Police Racism in Munich

Your MHO sucks, IMHO. Some cops are racist, I'll give you that. So are some politicians, doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers, personal assistants, designers and firefighters. Some cops also get prejudiced because they see the same "stereotypes" in their work day in, day out. If everytime you are called to break up a bar fight, the same type of person is involved, you would soon start to think most of those type of people are likely to start a bar fight. Being a cop is a bloody hard job, and as so many people here have shown, often thankless.

Hear hear! In the States (don't know about Canada! ) these guys often put their lives on the line for their job.

So @showen you're saying that because they deal with many ghetto blacks that it's okay to be racist towards blacks and stop them at will?

And yeah, I guess we can disagree... I've known plenty of cops and they'll tell you many of their co-workers are racist... and were so long before they joined the force.

Given the authority we give the police they *must* be held to a higher standard... and IMHO they should be paid more as well.

Exactly - if you're doctor's a racist, you can just pick another doctor.
You don't get that option if the cop who picks you up is a racist.

So, do you honestly think that all these "racist" cops are there to just try and make the lives of their least-favourite group miserable?
Or could it be that they are for the most part actually are trying to protect the innocent?

I give you "checking for snow on cars" as exhibit A. Obviously these cops are taking an unfair stance toward lazy people.

Where did showem say that she justifies them being racist towards blacks? She just used the example of always arresting the same type of person in a bar (it could be drunken rednecks...). Who mentioned blacks? Of course there are racist police, just like there are racist people everywhere (unfortunately), however looking for racism everywhere isn't particularly productive either.

That's just part of their job... as is directing traffic - most cops hate that part of the job and would rather be solving some real crime.

And I do think that having authority over people (and getting paid for it) is a strong driver for many to become a cop

How about adding Toytowners to the list.

Lately I have been reading a few posts pointing in that direction as well.

I think it's a strong driver to becoming a teacher, dentist and a manager as well. Such nonsense.

As for picking a new doctor, what about a teacher? Or a boss? There are plenty of professions where someone being a racist or sexist will affect your future, never mind your present. Can't always so easily pick one of them.

@roots: which ones? I must say, i haven't noticed any but then i don't read all the threads (honest!)

yep, sorry did read a bit odd if you didn't know me.

@showem... teachers, etc... come on... a cop is a different league, that argument is nonsense

Anyway I guess it's just all opinions... I grew up in 70's San Francisco where the idea was the only way to have a healthy society was to "Question Authority"... and I firmly believe it must be done... even when they authority is giving you clean streets, a great economy, etc - because you never know what they might be doing behind the scenes to some small group (or even in front of the scenes).

As an extreme example I give you Munich/Germany a few years ago

You say it's a different league, I say it's all controlling authority.

I grew up in the 6 years later than you with someone who has gone on to become a cop and then marry one. I know her and many of her friends and colleagues. I know their motivation is not what you suppose and I know most have been hardened by the career they have chosen. I also know that they would be the ones there to help you if you called, no matter the colour of your skin.

And dat's all I'm gonna say on dis fer now.

but thats in Canada presumably?

I don't disagree there and there are many fine officers (that again I think are way underpaid)... however there are far too many bad ones and the "brotherhood" protects them... for one to say "all cops are good" is about as much nonsense as one saying "all cops are bad". Good cops should be rewarded and bad ones should get military style justice as they have abused a public trust and authority.

@showem... yeah, I guess I should stop and get some work done

It is worth noting that a lot of the police in Munich aren't from Munich. They are the 2nd son of a farmer in Hinterkühfladen in Niederbayern and aren't going to inherit so they join the police force and get the dreaded assignment to work in Munich.

They simply aren't used to a city that is 25-30% non-German, where kids are mouthier and have less respect for those in power, where there's gays, where people are gonna being doing H in the station and stuff.

A lot of them live in Munich 5 days a week and go home to the family at the weekend. All their friends are at home and they spend their whole off duty time in the police living quarters.

A couple of years ago the Federal Government floated the idea of allowing non-German Citizens to join the police. In Britain, Commonwealth and Irish Citizens are also hired. The idea was that if "so-called" Ausländer were in the police the gulf between the police and non-Germans would narrow.

Who made the first screams of NEIN! NEIN! NEIN! (pun intended) ?

Gerwerkschaft der Polizei

We've discussed Munich and racism before I think.

I wouldn't want to look non-Wasp in Munich. Even as a WHITE Auslander I've suffered rudeness and unpleasantness from Fritz.

Isn't that slightly oxymoronic?
"When I went to Italy I got abuse from those wops too..."

Grtho has a good point there. The police force is only a subset of the society it is meant to protect and police.

I've lived until recently in a small village where I was almost the token auslander. But because I'm pretty well integrated a lot of people including germans my age would let slip with racist comments in my presence. Someone wouldn't notice their mistake while others would give you the old "we don't mean you we mean the others" i.e non-white, non-german speaking foreigners. It will take a long time for that to be eradicated.

You get exactly the same kind of thing in Ireland though.

Education, education, education.

Very good point. Too bad that idea was shot down because it would really improve relations between the police and the non-german population if people see more police officers who look like them.

Like in England.

We've got a Sikh and two West Indian PCs I believe.

The people of Bradford feel so much more comfortable now.

The RCMP in Canada, have been allowing 'other cultures' applying, heck they even get special status if they are Aboriginal into the Police Training program for years. Not really sure if its help relations, but I do know some Natives that are police, and they hate it! Reverse discrimination on them, as the other Natives say they've gone white!

When i lived in Vienna Austria i found them extra smarmey bastards. When i grow ma beard like now i found not the coppers but the shop keepers not helping me at all thinking i was Eastern. Ive had fights...oh god ive had fights... no physical punch ups ... its not worth splitting a nail over those dick wads.

I have my English car over here and was driving with 2 friends visiting me from England to Salzburg.

A un-marked police car pulled us over into a services, and the coppers asked for my license and all the ID's of everyone in the car.

My friend had 2 mobile phones on the dashboard and the copper proceeded to take them away to the copper car and i assume he checked they werent stolen.

Found it very weird that they check mobile phones over here, reading another post, they seem to like to do that.

We all look very White-European, but are myself and 1 of my friends do have longer hair (rock n roll influences).

I get mistaken for a German all the time. and havent had any bother yet from the coppers (touch wood).

I dont carry ID and I havent the german id either, so maybe they will have a right go at me sometime.

So what did you show them?

sorry

i do carry ID when im gonna travelling long distances or to another country, even if that is in EU

but when going out in Munich i dont carry ID, so if i get pulled up on the street, i will show them my english driving license and try and explain how in england there isnt an ID card (well not yet)

no i don't carry my ID but i know i should and i know of people that were id'ed for no reason