I agree that they are only human with all the associated foibles of the human BUT!! some get a bit full of their own self importance and power.
Even the mates that are serving members roll their eyes at the antics of some of their members. The Traffic Managemant Group coppers arnt very well liked even within the Force, the old "Book their own grandmothers" phrase gets a workout and, they seem to be percieved as a political arm for the Goverment.
As a long serving Seargent told me "they get a phat chasing people" and Hilary was despairing at the direction the Vic Police Farce was heading!!
And this was around 15 years ago. (He predicted loss of manpower and the diminishing of entry standards and being more political even that long ago!!)
I CAN and DO understand the shit that they have to put up with, but dont piss down my back and tell me its raining when the crap regarding road safety gets spouted by the Safety Nazis and they are sanctimoniously
lecturing me on how I should be riding my bike when :
1. The riding strategies that I use have kept me safe and relatively unscathed over 40 years!! (When the authorities dont, and have never given a shit!!
)
2. The person giving the lecture has never ridden, and doesnt like bikes.(Unqualified and biased?? You Betcha!!)
3. The stats that are used are oft quoted and are selective to support their strategies. (Lies, damned lies and statistics!!)
I have good friends who are cops and they are great people, but the unfortunate thing is that they pull away from everyone who aint "In the Job" and therefore the public dont get to know them over a beer and a barbie.
Maybe if that happened a bit more there would be less of an "Us and Them" mentality on both sides??
Unfortunately even the cops within their different sections have respect issues, like that which seems to appear between the average Uniform at the local station and the Traffic Cop.
Maybe if the Public felt they were being treated with respect and not being used as cash cows (Vic motorcycle levy springs to mind??) the relationship would be better.