If you're teaching your children to trust police, you're doing them a disservice. They should be taught to respect authority figures that are not their direct family, but never, ever trust their intentions.

Well, I don't really believe in the institution of police as it exists, so if I even had kids, I'd pass along the same paranoia my father taught me... but it just strikes me as a meaningful inconsistency in the image of police that their supporters have.

That ship sailed along. In the interest of putting the police force ahead of the community it is supposed to protect the police have burned lots of goodwill. Even now being called police is considered an insult amongst the youth. It used to be snitch, narc, or opp. Now you’re called “12” when you’re not to be trusted.

The police's rule in society is to enforce the law. I don't think they need kids to trust them to do that?

Enforcing the law becomes a lot harder when a community lacks trust in you, and kids who don't trust police officers turn into adults who don't trust police officers, and teach their children the same thing.

Bog-standard "if you get lost and separated from your parents" child-advice is to ask for help from exactly such figures as police, with the idea that this would protect them from ostensibly less savory options

I certainly don't tell my child that, and I don't know of any American parents who do.

Police represent the interests of the state, not the interests of my child.

> I don't know of any American parents who do.

Really?

https://www.allprodad.com/things-your-child-should-know-when... > The best people to seek out would be the police, security guards, the fire department, and store management and employees. If these can’t be found, teach them to seek a mom with young children.

http://achildsworldnc.com/teach-kids-case-get-lost/ > Advise children that if they need assistance they should only approach someone such as a security guard, police officer or someone who is clearly a member of the staff.

I mean, I know these are just random internet things -- but I vaguely remember that advice even being in kids' books when I was growing up.

I remember receiving that advice as well, but would be less likely to perpetuate it given the frequency of weaponization of the State against parents. If I knew the community, I might advise the latter.

> I mean, I know these are just random internet things -- but I vaguely remember that advice even being in kids' books when I was growing up.

Yes, I think it used to be common. But I don't think it is nearly as much so now.