Top 13 misconceptions about the US police force imposed by films

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

How much do we know about the United States police, apart from long-standing stereotypes that are regularly imposed on us through American films. A few interesting facts from the life of a policeman will help to expand your horizons in this area.

For starters, it's worth noting that America's police force is as controversial as law enforcement in any country in the world. To begin with, cops don't really take bribes. They will provide advice within their competence, give directions. They do their jobs, defend, harass, arrest, issue traffic fines and speak at court hearings. At the same time, the police of this country is a closed institution, despite the attempts of the society to make its work transparent.

It is interesting!Constantly, in one or another state, it becomes known about not entirely legal or completely illegal cases of law enforcement officers, which are disclosed by FBI agents or journalists. The most interesting thing is that in such communities there are not one or two people, but dozens of cops. Bribes amount to several billion dollars, and there are dozens or even hundreds of victims. Over time, scandalous cases subside and are forgotten. And a new film appears on the screens, which tells the fate of another detective. And the population of not only America, but the whole world, perceives a person in uniform as a symbol of law and order.

What is the reality of the American police

There are several facts that allow you to get an idea of the institute itself and the people working in this system.

First fact. "US police" - this term is completely absent in this country. The fact is that all states have their own police department, which functions autonomously, independently of everyone else. Yes, there is a basic backbone of the structure of these controls, but to a greater extent they are strikingly different from each other.

Second fact. A police officer's salary is at least $ 40,000 per year or more. It increases based on the length of service of the police officer, the state, the city in which he works. All overtime hours are charged at 150% rate. In other words, an hour of overtime is paid as one and a half hours of "standard" time.

Third fact. And the American cops have a vacation. The first three years of service are twenty days, from the fourth year onwards - 26 days. The priority is determined according to the length of service - the one who serves longer is the first to go on vacation.

Fourth fact. If a few years ago the army service gave an advantage when joining the police, now everything is exactly the opposite - the length of service in the police is a plus if a person is sent to serve in the army. There are states where police officers do not want to work in disadvantaged areas. They are not even afraid of being fired. Therefore, police departments introduce special surcharges, the amount of which reaches ten dollars per hour.

Fifth fact. In the United States, they do not give a title for any merit or for length of service. At the very beginning of his career, a police officer receives the lowest rank - "detective" or "officer". Moreover, the overwhelming majority of police officers (approximately 90 percent) retire with this title.

Sixth fact. In America, the chief of police is a political, and only, position. In some small towns, a person is elected to this post by voting, just like councilors or mayors. But in most cases, the chief is appointed by the mayor either alone, or by prior approval of the candidacy with the legislative body of his state, members of the city council.

Seventh fact. If a person gets a job or is transferred to another police department, he loses the title that was assigned to him in the old place. He has to start from scratch - with the title of "detective" or "officer".

Eighth fact. Indeed, police corruption is under control and severely punished. Therefore, you should not even try to bribe a police officer in America. In 99% of cases, you will have to appear in court.

Ninth fact. There is no such thing as “attained” in the United States. The words of a police officer are trusted even when he interviews victims or witnesses on his own. If the testimony is false and fabricated by the officer of the order, he can go to prison for up to fifteen years.

If necessary, the cop can withdraw the car

Tenth fact. We know from the same Hollywood films that it is enough for a police officer to show his badge for a person to give him his motorcycle or car. And this is completely true. Every citizen is obliged to provide his transport to a police representative, if an urgent need arises.

Eleventh fact. We see in many films how detainees refuse to speak without a lawyer, demanding to call him. But things are a little different than we can imagine. If a person has a personal lawyer, he has every right to call him. If not, then he will see the lawyer only during the trial. The human rights defender is provided free of charge only to those who cannot afford to pay for his services.

Twelfth fact. In one police station, married couples are not allowed to work. Here they are sure that this has a negative effect on discipline. Also, if there is an emergency situation, when one of the spouses is in trouble, the work of the second partner is also disrupted. That is, the second spouse may be demoralized, and this will exclude full-fledged professional activities.

Thirteenth fact. The real punishment for American police and our law enforcement officials is accountability. It takes cops three to four hours to file a minor violation. Well, if a trial begins, then difficult everyday life begins for the servants of law and order.

Even this information allows us to understand that the life of the police in this country is not so cloudless. And not everything is as smooth in the system as one might think when watching films about brave cops.