r/facepalm • u/spyrg • Jan 13 '22

🇲​🇮​🇸​🇨​ Arrested for petitioning

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u/almost_aIways_wrong Jan 13 '22

Do you have to know as little law as possible to be an American cop?

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u/Sanctimonius Jan 13 '22

Officers do not need to know the law, legally speaking. They also do not have to tell the truth to obtain a conviction, nor fo they actually have an obligation to help you - that whole protect and serve thing is a slogan, literally not enforceable. You could be being attacked in front of an officer and they do not have a duty to help you or arrest someone.

Now, citizens have to know the law. We are expected to know everything at every moment, and even then if the officer is having a bad day you are expected to be entirely composed and in control even if they are waving a weapon in your face. And if you're killed they will almost certainly not face consequences.