If a cop tells you to be quiet, you should be quiet

My argument: the cop tells you to be quiet and you *choose* to be quiet (it's your prerogative, but if you're a victim or a witness, you don't really have a choice) he will take note of it. If you argue with him, he will take note of that too. Why would you think he was your friend or that he was on your side or that you had a choice? This isn't the time for arguing and the cop sure as hell isn't the person to argue with. I'm not saying that there are a lot of good cops, just that they're in a class you can't join, and if you try, you will lose.<br><br>A few stories: (1)<br>My first year as a lawyer, I had a court appointed case with a client that I (still) think was innocent. Juries aren't paid much and the people I get are generally unsophisticated. My client was very articulate, and when he was on the stand, he had to be told several times by the judge to be quiet and to follow the rules. Instead, he argued with the prosecutor. I argued to the judge that he was articulate and should be able to argue in his own defense. The judge first ruled that he should be quiet and subsequently held him in contempt. He spent 30 days in jail and I still think he was innocent.<br><br>(2) A friend of mine was in law school and got a traffic ticket. He decided to defend himself because he was a law student. The prosecutor was a law professor of his. When he got on the stand, the judge told him to be quiet and to just answer questions. He, however, wanted to make a statement. The judge held him in contempt and he spent 30 days in jail. There's no argument to be made that the judge was "right" or that he acted improperly. This is how the system works.<br><br>(3)<br>I knew a police officer that was a great cop. He had a good instinct for identifying malingerers and was always great with the victims. He knew his job and the first time he was assigned to a case of mine, he made a statement that he was going to make sure that justice was served. One time, he had a case where a white guy was walking down the street and two black kids jumped him and stole his phone and wallet. The victim struggled to get his wallet back, and the two kids shot and killed him. They left his wallet and only got away with his phone, which was found a few blocks away. When the prosecutors were discussing the case, the cop kept trying to interReject, saying that this was premeditated murder. The prosecutors decided to charge 2nd degree murder. At the grand jury, the cop testified. One of the prosecutors asked him if he thought this should be charged as 1st degree murder. The cop argued that it should be. The grand jury then charged 1st degree murder. This is an example of an honest cop who knew his job and knew how to do it properly. There are cops like this.<br><br>The final argument: <br>Be quiet when the cops tell you to be quiet. Arguing with them isn't worth it.<br><br>Edit:<br>To those of you who downvoted without a comment: <br>You're entitled to your opinion and I respect that.<br><br>To those who sent me death threats: <br>All's fair in war, I guess.<br><br>To those who sent me nude photos of men: <br>You must have thought I was something I'm not.<br><br>To those who sent me inflammatory comments: <br>I have a thick skin. Keep trying.<br><br>To those of you who sent me supportive messages: <br>Thank you. You're what makes this great country great.