What Does A Cop Do?

OP said: "What kind of personality traits do I need?"

You will not be able to be your own person. If you see something unethical, then you will be very discouraged from pointing it out. Google something called "The Blue Wall of Silence."

Any law enforcement today means being part of the problem instead of part of the solution. Police today are not your father's police. The common sense practiced by Andy Griffith is lost on what amounts to punkish behavior.

SWAT used to be for things like hostage situations. Now however, SWAT is used for low level "crimes" like weed.

Militarization includes police using surplus military equipment. Contrary to popular belief, the acquired vehicles are not free. Local police departments have to pick up the vehicles. There are costs with training, storage, insurance, fuel, maintenance, etc. These are not negligible costs.

Police are ineffective at many types of enforcement. A large example is police checkpoints (roadblocks). Research overwhelmingly shows that roadblocks are ineffective compared to saturation patrols for apprehending drunks. Research shows that roadblocks do not deter drunk driving. Police are simply, and lazily, interacting with law-abiding citizens at roadblocks. Research has also shown border guard INTERIOR checkpoints to be ineffective.

Cops are involved in routine asset forfeiture of people who are innocent. Police know that many people are unable to contest seizures because they lack money for legal fees or to go back to the state where the seizure occurred.

There is also an issue with consensual activity. Two adults making a marijuana transaction are considered criminals, even though both parties mutually agree to the transaction.

Contrary to popular belief, police exercise wide discretion. Police were recently dispatched to "crack down" on people reselling Denver Broncos playoff tickets. Police were wasting their time on, again, another consensual activity.

Thuggish behavior is everywhere because average people can now address it through new technology, such as live streaming, cell video, Youtube, discussion forums, etc. A glaring example is the thug cop who murdered homeless man Kelley Thomas. If you view the raw video, you can see the cop bait Thomas. The cop tells Thomas, "[these hands] are about to f*ck you up!" And f*ck up Thomas, he did--to the point of murdering him.

Today, there are dozens of websites listing not only individual officer abuse, but SYSTEMIC abuse. I will list just a handful of them below.

Eat donuts.

on the job you must be able to sit in a car for hours on end eating doughnuts. shoot black people in the back. hassle skater kids confiscate drugs off low level street dealers so you can take them yourself after shift

You people are ridiculous... Sure the system has its flaws as does any other agency in the entire freaking world. Stay behind your computers and pretend you know what's going on out in the real world. There are idiots in the police force just as there are idiots behind keyboards. At least one of the two actually has a life.
As for the question, I have no idea what a cop does, I'm not a cop. But what I do know is that without cops or law enforcement to implement the basic laws we live by, the world would be a much more chaotic place. It worries me that people have such a hatred for law enforcement when they don't fully understand the sacrifices that these people make every day. Like I said before, the system isn't perfect, not everyone is a good guy. But don't hate the whole because of the few. I respect your decision to become a Cop. And appreciate it.

Shoot black people for fun.

most new cops work the street and they are on third shift dealing with drunken idiots...the chance of you firing your weapon is like 1 percent... most cops never fire there gun... and remember most are in there 20;s... so they are learning themselves

Some kidnap, rape, and murder women.

It is a noble calling.

/sarc

Sum stupid question cops r oink

Read the Joseph Wambaugh books.

keep our streets safe by killing all the pricks who are weilding a knife

Jack ****

Rides around on a motor bike usually slow. Spends 2 hours a day making public contact. Usually stops to eat at a outdoor cafe so if some one wants to talk to him he is there. Checks expensive toys like bikes and such. So if he sees one left in the wrong yard he can return it. Helps criminals by removing them from the citizens who catch them for him. Can be bribed as often here people will offer to buy them a small cold water. That means set down so I can talk to you. Knows how to write up paper work right. Also caries a small first aid kit just in case. Lots of motorbikes here & such. Not much to tell the truth. But we do not have many here. If there is crime he makes a report. a second crime in a area he might suggest the citizen see the criminal they shot him for him or detain them. He does transport criminals to the hospital & then jail if one is found here. Not much crime here so they don't do much what few we have.