Thanks for your response, and you're right. It doesn't have to be fair and balanced, and I have learned tonight that I should not have tried to point out when "news outlets" aren't being balanced.

Last note - I will state again, because it really bothers me that people are interpreting otherwise: I am NOT saying…

I completely agree with you - it's irresponsible to not report these incidents regardless of their rarity. It seems that I phrased my OP incorrectly because so many commenters seem to think I'm saying "we shouldn't post these articles" when that couldn't be farther from the truth. We DO need to talk about the bad…

Thank you for providing that link, I appreciate it.

I completely agree with everything you said, thank you for your rational response. I am aware of all this, and I'm not trying to appear otherwise. I understand that I have a personal bias working with a PD and being married to an officer, and I just get frustrated that they're constantly being painted as pigs. …

Just so everyone knows, because apparently I didn't make it clear in my OP: I do not want these stories to be silenced. I, my husband, and our entire department are enraged when something like this happens. It's awful and completely inexcusable. My only point is that when the public opinion is shaped *only* by bad…

Please, go back and read my OP. I stated multiple times that I do not want these types of stories silenced. This is the type of "flaming" I'm referring to - people getting worked up and responding before actually reading the entire post.

I absolutely agree - continue to be on alert. I'm not saying that we should blindly follow everyone in a uniform. I'm trying to convey exactly what you said in your last paragraph - we shouldn't dismiss all cops as pigs, and I feel like that's the attitude that is encouraged by the general media. *Not* saying we…

Thanks for your response!

Can you please explain what the "ugh" is for? Not being snarky, I'd really like to know. I am not trying to excuse any officer for poor behavior, and I would wholly endorse harsh punishment if something like this was done by one of my officers.

Thank you for your reply (seriously, I swear I'm not being snarky with any of my responses). Can you send me some links referencing the small town PD's that have these routine issues? I work in a small town PD and I'd like to know what is apparently going on in other small towns. For context, I'm a 911 operator and…

That's quite presumptuous of you. Maybe I should have given better context. I work in a smaller police department, there are 75 officers total. I know every single one of them. They have their faults, and I never said they didn't act like bullies at times. I said that I could never imagine them acting in this way…

The stories I'm referring to are when they do something beyond the call of duty. For example, taking hours out of their personal time to volunteer to protect a parade (they are not paid RT or OT for this). Or helping to dig people out of a blizzard. Staying overtime (without being paid) to comfort a family member…

I might get flamed for this, but here goes...

haha - I went to the Air Force Academy. We love you guys/gals :) I'm a woman, btw, so don't get too excited ;)

I believe she's 5'2...I saw her in concert a few years ago and she is tiny, haha

That is so awesome, thank you!

Squeeee pandas! Thank you :)

Thanks, I definitely need that reminder, haha.

Thank you :)

Thank you very much - I really needed to hear this. Yay, Beyonce!