I think this is more complicated than it might seem at first, the
choice that is.
My little sister just became a cop this year, so I have just recently been able to access the cop/authoritarian mindset on a personal level.
I can say w/o a shadow of doubt, that (currently at least) little sis would never follow orders she knew to be harmful to the public, or "turn on on her fellow man" so to speak.
The real problem though imo, is that so many of your average police officer's actions are completrly second nature. They train the recruits so intensely, so that they may be able to react quickly in a situation where a non "trained" civillian would hesitate (stop/think) before acting. The training really does take over for them in those situations.
Sis was just telling me a story about a recruit who had been extensively trained to disarm a criminal pointing a gun in his face. In training, after disarming the instructor, the recruits would immediately hand the gun back. This poor recruit developed a "training scar" which unfortunately was discovered in a real situation, where he actually disarmed a criminal, only to instantly return the firearm, and consequently he was shot in the shoulder. He did survive to tell his story though I can't imagine actually coping to that.
Anyway the point is that on some level, training is essentially brainwashing, to elimninate the individual mindset, in some cases almost to the point where there really is no "choice". Theoretically this could be a good or bad thing, but the nature of the training must be examined first, not only what is the actual intention, but what might this training eventually breed. That is to say, will "by the book" training eventually result in the creation of an inhumane and unconscionable officer like
this? And is that a good thing in the eyes of the "trainers"?
It is sickening, to see the way that police/military training can almost completely override humanity training (conscience). If I had witnessed that, I might be in jail right now on account of my humanity training. I couldn't in good conscience allow a 200 + lbs. guy (cop or not) drop a 100 pound little girl. There's a good chance that i might have swung w/o thinking actually.
I don't know if little sis will eventually forget her humanity training, I can indeed see it beginning to happen as she dives deeper into the cop world, she's beginning to identify as cop more than anything else. I'll be there though as much as I can, to remind her that she is a smart individual and that she can think for herself.
The bottom line is that despite the training, police/millitary personel are just people, and when we put up these barriers between us and "authorities", it helps them to further separate themselves from and almost dehumanize civillians (and vice versa). In most cases these "authorities" are the most manipulated stratum of society, so it is them that we need to get to most urgently. I'm trying w/ little sis, but it's not easy.
So give a cop a chance, be friendly as long as they are. They more than likely joined to honestly help the public, but the anti-authority behavior may have soured them on the general public over time as they deal w/ people. So when dealing w/ a cop, treat 'em like a human being and hopefully you'll receive the same. Maybe it's just what they need to remind them that there are good people out there who appreciate what they do. We really do need them on our side. I've found that a smile usually helps get thing off on the right foot.
