RateMyCop.com Sparks Controversy

RateMyCop.com is a website that is fueling controversy. RateMyCop.com a website that allows users to rate cops based on their experience with them. Users rate them according to Professionalism, Fairness, and satisfaction. There are a lot of people who are not happy with this, a lot of them are cops. According to ABC Local, police officers are worried that this will put officers and their families in danger. They are worried that people will be able to get their personal information. RateYourCop.com does not release any personal information about the cops. It lists the cops names, and sometimes their badge number, which are both public information.

Everybody has had several experiences with different police officers. I have had both good and bad experiences. I think the site it a good idea it lets people have a say in things that have happened to them. In other industries nobody thinks twice about websites that rate other public service industries such as restaurants. This lets us rate police officers which in reality is another type of public service agency. It lets the public know when you have dealt with an officer that was particularly nice or particularly bad. The experiences that I have had with Police officers have always been good, unless it was a incident where I was unfortunately being pulled over. The couple times I have got pulled over I have had both good and bad experiences. It shows how much the officers attitude and demeanor makes a difference.

One time when I was pulled over I had a very good experience. I know it sounds crazy. I got a ticket, yet I had a good experience with the police officer. No, I wasn't happy that I got a ticket. But the officers attitude made all the difference. He was a trainee officer and had another officer in the car with him. I got pulled over for speeding. I was on vacation so he noticed that my license was from out of state. He asked why I was in that state and when I said I was visiting, he asked about my vacation, and said he was sorry for ruining it. He explained nicely that I was going over the speed limit. He was friendly and helpful rather then being a jerk about it. He did give me a ticket, and as much as I hate getting a ticket I didn't feel like he ruined my whole day. He even took the time to explain who I needed to call, and told me about traffic school in that state and explained that I might be able to attend on-line.

Another experience I had with a police officer was very different from the last experience. This officer pulled me over for speeding. He immediately walked up to my car, with an attitude. He was yelling at me, I know I was wrong for speeding but I didn't feel like he needed to yell at me. I tried to ask him a couple questions, and he ignored me. This was a terrible experience. I understand that officers have to deal with all kinds of people and they aren't always having good days. But I feel that if people are dealing with the public they should try hard to be nice and helpful. I respect the fact that he was giving me a ticket, I just wish he could have changed the manner in which he was doing it.

Everyones experiences with police officers are so different, I think being able to see other peoples experiences can be helpful. I think maybe officers will think more. Maybe they will understand that they can be in control and an authority figure without demeaning the people around them. I think this site could be an effective tool for the public.