The official "Ask a cop/deputy anything!" thread

[Dang3r]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Your understanding of the U.S. and policing is a bit flawed. You should stop believing all of the stories that people tell you.

I'll keep that in mind until this occours to me

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by Salty Dog

There is no data base where we can put your name into our mobile work station and get your whole life history, which always seems to include your public school teachers, entire employment history etc.

You need a better IT department

[premier3is]

I know the answer is most likely no, but are you more likely to give ppl a break on the toll roads?

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by premier3is

I know the answer is most likely no, but are you more likely to give ppl a break on the toll roads?

I personally don't care about toll violators. The toll roads are a racket. Lol!

[premier3is]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

I personally don't care about toll violators. The toll roads are a racket. Lol!

LMAO!

[Joekerr]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

I personally don't care about toll violators. The toll roads are a racket. Lol!

Originally Posted by premier3is

LMAO!

I thought he meant do you give people a break for speeding when they are on a toll road? Not whether they paid the toll? Did I misunderstand?

[premier3is]

Originally Posted by Joekerr

I thought he meant do you give people a break for speeding when they are on a toll road? Not whether they paid the toll? Did I misunderstand?

Yea I meant for speeding. Sorry for confusion.

[suckbangblow]

Since you identify as a public figure, are you on social media?

I remember seeing lots of problems with officers posting on facebook. Just wondered if your department suggested not posting there for random reasons.


Also, are you looking forward to moving to a different department than where you are now? If so, where do you see yourself in 10-15 years?

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Joekerr

I thought he meant do you give people a break for speeding when they are on a toll road? Not whether they paid the toll? Did I misunderstand?

I thought he was referring to violators. With the added clarification, the toll road has no bearing on how I treat speeding. Attitude is everything!

Originally Posted by suckbangblow

Since you identify as a public figure, are you on social media?

I remember seeing lots of problems with officers posting on facebook. Just wondered if your department suggested not posting there for random reasons.


Also, are you looking forward to moving to a different department than where you are now? If so, where do you see yourself in 10-15 years?

I have an Instagram, but otherwise I stay off of social media. There's nothing on my IG that depicts anything law enforcement related, and I don't even mention the department that I work for. Departments generally prefer or mandate that you don't present information on social media that relates to the department or its operations (...unless your account is used for work....e.g. PIO, recruitment, etc.). I'm pretty private, and while I may discuss certain things here, I have no interest in highlighting my profession on social media, and I just don't like people in my business; my IG is all cars, motorcycles, lifting and Capoeira.

As for your question....

....I just came to this department from another department a few years ago. I left due to ambitions of working narcotics or special victims; the latter more than the former. I will be out of line-level patrol in the next 4 years. In 10-15 years, I plan to be tucked off in the corner of the county somewhere working inside with an A-schedule (...Mon-Thurs or Fri with weekends off) or a flex schedule (...the ability to work as many or as few days as long as I work my required 40 hours).

[premier3is]

When I was younger one time I was hanging out with a buddy of mines near an ocean viewpoint, and I guess you can't stand there past like 10pm or something. We didn't realize we couldn't be there past 10 and were just chillin, listening to music, talking and smoking cigarettes. (I quit smoking a few years ago tho )

Anyways, cop car suddenly shows up, shines a light on us from the back walks over and asks what we are doing. Seemed nice, just said hanging out. Told us it closes at 10pm we can't be here. Proceeds to ask us if we have anything on us... I said no. Asks for ID and then both cops ask us if we can be patted down. I was confused, we technically weren't doing anything wrong?

My question to you is, is this a legal search/pat down or whatever you want to call it? I let him since I didn't want any problems but what happens had I had said no?

Im genuinely curious about this and have wondered about it for many years.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by premier3is

When I was younger one time I was hanging out with a buddy of mines near an ocean viewpoint, and I guess you can't stand there past like 10pm or something. We didn't realize we couldn't be there past 10 and were just chillin, listening to music, talking and smoking cigarettes. (I quit smoking a few years ago tho )

Anyways, cop car suddenly shows up, shines a light on us from the back walks over and asks what we are doing. Seemed nice, just said hanging out. Told us it closes at 10pm we can't be here. Proceeds to ask us if we have anything on us... I said no. Asks for ID and then both cops ask us if we can be patted down. I was confused, we technically weren't doing anything wrong?

My question to you is, is this a legal search/pat down or whatever you want to call it? I let him since I didn't want any problems but what happens had I had said no?

Im genuinely curious about this and have wondered about it for many years.

Technically the two of you were detained based on a violation of whatever municipal code (...and/or trespass violation) was committed regardless of intent, so the cop "asking" was just a diplomatic exercise. Case law permits pat downs and/or searches depending on the circumstances. Had you declined, the cop(s) would've done it anyway because they were well within the law and had the authority to do so.

[premier3is]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Technically the two of you were detained based on a violation of whatever municipal code (...and/or trespass violation) was committed regardless of intent, so the cop "asking" was just a diplomatic exercise. Case law permits pat downs and/or searches depending on the circumstances.

Understood, and that's what I figured. I just wondered if a pat down was really necessary but I get it. Having a hoodie on with my hood up probably didn't help either lol.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by premier3is

Understood, and that's what I figured. I just wondered if a pat down was really necessary but I get it. Having a hoodie on with my hood up probably didn't help either lol.

Word of advice to those who like hoodies......


....take the hood off and take your hands out of your pockets when dealing with law enforcement. LOL!


I always pat down/search people with hoodies, especially since I can articulate bulging in clothing, an inability to see their waistline, etc.

[premier3is]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Word of advice to those who like hoodies......


....take the hood off and take your hands out of your pockets when dealing with law enforcement. LOL!


I always pay down/search people with hoodies, especially since I can articulate bulging in clothing, an inability to see their waistline, etc.

Yes sir!! I agree, hands always out of pockets and hoodies off!!! Learned my lesson with the hoodie lol.

[Dang3r]

What's your reaction at stopping a person for a short check, you're be able to see the hands, you ask if he/she wears some weapons and the answer is a yes? Do you stay calm?

[Salty Dog]

Originally Posted by Dang3r

What's your reaction at stopping a person for a short check, you're be able to see the hands, you ask if he/she wears some weapons and the answer is a yes? Do you stay calm?

I'd like to think that police officers remain calm, it's part of the job and training. You need to always anticipate that any situation can turn violent/dynamic/dangerous. The response would be based on a number of observations and the officers experience. If you were working in a state that allowed CCW, then a weapon might not set off too many alarms, it depends on the weapon (say pepper spray or impact weapon vs firearm for example). Is the officer alone, is the client alone, is the officer confident in their ability, does the client appear to be someone who has trained to be a threat or do they look like someone who can be controlled. Are they compliant.

There are a lot of "depends" to your question. The hands are always the area of concern.

[Dang3r]

Now afterwards Im thinking that my question was either way wrong posted here, caused by the fact that if Im asking an US cop I earn (righteous) a country related answer. I had basically in mind that not everybody is allowed to carry weapons (CCW or not) but nearly everybody is allowed to buy a gun. Into that scenario the risk of stopping an armed person is much more higher than into my country, where its much harder got get a) a license and b) a gun.
So, if you have to aware that every person could be armed, the pulse would get much lower if you're be able to see the hands, nevermind.

[Salty Dog]

Originally Posted by Dang3r

Now afterwards Im thinking that my question was either way wrong posted here, caused by the fact that if Im asking an US cop I earn (righteous) a country related answer. I had basically in mind that not everybody is allowed to carry weapons (CCW or not) but nearly everybody is allowed to buy a gun. Into that scenario the risk of stopping an armed person is much more higher than into my country, where its much harder got get a) a license and b) a gun.
So, if you have to aware that every person could be armed, the pulse would get much lower if you're be able to see the hands, nevermind.

The other thing to remember is that edged weapons in close proximity are arguably as big or bigger threat. There are a bunch of '70-'80's videos on the internet if you care to see some bad moustaches on coppers.....but their message is still valid.

[pz619]

So let me ask this. I *might* have just recently been pulled over on the highway. Rather than pull off to the side of the highway I took the next exit. Just to give the officer a little more room in a safer area. What I didn't realize until I committed to this strategy is that the next exit was about 2 miles away. Then when I pulled off there wasn't a good area so I drove almost another mile to pull into a gas station. Couldn't tell if he was annoyed or not.

What's the official preference here? I was actually going to ask the guy but he wasn't the talkative type.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by pz619

So let me ask this. I *might* have just recently been pulled over on the highway. Rather than pull off to the side of the highway I took the next exit. Just to give the officer a little more room in a safer area. What I didn't realize until I committed to this strategy is that the next exit was about 2 miles away. Then when I pulled off there wasn't a good area so I drove almost another mile to pull into a gas station. Couldn't tell if he was annoyed or not.

What's the official preference here? I was actually going to ask the guy but he wasn't the talkative type.

I personally preferred to be off the freeway and in a well lit situation. If the officer didn't get on the PA and direct you to pull over immediately, it's safe to assume that he/she was okay with you exiting.

[pz619]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

I personally preferred to be off the freeway and in a well lit situation. If the officer didn't get on the PA and direct you to pull over immediately, it's safe to assume that he/she was okay with you exiting.

Ok that makes me feel better. Wasn't sure if he thought I was just committing to the slowest getaway possible, with a scenic tour of Del Mar.

Have the say, the man was quick though. Once we finally stopped I think the whole traffic stop took maybe 3 mins on the top end.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by pz619

Ok that makes me feel better. Wasn't sure if he thought I was just committing to the slowest getaway possible, with a scenic tour of Del Mar.

Have the say, the man was quick though. Once we finally stopped I think the whole traffic stop took maybe 3 mins on the top end.

Citations are typically pre-filled to some extent (...officer's info, local court info, etc.), and he ran you for wants and warrants prior to the stop. All that was left for the officer to do was fill in your info, the violation info and ask you to sign the citation. It's all fairly quick when we want it to be.