--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people have no idea what cops really…" description: "\"Most people have no idea what cops really do. They think cops give you a speeding ticket. They don't see the cops associating with professional crimina..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/douglas-valentine-52196_believe_most-people-have-no-idea-what-cops-reall_224860.jpg" --- # Most people have no idea what cops really do. They think… ![“Most people have no idea what cops really do. They think cops give you a speeding ticket. They don't see the cops associating with professional criminals and making money in the process. They believe that when a guy puts on a uniform, he or she becomes virtuous. But people who go into law…” quote by Douglas Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/douglas-valentine-52196_believe_most-people-have-no-idea-what-cops-reall_224860.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/douglas-valentine-52196_believe_most-people-have-no-idea-what-cops-reall_224860.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/douglas-valentine-52196_believe_most-people-have-no-idea-what-cops-reall_224860.jpg) > “Most people have no idea what cops really do. They think cops give you a speeding ticket. They don't see the cops associating with professional criminals and making money in the process. They believe that when a guy puts on a uniform, he or she becomes virtuous. But people who go into law enforcement do so for the trill of wielding power over other people, and in this sense, they relate more to the crooks they associate with than the citizens they're supposed to protect and serve. They're looking to bully someone and they're corrupt. That's law enforcement.” [Douglas Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-valentine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote claims that many police officers are motivated by power and corruption rather than public service, suggesting they align more with criminals than citizens. **In simple terms:** Police are portrayed as power‑hungry and corrupt. Key Takeaway Question motives and hold law enforcement accountable. Themes corruption power law enforcement trust ethics Mood cynical critical concerned Type political social analytical When to use this quote - community policing - policy reform - public oversight - media scrutiny Key Concepts authority moral decay institutional failure Questions to Reflect On - How does power affect police behavior? - What reforms can reduce corruption? A Different Perspective Not all officers are corrupt; many serve honorably. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Bully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bully/) [Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cop/) [Cops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cops/) [Cops Associating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cops-associating-2289855/) [Cops Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cops-really-2289854/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Law enforcement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-enforcement/) [Making money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-money/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Protect and serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-and-serve/) [Think Cops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-cops-270859/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Virtuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtuous/) ## Related quotes > [When you grow up in a city like Boston, where I grew up, a lot of kids became criminals or cops. I never really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-wahlberg/when-you-grow-up-in-a-city-like-boston-where-i-grew-up-a-lot-of-kids/) [Donnie Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-wahlberg/) > [Did you ever stop to think why cops are always famous for being dumb? Simple. Because they don't have to be anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/did-you-ever-stop-to-think-why-cops-are-always-famous-for-being-dumb/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [Many people think cops are as bad as the bad guys. There are some rotten apples, but most of them are good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-connors/many-people-think-cops-are-as-bad-as-the-bad-guys-there-are-some/) [Mike Connors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-connors/) > [I always seem to love the shows with cops. I really want to play a cop - I want a badge and a gun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-richards/i-always-seem-to-love-the-shows-with-cops-i-really-want-to-play-a-cop/) [Kyle Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-richards/) > [“I think anyone who stops at a gas station at night is up to no good. I think that if cops want to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-konigsberg/i-think-anyone-who-stops-at-a-gas-station-at-night-is-up-to-no-good-i/) [Bill Konigsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-konigsberg/) > [I don't think cops should wear mirrored sunglasses; the whole time the guy was chewing me out, all I could think was I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-mcfarlane/i-don-t-think-cops-should-wear-mirrored-sunglasses-the-whole-time-the/) [Bonnie McFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-mcfarlane/) > [It's about being fair. It's about Black Lives Matter. Yes, they matter. Everybody counts or nobody counts, and I think if more cops had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/it-s-about-being-fair-it-s-about-black-lives-matter-yes-they-matter/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [Too often, the very institutions that are supposed to protect and serve our community have instead failed people of color, specifically our black community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/too-often-the-very-institutions-that-are-supposed-to-protect-and/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [“With grateful thanks to all of the men and women who protect and serve The United States of America, and to Operation Mend, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-regnery/with-grateful-thanks-to-all-of-the-men-and-women-who-protect-and/) [Katy Regnery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-regnery/) > [“Wyatt Dixon had worn a badge. Sworn to protect and serve, he’d done just”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-l-haddix/wyatt-dixon-had-worn-a-badge-sworn-to-protect-and-serve-he-d-done-just/) [T.L. Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-l-haddix/) > [“Inspector, there's no smoking allowed in here," said a uniformed officer who had been called to the scene. Cavuto waved to the drawers \[at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/inspector-there-s-no-smoking-allowed-in-here-said-a-uniformed-officer/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [Our children deserve neither status quo policing policies nor an environment of vitriolic rhetoric toward those who protect and serve. They deserve a holistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/our-children-deserve-neither-status-quo-policing-policies-nor-an/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [Every day, first responders put their own lives on the line to ensure our safety. The least we can do is make sure they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lieberman/every-day-first-responders-put-their-own-lives-on-the-line-to-ensure/) [Joe Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lieberman/) > [Took a vow to protect and serve, All you do is disrespect and murder. I ask that you not hurt my kids; This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ka/took-a-vow-to-protect-and-serve-all-you-do-is-disrespect-and-murder-i/) [Ka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ka/) > [ How are people who are young and look like Oscar \[Grant\] portrayed in the media? You gotta think about that. And somebody given a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/how-are-people-who-are-young-and-look-like-oscar-grant-portrayed-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) ## More by Douglas Valentine > [The essential contradiction at the heart of America's problems: if we were a democracy and if we truly enjoyed free speech, we would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-valentine/the-essential-contradiction-at-the-heart-of-america-s-problems-if-we/) [Douglas Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-valentine/) > [Suffice it to say that Wall Street investors in the drug industries have used the government to unleash and transform their economic power into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-valentine/suffice-it-to-say-that-wall-street-investors-in-the-drug-industries/) [Douglas Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-valentine/) > [America is a former slave state and a blatantly racist society, so the war on drugs, which is managed by white supremacists, was and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-valentine/america-is-a-former-slave-state-and-a-blatantly-racist-society-so-the/) [Douglas Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-valentine/) > [There are two facets to the CIA's management and control of international drug trafficking, on behalf of the corporate interests that rule America. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-valentine/there-are-two-facets-to-the-cia-s-management-and-control-of/) [Douglas Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-valentine/) > [Everything the CIA does is deniable. It's part of its Congressional mandate. Congress doesn't want to be held accountable for the criminal things the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-valentine/everything-the-cia-does-is-deniable-it-s-part-of-its-congressional/) [Douglas Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-valentine/) > [What's less well known is that the CIA's executive management staff is far more concerned with selecting the right candidates to serve as CIA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-valentine/what-s-less-well-known-is-that-the-cia-s-executive-management-staff/) [Douglas Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-valentine/) [Explore all 7 Douglas Valentine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-valentine/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most people have no idea what cops really do. They think cops give you a speeding ticket. They don't see the cops associating with professional criminals and making money in the process. They believe that when a guy puts on a uniform, he or she becomes virtuous. 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