@libertybele
Not unless they EARN that respect.
@sneakypete I'm the other way... I'll give em their due until they step out of line. The badge is the point, not the cop. The structure of law and order is something I generally do respect, and it is something that is a necessity to an ordered society. And I have often, and will continue to lend myself to that task if they have need of my help.
In my mind, people who cuss cops are the very same as those who cuss military, having no true idea what life would be like without their defenses.
Are there a****** cops? Sure. There's a******* everywhere.
Are a certain kind of a******* attracted to the power that lies in law enforcement? YEP. Same kind as attracted to military power, IMHO.
But that does not mean they are all a******* in either case. In fact, BOTH are oath and honor based, and just like most military are devoutly patriotic as proven by their oath, I would say the same for LEOs in general.
So yeah. even as a frequent flyer in my yoot, even being on the wrong end of a billy club and an asp upon occasion... Even having had a cop's knee on my neck on more than one occasion...
Mostly I had it coming. And mostly I experienced a professionalism... And that is a broad swath of cops in points all over the west and points of the southern midwest to include Kansas City, and St Louis, and of course, Chicago.
Other than speed traps, and the occasional times I got drug through the knothole for no reason, And one time I needed them to return a favor that I got no satisfaction, As a whole, LEOs have my respect.