If you want to know what kind of people will be in a job, on average, consider what the job incentivizes and how that might appeal to the motives of different kinds of people.
Law enforcement ostensibly promotes an image of community service and protection. So you will find people that wish to do those things seeking to become police officers.
But the reality is that police work itself, policies, and legal protections for officers is far more focused on the state sanctioned use of force, the strict adherence to laws for citizenry but far more lax enforcement on officers themselves, and the authority of command given to officers in interactions with them. So for someone who wants to posture as a tough guy, to dominate over people with legal authority, to commit acts of violence with little, if any, consequence for themselves or recourse for he victim, and to remain in good standing in much of society because of the aforementioned promoted image, it serves those desires too.
And due to the us vs them mentality, the lack of liability, and the tight community formed just within law enforcement and those who work directly with them (prosecutors/DAs, judges, mayors, etc) that do not hold each other accountable unless they do something to violate that community (like reporting abuse of authority, excessive force, gross negligence, etc. on fellow officers), then the police culture itself incentives pushing out the cops with good intentions that may stir up “trouble” in the community in favor of those who will allow or actively propagate corruption and collusion.
If a job incentivizes and/or protects aggression, violence, and pretty crime, don’t be shocked when it’s full of aggressive, violent, petty criminals.
“Male bullies become cops, female bullies become nurses” is something I hear often and it makes sense. Power over vulnerable people attracts these specimen. Are ALL in these professions like that? Of course not but probably a higher average than in other fields.
If you want to know what kind of people will be in a job, on average, consider what the job incentivizes and how that might appeal to the motives of different kinds of people.
Law enforcement ostensibly promotes an image of community service and protection. So you will find people that wish to do those things seeking to become police officers.
But the reality is that police work itself, policies, and legal protections for officers is far more focused on the state sanctioned use of force, the strict adherence to laws for citizenry but far more lax enforcement on officers themselves, and the authority of command given to officers in interactions with them. So for someone who wants to posture as a tough guy, to dominate over people with legal authority, to commit acts of violence with little, if any, consequence for themselves or recourse for he victim, and to remain in good standing in much of society because of the aforementioned promoted image, it serves those desires too.
And due to the us vs them mentality, the lack of liability, and the tight community formed just within law enforcement and those who work directly with them (prosecutors/DAs, judges, mayors, etc) that do not hold each other accountable unless they do something to violate that community (like reporting abuse of authority, excessive force, gross negligence, etc. on fellow officers), then the police culture itself incentives pushing out the cops with good intentions that may stir up “trouble” in the community in favor of those who will allow or actively propagate corruption and collusion.
If a job incentivizes and/or protects aggression, violence, and pretty crime, don’t be shocked when it’s full of aggressive, violent, petty criminals.
“Male bullies become cops, female bullies become nurses” is something I hear often and it makes sense. Power over vulnerable people attracts these specimen. Are ALL in these professions like that? Of course not but probably a higher average than in other fields.