving slow for him, he was surprised. He expected me to bolt. He told me he had captured my plate on video just in-case. Ironic, because had I bolted, considering the situation, he would have never had a chance to catch my plate. No break. I paid each fine and took the penalty. And I was respectful each time.
This is just a rhetorical question, which need not be answered. If a lawyer assaulted another officer and the DA decided to give a "professional courtesy", what would be your opinion of the DA?
I hope you take these thoughts as a citizen who is not against police. I am not. I believe the vast majority do a decent job. Some are stellar. And others just need to be fired.
