I don’t think following the law or doing your job are either booklicking or something to be frowned upon. But that is my inherent problem with police, they don’t have to do thier job (DeShaney v. Winnebago County (1989) and Town of Castle Rock v. Gonzales (2005), and can break the law with impunity (see Qualified Immunity, and civil asset forfeiture). What I do consider bootlicking is seeing these facts and still siding with police despite the fact that none of them have to do thier job, or even know the laws (or follow them) that they are sworn to protect and enforce. This cop is probably a good man, I hope he hasn’t murdered or beaten anyone that would have been illegal for him to do, but most likely he breaks laws every day. That is why ACAB. When they stand up and fight thier own “union” and get it to stop protecting murderers and just plain criminals, maybe I won’t feel this way. When they start lobbying for equal protection under the law, and equal punishment, I definitely won’t feel this way. Edit: please don’t downvote that guy. It was a good question. We shouldn’t discourage people from the other side (I don’t even know they are from the other side) from having a civil discussion. My comment may have shown them that I’m not just a psycho cop hater, that their are very valid reasons to push for change in US policing. I up voted his question immediately and then made my response. There is nothing wrong with not knowing something, and asking politely like they did. If they want to double down after the question (which in this case they never even first downed, just asked politely) then by all means, tear the person up.