WeirdAlisMySpiritUserName
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Officer Andrew Spottswood recently took a report from a man whose wallet had been stolen. The stolen wallet contained the 75-year-old man's identification, his bus pass, and his debit card. The man told Officer Spottswood he has no family or transportation.
Officer Spottswood took him to DMV to get a replacement ID. When the clerk asked if he had the $13 replacement fee, the man did not and Officer Spottswood pulled out his wallet to pay. (In the end, the clerk waived the fee.)
Next, Officer Spottswood took the man to the bank to get a replacement bank card, so that he could access his money, and to the CATS Station, so that he could get a replacement bus pass. Lastly, he took the man to get him some food because he was exhausted and hungry.
Officer Spottswood didn't tell anyone about his kind gesture. CMPD only found out because the man called later and spoke to a supervisor. Officer Spottswood was recognized this week with a CMPD Acts of Excellence award. - Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
mysteryroach
What a nice story of a person being adequately decent while being a part of a repressive violent racist militia that should be destroyed.
fiveforty
That’s great! It’s what police should do. A better test of ‘good cop’ is what would he do if ordered to antagonize innocent civilians.
4sher
If this isn't about cops reporting other cops for police brutality, he's not "one of the good apples". This is just propaganda
Decitron
Being kind to one person,or even a few people over his career doesn't mean he always has been or always will be a good cop.
Decitron
I don't know the guy's story, & I don't care. The whole institution of policing needs reworked.
peeeetahhh
Please keep astroturfing with "good cop" stories while the murderers and racist ones get away with it all
StRocketScience
You are not immune to propaganda
MediaBiasCheckerFanboy
Now that's a cop. That's what it means to protect and serve.
peecs
My Cuz is a Charlotte cop. I know he is good at the core as well. Good on this guy! Cheers!
LOLOLOOLOL
"allegedly" good
traumapatient
This is sweet - not to curry favor or seek anything but take actions for the kind of world we would all love to live in. Thank you officer
ChillShepp
nope.. ACAB
robotnixon13
Sounds like a great human being.
BadgerSims
That’s truly lovely behaviour, but would he or (more importantly), COULD HE stand up to and report corruption and racism in his unit?
BadgerSims
This is the real conversation about good/bad apples. Nice gestures aren’t enough in a fundamentally corrupt institution. Not attacking him.
ZylaTheMadCommie
Dont really care about your good guy cop stories right now, read the room.
InformedOne
Yeah, your nice story is getting in the way of my ACAB circle-jerk. /s
fencer1964
Whatever. I’m sure that’s great and all, and proud are we of all of them. But exceptions do not demonstrate a norm.
Schitzoflink
Ooo copaganda
ImtheGuyWhoGotShotInTheDickByRobocop
This is really wonderful but also probably something that someone other than a police officer could/should do.
bekkayya
Yup. This is a good person. Some people are good apples. No cops are apples, because they're cops.
StewedTomaters
That's. Exactly. The. Point. Thank. You.
Duffinn
chromofoam
Gee this is a nice car! - Yeesss, it is....
HippoLover85
Honestly? I dont care if officers spot someone a bus pass or buy someone a carton of eggs. i want them to quit killing people.
jeherring8
I don’t think he killed anybody.
HippoLover85
is that your criteria for a "good apple"? Hasn't killed anyone and bought someone a bus pass?
m23ward
Copaganda.
jesasterous
I hope people can find it in them selves to get this to the front page. They aren’t all ass holes
iusedtodream
Video evidence begs to disagree.
kruug
No, just bastards. ACAB.
ElelSiggir
Narrator voice: but they are actually all assholes
johnsquared1829
Exemplary officer indeed... but I would argue that part of the current problem is the lack of other agencies to support people like the 1/
johnsquared1829
Elderly gentleman mentioned. This really isn’t the job of a police officer, and it likely meant significant trade offs were made in terms 2/
johnsquared1829
Of either his personal time or professional responsibilities. We can’t expect every officer to do that. Just my $.02 I guess.
AreYouPlayingTHEGame
This
Tanwolf
Not going to lie, was fully expecting the dude to pay a $3.50 fine by the end.
WhiteKenny
I think you mean a tree fiddy fine
abidelunacy
If a guy is a 'Baker', he had baker ancestors. 'Archer' is another example. WTH did this guys ancestors DO??? 'Spottswood', lol.
bacci14
Points @OP, "Hey, this guy has an erection."
The701
A relative of his:
HalifaxSamuels
That happened two years ago. Have there not been any other examples of good apples since then?
adamblade369
real heroes don't brag about their good deeds and are rarely recognized for them
ElelSiggir
Real heroes don't have qualified immunity
TwoForSpookin
It’s like plane crashes- you only hear about them because they happen so infrequently
adamblade369
its like plane rides, you only hear about them when they end in a fiery crash
Orcajet
Better
Orcajet
It’s not like plane crashes. More like people paying their taxes. You never hear they’re paid on time you hear about the audit and the fraud
TwoForSpookin
Do you? Do you get headlines in the paper when your neighbor gets audited by the IRS?
Orcajet
No just like you don’t hear when a cop gets a warning about reading Miranda rights. You hear about the $20m drug case/murder
TwoForSpookin
Oof. So what was your point again?
MaterNyx
I guess it's more like a colonoscopy: as long at the service is good, ppl say nothing. They only do when it's shitty. Then they complain.
Orcajet
I like you
MaterNyx
?
MaterNyx
As*
TheJellyfishh
This is great but cops aren't fruit and their problems are systemic. Talking about good and bad apples distracts from the real problem.
DamnedAustin
Did he speak out about systemic racism in policing? Does he fight to hold himself and his fellow officers accountable for their actions? (1)
IllBeDamnedifIGotoHell
Here we go, finally someone who gets it.
DamnedAustin
Because if the answer is no, then he's not one of the good ones. He's just not one of the worst. (2/2)
m23ward
Thank you, so true
TimeKeepsOnMoving
Damned Austin. Just be happy about something.
DamnedAustin
I'm happy about lots of things, systemic racism in policing is not one of them.
Arracor
I'd be happy if we could live in a society where the burden of proof wouldn't have to be on the cops to prove they're NOT racist murderers./
Arracor
Since we don't, I don't trust that easily. Cops are capable of propaganda, and being nice to one person and then covering for a murderer.
theDiscover
Goes both ways
justareallylongemailaddress
Cool. Inundate me with stuff like this. On the fence if this is a police issue or some other community service that should help.
mahakalabhairava
the police should actually HELP (not murder) the victim that was robbed. other services can make him feel heard and deescalate the situation
FistfulOfAssholes
Well the dude was robbed. So.
justareallylongemailaddress
Yes, police should look into that, and someone else should do all the other stuff. Good for PO, but still.
kruug
He’s a good person who happens to be a cop.
FistfulOfAssholes
Fair point.
Cthulhuonabike
This is great and all but also shines a glaring light on the need for other types of social workers rather than piling it all on the cops
Plussum
My thoughts exactly. Is something like this even in the job description for police?
TheGreyGryphon
This is exactly the issue. We need a good funded social work program that can be called to help vulnerable ppl navigate bureaucracy.
Dangeresque8
Maybe this officer got into policing to "Protect and Serve." I would wager to say he enjoys both and I would encourage him to keep it up.
Addmagnet
Could be the cop made a judgement call and decided the old man would have been scared/confused/annoyed to deal with another person.
Addmagnet
But even so, I agree that most communities need more 'social helpers', from whatever profession!
mmagabel365
If all cops were like this guy i bet they would have plenty of time to serve the people. Kindness is infectious.
AngeloSchilling
I don't think being kind qualifies you to work with mentally ill people, children in trauma etc. Being kind is important, but not everything
mmagabel365
I feel like being kind and compassionate is the #1 qualification as a social worker.
AngeloSchilling
it is a prerequisite, not a qualification
probshouldntsayitbut
If all people were like this police would have more time to do stuff like this!
butterflybuttler221
...um no this had to have taken hours and hours, if every cop did this they would be hella backed up. Hence the need for more social workers
chromed
Yeah what an insane response.
Rkfinecake
So would the social workers be driving around in their social worker vehicles, looking for a citizen to assist?
whyexactly
This officer could call them in
AngeloSchilling
they should be dispatched, just like fire or emt is
MGMadness
He "took a report" meaning the guy called in about it. When a specific call comes, you send a specifically trained person. 1/?
MGMadness
It's seems too basic a concept, but it's how it works in other industries both public and private. The main reason there aren't more 2/?
MGMadness
Social workers, violence advocates, drug treatment councelers, etc. is because we consistently cut funding despite the desperate need for3/?
MGMadness
them. If we re-funded those positions they would be - and have been filling - with people who want to help. Just fucking help.
probshouldntsayitbut
Maybe senior could call Adult Protective Svcs & would actually receive immediate assistance instead of becoming another name on a long list.
questionableanswers
Have 911 direct to all emergencies, wether fire, emt, police and social services
probshouldntsayitbut
Social services in a lot of cities do not have 24/7 response staffing ... and some that do the staff decide they don’t want to go out and
probshouldntsayitbut
there is a lack of checks & balances in those services as well so those in need get swept aside & neglected. Most govt jobs in US need help.
mostlychimp
Hey that's great news, I hope he turns in the bad apples when he finds them.
fencer1964
Just To be clear, remember the entire phrase: one bad apple… Ruins the bunch.”
capricornstunner
He won’t. This is Copaganda
pennygreen
He hasn’t, and won’t.
mop82
They'd fire him, refuse backup in danger, throw him in
a psych ward, etc. Then his community is down 1 good apple.
kojenk
Hopefully we can restructure the entire police institution so there are more like him and divide enforcement of different activities.
VodkaReindeer
I hope not, then he'll get fired and they'll have 0 good apples.
IamNoOneToBeTrifledWith
Who down voted this?
SkeletonsLoveBooty
Probably bootlickers
rhysthree7
The bad apples
FuriousBakedPotato
Bad apples with MAGA hats on
RRRIV
*with ACAB hats on
hesbeginningtobelieve
Let’s be real, he won’t. They’re all bad apples bront
FuriousBakedPotato
You're wrong, Bront.
IamNoOneToBeTrifledWith
If you have 10 bad cops, and 1000 good cops that don’t turn in the bad ones, you have 1010 bad cops.
ohmysweetcarolina
I will forever not understand the reasoning behind fighting prejudice by creating more prejudice.
AninOnin
prejudice: preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. Not the case for most people's experiences with cops.
ohmysweetcarolina
But most is not all, and I can’t get behind judging ANYONE based on the actions of a group and not an individual
GrosseChung
They just can’t, because of the corrupted system. The good are outweighed by the bad so the bad can cover their asses.
SkeletonsLoveBooty
Right. The whole barrel is spoiled. All "good apples" will become bad apples, willingly or not.
DukePaulAtreides
Problem is, when the good ones do turn in the bad ones, the bad ones are covered and the good ones get retaliated against. *System*'s busted
VVArgost
“It’s not nice to report your coworkers. They won’t like you if you make them do their jobs right.”
Covidnineteen
More of, if you report them, you get fired. Later to be replaced with another bad apples.
shakedownblues
OperationM1ndcrime
Have you seen any articles or proof of that? I actually want to find some, I'm gathering info
DukePaulAtreides
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/06/10/police-culture-duty-to-intervene/
DukePaulAtreides
https://www.npr.org/2020/06/13/876628281/what-happens-when-officers-blow-the-whistle-on-police-misconduct
DukePaulAtreides
It's in the news all the time; whistleblowing cops literally find dead rats in their squad cars. Just google around; for a random example, >
DukePaulAtreides
> take https://rutgerspolicyjournal.org/sites/jlpp/files/Johnson_Whistleblowing.pdf ; starting specifically at p.80 (by their numbering)
DukePaulAtreides
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/8/9/20799210/jury-awards-2-million-former-cop-retaliated-against-after-reporting-co-workers-misconduct
DukePaulAtreides
https://wtop.com/dc/2020/01/dc-police-officers-say-raising-serious-concerns-led-to-retaliation-within-the-department/
macgeigerverglur
Can confirm from personal experiences. I have a good apple in my family. When his coworker spoke up a couple years ago, he was 1/2
macgeigerverglur
subsequently “denied” backup by his fellow officers and wound up dead. It’s literally a life or death decision to speak out!
OperationM1ndcrime
Thank you!
DukePaulAtreides
Just pulled some random ones together, hope this helps at least point you in a couple good directions!
OperationM1ndcrime
Thank you so much!!
DukePaulAtreides
Happy to help! There's a couple of imgur posts on it, but i haven't checked their sourcing. Lotta cases but sources are sometimes amixed bag
grandmastonguekiss
What everyone is missing is that it's the Police union that protects the cops. Pelosi can't blame the union because that's her core..
ramshackleackle
There needs to be an impartial overseer.
DukePaulAtreides
Smash every single police union and unionize just about every other workplace, honestly
Covidnineteen
Government positions already have bans in Unions for certain jobs. It's not a far stretch to limit them to police
DukePaulAtreides
Yes, though I would say the laws/etc. already in place are not the ones that should be used; it just shows the gov't has the legal authority
cuttysark
This is how heroes work. They want nothing but to help out. And DAMN I live just outside Charlotte, NC! I have some work to do now! 1/2
ciciken
He can do this hero work as a well paid social worker or some other profession that doesn’t carry a gun #defundthepolice
DumpyCorn
Heros come in all shapes, sizes, occupations, ethnicities, and races.
HuntMason
You’re damn right.
khora
No, this is how policing work, and they get paid to do it.
infiniteflux
True. But unless there is video evidence, I am not taking the cops' word for shit. They made up Shake shack gate, this could easily be fake.
lulubeannns
And do you think he turns in his “brothers” when they break the law? Wild guess is probably naww bc bluefamilu fuck yeah ?
zzpacksmasher
Never forget. ACAB-
uptownmayor7
Like you would perfect man
Scahrossar
Nope. My imperfect moments don't kill people, however ;)
kickmyballsrealhard
kaelykat
Because, right now, most people only want to hear about the bad things. The cops where I live are good.
kickmyballsrealhard
Well we do have a serious problem with cops throughout America. I live in south Minneapolis where the murder of George Floyd happened.
kickmyballsrealhard
I’m not saying all are bad, but the toxic environment and power structure that they work under makes them feel above the law, that’s what
kickmyballsrealhard
we want changed. All we ask for is for police officers to be held accountable for their actions
LordSithis
So basically, let's derail whatever story to talk shit? Like someone can't be perfect, so let's drag out the skeletons?
selfmemeicating
It’s the timing of the thing.
MomsSpaghettiHesNervousButOnTheSurfaceHeLooksCalmAndReady
Good shit. So what he did something good. What bad things has he done?
kickmyballsrealhard
Not sure but whenever you see these puff pieces, you can’t always assume they are an angel. It’s cop propaganda 101 during these times
MomsSpaghettiHesNervousButOnTheSurfaceHeLooksCalmAndReady
Oh yeah my question was rhetorical lmao. But totally agree, it's ridiculous how people just assume it's true.
HuntMason
You’re original post about derailing is accurate. But assuming he’s done something wrong at some point is straw man fallacy.
dogsqueeze
What good things and bad things have all of us done? No copies pure as the driven snow, and no murderer is completely evil. Innocent until 1
dogsqueeze
proven guilty needs to apply to all of us. She have to hold police to a higher standard, but they should get credit when due, just like you.
MomsSpaghettiHesNervousButOnTheSurfaceHeLooksCalmAndReady
I don't understand how asking what bad things they have done is saying they are guilty?
cuttysark
I'm going to meet a real live hero! This is so cool!
zzpacksmasher
Bring it down a notch, sounds overacted. If you want to meet him, fine but don't announce it. Just be about it. You do not sound sincere.
TheRealStolly
don’t be judgmental.
zzpacksmasher
Wasn't judging, just saying it didn't sound sincere.
HuntMason
No way, how/where? I’m in Fort Mill.
RoscoeGoodwood
Hello from Waxhaw
cuttysark
My manager lives in Waxhaw!
jabike2424
Matthews here
cuttysark
Matthews is one of the places I am going to purchase a home.
mysslyss
Gastonia here!
korvazor
Charlotte here!
cuttysark
I actually live in Lake Wylie, I work in CLT when I actually go into the office
HuntMason
Are they doing some sort of meet and greet in CLT? Also, cool that I’m neighbors with a fellow Imgurian
cuttysark
I am going to see if I can find him and give him a $50 gift card, not sure where yet. And it is cool having another imurgrite near-by