[twizzlerheaded]

I recently responded to another post regarding this question but I figured I'd make a thread.

My question is : Why, in general, do we feel nervous when driving/passing by a police officer?

I know it sounds like a stupid question but I just don't get it. Police officers are there to keep the world a better place, to make sure all is right, to help the oppressed. They ensure justice and ensure criminals are adequately detained and eventually punished. Police officers or any law enforcement officers should be looked at as a big brother to lend a hand in time of distress.

So why do we, even if we have not committed any crimes, cringe or become even a little nervous when passing by these noble guardians. Shouldn't we feel relieved knowing in this vicinity nothing bad should happen because a cop is present?

Sorry if this is a stupid post but it truly puzzles me how this can be so. Please ignore this is you feel it is stupid, but I would appreciate any responses. Thank you.

[Ripose]

For my entire life I have had a fear of being accused of something I didn't do, so of course cops really bring out that fear. I mean what if look like a serial killer and I don't have an alibi. Makes me cringe just to think about it.
Also many cops are known for being butt-holes for no reason and if they want to they will always find something to charge you with.

The police work on fear based respect.

[tony fudo]

Big Brother is Watching Y OO U

[bass2187]

I think its because you have to be self conscious of what you are doing when you normally are not.

Mike

[Crazy Hitch]

Hi twizzler

Interesting question!

I don't know the answer.

But I know I get that twinge when I drive past them.

I never drink and drive or do illicit substances so I don't know what triggers it.

I think it's time for me to stop watching reality tv shows!

[Webgoji]

Because I don't trust them. The only difference between a criminal and most of the cops I've known is about 2 feet. The cops in my local town aren't bad and I don't get jittery around them. The Sheriff's patrol on the other hand are a bunch of thugs that I wouldn't let get within 5 feet of me or my family. They're a bunch of scum trying to rule our little town to a point it even pisses off the local cops.

When I go up to Wichita, those cops don't really bother me either. They have more important stuff to worry about than a middle-aged man in a 15-year-old S-10 pickup.

[geis]

Well, I don't agree with the premise of the original post, that they're there to protect people and help the oppressed. Maybe a few are, but most are there to uphold systems of power. Some are there to get more power for themselves. I mean, these people have the power of life and death and freedom over people with very little oversight. They can do pretty much whatever they want to people with little fear of consequences.

Read about the Stanford prison experiment if you want to see what power over people's lives does to normal people. That's the role we put police officers in when we give them a badge and a gun.

I was sexually abused for 16 years by a police officer, as was my sister. When we tried to have him investigated, no one was interested. The other officers didn't care about helping the victims or getting justice; they just cared about protecting their fellow officer. We weren't really even people to them.

So why do I feel fear when I see a police officer? Because I think that if I get noticed, I'm going to get raped again. I think that no one in power will care that it happened. I think that this person's badge and gun give them complete control over my life, and there's nothing I can do about it when they abuse that power.

[Pikku Myy]

For me.... because I am typically speeding and had to hit the brakes, lol

My late father was a police officer. My late uncle was a police officer. My brother is a correction officer. I grew up with police officers. I am not, and have never been, a police officer. But I am a U.S. Navy veteran. Consequently, I do not have any anxiety when I am in the presence of a uniformed police officer.

I think what you are getting at is what I call "performance anxiety." This is the type of anxiety that some people experience when speaking in public. I read a poll that claimed that more people are afraid of public speaking than death. I'm serious.

It is true that a police officer has the legal authority to give you a ticket or arrest you, but the police officer is subject to laws.

Let me ask you this: If you were 100% certain that that a police officer would not harm you, would you be nervous in the presence of a uniformed police officer? I think not.

The vast majority of police officers are good people that have an extremely difficult job. They put their lives on the line every day. As you said, it's a noble profession. Are there some corrupt police officers? Yes. Is there police brutality? Yes. Does racial profiling exist? Yes. Do some police officers use excessive force that results in injury or death of citizens or residents? Yes. Those police officers should be subject to the law. (I am not going to get into the symbiotic relationship between prosecutors and police officers--that's another post.)

So, don't get nervous when you are in the presence of a uniformed police officer. He or she is there to protect and serve you.

[Werewoman]

My PTSD sets off my nerves when I see a lot of things. Police officers are not generally one of them - unless the registration on my car is expired or something like that. I've known several, all good men and women who are underpaid and under appreciated who do the best they can within the limitations they are given.

Remember, the criminals don't have to follow the rules, but the cops do every time there's a confrontation between the two. There are a few officers that don't, I know, but the perception is that there are more bad cops out there because, let's face it, good cops doing their jobs correctly and ethically every day are not newsworthy.

I have to admit that because of my PTSD, one of my worst triggers is being accused of something I didn't do as I was beaten as a child for reasons I still don't understand. Even though I am not in the habit of breaking the law, I can only imagine what it would be like to be arrested and then being handcuffed by a stranger no matter if he/she is a good cop or not. I shudder to think how I would react if that happened. All I can say for sure is it would not end well for me because I don't think I could keep from completely freaking out. Trust me, it's not pretty when I freak out.

And, even though this is not necessarily relevant to this thread, I have to say....the families of police officers deserve our respect and admiration. Every time an officer leaves his/her home, they may never return alive.

WW

Because they are in a position of power....

[VB1313]

Considering I've had a police officer put his hand on his pistol and threaten me for merely "not speaking up" once (basically he seemed entirely willing to kill me just for being autistic) do I really need to answer this question? I know they're not all bullying fascists, but enough of them are that even law abiding citizens should avoid them if they can...

[Goldcrest]

I think when I see a policeman looking at me he will think I look guilty and must have done something wrong, so then I try not to look guilty... And end up looking guilty.

The other thing is I have seen them acting really aggressive when there is no need, when they are dealing with ordinary people, not criminals.

However, good and bad, as everywhere. My godson is in the police, and my aunt-in-law's brother was head of the Flying Squad at Scotland Yard. Many years ago...

Cops scare me because they have control in whether you go to jail or not

[twizzlerheaded]

Thank you for the positive comments, you all made valid points. You guys definitely helped me solve the question, thanks.