Whilst I respect what police do (and your dad sounds like a really decent guy) I thought I would write up why I don't trust them.

I guess I'm writing this to demonstrate what I have been through to form my opinion. Of course, I simply could have had a run of bad luck, but I think some of the things they've done, or failed to do, are quite serious. As I said I will never participate in cop bashing online or any bullshit like that, but this is why I have issues.

For the record, I hate this sentiment. I dont participate in any police bashing on any forums. I hate not trusting them and am even embarrassed about it to an extent. Hence the throwaway account.

I am a middle class white guy who has no criminal tendencies, let alone record. I consider myself an average joe, but here's my list of run ins with police during my life time.

• When I was about 8 I was playing in a small town park with some friends when a guy simply took down his pants and started masterbating at us. Dad called the police. They didnt respond.
• When I was about 12 my friends and I got beaten up at a skate park (because we cut some kid off on the ramp) with skateboards. One of us escaped to a store and called the police. They didnt respond.
• When I first got my car licence I was pulled over almost weekly for 'random licence checks'. Was routinely called an 'idiot' for the way I was driving, but was never fined for anything. This was in the same small town where police were apparently too busy to bother responding to the above.
• Was driving down a country road and came across a car accident. No one was hurt but a truck was blocking the road. I called the local police station to let them know that the drivers might need some assistance. All the station wanted to know was if the accident occurred within their jurisdiction or not and when I said I didnt know they hung up.
• Moved to city. Was driving in grid-lock traffic. Detective in unmarked car next to mine opened his window and abused me for using a phone whilst driving (I wasnt). Then pulled me over for a 'random licence check' and swore at me some more (me being the shy 18yo was 100% compliant and polite).
• Was dating a girl whose ex was an addict. Was informed he and his addict friends were going to rob her place. We went to the station for advice and were laughed out and told they were going to do nothing. The robbery occurred and she was sexually assaulted.
• Bought a motorcycle (for the record, a cheap commuter bike, not a bad-ass Harley thing). Theres a road near my place that is fun to ride on. Police in unmarked cars routinely tailgate motorcyclist to encourage them to speed so they can fine them (there's even a Facebook group about this, identify which cars to avoid on this road).
• Was riding motorcycle, merging from a smaller road on to a larger one. A police car blocked my merge, causing me to pull off the road onto dangerous gravel (dangerous for motorcycles). They sped away without stopping.
• Police raided my SOs friends house with guns drawn, threatening to pepper spray her family and dog. Wrong house. SOs friend found they correct target in 5 mins on Facebook. Police refused to apologise for the mix up.
• Did some volunteering with a mental health group. One of the clients had a grudge against me and called the police saying I was suicidal. They entered my house with tasers and guns, made me change clothes in front of them (was in gym clothes) and shoved me in a paddy wagon all the while being quite mean and abusive. Of course, its good they responded to such a call, but totally out of line the way they behaved.