How to Deal With an Angry Karen As a Police Officer

Karma for Karens
By Karma for Karens
8 Min Read

How to deal with an angry Karen as a police officer

An angry Karen recently gained police notice when video footage showing her trying to bite an officer at her Hinsdale home went viral. Cops are familiar with stories of those who became too aggressive towards officers and were either injured or killed as a result. However, unlike in other professions where lawsuits come directly out of your pockets, cops’ reserve funds cover such legal expenses.

1. Maintain Control

As a police officer, it’s vital that you can regulate your emotions. Tensions will inevitably rise but if they escalate out of control it could prove deadly to yourself and others. Luckily there are ways to diffuse anger quickly before it escalates into violence.

One key step to controlling your temper is remembering it’s not about you. Anger directed toward you doesn’t reflect who you are as an individual but instead the badge you wear and what it stands for; taking insulting comments personally only increases blood pressure further and can result in toxic build-up within your system.

Step two is to distance yourself from the situation if possible. While it may seem counterintuitive, taking this step often helps neutralise arguments by eliminating an audience. An angry person often becomes more aggressive when they perceive they have an audience supporting them; keeping away from an angry individual may help you remain calmer and prevent unnecessary conflict.

Law enforcement agencies now offer training programs designed to equip officers with the ability to de-escalate volatile situations with people who are upset. This skill is essential in any career, but especially crucial in law enforcement as many who have lost their lives due to violent confrontations have let their guard down or acted impulsively, ending up in life-threatening situations they cannot control.

At the intersection of race, gender, class and social upheaval lies “Karen,” an iconic middle-aged busybody with a blond choppy bob known for wearing no mask while roaming restaurants and stores without mask to spew out her opinions and call the police on those who do not follow her rules. She can be hard to ignore but may never go away altogether.

2. Stay Calm

Karens possess an array of character traits that render them dangerous to the public. They exhibit a self-indulgent, self-righteous mindset and only see things from their perspective; when faced with an issue she will react forcefully; showing no empathy towards others while doing whatever necessary to get what she wants – making Karen an extremely difficult individual for police officers to deal with.

As a police officer, it’s essential that you remain calm and composed when dealing with an angry Karen. Although difficult, doing so is essential to your success in this field; staying composed and acting professionally will help de-escalate any situation and keep everyone safe. Remembering to remain composed may also reduce anxiety or anger levels that have an adverse impact on physical and emotional health.

Staying calm can also help you gain a clear understanding of the situation and what constitutes an offense in your jurisdiction, which could prevent any legal or ethical conflicts when dealing with an upset Karen.

When approached by an angry Karen, remember to remain neutral and remind her that what they’re saying doesn’t really reflect who they are as an individual; she might just be venting their frustration and will likely stop once told it is not a private discussion.

Karens often call the police when they feel their rights have been violated, leading to many becoming internet memes. Unfortunately, some have accused this meme of being misogynistic and exploitative of real women; one Philadelphia community organizer recently tweeting that this “Karen” meme serves as “women-hating code for “bitch”, with calls to have it banned; furthermore a British feminist commentator accused it of both sexism and class prejudice.

3. Don’t Threaten

As is widely held today, angry Karens often call the police and threaten them with lawsuits, leading many people to believe this to be a common occurrence. Stories like these often get repeated multiple times on news programs such as CNN. People think that when threatened with lawsuits by angry Karens it will come from their own pockets; in reality it often comes out of city or county reserves instead and doesn’t scare officers as much because they are used to being sued themselves.

4. Keep Your Words to Yourself

An angry Karen may start venting her frustration on the police department, suggesting they may be racists or have an ulterior motive. Such language could prove particularly hazardous if any officers from that minority group are present – it could spark confrontation between officers, which could end in tragic results. Therefore, it would be best to stay quiet and allow your officer to do her job unhindered by you.

Recent years have witnessed an online meme demonizing women who act like Karens – typically white women who throw tantrums in Starbucks, request to speak to a manager over minor inconveniences, or use tears as leverage against minor challenges. While the meme aims to mock certain forms of white women enact privilege and racism through these behaviors, others argue it may also be seen as sexist.

Angry Karens pose a danger both to themselves and those around them. These people tend to be selfish, unresponsive to others’ needs, and only see things from their own point of view. These individuals dislike anything or anyone that threatens their worldview or beliefs systems. They especially despise authority figures or anyone that may challenge it.

One prominent Karen action was the woman known as BBQ Becky who called the police on black people in Central Park for asking them to leash their dogs and calling on her privilege and power to oppress others. Online, we have witnessed numerous Karens using their privilege and power against others.

As a police officer, it’s vital that you know how to react when faced with an angry Karen. If she begins shouting or threatening you, do not react – instead wait it out; any police officer has seen stories of fellow officers getting killed due to being provoked into fights; any cop will quickly realize it’s not worth the risk.

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