69LM1, Before I retired I always gave respect to anyone that I came across. I've never been above the law. To everyone bitching about cops writing tickets in school zones I'll say this, until you have had a child or loved one killed by a speeder and/or reckless driver, you should not complain. I have had a friend killed by a reckless driver. He left a wife and two small children behind. Just for the record I hated working traffic unless someone did something blatantly stupid in my presence. In fact I always believed that a verbal warning to ANYONE usually does the trick. On the other hand I have put a fellow police officers relative in jail basically because they thought that they were above the law. I preferred working and responding to violent crimes (armed robberies, purse snatching, etc...) I worked patrol and S.W.A.T. as a sniper for years. Even though I dislike traffic it is part of the job. Numerous felony arrest are made pursuant to traffic stops. A kidnapped woman was accidentally rescued from a car's trunk as the result of a "routine" traffic stop. Lord knows that New Orleans needs alot of help (as it always has) and probably every department could use larger street crimes units. I personally know several N.O.P.D. S.W.A.T. officers and they are more frustrated than anyone. As far as SOME cops being jerks, well that is the case every where with every type of job. There are alot of police officers that I cannot stand because of their attitudes and personalities. My point is that not all police officers are above the law, tax payer abusers.
