Originally Posted by OTB
Here's the problem with being a cop....no matter what happens, you get blamed.
Scenario 1. Sees 30 bikers doing wheelies down the freeway; takes registration info and when he tries to stop; they flee. He does not pursue, calls it in but one of the buttheads makes an oopsie 5 miles down the road and kills a bystander.....
Result: Inflammatory story on "Eyewitness News at 5" and the lead is that "Citizen killed by biker, cops do nothing".
Scenario 2. As original story.
Scenario 3. Sees 30 bikers doing wheelies, tries to perform traffic stop, pursues bikers and one of the pursuants runs into the back of a semi at 130+.
Result: Family, friends of the dead biker picket the capitol, calling for an end to "dangerous high speed pursuits" and vow to sue the state/city/county and cop for millions of dollars for wrongful death. Suit of course has no merit, but it will cost the cop thousands to defend his name.
Folks at the state capitol debate new restrictive legislation to ban/curtail "sport bikes"...insurance companies lobby govt and manufacturers to restrict horsepower/displacement....other insurance companies consider dropping sport bike coverage altogether.......
No matter what limited choice(s) a cop makes in this scenario; if it turns out badly, (and it's likely going to unless folks pull over like they should) he's going to take the heat from somebody.... and the Monday Morning Quarterbacks are all going to judge something he has a second or two to make a decision over.....
Ya, ya, I know; "If a cop can't stand the heat, he shouldn't be a cop,,blah, blah...". I AM going to sound like an olde farte, but I guess that is BECAUSE I AM ONE...but if you are doing the usual sportbike pack crap on the freeway (wheelies, stunting, ect.) when the blue lights come on, it's time to pull over and take your lumps (tickets). Nothing is worth endangering the lives of innocents.
And blaming "bad cops" for your bad behavior is just a smokescreen. I have dealt with cops a lot (sometimes daily when I was teaching) and have a couple Baltimore City cops I consider regular and good friends; there are some good ones, some so-so, and some not very nice at all... but it takes a special type of person to put on the uniform and go put yourself out there day in and day out...and time on the job and seeing what you see has a tendency to skew your perspective on people in general towards suspicion and distrust, even for the very best of people....
If you are young, regret is made from the stuff we can't take back and would if we knew better at the time.
Perhaps we should spend or energies talking to and trying to discourage our risk-taking buddies.......
For what it is worth.
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