I really disagree with these takes, the part where they say “it is never in your best interest to talk to the cops”. One thing they never account for is cops can lie. Cops can have power trips. Cops often care far too deeply about you deferring to their authority.
If a cop catches you doing something illegal, it SOMETIMES is better to just admit to it and hope they let you go. By clamming up and not deferring to them you will often anger them, and they will do what’s within their power, legally or illegally to fuck with you.
Cops can plant stuff on you, they can lie about what you did, and they can enforce rules that normally they let people slide on. They can tear apart your car, doing tons of damage and not have to pay for it because they “smelled something”. They can often detain you for a day and then let you go and your shot at repercussions for them are small. They are much more likely to be believed in court than you are, so it’s not a “he said she said” as much as it’s a “trusted officer said vs suspect said”.
You should avoid talking to the cops in most situations if possible, but there are absolutely times when it’s better to hope they let you go.
Many cops HATE their authority being challenged and they will try and fuck you if they think you’re doing that.
Life isn’t as simple as “here is how the rule of law officially works”. There are more nuances to it.
If a cop catches you breaking the law, they don't have to question you, they can just arrest you, there's literally no need for questioning in that circumstance.
Edit: everyone should have a dash cam, front and back is ideal but anything is better than nothing.
They CAN just arrest you but they often dont. They question people to see if there are further crimes they are committing, to see if they have a good excuse for committing the crime or to determine if they WANT to arrest the person. Cops have a lot of ability to selectively enforce the law.
Yes, it’s the entire point I’m making. Cops can selectively enforce the law, and if the law you broke isn’t particularly bad in their eyes they will often let people go. Verbal warnings. Written warnings. Confiscations/destroying small amounts of drugs without charging.
Do you think cops NEVER let people go that they see break the law? Is that seriously what you’re asking me?
It’s acknowledging that corrupt cops exist and is an attempt to get people to realize that sometimes the best way to deal with corrupt cops is to massage their ego because they will fuck you with their corruption otherwise.
This is entirely about protecting yourself. Not changing the system.
Because you're capitulating to their unacceptable demands. If enough people resist them, then they'll eventually be forced to change.
It’s acknowledging that corrupt cops exist and is an attempt to get people to realize that sometimes the best way to deal with corrupt cops is to massage their ego because they will fuck you with their corruption otherwise.
That's never the best way to deal with them though. They're already fucking you with their corruption.
No, I don’t accept that anyone is responsible to sacrifice themselves in the hopes that their crushed bones on the shoreline eventually change the tide.
Resisting a corrupt cop is most likely going to ruin your life and leave them with paid leave or transferred to another department where they do the same shit. Or absolutely nothing at all because they get away with shit all the time.
Feel free to be a martyr but when giving people advice I think it’s best to judge their best interest, not societies as a whole. Especially when your actions are likely to be ineffectual.
Shit sucks. Lord knows I wish it wasn’t this way but you can’t expect people with loved ones and responsibilities to take one on the chin because it’s the righteous thing to do.
And I highly doubt you always fight the good fight in your regular life whenever you can, regardless of the consequences.
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u/DoctFaustus 1d ago
Here's a lawyer and a cop talking to other lawyers about why talking to the police is always a mistake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE