Most cops have been with a small group friends, perhaps had a beer or two and suggested clever ways to help with population control. You may have made some silly remarks about dispatching criminals like mad dogs and such to a girlfriend. Of course most copper’s relationships with women were not made in heaven and far too many of us have left a few scorned women along the way. (For some reason this only seems to happen with male LEO’s) Then one day you are in a life-threatening situation, shots are fired and the facts become a swearing contest in some courtroom. That after some prosecutor yields to relentless demands that you be charged with a crime. You find yourself fighting for your life again, this time in a defendant's chair. You may find yourself outnumbered in court because the jerk you shot has a dozen family members or “BOYZ FROM THE HOOD” that will lie under oath and say they saw you murder that suspect.
Your lawyer will soon hand you witness lists filed by the prosecutor with names you’d expect to see. Just maybe you’ll see some names on that list you’ll wish never heard those macho comments you made in jest. Should you hear those words repeated to a jury their verdict may not be a good one.
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Watch what you say and write. If you are working on a heater case, keep it under control, stay away from the Xerox machine until you are absolutely finished. Don't just throw away stuff you never want to see again, destroy or shred it.
Also be careful of off-duty stupidity like drunkin' bragging to anyone. Ex-wives-&-girlfriends can be a source of, "he said what!" Bumper stickers like, "Kill 'em all and let God sort them out", can give the impression that you are not the warm wonderful human being you really are.