“Police officers AREN’T our friends”

[Anonymous]

So said my teenage son to his five-year-old brother. For the first time in my life, I stayed silent on this topic.

[Anonymous]

Wow, OP. That's deep. And then ,everyone started clapping!

[Anonymous]

If your sons are black, he’s right.

[Anonymous]

I agree with your son. Mr. Rogers and his advice to seek out the “helpers” no longer applies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with your son. Mr. Rogers and his advice to seek out the “helpers” no longer applies.

OK, so you won't be calling the police if someone breaks into your home? You won't be calling the police if you see or hear a neighbor beating his wife? You won't be calling the police if you drive by your elementary school, and the windows are smashed in?

I demand justice for George Floyd. But I'm also not such a hypocrite as to say that all police = bad when I know damn well who I would call if I were robbed at gunpoint again, as I was four years ago.

[Anonymous]

Your son has wisdom. My white dd is afraid of police for her black friends' sakes and I've started overhearing it coming up in her dollhouse play, (along with watching her do lockdown drills).

[Anonymous]

It's basically the awareness people should have about HR. HR may be a helpful presence on occasion, but ultimately they are there to serve the interests of the company. Police serve the interests of the government and people in power. Can they be helpful, sure. But they ultimately are not there to serve your interests.

[Anonymous]

Police officers aren't your friends. They especially aren't your friend when you break the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Police officers aren't your friends. They especially aren't your friend when you break the law.

Or even suspected of breaking the law and for a petty crime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with your son. Mr. Rogers and his advice to seek out the “helpers” no longer applies.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Police officers aren't your friends. They especially aren't your friend when you break the law.

When push comes to shove cops only save their own asses. I lived in downtown Baltimore during the riots. They weren’t helping me. (And in case it wasn’t clear, I wasn’t rioting or even protesting.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So said my teenage son to his five-year-old brother. For the first time in my life, I stayed silent on this topic.

Poor parenting.

[Anonymous]

I mean no. Isn’t that obvious. Just like at work, HR isn’t there for you, it’s to protect the workplace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with your son. Mr. Rogers and his advice to seek out the “helpers” no longer applies.

OK, so you won't be calling the police if someone breaks into your home? You won't be calling the police if you see or hear a neighbor beating his wife? You won't be calling the police if you drive by your elementary school, and the windows are smashed in?

I demand justice for George Floyd. But I'm also not such a hypocrite as to say that all police = bad when I know damn well who I would call if I were robbed at gunpoint again, as I was four years ago.

Here’s the thing: I will call the police if I have to. I have had relatives, friends, and co-workers who were and are police officers that I’ve trusted with my life and well-being. But, having said all of that, I will never know, when I call 911, if the officers responding will be Officer Friendly or Officer From Hell Willing to Murder Me Nonchalantly While His Colleagues Watch. The key, for me, is that while many can be reasonably sure that a police officer will help them, or at least not deliberately hurt them, I have the deep layer of risk that’s associated with having to find out the hard way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So said my teenage son to his five-year-old brother. For the first time in my life, I stayed silent on this topic.

Poor parenting.

Nope, it’s great parenting. Realistic and helpful.