I think you and Suey point to what I think are two crucial issues.
First, that there is no longer respect for the office, which means each officer is treated with disrespect. Michael Bumpus wrote something recently about how his croticism of Mr. Obama might have been construed as disrespectful by a friend on FB. He brought out that point, about having to respect the office he holds.
I don't think very many people respect much of anything anymore, least of all themselves. Everyone knkws their rights, but forgets the corresponding responsibilities.
Second, your post points up the extremes that people are charged with today, that in former times, when commonsense prevailed, might have been helping the drunk get his bike back home, with a warning. We have, in our lifetimes witn ssed the Death Of Common Sense. There is a book by that title, and it speaks to just this effect...that a law is written now to try to cover every occasion, rather than relying on the doctrine in law of "a reasonable man".
We used to consider what a reasonable person would have done in those circumstances. Niw, it is a matter of how many hairs we can split, on trying to ckver every possible thing a human being might do.
I was shocked a few weeks ago, to see an arrest report for a 20- year-old, whose name I didn't recognize, to claim my rental house down the lane as his home address. He was listed in the newspaper woth charges of rape, threatening to burn or bomb, and several more scary charges. I called the detective we knkw well up here, learned the details, and that he is in lockup awaiting trial, not just next door, witha molotov cocktail and a match.
That was a story of the guy and his " baby mama" several miles away, so at least not here. After dealing ng with our last two dumbass employ es, and their social problems that became legal problems, I really a, not so concerned, even at the severity of these charges...there is just SO much drama anymore. Some domestic situations are horrendous, asSuey describes, and some are just people withan adtenaline addiction, who have nothin better to do than dial 911 and chock up the court system.
I would hate to be a cop, or as Suey is, related to a cop. It is a thankless job, constantly drawing you into the drama.
There is also a concern in some circles about the " militarization" of civil law enforcement in America. I think this really accelerated after 9/11. When we see a terrorist at every turn, the whole meaning of a " cop on every corner" changes in relation to that perception.
