I'm simply taking umbrage with folks who think that cops are nothing but donut-eating PITAs -- that's been the tone thus far.

Whether or not you think "airport cop" is a cake job or not, I am taking the simple position that most of us have no desire to strap on a gun and walk a beat, whether at LAN or ORD or in Winnetka or a housing project. And by nature of doing that job, you put yourself at risk and carry a significant responsibility. And the contribution to society? Well, I would hate to live in a place where we didn't have cops around. And, I do acknowlege that we also live in a society where most folks respect the law.

As for remuneration, my brother in law is a detective with a suburban Chicago PD. His take home, with legitimate overtime, special assignments, and so forth, is nicely into the six figures. And he earns every penny.

We can certainly argue about specific individuals who don't seem to pull their weight or throw their authority around, but I feel that the vast majority of cops do their job well and with minimal hassle of the average Joe.

You might want to have a beer sometime with a couple street cops or do a ride along and see what it's like. As the old saying goes, "hours of sheer boredom interupted by moments of pure excitement (terror, fear, etc.)!"