The author first discusses the "disadvantaged cop" syndrome, which pertains to the disadvantages that hamper police officers in dealing with suspects because of the myriad of laws that benefit suspects in their interaction with police. The case of subway mugger Bernard McCummings is cited as an example of the "disadvantaged cop" syndrome. McCummings was awarded $4.3 million in a suit he filed against the city of New York, because he had been shot twice in the back by police in 1984 while trying to flee the scene where he beat and robbed an elderly man. McCummings has remained paralyzed from the chest down since the shooting. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld the cash award to McCummings, citing the prohibition of applying deadly force against unarmed fleeing suspects who pose no apparent threat. The author addresses three issues in connection with the "disadvantaged cop" syndrome. First, is it right to demand that police be bound by the rules of fair play when criminals are not? Second, would felons' behavior be different if they knew that police could shoot them? Third, does the McCummings case involve a criminal benefiting from the consequences of his lawbreaking? The paper also discusses the "frustrated cop" syndrome. This syndrome is due to the various factors and influences, both within the criminal justice system and in police-society interactions, that result in police officers feeling angry, helpless, and cynical. This syndrome is fueled by the imperfections and mismanagement of the criminal justice system components, the media's and the public's lack of appreciation for what is involved in police work, and society's ambiguous attitude toward crime and criminals. The paper recommends the following: modify "due process" requirements so that criminals do not have such an advantage over victims and the criminal justice system; minimize interagency frictions within the criminal justice system; train media personnel to be more accurate, responsible, and balanced in reporting on police work; and society must stop glamorizing violence and idolizing criminals. 15 references