3 ms·

In some rural communities this is how the police behave in the US. I've seen police changing tires for people near my house countless times for example.

soneil 10y ago
I lived in rural Michigan for a few years. I knew every city cop by first name (very small city. like "how on earth to do you call that a city" small), and it'd generally fit that description. But the sheriff, state police and tribal police .. wide berth. Obviously anecdotal so I can't disagree with you. Just that my experience of rural police was a mixed bag. Black uniform good. Blue uniform bad. Brown uniform really bad.
- cmdrfred 10y ago
  I'm from Pennsylvania, I think it was the Quakers[0] who framed it originally like this but police here do more community policing as opposed to broken windows policing. In my experience, most police mainly use the law as a tool to keep the peace and don't really care what you do as long as it doesn't bother anyone else. Sure there must be some bad ones out there, but it goes to show you that a different mindset can have a measurable effect on the outcome. [0]https://www.quakercloud.org/cloud/chicago-friends-meeting/announcements/friends-protest-even-handed-law-enforcement https://www.quakercloud.org/cloud/chicago-friends-meeting/an... (looks like they are still at it 400 years later)
driverdan 10y ago
In some rural communities police are on a huge power trip because they're some of the most powerful people in the small town. Some are good, some are bad, just like everywhere else.
morgante 10y ago
It's still good advice in general. I grew up in a small rural community. I'm sure the cops here occasionally do things like changing tires for people. They're also bullies who like to go on power trips. If they feel disrespected at all, they will beat you senseless (and have). Police across the US are almost universally bullies on power trips. The job of police offer is every bully's biggest dream: they can get paid to go around and abuse people while demanding respect from everyone.

soneil 10y ago

I lived in rural Michigan for a few years. I knew every city cop by first name (very small city. like "how on earth to do you call that a city" small), and it'd generally fit that description. But the sheriff, state police and tribal police .. wide berth. Obviously anecdotal so I can't disagree with you. Just that my experience of rural police was a mixed bag. Black uniform good. Blue uniform bad. Brown uniform really bad.

cmdrfred 10y ago
I'm from Pennsylvania, I think it was the Quakers[0] who framed it originally like this but police here do more community policing as opposed to broken windows policing. In my experience, most police mainly use the law as a tool to keep the peace and don't really care what you do as long as it doesn't bother anyone else. Sure there must be some bad ones out there, but it goes to show you that a different mindset can have a measurable effect on the outcome. [0]https://www.quakercloud.org/cloud/chicago-friends-meeting/announcements/friends-protest-even-handed-law-enforcement https://www.quakercloud.org/cloud/chicago-friends-meeting/an... (looks like they are still at it 400 years later)

driverdan 10y ago

In some rural communities police are on a huge power trip because they're some of the most powerful people in the small town. Some are good, some are bad, just like everywhere else.

morgante 10y ago

It's still good advice in general. I grew up in a small rural community. I'm sure the cops here occasionally do things like changing tires for people. They're also bullies who like to go on power trips. If they feel disrespected at all, they will beat you senseless (and have). Police across the US are almost universally bullies on power trips. The job of police offer is every bully's biggest dream: they can get paid to go around and abuse people while demanding respect from everyone.