I’m not an A-Hole
I’ve heard the stereotypes. All cops are coffee drinking, donut eating, lazy, power tripping, a-holes that were picked on when they were young and are now taking out their frustrations on the sweet, law abiding citizens that are just trying to mind their own business. Try to be original please. Look, I don’t go to work to make friends. I have one goal when I go to work, and that is to go home without any more holes in my body than I went to work with.
When I first started training, I carried a lot of gear. One time I made a traffic stop. I set up a little table on the side of the road and put a couple of chairs down. I invited the driver out of his car and we sat down and had some tea. I shared my philosophy of life with him, and how I integrated that philosophy into my police work. He shared some of his goals and experiences with me too. After we were done, he understood where I was coming from, and when I gave him his citation for failing to obey a traffic control device he didn’t think I was an a-hole. Later on that evening, my coach sat me down and explained to me why he didn’t really approve of my approach.
Now, I do things a little differently. You might say I’m an a-hole now. You would be wrong. What I am is a guy doing my job. My job is to keep the citizens in my jurisdiction safe. You might not understand how you’re endangering the public by accelerating through the yellow light, but I do. While I’m standing on the side of the road with my back to traffic isn’t the time for me to explain the intricacies of traffic laws. What it is time for me to do is get to the point. I’m going to do one of two things. I’m going to ask you not to commit the violation again, or I’m going to give you a citation. I’m a cop, not an a-hole. If you don’t want to interact with me, obey the law.
Cop Thoughts 
Dude you rock. I am not a blog reader guy, but this is very cool. @sumyunguy (Jeff in LA) and the 2 guys 1 brain podcast sent me here and they are right. This is awesome! I really enjoy the simplistic elloquence you write with that paints the picture, gets your emotions across, and is to the point. I want pictures. I want to see your sleeves. And I have some questions. Were you grandfathered into the police dept. with your ink or are you in one of the rare departments where they don’t make a big deal out of it. Feel free to write my email that I listed to post here. You are a cool guy and I think we would get along famously. I will be following your blog continuously. Keep up the good work.
Two for two, man. Awesome. I’m saving the rest of your blog for later.
Aw, this was a very nice post. In idea I wish to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and actual effort to make an excellent article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and under no circumstances seem to get something done.
I question whether or not you’re for real. Most real cops don’t have an axe to grind, they don’t want to prove anything to people. Many cop wanna bes DO.
I question whether you’re really a LEO. Prove it. Also, I don’t buy the story about the table and the tea, that’s just bullshit. Prove to me that you’re real. You can reach me on FB. I’ve interviewed six Portland police officers, retired and working, all available on my website. Not one of them would do or say the things you claim to have done.
So, like I said, put your money where your mouth is, and prove it.
Thank you.
TGK
TGK,
Everything Inkedcop writes is him putting his money where his mouth is. As for the six Portland police officers you interviewed not doing or saying the things he has, well, come on, now. You can’t be that naive. Do you pick your nose while interviewing people? Probably not. But that doesn’t mean you never pick your nose. It just has to be done sometimes, no matter what stigma comes from it. If you honestly think cops aren’t just like everyone else, you are wrong. We just don’t usually let the rest of the population see it. Inkedcop doesn’t seem to have that problem. Oh wait, yes he does. After all, he’s anonymous, because unfortunately, being honest about our inner thoughts can get us labeled incorrectly, or worse yet, fired. If the other cops in Portland didn’t tell you all these things, it’s because you either asked the wrong questions, or they didn’t think you could handle the truth.
Keep reading this blog. Inkedcop is doing you a favor.
One Cop sticking up for another.
Thank you “One Cop Sticking up for Another” I appreciate your comments. I’m trying to think who you might be, as your writing style reminds me of a retired PPB cop I know. In any event, this was made a long time ago, my original comment that is. I was biased because of talking to a couple of guys who turned out to be cop wanna bes. In any event, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment. I support LE as always and will have my 7th LE interview transcribed soon, with Bernie Guisto.
Thanks again and no, I never pick my nose in the presence of others, but rather in the ladies room…LOL…
T.
LMFAO! I love your sarcasm! I applaud your ability to work with the general public also. Sorry it’s typically the deplorable scum of our society. Thank you for doing what you do!
First of all ive never met a cop that wasnt an a-hole.And even though you claim not to be an a-hole,you definitely sound like one w/o realizing it.Also i dont beleive some of the comments posted.I beleive you and your a-hole buddies had a hand in it.Have fun murdering some defensless kid wearing a hoody and harrassing afro-americans.A-HOLE
Mike, There are cops out there that are a-holes. Other cops think they are a-holes too. In my experience, the ratio of cops that are jerks to cops that aren’t is pretty consistent with every other sector of American society. In regards to you having never met a cop that wasn’t an a-hole, consider this: Most cops change tactics when dealing with someone that is an a-hole, typically resorting to tactics that are more blunt and simple because a-holes are usually obtuse and unreasonable. I don’t pick on any particular race, but please feel free to cite a specific incident you are personally aware of in which I was involved if you believe differently. I will admit that I do harass people. By definition, to harass means to disturb persistently and bother continually. If harassing criminals makes them think twice about committing crimes in my jurisdiction then I’ve done my job well. I love my job and will continue to serve my community to the best of my ability, including people that ignorantly believe they know how to do my job better than I do.
To accuse cops of “murdering defenseless kids wearing hoodies” is just ludicrous. It doesn’t happen. Trayvon Martin was ‘murdered’ by a stupid, untrained moron who tried to act like a cop and ended up incarcerated. Most LE officers are caring and want to make a difference. The cop haterz out there are motivated by their own bias and hatred. Get over it, you’re not accurate when you accuse all cops of being murdering animals…grow a brain cell…
Walking down a sidewalk is obeying the law yet I might still have to interact with you, see Terry v. Ohio, ultimately it comes down to an officer to decide. Obeying the law doesnt provide protection from temporary detainment and questioning
You mention Terry v. Ohio, less formerly known as a Terry Stop, in reference to being required to interact with a cop when you are obeying the law and just walking down the sidewalk. Apparently you don’t understand the case. The ruling on the case gives the police the right to briefly detain a person they have reasonable suspicion has been involved in a crime or is about to be involved in a crime. No where in Terry v. Ohio does it give the police the right to detain someone that is obeying the law and walking down the sidewalk. Contrary to your statement, obeying the law does provide protection from temporary detainment and questioning. Maybe you should read the entire case and not just the third result of your Google search.