Growing up I was afraid of police. I lived in a neighborhood that the police were always being called to. As far as my child mind though, police were ruining families.

As I got older I realized that the people being taken away were criminals. Drug dealers, domestic violence, child endangerment, and so on. People who had done bad.

Though I grew out of my fear, most of my friends back then didn't. Most of them still view police negatively. Most of them were criminals too, as was I. I knew that any day an officer could knock on my door with damning evidence and a warrant.

Now that I'm out of it all, clean and a family man, I teach my kids that police aren't our enemy. Yes there may be one or two of them that are rotten, but that's the case anywhere.

I understand both sides. The hate isn't warranted, but it most likely stemmed from fear.