Professor Nearly MELTS DOWN When Student Argues Police Are "Heroes"

Respect goes a long way.

I served in the military and in Law enforcement and now teach criminal justice, homeland security, and emergency management. The majority of police are good people. However, those good cops' inaction against bad cops is the primary reason all cops are labeled as dirty or corrupt, or racist. Police officers demand that the public respect them. However, they have become very disrespectful to their fellow citizens. Just listen to how police officers speak to people when they conduct a car stop. They behave in a condescending disrespectful manner while exhibiting a superiority complex over the taxpayers who they work for. Police officers believe that they should not be held accountable. I argue every day that soldiers sailors airmen marines and coast guards persons are held accountable for their actions and sent to prison. Why should police officers be exempt?

This is the problem that we teach kids to blindly follow anyone. What makes any of them a hero for choosing that profession? It's like if someone tries to tell servicemembers we're "heroes." No we aren't. I'm not a hero for choosing this profession. I chose it. No one forced me into it. I haven't done anything heroic in my service. Most people don't.

Cops aren't special because they wear a badge. Are there good people who are cops? Sure. That doesn't mean they're good cops when they continue to work in a system that was created to oppress certain groups of people. There aren't good cops when that system continues to thrive and they look the other way. There aren't good cops when the ones who are good report abuse and corruption and they get fired and blacklisted BY THEIR PEERS for reporting wrongdoing. So show me where the good cops are with all that?

I have told my daughter if she needs help to find an adult if she's at school - a teacher, daycare teacher. If she's out without me, she needs to find help wherever she can. I doubt she'll find a cop right away though. But I've told her if she has to she can get ahold of the police. She's pretty young still so I don't know a time she'd not be with me right now. When she's older, like teenager, we'll have another talk.

I know there are people who are good people and are cops - my stepsister's brother is a cop for 8 years now. He's a good guy - but he works in a crappy system. People I've served with became cops and they'll admit the system is messed up and needs fixed. They don't view themselves as heroes and they don't want anyone else to view them as heroes.

As a teacher would I "melt down" if a student said cops are heroes? No. That's odd to "melt down" over that. But I'd have a dialogue with them on the history of policing in the US and how it led to where we are today. There is systemic racism in this country, in our systems and especially in the criminal justice system and LE.

Before you ask, calling the police for help is my absolute LAST resort after my experiences with them. I will only call the police if there's no other option. Why? They don't prevent crime and they rarely solve crime. They generally escalate situations. That's me.

Libeled? Don't think you're using it in the right context here.