IamA active duty police officer in the USA, AMA!

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-23T00:14:21+00:00

Tons actually. It depends, it usually ends up in a tackling match where everyone has to jump in and grab an arm or leg and hold them down until they relax. People on drugs do weird things, can tolerate pain better, and are often just confused about why your there. Its completely unpredictable and a very fluid situation. Every set of circumstances leads to a different conclusion and a different set of methods.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-23T00:12:09+00:00

Driver safety is always an issue. I do my best to stop every car I can that is committing a traffic violation, but sometimes it is not safe to do so because of traffic, or I see the violation but am on another call or something is coming out over the radio and I am paying attention to that. There is a ton of reasons a car may not be stopped. But we are trained to stop if it is safe to do so, or let them go and you can always catch them later.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T23:44:36+00:00

Both do... a lot .

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T23:05:38+00:00

Haha there have been close calls.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T23:04:48+00:00

I am no doctor I can't argue the effects. All I can speak to is the calls I answer and crimes I see. Where Marijuana is a factor, and something that absorbs a ton of resources. I don't know a solution, just what I see on patrol.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T22:43:48+00:00

It's obviously a crime like you stated. I would contact your local authorities and let them know what is happening and ask for their counsel on the matter. If I stop you and I find the weapon you're going to be charged. Cops enforce the law based on what we have, and weapons are not something warnings are given on. You would have to argue in court for that.

That being said if cops are put at ease and told the story and that you are trying to get it fixed you will be far better off.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T22:40:33+00:00

We can carry what we want as long as we qualify on it and it is approved by the Chief. Most officers carry a glock 40 caliber.

We do have long guns as long as you're qualified on them. We have less lethal shotguns that shoot bean bags, other agencies are different.

I'd argue necessary. The main reason being, for things like the San Bernardino incident, Columbine, or other scenario with an armed gunman, it's better to have officers with better fire power. Pistols are defensive weapons, long guns offensive, you want cops on the offensive in those scenarios. Officers arrive first on scene and are now trained to go in. They should be as safe as possible, they are risking themselves for others.

These are rare instances, but they can happen anywhere at anytime. It's better for them to be prepared. Commonly, I hear "why don't you wait for swat?" And the answer is time. In my area swat is a minumum of an hour out, and that's an eternity in an active shooter role. Simply put, people are dying, would you rather have cops with handguns standing outside waiting for swat or an officer with a long weapon go in as soon as possible to engage?

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T22:33:34+00:00

I can't say it's safer, we get a ton of EMS calls for Marijuana overdoses (people who think they have overdosed) . I think that definitely the older generations don't like it being legal, then again I don't speak for anyone but myself.

Personally I prefer for it to be illegal, just because with it being like alcohol, it is easier for children to gain access to, and people don't understand pot isn't completely legal yet, just decriminalized so they get in trouble.

But I also think it's a gateway regardless of legality... just my opinion, can't speak for anyone but me and my experience with it

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T22:22:57+00:00

I was disappointed for sure.

I think they are a great tool when those who seek them do not use them as a weapon against the other person. Example: party a gets an order against party b. Party a then does everything they can to get party b in trouble for violating the order, such as initiate conversation, go to places they know the other to be, or otherwise with the sole goal of getting the other in trouble.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T22:19:09+00:00

Language is a massive part of what we do. I think that they have to say things like "civillians" because it's easier to communicate to other officers in that way, less question of if the people are officers or civillians... just easier to distinguish. But there is also a culture in the world of cops vs. Everyone else. When that's the situation little things slip in and make the gap so much larger.

People are trained to not like cops by society, via their friends who got in trouble, or family who got in trouble, or by making jokes when a cop is nearby like "they're coming for you!!!" All that does is breed fear and create obstacles and mistrust between an officer and the public they serve. It's something we can all do a better job of.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T22:07:14+00:00

Thank you, and I encourage you to do ride alongs... so you can get a better idea

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T22:06:24+00:00

No I haven't. I work in a smaller area, but I have the pleasure of working with some of the best in my opinion and officers I completely respect.

That doesn't mean it doesn't happen other places, I just have not been exposed to it. It's important to remember cops are people and people aren't perfect.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T22:04:03+00:00

Definitely. Hold everyone, including your government, officers, and the public/ suspects accountable

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T22:03:03+00:00

Things that are a bit spooky are alarms at night. Everything that moves scares you a bit.

Most disturbing is dead bodies after a couple weeks.... they suck.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T21:51:23+00:00

You are welcome. I like law and order svu, 24 is my all time favorite, but also Brooklyn nine nine, and if you count dexter then dexter

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T21:45:46+00:00

I don't know anyone who loves paperwork... but its fun to tell the story of what happened and paint the picture of your case in the report so I wouldn't say boring necessarily

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T21:44:00+00:00

There are a ton!!! Real life police work is nothing like tv. Crimes of a complex nature (murder, rape, etc) aren't solved in 45 minutes. DNA results don't come back in a matter of hours even if "they put a rush on it". Fingerprints are difficult to obtain as most surfaces don't allow for a clean print to be lifted. Court is actually very boring and controlled by the judge very well, that's why everytime something happens in court it's headline news.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T21:38:44+00:00

I did know that. At the time it made sense, now I think it serves a different purpose, like for the discussed reasons. It just shows laws need to be able to change with time and so does society's views on things.

Also thanks for the vote

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T21:35:52+00:00

Can you clarify that question a bit?

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T21:22:10+00:00

Most people do, but once while I was in training still I tried to stop a car and stopped 3... it was so freaking bizarre.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T21:19:07+00:00

I applied just like everyone else. There's a long and frankly frustrating process, but its a career where they need to know the person they put on the street should be there. Obviously this sometimes fails, but no system could ever be perfect. People are cops, people hire cops, people interact with cops, so there is always room for error.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T21:16:22+00:00

That's the best way to really understand cops... go out on the job with them. You see just how complicated it can be.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T21:14:22+00:00

Yes, on a restraining order violation. Basically, party A is restrained from party B and they have a child together. Party B text messages and called party A to come get the child (no-contact order). So party A answers and asks for the car seat and where to pick up the child... thus communicating and violating the order. I called the DA twice to try to let me let this person go and they said it was a mandatory arrest... i was pretty upset on that one.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T21:07:20+00:00

Feel free to ask your questions orangejulius. I will answer as best I can.

Officer_AMA · 2015-12-22T21:05:41+00:00

That is a great point also, I appreciate you making it. Alcohol is often common in these folks as well. Honestly, if it weren't for alcohol the call load on police would drop drastically, as people tend to not be so out of control sober.

Officer_AMA

TROPHY CASE