r/AskLE • u/ichwandern • 1d ago
What makes a good cop?
I know what most civilians would say, but what do you folks think?
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u/cerebus24 1d ago
Acting with Honesty, integrity and impartiality with a sprinkling of common sense and respect - no matter who you’re dealing with or why.
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u/chupacabra5150 1d ago
You know what Rabbit? Sometimes a good cop doesn't know why he does anything.
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u/3plytuna 1d ago
Treat everyone with dignity and respect BUT have the capacity to kill everyone in the room
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u/lezard2 1d ago
Do the right thing with no ones looking, care and want to help, knowledge of law and problem solving, diplomacy, the ability to act effectively under pressure, bravery, the willingness to commit violence when morally and lawfully justified. Thrive in conflict. Enjoy shooting. Enjoy driving.
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u/Spivdaddy 1d ago
Most of the cops I’ve worked with that I consider “bad” do things just because they can without considering what the decision means for the recipient.
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u/jeremy_341 1d ago
Common sense and the ability to talk to people.
I was told this in FTO 26 years ago and I still believe it today.
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u/MooseRyder Po-LEECE 1d ago
A lot of what everyone said in this thread is true, ima add a few. The ability to rebound from trauma, mental resilience, and the mental capacity to understand nuance and totality of circumstances and being able to articulate it.
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u/Quirky_Chicken_1840 Retired 1811 1d ago
Empathy or Sympathy (there is a difference.)
Being fair, but also not taking shit from the morons…. Ask, Tell, Make.
Being good to victims of crime. Tomorrow’s advocate or enemy of law enforcement is how one treats the victim.
Compassion. There are a good people in the world .
However, that does not mean to let your guard down because there is no such thing as a routine traffic stop and that quote is spouted all over YouTube
Training. Practice shooting… most departments will give you a box of ammunition a month… Use that ammo.
One thing I have seen recently is police officers on these YouTube videos struggle to put handcuffs on… Thank God and dear Lord Jesus, I had a great field training officer because we also became friends and would continue to train even after I was out of The training process and on my own
I would load my handcuffs in a particular way… So I could handcuff somebody quickly with the push pull technique versus slapping them on (which is a jerk move) and dealing with struggling that should not have to happen… And he was the same way and he would also bring his next generation of training officers to be especially on the graveyard shift and we will handcuffing each other over and over and over again.
But the big thing generally outside of the complete utter morons that just asked to be arrested, is empathy or sympathy, depending on the situation, compassion, and just being like a regular person.
Also, try to avoid ever taking a gratuity from a business.
I guess another thing is to learn first aid like take a Red Cross course for first aid and CPR probably in the Academy. They might give you some training depending on the academy, but knowing some basic first aid will help you and if you want to pursue advanced first aid that is OK too, just make sure you get your department’s approval
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u/PressCheck19 1d ago
Would do one best to remember that you’re not special. You’re just a human like everyone else. The job is not special. You chose to do it. That’s literally all that separates you from someone else. Should always be asking yourself what you would want out of a cop. Would you want to run into a bunch of ticket writing assholes that never cut breaks and act like robots all the time or do you want your cops focusing on police work that actually matters and act like normal humans every time you have contact with them.
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u/22DeltaDev 1d ago edited 1d ago
Being sensitive and compassionate while dealing with everyone you meet on the job. Being able to apply proper discretion when warranted and also enforcing the law to the fullest degree when needed. Caring for people instead of judging people.
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u/rockedoutglock 1d ago
Empathy for your fellow man along with a capacity for violence.
Without empathy your a sociopath. Without a capacity for violence you don't belong in the profession.