Let's Talk About It With Jenny White /Question: Was I a Good Cop or a Bad Cop?

This is the story of a veteran policeman asking a rookie policeman what he thinks, after listening to the veteran's story, whether he was a good cop or did the rookie think he was a bad cop.

Police executives today agree that public support is important both for the legitimacy of the police and the ability of the policemen to be able to fight crime effectively. While research shows people generally support the police and are satisfied with the way police perform their duties, it also demonstrates that not all segments of society hold equally positive opinions. And after giving him several scenarios, the question was still, "Was I a good cop or a bad cop?" The young rookie was asked if the media's portrayal of the police an important determinant of public opinion of the police? They both agreed that the quality of police-public interactions may be more effective, at least, in the absence of major scandals.