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

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Wait, I thought Gascon survived the recall

He did!


…and we lost our Sheriff……the people’s Sheriff. What we have now remains to be seen.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Soul_Glo

Brother Sedan, I have been following this thread for many years. Honestly, I think your commander/deputy should be aware of your contributions. Have you ever thought about it that way?

What you're doing here is no doubt God's work… answering questions, busting myths, fact checking, challenging fears, restoring faith in justice, connecting with the community… as if your service wasn't enough your contribution continues to serve the public online. My guess is you don't even get paid for that so you're a giving person.

If there is anyway you'd allow me to convey my thanks to your superiors on the forums behalf please consider it. I know you're not in it for fame and recognition from your posts.

If you want to remain anonymous then that's cool. Or if your bosses would have concerns about you posting online etc.

That was a really meaningful, genuine and thoughtful post. Thank you for that brother! There are many of my brothers/sisters in blue - from other parts of the country/world - who regularly contribute to this thread (…or who have contributed to this thread over the years) and who help bridge the chasm between the public and law enforcement; sharing perspectives and helping provide context for the things displayed and distributed by the media absent context.

This thread wouldn't be successful without everybody's contribution(s) on both sides. Everybody who asks the questions, challenges their own beliefs, challenges my posts and the posts of other LEO's in this thread, etc. People/we have to be willing to engage in discussion in order to stimulate critical thinking and effect change (…both in law enforcement conduct and the accountability of those who commit crimes against property and person(s)).

I would rather stay relatively anonymous here, but absolutely reachable for those that truly need assistance or just want to banter over a meal. I've met a small handful of the people who have contributed to this thread and I look forward to meeting many more. I just want to remain a resource.

[jamesinaz]

OK, new questions. And I recognize traffic laws may vary by state but I think this is common stuff.

Driving along on a roadway divided by a median of curbs, landscaping, rocks etc. 50 MPH secondary roads. Ambulance or Firetruck is coming at you on the other side with lights on. Am I still supposed to pull over? It isn't as if he is going to jump the curb and use my lane.

Same situation but on a major highway separated by a ditch 30 feet wide. Again approaching from the other direction sirens and lights. Pull over?

How about the above when a school bus has it's stop sign extended?

Lastly when does playing the sovereign citizen card actually work? Asking for a friend.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by jamesinaz

OK, new questions. And I recognize traffic laws may vary by state but I think this is common stuff.

Driving along on a roadway divided by a median of curbs, landscaping, rocks etc. 50 MPH secondary roads. Ambulance or Firetruck is coming at you on the other side with lights on. Am I still supposed to pull over? It isn't as if he is going to jump the curb and use my lane.

Same situation but on a major highway separated by a ditch 30 feet wide. Again approaching from the other direction sirens and lights. Pull over?

How about the above when a school bus has it's stop sign extended?

Lastly when does playing the sovereign citizen card actually work? Asking for a friend.

With a raised concrete center median, it is VERY unlikely an emergency vehicle is going to drive over it and risk damaging the undercarriage. Trust me, I've done it and I have seen others do it, and it isn't fun getting stuck on the median due to clearance issues. You're good to just keep on rolling. If we needed to get onto that side of the road we would just roll safely into oncoming traffic. The same applies to the ditch scenario. We're no good to anybody if I/we disable our vehicle(s) prior to arriving on scene. You shall stop for the school bus with the "STOP" sign extended. Failing to do so is a relatively expensive ticket if observed by law enforcement.

P.S. Playing sovereign citizen is an easy way to get your windows busted out and physically pulled from the vehicle. LOL! Play at your own risk!

[jamesinaz]

So if there is a curb/median the law doesn't mean I have to pull over? I realize it is really unlikely unless traffic is dead stopped and it's a low curb and obviously if I saw them doing it I would pull over. But if I'm just driving along and they are going the other way I'm not in violation of the law am I?

As to sovereign citizen what if I hate my window tint?

I love watching those videos. I wonder sometimes do they really think that is gonna work? Seems they do.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by jamesinaz

So if there is a curb/median the law doesn't mean I have to pull over? I realize it is really unlikely unless traffic is dead stopped and it's a low curb and obviously if I saw them doing it I would pull over. But if I'm just driving along and they are going the other way I'm not in violation of the law am I?

As to sovereign citizen what if I hate my window tint?

I love watching those videos. I wonder sometimes do they really think that is gonna work? Seems they do.

No, you would be fine. A divided highway is any road with opposing directions of travel. That will include roads with and without a raised concrete center median, double yellow line, broken white line center median/turn lane, etc.

The sovereign citizen nonsense may work in some other states, but not in California. Our vehicle code puts that nonsense to a stop.

Originally Posted by Onesie

It’s different in Canada.
This stopping law is only for undivided highways/streets.
If there’s a divider, no stop is needed (ambulances, cops, school buses, all the same).

Are you sure it’s different there or either one of us misunderstood the question?

Because we often need to drive into opposing lanes of travel, you have to yield to emergency vehicles here.

[jamesinaz]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

The sovereign citizen nonsense may work in some other states, but not in California. Our vehicle code puts that nonsense to a stop.

I find it funny they want to be unfettered yet use roads paid for by the rest of us. I thought it was just an internet joke til I saw the videos. Oh well.

Heck, I actually met a guy who believed in the flat earth conspiracy. And this was a brit who moved to Thailand. Sometimes I want to weep at the extremes people will go to in order to believe something that their senses tell them is untrue.

[Murf the Surf]

Originally Posted by jamesinaz

I find it funny they want to be unfettered yet use roads paid for by the rest of us. I thought it was just an internet joke til I saw the videos. Oh well.

Heck, I actually met a guy who believed in the flat earth conspiracy. And this was a brit who moved to Thailand. Sometimes I want to weep at the extremes people will go to in order to believe something that their senses tell them is untrue.

I have a friend and his wife is into this whole hog. She is waaaaay out there. There are some crazy ideas associated with this and it's been around for years now. The odd time they manage to get away with this garbage and then they think that means they are right in their thinking, which tends to embolden them. I didn't have to deal with them very often but when I did it never ended the way they thought it would.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Soul_Glo

Funniest excuse that turned out to be true?

…."I couldn't hold it and pooped my pants. I'm rushing to a restroom to toss these clothes."


It was true. I felt bad for the guy. It was one of those bouts with diarrhea that you just couldn't hold.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Onesie

You let him off right?

Absolutely! He went straight to the gas station restroom, changed clothes and tossed his sweats in the dumpster.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Absolutely! He went straight to the gas station restroom, changed clothes and tossed his sweats in the dumpster.

Far less expensive than the ticket

[leopard print]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Far less expensive than the ticket

Unless they were Balenciaga from more than a month ago...

[vreihen16]

Has anyone heard the news today about the huge NYPD evidence warehouse burning in a major fire? No impounded cars there, but many vehicles being held for evidence along with DNA samples and other stuff dating back 10-20 years. FDNY has two fire boats from the water side and plenty of trucks on the shore side, and is saying that the fire won't be fully extinguished for a few more days.

The NYC TV talking heads are asking rhetorically what this means for all of those outstanding cases if the evidence is lost?????

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Has anyone heard the news today about the huge NYPD evidence warehouse burning in a major fire? No impounded cars there, but many vehicles being held for evidence along with DNA samples and other stuff dating back 10-20 years. FDNY has two fire boats from the water side and plenty of trucks on the shore side, and is saying that the fire won't be fully extinguished for a few more days.

The NYC TV talking heads are asking rhetorically what this means for all of those outstanding cases if the evidence is lost?????

Some cases will undoubtedly be affected. Others will successfully be tried on the circumstantial evidence. Some of the criminals will get a pass because of that evidence warehouse burning down.

[sygazelle]

Sedan_Clan, watch out for the hot mic!

In breaking news: "The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is investigating a deputy for allegedly engaging in a sex act during a break and broadcasting the tryst over her radio, officials said Thursday"

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

Sedan_Clan, watch out for the hot mic!

In breaking news: "The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is investigating a deputy for allegedly engaging in a sex act during a break and broadcasting the tryst over her radio, officials said Thursday"

It's not the first time and it won't be the last. It wasn't that long ago that West Hollywood Station's "95-Ocean" was caught on a hot mic having sex at Universal Studios.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

It's not the first time and it won't be the last. It wasn't that long ago that West Hollywood Station's "95-Ocean" was caught on a hot mic having sex at Universal Studios.

I thought as much. I've may have heard other stories in my younger years about employees having sex on the job. The difference for us is there were no microphones to catch us in the act.....or were there?

[vreihen16]

Take off the body cam before an on-duty booty call, please.....

[Fly320s]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Take off the body cam before an on-duty booty call, please.....

Or leave it on and start an Only Fans account.

[Murf the Surf]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

It's not the first time and it won't be the last. It wasn't that long ago that West Hollywood Station's "95-Ocean" was caught on a hot mic having sex at Universal Studios.

I have a great story about a PW and her PC boyfriend on duty getting caught on the security cam in the Wagon.....legendary.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Take off the body cam before an on-duty booty call, please.....

Oh man. Having such a thing captured on BWC would be a double face palm. IMHO, there's no reason these people should be getting caught on a hot mic. It's very easy to avoid. Turn off the mobile radio in the vehicle completely and take off the portable radio, set it on the dash and do not touch it.

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

I have a great story about a PW and her PC boyfriend on duty getting caught on the security cam in the Wagon.....legendary.

Let's hear this.

[UncleWede]

So how much time would I get for assault on an officer?

Called CHP to report a vehicle left for a week. Nice officer comes and parks just behind as person responsible (but probably not RO) arrives
When officer comes to speak to me, he asks if there are other vehicles he needs to take care of. I point down the street and start describing two others when I notice him put his hand on his sidearm. Then he instructs me to please put the rose clippers on the ground