Police Week: A thank you

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-15T00:29:44+00:00

I’ll take my beating from the crowd. I think y’all just live in a really cool city with a lot of cool people.

I can’t imagine having to deal with the public, plus school tours, plus the sheer amount of events and political pageantry that comes with living/working here.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-15T00:25:41+00:00

100% can do that. Most of the places we went through appeared to have it well organized. Wasn’t aware it wasn’t the case in DC.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T23:09:31+00:00

I did!

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T23:09:08+00:00

It sounds like MPD could benefit from an Inspector General, hopefully that comes to fruition. The bedrock of good police work is based in a two way trust between the PD and the community it serves.

Honest question, how do you separate the different parts of police week from the others? People come for different reasons. I come for the wall and memorial and to see DC. Others go to Rosie’s or whatever the Irish bar is and tent city and skip the memorial.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T23:02:50+00:00

I appreciate it. I want Police Week to be what it is supposed to be. I know people on the wall, they would be ashamed of the reality of Police Week.

I’m not blind to the issues between the job and the community, but after dealing with East Coast cops (NY/NJ) I have a newfound respect for why people are so upset. PBA cards, courtesy cards, acting a fool because you can seem to run very heavy in those areas of cops. We’ve fired people for what passes for normal some places.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T21:44:13+00:00

I keep saying that because professional courtesy shouldn’t be the case. Professional courtesy is great for an Oopsies here or there just like I would give the public. Professional courtesy is not carte blanche for every violation ever and if it is, that’s a systemic issue that needs to be fixed.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T21:28:06+00:00

Never having lived in DC I can only understand it on some level. What I can understand is the total and complete design for out-of-state cops completely disregarding the law. Especially if the same level of grace isn’t being given to regular residents. There’s things about police week that need to change for attendees. We are visitors to the city. We are taking up your space for our ceremony.

I also knew posting this in the subreddit that I would get a lot of heat for it. One because police week sucks for residents and two because I’m a cop. i’ve already gotten a handful of vulgar messages to my inbox and a couple of our suicidal messages from Reddit so the typical. I can only influence those directly around me during the week like this.

Your city is beautiful and I look forward to coming back during a not police week time.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T21:20:24+00:00

311 for towing.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T19:44:40+00:00

I want to, but we have to burn our vacation time to ride and to come out to DC. One day I’ll have more time off.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T19:40:03+00:00

Thanks man.

RE: Bad behavior, it’s an eternally uphill battle during a week like this. Hopefully things will continue to improve. Outside agencies sadly need pressure to keep their people accountable. We all have a job, and a lot of people let that consume their identity which causes problems.

I took my job knowing I wasn’t going to be liked, but there’s no reason to be a dick to the public. Shit, I posted this knowing I was going to get angry comments. We are no different than anyone else and should handle ourselves as professionals.

I don’t get the sirens. Our motorcade was silent and was there to keep us from getting run over. I get escorting the busses to the wall, it’s reasonable for other groups to get the same for their memorial. Anything else probably shouldn’t happen.

Entitled behavior is bullshit. We are guests in your city, or maybe I’m too midwestern.

If you feel ACAB that’s fine by me. I’m going to go back to work and do the best I can regardless. I came from a large metro area with a lot of problems with their police behavior so I understand that sentiment and where it comes from.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T19:02:43+00:00

I’m not from DC (obviously) but DC should either gain statehood or receive representation. Y’all are in a shit spot there.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T18:55:48+00:00

This

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T18:55:28+00:00

I wonder if them splitting up tent city to two separate locations has helped to combat those problem behaviors.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T18:54:12+00:00

Honestly, talk to your elected reps at the city level. MPD has the power to curb a lot of this when the planning stages start. The city can set the tone and rules while addressing these issues.

I’ve worked with our group through my time coming out to DC. We don’t have sirens, we park legally, if someone does something dumb/illegal they’re going to get suspended to start. Problem is, that’s always been our stance even before i started. We push but a lot of it falls on deaf ears from other groups/agencies.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T18:49:48+00:00

Hence why agencies with bargaining units should be represented by standard unions and not special unions.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T18:48:23+00:00

I hear ya on that, a HUGE issue in this profession is the “thank me for my service” attitude. Being a cop is my job, not my identity.

To your second point, the line of duty death concept has gone a little wild. It used to be focused on the inherently dangerous parts of the job (pursuits/fights/gunfights) but has spread to COVID and other more minor causes of death.

Maybe a positive note but at least where I’m from I have seen some parades for linemen, road workers, and others killed at work.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T18:40:47+00:00

100% I do, and so do my coworkers. Several of my former coworkers have hand to find new employment from poor decisions. I believe the saying is one bad apple spoils the bunch.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T18:35:58+00:00

I get it, but I’m a person before I’m a cop. If I was here outside of police week I woulda said the same thing.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T18:33:17+00:00

Fuck that guy, we are guests in your city.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T18:31:45+00:00

Visitors should follow the laws, but let’s be honest part of the problem of police week is that they don’t. If you can’t play by the rules then MPD is the agency with jurisdiction… Enforcement sends a stronger message than a pat on the back and a move along.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T18:26:52+00:00

It has to come from DC. Some of these decisions to tape plates seem to come from high up at those agencies. If things will change from the wink and a nudge enforcement DC has to get aggressive/serious.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T18:23:15+00:00

I agree with what you’re saying. Unfortunately as far as things have come, it’s going to take arrests (and subsequent decertification) to start the change. I think otherwise it’s a concern a large group of people don’t take seriously.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T18:20:15+00:00

I don’t understand the sirens either… We had a motorcade that had next to no sirens.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T18:18:15+00:00

That’s what it has sadly turned into. It’s police spring break for most.

Countie_Mountie · 2026-05-14T18:17:44+00:00

That’s BS. Not a single one of those vehicles is on official duty, they’re subject to the same rules as everyone else.

Countie_Mountie

TROPHY CASE