Ask the Police: Part Deux

[SouthernDem2004]

I ran a similar thread a month or so ago and it was rather interesting so I thought I would try another.

I am a Police Officer by trade, in the Guard also. It is rare you will get the chance to ask the Police a question and get a blunt and honest answer. The semi-anonymity affords me that ability. So, if you have any questions fire away.

FYI: I do not respond to profanity, personal attacks or insults. Feel free to start a "I hate the police thread."

[Dark]

1. Is it better, if faced with a small crime (underage drink) to simply

admit to the officer, or to refuse to say anything and wait for court?

I know there are a lot of variables, but I'm curious overall: has it been your experience that officers are more lenient if one admits up front, or is it better to simply not admit and wait for court date to plead one's case?

[SouthernDem2004]

7. Better to admit it...

The Officer already knows your guilty in most cases. Denying it of lying is just going to insult him. The majority of the time we are more lenient. In cases like with the underage drinking I have made countless people just pour it out.

An aside, Misdeamnor courts normal are not jury trials. They are decided by a judge. You would most likely lose...

[Elidor]

2. If I'm a passenger in a car pulled over for a traffic stop

And I'm drunk, and an officer asks me to step out of the vehicle (a sneaky way to charge someone with public intoxication around here), what can I expect if I decline to get out?

[SouthernDem2004]

9. He can not order you out of the vehicle to arrest you for PD.

That would be entrapment plain and simple. You would win that one easily in court. An exception: If he arrests the driver and tows the vehicle. Then you are stuck in public. Most officers will call you a cab or let you call someone to pick you up. Problem is that if you are extremely drunk and it would not be safe to let you walk we would have no choice but to arrest you if you could not get a ride.

You can not decline to get out. He can and will forcibly remove you.

[CrispyQ]

3. What do you think of the Supreme Court ruling that

drug-sniffing dogs can be used to check out motorists even if officers have no reason to suspect they may be carrying narcotics?

Do you fear for the erosion of YOUR civil liberties?

[SouthernDem2004]

10. I like the ruling of course... A dog sniffing...

around you vehicle is not a major intrusion into your life. I have no problem with it.


Most people do not understand how Police K-9s work. A K-9 gets tired quickly doing searches. It is not like he can sniff 50 cars a day. Police will still only use the dog if they have reasonable suspicion.

[DBoon]

4. How did you pick Stewart Copeland for drummer?

eom

[SouthernDem2004]

11. Magic 8-Ball

[DBoon]

18. OK, it was a really bad joke....

I just couldn't resist.

[Massacure]

5. Do you agree with the weapons bans and why?

[SouthernDem2004]

12. I agree with the weapons laws that were allowed to expire.

I have no problem with people owning guns. However, I see no need for someone to own a fully automatic weapon or a 100 round magazine. That goes beyond hunting or personal protection. The laws that were on the books with the background checks were adequate.

I believe the goofy saying, "Guns do not kill people, people do."

[LibertyorDeath]

6. What's with all the Mustaches aren't the Guns enough?

[SouthernDem2004]

14. Who knows, I hate facial hair myself. I look like I did when...

I left Army Boot.

[cally]

8. Several months ago I got a warning

from a 'friend' of the police about the police in my area. He said I would be targetted because of my bumperstickers. It made little sense because I live in a liberal area. I brought it up in a few political circles. Nothing ever happened.

So my question is, "Do the police target folks with political bumperstickers they disagree with?"

[SouthernDem2004]

15. Not that I have ever heard of but I would not be shocked if...

it has happened. There are morons in every line of work. My Department is almost entirely Republican and I have never heard of anyone going after a Democratic bumper sticker. As long as it is not profane who cares? Sounds like an urban legend mainly.

[OneMoreDemocrat]

13. Which is more realistic, Law and Order or Reno 911?

?

[SouthernDem2004]

16. Law and Order of course but we are not as serious as they are on

that show. We do joke around and goof off like on Reno 911 at times.

[Green Mountain Dem]

17. Why do most police officers ......

think that Bush is so great....has your department received all of the money he promised after 9/11? My nephew is an officer in Columbus, OH and they can't even afford to buy new cruisers. Bush's many visits to Columbus has cost the city hundreds of thousands to provide security...yet he thinks Bush is his friend!! I went on a "ride along" with him when I visited...BIG MISTAKE !! What happens to you guys when you get a run?? Normally he is a mild mannered young man but when he responds to a call he changes into a super hyped up crazy man...like 80mph in a mall parking lot and God forbid if you are in his way!!!! My underwear had a lot of brown skid marks after his shift..NEVER AGAIN!!

[SouthernDem2004]

20. Police were generally Pro-Bush even before 9-11...

Democrats are seen as anti-police which is odd because the far-right wackos are just as anti-Police as the far-left wackos. Alot of it stems from incidents were Police are accused of wrong doing such as in racial incidents or shootings. Take Jesse Jackson for one. He will go to a city and speak ill of the Police without knowing the whole story. Funny, the suspects seldom tell the truth...wonder why. Thing is 90% of these accusations are false and the Police know it. The Police are not able to tell their side because the City's attorneys will not allow them to. Ever notice how the story disappears a month or so later? Ever wonder why? Its because the Police presented their evidence and the suspect was convicted and shut-up before he was sued for slander. We record video AND audio. Great stuff... So, it looks to Police like Democrats are anti-Police which is not true but what can you do?

As for the money for Homeland Security. Yes, we have seen alot of it. All you have to do is write up a grant request and apply for it. Very easy to get believe it or not.

I hate being in the passenger seat also. :)

[beyurslf]

19. Why do the police have radar traps in pooer neighborhoods all the time

but always seem to stay away from richer ones? Maybe this isn't the case everywhere, but where I live it sure seems true.

[SouthernDem2004]

21. Radar is normally setup in neighbors based on complaints be citizens...

If you think about it wealthier neighborhoods usually have less traffic going through them. Also, wealthier people are less like to contact the Police and complain.

[democracyindanger]

22. I wanted to ask this last time

You know when you make a donation to a police charity, and they give you a sticker or a license plate frame? Do they buy some goodwill when you pull someone over? Ever? Never? Rarely?

[TheCentepedeShoes]

23. Good question

Mr. 'pede used to own an office building in which he rented space to a firefighter's chairty. It was more or less a boiler room and the folks making the calls weren't really employed by the fire department. Is it the same with the PBA?

[SouthernDem2004]

27. It would depend on your local PBA. Some may use boiler rooms...

Usually they only get a small percentage of donations made to boiler charities. Ask when they call.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

28. Thank you ! n/t

[SouthernDem2004]

26. They mean nothing...

Alot of those organizations are scams anyway. The only real Police organizations are the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the Police Benevalent Association (PBA). There are other valid groups like the Law Enforcement Memorial and the like but very few.

[two gun sid]

24. What is the deal with all the tasoring of kids lately?

I thought you guys have had this technology for a while. Why are we seeing all these really bad decisions being made when it comes to tasor or not tasor?

[SouthernDem2004]

30. Taser have been around for a while but are just now becoming popular.

The reason they are being used is that they are considered less force then empty hand. Meaning that it is less likely to cause injury to a person then physically restraining them. Not all of what is on the news is a bad decision but it makes for good TV. Ask youself this, Is it better to strike granny with your hand or use a taser? Conventional wisdom right now is that it is bettet to taser. Also, in civil lawsuits the courts consider tasers and pepper spray to be less force then empty hand.

[two gun sid]

33. Granny is a fully developed adult.

But, I gotta say, as an a electrician, I think smacking the shit out her would be better than sending electrical current through her frail body. (No choke holds though.)

So, your answer is 'conventional wisdom' and 'civil suits'. I was hoping it was just the bad call of some geeked up officers and poor 'use of force' rules. I'll remember that the next time I get pulled over.

Thanks for the info.

[SouthernDem2004]

34. We work in a very litigious environment. We spray or tasz. Less likely to

lose a lawsuit.

[two gun sid]

36. I understand.

I work as an electrician for a state prison. I have an convict crew I work with. When I used to work the Ad Seg unit it seemed every time a problem got out of hand it was caused by someone misreading a situation or a poor OP. Hell, everybody makes mistakes but lately this tasoring thing seems to have gotten out of hand. That is just my opinion. Thanks again.

[Book Lover]

25. Female cops

Are they tougher than male cops? Less tough? Given light duty on purpose? Does it piss off most/some/few male cops that some women want to join the force?

Also, where I grew up (Queens, NYC) there were cop and fireman families on my block; they had a mostly-but-not-always-friendly rivalry. Is that across the board or just in certain places?

[SouthernDem2004]

31. There are all different types of female cops...

The go across the whole spectrum. There are good officers and bad officers and sex has nothing to do with it. The attitude towards female Officers has changed over the years. They are now highly sought after but unfortunately there just are not enough women that wish to be Police. Female Officers are very handy when you need to search female suspects.

I think the Police-Fire rivalry is universal. It is mostly friendly as you state. It is kind of annoying that they get paid to sleep. I get great pleasure calling them out in the middle of the night. :)

[Book Lover]

37. Hey, hey, hey

My brother serves in the Syracuse FD... :-)

[jmm]

38. What type of a search are male cops allowed to do on women?

As a woman who has been pulled over numerous times by male cops and received some very thorough pat downs I've got to wonder.

[SouthernDem2004]

39. Exterior pat down using the backside of your hand. Now...

if you have a gun shoved down your pants of course we are going to get it but a normal safety pat down should be the back of the hand.

[depakid]

29. I am curious as to your thoughts on coerced confessions

I have always viewed the exclusionary rule of Miranda, Escobedo and their progeny as a public safety issue.

My reasoning is that if you haul in a suspect (who may well be a bad guy) and either beat or coerce a confession out of him- especially a written confession (and you know how those are sometimes "written") that confession isn't very reliable- and leaves open the very real possibility- maybe even probability that- the real perpetrator is still out on the streets.

I view witholding excupatory evidence and similar prosecitorial misconduct the same way.

Your thoughts?

[SouthernDem2004]

32. Everything you mentioned is prohibited...

Such things are rare these days. Now 10 or so years ago..thats a different story.

Odd question. I do not think anyone should break any laws or violate anyones civil rights even if the suspect is guilty. There is no honor in that...

However, I do not see the need for Miranda. It is not a problem because it takes 30 seconds to administer but it is pointless.

[depakid]

35. It may be prohibited but

it's still done in many places. I agree that there's no honor in it- but honor is a comparativelly rare quality among people these days.

Miranda is a bout more than warnings- it's about halting an interrogation and preventing the kinds of coercions that can lead to faulty confessions. Sleep deprivation is a common tactic- as is providing the suspect with pre-written confessions to sign.

My own take is that if more people in law enforcement considered the public safety angle, then there mught be more respect for why some of the annoying rules are in place.

[SouthernDem2004]

40. These types of things are only common on TV. We all know what not to

do because we know what can get a confession tossed out. Kinesic interview techniques are very effective.

[jayctravis]

41. Miranda is good...

for both the policeman and the perpetrator. It means an arrest has been made and there are rights involved.

[SouthernDem2004]

42. There is a common misconception by the public that Miranda is required

any time a person is arrested. Miranda is only read when we are doing investigative questioning. Mainly it is just read for felonies and DUIs. I can not tell you how many times people have come to court and their only defense in trial is that they were not Mirandized and they think their rights were violated. Drives judges crazy...