Cop-haters

Can't freaking stand 'em. And I'd forgotten how much until someone I only recently met decided to divulge this dirty secret. And of course all she could use to explain herself was the ever-so-vague: "I just have too much experience with cops." and "They profile people on purpose! They're encouraged to do that!"

Well guess what? I've had experience with cops, too. Probably more than you, actually. And I have to say, they are some of the most excellent men and women I've ever met. Still one of my most favorite people who ever lived is my forensic science teacher. He didn't grow up wanting power, he wanted to be an architect but he "partied [his] way out of college". Now??? Look at his long history of police work and forensic science work. He's a freaking hero. He did so many disgusting things...dangerous things. He dealt daily with unclean, mentally disturbed, self-wetting people that everyone else is lucky to not have to deal with. Every day he did this, and he's not the only one! All cops do this. They risk their lives daily, and you think that's for anything other than the fact that they want to keep people safe or have an awesome job? It's such a dangerous, miserable career.You think the nasty, harsh, abusive, or otherwise unsavory cops you hear about every once in awhile are the norm?!

And then the whole profiling thing...honey, they have to. Do you know where the criminal justice department is in most universities? Sociology building. Why is that? Why would that possibly be? Maybe because they use it every single day. Every cop knows there are reasons behind criminal behavior. Every cop has to utilize aspects of sociology/psychology every day, including profiling.

Hey, look at that girl dressed like a prostitute in an area known for prostitution... (probable prostitute)
Look at that guy with sores on his face and filthy clothes... (probable meth user)
Look at that guy without a kid at the kid park... (probably not a parent and up to no good)

People with different backgrounds are prone to certain types of crimes. IT'S JUST TRUE. Sorry they can't bend to your idea of being nice to everyone. I'd like that too, but this is a social science. Males commit much more crime than females. Age? Late teens, early 20's. Poor people tend to commit more street crime than rich. I'm sorry, but even some races are more prone to commit street crime than others (possibly due to the same racial link in low socioeconomic environs). They're not racist, they're pointing out patterns.

It's just a thing. Usually their hunches are right. Someone looks like they're a user, they pull them over and guess what? They usually find drugs in the car or in pants that "aren't theirs". I mean, come on. I'd be so with her if she was talking about how some races get longer sentences and harsher punishments for the same crimes, because I believe that is an issue, but she wasn't.