What makes a good police officer?

It seems only fitting to dedicate a column to the upcoming Peace Officers Memorial Week beginning Monday.

[Fred Mangels]

"As I finish up my 17th year here at the Eureka Police Department and look forward to number 18.".
I take it this means it's not so bad working under Chief Nielsen after all?

[anon]

I think you missed the point of the article Fred.

[tinman12]

A good cop is one that can shoot a moving dirtbag....

[Citizen X]

Hey Frank, er I mean Susie

What does the Police officers code of ethics say about anonymously smearing co-workers with unsubstantiated gossip?

That does not sound very ethical but you appear to condone that sort of thing.

[A real citizen]

Hey Garr, I mean Citizen X -

A code is only worthwhile for those who have ethics. Not surprising you have to ask someone else what's in the code.

[argumentum]

What earned the Eureka Police Department the respect of Eureka's citizens was its even-handed, humane, effective enforcement of the law. Police officers who are modest, not boastful. Kind, not pushy. The kind of people who invite cooperation, not confrontation. And of course, who can handle whatever is thrown their way by agressive law-breakers. I believe most EPD officers still meet that standard. I hope that any officers in the EPD who don't meet that standard will look elsewhere for employment.

[Masked Patriot]

a good cop follows orders from the bankers and guards the federal reserve banka to protect the debt ratio sheets the bankers have over the American People.
A good cop also hands out fluoride chewing gum to minority children and pays for their vaccines from donation only events where people can look into the eyes of oppression and drop coins in a bucket.
Good cops would even be cops because they would feel great sorrow in supporting the theft of American's savings through what is called taxation. Good cops would be rebels and would meet at The Green Dragon Tavern.

[Suzie Owsley]

I get tired of saying this... but I am not "the blogger" and have never left a message on "the blog."

Ask me to my face and I will always tell you the truth.

I am always willing to take a lie detector test. Are you?

[Jaydog]

A good cop cares more about his/her community than towing the company line, more about the people in their community than about moving up in rank, more about public safety and justice than cover ups, purjery and institutionalized bigotry.
I don't care for cops much, or authority for that matter, but the cops I met up in Arcata/ Eureka were pretty frigging cool. I found them helpful and understanding. They were not as condescending as most I've encountered. There was that ranger hell bent on busting smokers who would go OUT OF THEIR WAY to smoke somewhere where those who might be offended were no where around (redwood forest). But one bad apple don't spoil the bunch.

[beachcomber]

Good cops are those that haul fifty pounds of gear and go out every shift to protect the people, even the people that were calling them "baby killers" five minutes before they called 911 for help. The are out there in spite of internal departmental friction, in spite of negative "anonymous" bloggers. They will protect us no matter what, no matter who...no matter how because that's what they signed on to do.

[EuRICO Statute]

Not being prejudiced against 215 recipients, Hippies, Mexicans, Blacks, or Rednecks makes a good cop.

[EuRICO]

..or Native Americans.

[john]

your gay

[matt]

protect the innocent, fight for whats right, catch the bad guy, save the day, speak truth,

only enforcing common law
not admiralty law

http://www.barefootsworld.net/admiralty.html

[matt]

Masked Patriot wrote:

a good cop follows orders from the bankers and guards the federal reserve banka to protect the debt ratio sheets the bankers have over the American People.
A good cop also hands out fluoride chewing gum to minority children and pays for their vaccines from donation only events where people can look into the eyes of oppression and drop coins in a bucket.
Good cops would even be cops because they would feel great sorrow in supporting the theft of American's savings through what is called taxation. Good cops would be rebels and would meet at The Green Dragon Tavern.

your a good person masked patriot.
keep up the fight warrior of truth
you got my back when the !%$! goes down
i will be on your side
http://www.barefootsworld.net/admiralty.html

[Cop Wants Donut]

My pistol is long and large with six rounds ready to go.

[argumentum]

Cop Wants Donut wrote:

My pistol is long and large with six rounds ready to go.

What!? No speed-loaders!?

[Just Me]

Total opposite of previous posts of mine, I have something GOOD to say about Eureka Police. I had been soured on EPD by the reprehensible behavior of one officer earlier this year. Recently, however, I have had reason to see two amazing young officers in action. They were calm, caring, even-handed, respectful and respectable. I hope they are typical of the EPD new guard, and that the old guard will step up to the example of these two, or fade away.

We don't hesitate to criticize, as is our right, but we also need to acknowledge when good officers behave honorably in helping us. Too much blanket negative criticism could very well turn the good new officers into the same embittered power-trippers that have given EPD a bad name among many community members in the past.

Kudos to the decent officers who do their jobs well!