Bad Cops

Posted on by

The other day, on one of my writer’s loops, someone asked a question about ‘bad cops’.  In fact, they were asking about LAPD officers who ‘go bad’.  They weren’t asking about a true incident; they were asking in reference to a story idea.  I offered my two cents to the discussion, but the question and comments offered by my fellow writers stayed with me.

Why is there such interest in cops who ‘go to the dark side’?  Every profession has bad apples, but when it comes to cops, there seems to be a morose fascination.  Living in L.A., I can tell you the media LOVES a bad cop story.  And, they will air that story over and over again.

Unfortunately when those few people who’ve been sworn ‘to protect and to serve’ fall from grace, it rubs off on anyone who wears the badge.  You don’t even have to work for the same police agency to get painted with the same wide brush.

But what you should know about ‘bad cops’ is that almost all officers who graduate from the police academy, aren’t thinking, ‘I can’t wait to get out of the academy so I can start doing…’  - fill in the blank.  No, those young officers are fired up about doing their job and doing it well.

When a cop ‘goes rogue’ (as the media likes to say), it’s for the same reasons a doctor, lawyer, mechanic, or burger-flipper crosses the line.  It could be greed, it might be revenge, I wouldn’t rule out pride, fear, lust or addiction – and these are just examples off the top of my head.

But what makes it so shocking – at least to me – is that the errant police officer has violated the trust of the people he or she has sworn to protect, while compromising his/her own personal integrity.   And it’s my opinion that’s what makes a ‘bad cop’ such a newsworthy/shocking event.

Society expects, and rightfully so, their police officers would do their jobs professionally, with dedication, with integrity, without prejudice and to the best of their ability.  The same way society expects a doctor to not perform surgery while high, or an attorney to siphon funds from a client’s bank account, or a mechanic to say he replaced a vehicle’s brakes…but he didn’t, or the burger-flipper to spit in food.

The bad news is there can be, and there are, rogue employees in any profession.  The good news is they are generally few and far between, and most of the time they’re caught, exposed and punished.  Unfortunately, no matter what the profession, we’re all losers when integrity is forfeited and when we find out about it, we want every last detail.

Until next time,

KMA367

10 thoughts on “Bad Cops”

  1. It’s always annoyed me when people, especially reporters, jump on any slip or perceived slips by the police. The ones who after a shooting always seem to come out and say, “Well, couldn’t they have something else before they shot him?” Well, you know what? They did.

    Sadly I think people believe cops enjoy the power their weapons give them and are ‘trigger happy’

    Funny how when cops do something good for their community the reporters are no where in sight. I wonder why that is?

    There’s no story in good deeds. But you can milk a mistake for days or even weeks and we all know if you say something often enough people will start to believe it.

  2. Hi Pat!

    Welcome!

    I think there are some big misconceptions out there about cops – some good and some bad.

    You are right about cops doing many good deeds that go unreported…but most cops aren’t in it for the fame, glory, or kudos. Most cops come to the job with the desire to help people.

    Many cops like to joke about, ‘I should’a become a fireman. Everyone loves them!’

    Thanks for your comment, Pat. Good to see you here.

  3. I have one of my cops jokes that when he retires he’ll sell guns since law enforcement is going to hell in a hand basket.

  4. It all comes down to the media needing a story (Remember the old line, “If it bleeds, it leads.” and a public who thrives on the negative or horrific. I’ve never understood it but then I usually see the good side of everything. That’s just who I am.

  5. Hi Pat B.!

    It’s a good line, and sadly, kind of true.

    Thanks for the follow-up.

  6. Hi Pat M.!

    Thanks for coming back again.

    Yeah, I know. I’m kind of hard on the media. One of my critique partners is a former journalist, and she sets me straight in my work if I get on my soapbox too high.

    It’s a good trait to be optimistic…in fact, I think research has shown it’s good for your health. So smile away!

  7. Kathy, I do believe most cops have their hearts in the right place. I’m glad Station D is only a stone’s throw from my house.

    In my story, a “bad cop” would help create more obstacles for my main character, but I don’t want to overdo it. Yeah, the guy (or girl) with the badge who misuses it often gets the most attention, in fiction or real life.

    My “bad cop” eventually gets caught. What do you think about fictional cops who get away with something illegal?

  8. Hi Kathy,
    I always love your real-world perspective on the police department. I’m currently reading Michael Connelly’s ANGEL’S GATE with the pros and cons of being on LAPD after OJ. Wow…makes me realize how much harder it was for officers to be “painted by the same broad brush.”
    Thanks for your interesting blogs. Look forward to more!
    Gillian

  9. Hi Marcia!

    Welcome!

    For me, whether it’s truth or fiction, I’d like cops who are doing wrong-doing to get caught.

    As a former cop, it drives me nuts when bad guys get away with criminal activity. And a bad guy is a bad guy – whether they’re wearing a badge or not.

    I would hope a fictional bad guy who ‘gets away with it’ in one book, would get caught in the sequel.

    Thanks so much for coming by and leaving a comment.

  10. Hi Gillian!

    Welcome!

    Oh, I haven’t read Angel’s Gate. I now must read it! OJ was bad, but after Rodney King, I thought, it was even harder. Of course, I was a less tenured cop after Rodney King. By the time OJ came around I was more seasoned. But what really changed the LAPD was the Rampart Scandal.

    Thank you for saying my blog is interesting. Often when I sit down to write, I haven’t a clue what to write about. Hopefully, it doesn’t show.
    Please stop by again!