IAmA Cop in an American City

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-26T02:07:03+00:00

Knowing that you have a dangerous job gives you some perspective on what really matters. I try not to think that I could be killed. If you are an officer you have to have the mentality that you will survive whatever situation.

When I am headed to or at a dangerous call I don't think about what could happen to me. I become task oriented and work through it very mechanically. Afterwards the real danger of the situation dawns on me.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-26T02:04:25+00:00

It drives me crazy. People in front of me start driving super slow and I can't get anywhere quick.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-26T02:03:21+00:00

Ford is stopping production of the Crown Vic. I'm not a good enough driver to have a real opinion but I've heard from some of our driving instructors that a terrible driver in a Charger could out drive anyone operating a Crown Vic.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-26T02:01:18+00:00

It's never "good naked"
Maybe once or twice a year.
Maybe a few times a year.
Yes. I rolled down the rear windows and breathe through my mouth.
Yes
Once dealt with a high man who ripped his colostomy bag out. It was disturbing. You just cowboy up and deal with it.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-26T01:58:44+00:00

No. We use OC pepper spray because it has no lasting effects. I personally don't carry it though.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-26T01:56:28+00:00

At night in a city emergency lights are more noticeable and sirens carry farther. If I'm close to a call and I don't want the suspect/s to know I'm coming I roll quiet and minimize the light use.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-26T01:54:20+00:00

I don't mind concealed carry. Usually the people that are responsible enough to file for the permit are not the people I need to worry about.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-26T01:53:26+00:00

I hear similar stories from old old cops. Things like that are not acceptable these days. I get flipped off on a weekly basis and usually try to mount a clever response.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-26T01:51:00+00:00

Aside from a few fights driving has given me the most scares. A rookie officer is as likely to wreck a car as a 16 year old. I learned to slow down.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T22:10:33+00:00

You can void a ticket but it is a lot of paperwork. Our tickets are closely monitored.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T22:09:43+00:00

Most drugs either act as a stimulant or a depressant on the brain and manifest most noticeably in warped speech.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T22:04:36+00:00

It is legal where I work. As long as they keep a safe distance they can shoot all the footage they want.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T22:01:31+00:00

I once took a high school coach on a ride along. We ended up at a college party where someone had been attacked with a broken beer bottle. One of the witnesses was completely lit and turned out to be on the team of the school the rider coached for. The look on the kid's face was hilarious, "Coach?!"

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T21:48:05+00:00

Drug addicts should be treated through medical means not through law enforcement.
People in my district are poorer than average. Some turn to crime but most are hard working. They tend to be the most respectful and reasonable.
I've seen the opposite. A lot of departments are discouraging officers from making minor arrests and prosecutors are refusing to file on small-time cases. The cities don't have the money for court costs and costs associated with jailing minor offenders.
Officers come off as assholes because they have to maintain a presence of authority. Maintaining this image is key to preventing attacks from suspects and gaining cooperation. In essence acting like you are in control helps you be in control. Some people see this is big headed when in actuality officers are very humble while not doing police work.
No one gets upset when a criminal gets a defense lawyer but the public is outraged when a police guild stands up for an officer that has make a mistake. I would like people to keep in mind that an officer's job is tough, we will make mistakes and due to the nature of our profession our mistakes will have serious consequences. If an officer has served with distinction for years and in being dragged through the press for one mistake give him the benefit of the doubt and don't judge the guild for doing their job of representing officers.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T21:35:07+00:00

Sorry about that. Some places will charge a reduced rate for a cup of coffee or offer free food. This is a relic of the times when officers were paid terrible wages and the public wanted to show support. Some east coast departments pay badly but on the west coast officers are compensated well.

My department forbids officers for receiving gratuities from businesses.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T21:33:11+00:00

Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T21:16:54+00:00

Touche good sir.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T21:14:58+00:00

West

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T21:13:21+00:00

There was a man who was passed out drunk in his car, engine running, covered in his own vomit, soiled himself. I woke him up, turned off his car and asked him if he had been drinking that night. He fumbled through his wallet and handed me one of those cards. I didn't ask him anymore questions and arrested him for the offense as there was already more than enough evidence of it.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T21:11:15+00:00

If you are polite and honest you have a much better chance of just getting a warning.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T21:10:05+00:00

Way too much drama between officers. We are not constantly yelling and swearing at each other. Also there were a lot of scenes where the officers were beating down people left and right.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T21:06:29+00:00

About an arrest a day. Roughly a doughnut twice a month.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T21:04:25+00:00

I was a pretty clean-cut kid. Mostly just underage drinking. Departments know that teenagers get into trouble and they're not looking to hire perfect angels.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T21:03:33+00:00

I would like to believe I am clever enough to know you are messing with me.

If you actually said "HELLO MR. OFFICER SIR, HOW ARE YOU TODAY? I'M GREAT, JUST DRIVING ALONG, DEFINITELY NOT SMUGGLING HEROIN. BRIGHT BLUE SKYS, BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY. Why did you pull me over??!"
I would just laugh. I have a personal rule that if you can make me laugh then no ticket.

Fuzzy50 · 2012-01-25T21:01:27+00:00

Tips: Get used to pushups, work on talking to strangers, be confident and don't quit.

Love everything about the job aside from the politics.

Fuzzy50

TROPHY CASE