2008 Woodie Awards
Bad reputation not necessarily deserved
by Matthew Jackson
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: Opinion
It seems to me that many people often speak negatively about police officials. It's usually something along the lines of, "The police ruined the fun" or ,"If the police hadn't come, it would have been a great party." In my experience, however, the police, for the most part, have been helpful and fair.
There is a stereotype that police officers are just out to ruin your fun and get you in trouble. To me this is the farthest thing from the truth. Admittedly there are cases of police brutally and officers abusing their power, but I think that those cases are the exception, not the rule. In the vast majority of cases, I believe that police officers are just trying to keep us safe, in some cases even from ourselves.
To look at this at a more local level, look at the campus police. It seems like I always hear that the campus police ruined the fun or that they just don't care about the students. I think that is absurd. In almost every one of my dealings with the campus police they have done everything they could to help me. When the lock to my dorm room broke, a campus police officer did everything he could to help me get back into my room. We were unsuccessful and I had to use other means; but the point is he tried. Just last Saturday night a campus police officer allowed me to run into a locked building to grab something I had forgotten. Have I mentioned I have a bad track record with locks?
I know that some would argue that the campus police force is more laid back and willing to help than the average police officer. I relate to this my experience with a member of the Georgia State Patrol. He pulled me over for speeding. I was guilty as charged. When I pulled off the road my tire blew out. The police officer proceeded to assist me in changing my flattened tire before writing me the ticket. I would have been trapped on the side of the road without his help. Did I mention I have trouble with tires too?
I think that it's important to remember that the police are here to enforce the laws, not to interpret them. When they arrest someone or otherwise stop a person from doing something, they are just enforcing the laws that are in the books. We should remember that laws are there for a reason and that by living here we have agreed to live by the laws of this nation.
I think the police force deserves a bit more respect than it typically gets. Of course there are corrupt police officers, but to judge them all based on those individuals is not fair. The vast majority of the police force, in my opinion, is working for our safety and well being.
There is a stereotype that police officers are just out to ruin your fun and get you in trouble. To me this is the farthest thing from the truth. Admittedly there are cases of police brutally and officers abusing their power, but I think that those cases are the exception, not the rule. In the vast majority of cases, I believe that police officers are just trying to keep us safe, in some cases even from ourselves.
To look at this at a more local level, look at the campus police. It seems like I always hear that the campus police ruined the fun or that they just don't care about the students. I think that is absurd. In almost every one of my dealings with the campus police they have done everything they could to help me. When the lock to my dorm room broke, a campus police officer did everything he could to help me get back into my room. We were unsuccessful and I had to use other means; but the point is he tried. Just last Saturday night a campus police officer allowed me to run into a locked building to grab something I had forgotten. Have I mentioned I have a bad track record with locks?
I know that some would argue that the campus police force is more laid back and willing to help than the average police officer. I relate to this my experience with a member of the Georgia State Patrol. He pulled me over for speeding. I was guilty as charged. When I pulled off the road my tire blew out. The police officer proceeded to assist me in changing my flattened tire before writing me the ticket. I would have been trapped on the side of the road without his help. Did I mention I have trouble with tires too?
I think that it's important to remember that the police are here to enforce the laws, not to interpret them. When they arrest someone or otherwise stop a person from doing something, they are just enforcing the laws that are in the books. We should remember that laws are there for a reason and that by living here we have agreed to live by the laws of this nation.
I think the police force deserves a bit more respect than it typically gets. Of course there are corrupt police officers, but to judge them all based on those individuals is not fair. The vast majority of the police force, in my opinion, is working for our safety and well being.
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