Is it disrespectful not to address police officers as "sir" or "ma'am"?

[Anonymous]

I'm not the type to go around calling people Sir or Ma'am because my parents never required it so it's not a habit I have. But when encountering police, do you believe everyone should? I think it's a nice thing to do ofc but is it disrespectful to not do so?

Photo by "King's Church International" on Unsplash

Yes, it is disrespectful to not address them in that way.

No, it is not disrespectful.

Depends... (Please Explain)

Updates

+1 y

For those that say you just call them officer:

Is it disrespectful not to specifically address police officers as "officers?" What if you just said something like "Hey man!", "Hey dude!", or "Hey girl" in a friendly manner? Would that be seen as disrespectful?

[BadApple69]

Hey buddy works too. I am a LEO and as long as it’s a friendly greeting AND not a fowl name than I am ok with anything.
Remember this, while talking to an officer you get back what you put in.
Example: I had a guy come up to me at an event and bark at me that he was going to do “this”. Just by his tone and attitude I said “no your not”. It was something he shouldn’t do anyway, but if he was nice about it I would have worked with him to figure out a way to fix his problem. A bad attitude meant I wasn’t going to work with him at all. His problem remained his problem.
Police are there to help and most are helpful. There are some jerks just like in any profession but for the most part they are just people too.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I would address them as officer.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Thanks for MHO :)

[Anonymous]

in todays world doing THAT precisely will cause disrespect as so many pathetic "woke" people get offended by being called what they are, then they go crying to make drama queen videos about how someone called them mam when they are now multiple people they thems or how they are now a "woman" but they were called sir. .. Ridiculous people of today should just be put on a rocket ship and thrown to outer space. Seriously. End this ridiculousness now.

in normal years when only us normal people who didn't get offended by irrational dumb shit, sure calling people by sir and mam shows respect, probably even better if you call them by their title, they usually address others in the same manner as well.

[jennifer_bloom]

I give legal and friendly compliance to people in authority but I don't respect them more than I would respect anybody else because the job is a role, it's not a person or an identity or a status marker. Of course formal salutations are important if you are speaking to a boss or a teacher but I don't believe that extends to those in law enforcement because law enforcement is more of a humanitarian job and less of an authoritarian one. It's only authoritarian towards those that break the rules where you would be subject to arrest or confiscation and expected to take on the rule of a lower status person.

[CarnaGirl18]

As a cops daughter for your first question I prefer to do it just because it can get you out of trouble, also just be nice because you done know what kind of day the officers had. Or what they might experience after yalls interaction. And it's also polite to do it to anyone I find. But it's okay if you don't.
Also second question no not really, maybe for the first hello or the time you end the interaction,

[Anonymous]

I never address a police officer "sir" or "ma'am" only as officer or constable, if I ever talk to them at all as over the last 5-10 years or so the attitude of the police toward the public has become abysmal, it roughly coincides with the police no longer recruiting from the communities they police to only taking applicants who have or are working towards a degree, at the same time they started recruiting for senior officers direct from university without those recruited having any street patrol experience.

[Constatine]

I will go for yes.

I'm raised that why... they are the law... the law needs to be respected.

I have to mention that i see things from the police that kill that that point of view but i always respect them.. so they can not pin that in me..

[slatyb]

Legally, you can address them in any way you choose: "Sir", "Ma'am", "Pig", whatever. -- That's been determined by the Supreme Court to be protected political speech. You do have to produce relevant documents as requested. You do not have to divulge your personal business "Where are you going? Where were you?" I am not a lawyer. See www.aclu.org for more information.

[Constatine]

@slatyb well is some countries maybe.. also it is how you say it... ( in some countries that is }

The phrase " your a pig " is not legal...
The phrase " i think your a pig " is legal

One is saying... they are pigs.
The other one is a personal expression of what you think..

[slatyb]

@Constatine I only live in one country.

[GOLDFISH_smile]

Huh? I thought you're sposed to call them "officer"

[Asker]

What about "occifer¿"

[GOLDFISH_smile]

I don't know that language

[goaded]

I rarely address people by name or title, but I'm polite, so "Yes, what can I do for you?". If pressed, I'd probably say "officer", I wouldn't be overly familiar unless I know them.

In Germany, I've been told you use "sie", and not the familiar "du", or you'll have problems. Since I only talk to on duty police once every decade, it's not really a problem.

[BoopBoopBeep]

I address them however they address me. We can be friendly or not so friendly, but that's on them, since for us to be having that interaction, chances are they came to me not the other way around, so they can set the tempo.

[zagor]

How do you usually address people you don't know on approaching? I usually use "sir" or "ma'am" when trying to get someone's attention, unless they are clearly a minor.

[Asker]

I tend to be kinda robotic. I usually skip formalities which often throws people off ngl 🤣

[TheorionMage]

As a retired LEO, when dealing with male or female police in a professional capacity interaction, "Officer" is ALWAYS the societally-correct form of address. The tone of your voice can... and DOES speak volumes without adding 'fuel' to a potential misunderstanding.

In PURELY 'off duty' out-of-uniform meetings, address by their actual name is appropriate as you would have done to you ~

[BeeNee]

I've never had any run ins with cops, but from what I've seen on reality cop shows (lol) most people just say officer or officer (last name).

[jshm2]

It's just a fucking job like any other.

You should address everyone respectfully be they janitor, CEO, cop or father. The only exception is if they are American.

Then you should regard them as something that fell off your shoe, when you trekked in dog shit. God knows they arm themselves as if that is what they will meet, if they don't. Don't take the chance.

[Potteplante]

Never called anyone in my life sir or Ma'am - or at least not without irony and I probably never will.

[Summeroflove]

Not really. You might come across a really anal retentive cop now and again. But most cops are pretty chill if you’re chill with them.

[exitseven]

It is not disrespectful but when you might get a ticket every little thing can help get you off with just warning.

[integrale77]

I would refer to them as Officer that's all you need to do.

Of course pig, rozzer, tit etc are bad ideas to use

[Avicenna]

No, I don't, although I used the formal form of "you" when I lived in Germany (which you're supposed to do).

[DryGermanGuy]

Well, as long as you don’t address them as „dawg“ or „Holmes“… 🙄😛

[Bricealan]

I address them, (whenever I rarely have contact with a police officer) as "officer"

[HitsyHonesty]

I don't think they mind if you don't, but ibdo it because otherwise I don't get to say it!

[strateguy632]

my vote was trying to scroll so one less okay. because they MUST call us sir mam.

[Nifrayu]

I always address them as officer or their name.

[AngryCarl2]

As someone who tries to avoid talking to the police at all I would probably address them as "Is there a problem, officer?"

[OddBeMe]

I give them extra respect when I’ve entered their world as a cop. If they enter mine like in line at 7/11, I shove em out of the way,

[catarecute]

why does the police think we own them respect. because they have the power to lock you up or shoot you? i call that intimidation. you don't have the legal requirement to show them respect.

[BarryLiverstone]

Because they have trained and sacrifice themselves to serve us.

[catarecute]

@BarryLiverstone they dont sacrifice themselves and they dont serve anyone. the lock human beings in cages like animals.

[BarryLiverstone]

That’s incorrect. They serve the public and are paid as such. They sacrifice by going into dangerous situations and have died in many cases.

Without the police we would have chaos and be living in a much more unsafe society.

[catarecute]

@BarryLiverstone i know you can't possibly think that.

[BarryLiverstone]

I am honest. Have known police officers and their families. Attended a memorial service for a killed officer years ago in my church

[catarecute]

@BarryLiverstone thats you. not everyone is you not everyone has good experience with the police. i dont agree with prisons. i think its human cruelty and who are responsible for putting people there to be tortured the police.

[BarryLiverstone]

“Each year, more than 600,000 individuals are released from state and federal prisons. Another nine million are released from local jails. Within three years of their release, two out of three former prisoners are rearrested and more than 50% are incarcerated again. This process of previously convicted criminals reoffending and reentering the prison system is known as recidivism.”

[catarecute]

@BarryLiverstone yeah ok there is recidivism but this is due to abuse. its a common phenomenon that people who have been abuse get stuck in a loop of getting back into the abuse once they are out of it. its called repetition compulsion. it was discovered by freud and it stated that people who have been abused will subconsciously get themselves back into similar situation. america has the most abusive prisons and therefore people are more likely to sufferer from repetition compulsion.

[BarryLiverstone]

We agree. And those who abuse others and haven’t been healed must be locked up if they commit repeated crimes

[catarecute]

@BarryLiverstone the prison guards and police abuse others, locking someone up is abuse. in psychology it is a form of abuse. its enough to trigger repetition compulsion.

[BarryLiverstone]

As you know abuse has many layers and isn’t one thing. Again the question would be if a repeat dangerous criminal was arrested and charged with a crime, what is a suitable punishment?

[catarecute]

@BarryLiverstone abuse is not suitable punishment and locking people up (in the books of psychology) is abuse. What i am telling you here isn't my opinion its written in books by famous psychologist. i am stating some facts from psychology books.

[BarryLiverstone]

I know you are citing facts. Again I’m asking when a person has been judged as dangerous and has broken repeated crimes; what should be their punishment?

[catarecute]

@BarryLiverstone they should be separated from society but not abused. the should have enough space to feel like they are free and they should be insulted of bitten up. they should be able to live independently they should never been given life sentence or death penalty. there should be a limit to prison sentence such as not over 15 years. that's how it already works in many European countries and we have the least recidivism in the world.

[catarecute]

*shouldn't be insulted

[BarryLiverstone]

Sounds like you are in favor of prisons and the police. Your issue is with the life sentences.

Here is a real world example. This summer my brothers family woke up in the middle of the night to gun shots. The police were called and there was a in the house right next door.

If there are no more police, what would my brother have done with his kids to protect them?

[BarryLiverstone]

*murder

[catarecute]

@BarryLiverstone fair enough call the police but the sentencing should be different. and people should have secured security system installed.

[BarryLiverstone]

The owners of the house were the ones who caused the murder. A security system wouldn’t have stopped it.

Thank you for the discussion. We both agree that things can improve

[Marklaw12]

I use "officer".

Hi Officer
Yes Officer

[Luckycharms12]

Nope that day is gone sure be respectful but no need for sir or madam any of that anymore. Same with doctor and nurses. Times have changed

[Anonymous]

I'd say "officer" if speaking with one person and "officers" if speaking to multiple cops.

[Sparkie460]

I don't call the police sir or ma'am. I call them officer.

[Anonymous]

unless theyve been knighted, why should i?
being a copper is the easiest way to get power, when you're young. Thats why they become one. i dont really respect that

[Constatine]

Ever been in the netherlands? Some of my friends life there. They are " begging " people to be a cop. Under payed.. no power what so ever. They used to walk on the streets with sticks. You know the ones. Suddenly some idiot forbid that.. now the have only words and hand to had. Fighting. No fun being a cop in the netherland

[A_Bell]

They are supposedly public servants. This isn't Soviet Russia. They should call you ma'am.

Also, don't treat them poorly, regardless.

[Kingofkings1992]

No, not necessarily. Cops are human too. I don’t see anything wrong with addressing one informally.

[jimmy2]

I go up to them and say I work prison for 254 years and I say you catch them we keep them then shalee their hands

[Snakeyes7]

I have heard regular people not like being called this because it makes them feel old, which I don't get. Police officers make sense because I would use sir or ma'am to address people I do not know the names of.

[Lliam]

No. But it sure feeds their egos. Fawning before them usually gets you better treatment.

[Iron_Man]

You don’t have to say anything basically, you just have to answer the questions and you can ask some questions you can be polite so you don’t get a speeding ticket or whatever maybe that works

[front2back]

I simply address as "Officer" mostly. Here in the United States you basically call anyone Sir or "Ma'am" whether they have authority over you or not.

[Joker_]

I address them as orifice

[Asker]

🤣 yeah they're definitely checking your car for drugs

[Joker_]

yeah lol

[BryanMoore]

Police officers suck, they shouldn't be addressed at all, let alone with respect.

[BigDog1989]

Yeah, and I'm sure republicucks, do it all the time. Because they're fucking douchebags

[legalboxers]

They are suppose to, guys who I worked with didn't show that form of respect

[Bitterness]

Not disrespectful.

[Dargil]

OFFICER is good.

[Wonderingguyy]

It’s not disrespectful

[NYCQuestions1976]

I just say "officer".

[Juxtapose]

No, they don't deserve honorifics.

[strateguy632]

same as THEY must call us sir or mam, until woke stop them, we must respond same respect

[Juxtapose]

@strateguy632 I'm just not in the habit of paying respects to people who are there to ruin my life if they catch me with the wrong plant or whatever.

[Adaeva]

I believe you should call them Officer.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Nope.

[Chayce]

Nah. Fuck ‘em. #acab

[Brady]

No, it's not