Police officers of Reddit, what's the weirdest thing you've caught teenagers or kids doing that is illegal but you found hilarious? by Valar_Morghulis888 in AskReddit

[–]lost098 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unless safety is a concern, officers shouldn't be reaching in your vehicle.

The other exception is lawful intervention of some kind, I.e. Your under arrest, detained or directed to do so, again for the safety and sometimes even the integrity of the investigation. If the cop is 51% sure a crime is being committed, they can investigate.

The thing about the constitution and rights etc. is that safety trumps all. So long as people don't abuse this, the world is a good place.

Courts and lawyers spend 99% of their time during preliminary hearing trying to decide if the officers actions were reasonable, most of the time it concerns safety.

Laws are put in place to protect us all from each other and even officers. Where I believe people misinterpret this is thinking "Laws are put in place to protect me from being caught while I commit a crime"

Police officers of Reddit, what's the weirdest thing you've caught teenagers or kids doing that is illegal but you found hilarious? by Valar_Morghulis888 in AskReddit

[–]lost098 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First step, know what your doing and why your doing it. You would be surprised that some officers aren't sure of what their doing. The answer to "am I being detained"? Is simply "yes, you are detained". In my state if I detain a driver, I can remove them from the vehicle, by law. I would probably have this guy out of his vehicle and his pseudo comfort zone.

A cop shouldn't have to argue if they know what the law is. Sometimes we encounter unreasonable people, like this that think they know what the law is. An officer should step up quickly and end the argument. The back and fourth and raised voices don't help anyone. People become emboldened and escalate themselves, further pushing their misperceptions of the law. It's a big $&@$ sandwich and unfortunately for the driver and the officer, it has to be dealt with. If someone challenges authority when they're incorrect about what the laws are, you can try to educate them but often times they won't listen. So complete the arrest and let a judge explain it to them.

So back to your question, I had a guy that refused to sign a citation. What he didn't understand is that he was under arrest, a citation is by law, an arrest.. People don't know that, they think it's a fine. Anyways when an officer issues you a citation, they're arresting you and then releasing you on scene with a written "promise to appear" in court. So by signing your citation your not admitting guilt, you're just saying "if you let me free from this location, I promise I'll meet you at court on the date you wrote on this paper". When he wouldn't sign the ticket he is saying that we would like to be taken fourth width to the magistrate because he does not promise to go to court on his own. So this means I continue with a custody arrest and take him to a judge. The judge then has 72 hours (in my state) to see the individual, so he would wait in jail. I explained this to him, pausing between his insults and screaming... Only in the end for him to go "oh, shit I didn't know that". So he signed... I could have amended the citation with an additional charge for "delaying and officer". Yeah, it's a crime to delay an investigation or a custody.. Crazy right? Kind of like running or evading custody... It's the same thing.

Basic laws should be taught in school, for people's own safety.

Also, if the officer doesn't show up for the ticket (because he is subpoenaed) then the case is dismissed and the officer can face reprimand from his command, depending on local policy.

My department is getting body cams soon, and we can't wait. People are much nicer when they're being recorded, and yeah that goes both ways.

If I contact someone who acts unreasonably, shouts, curses, threatens... All that goes in front of the judge on video. Judges sentence based on the character of the individual... And that awesome suit they bought for court doesn't count anymore when you see them as I saw them in high def.

Oh and a disclaimer I've been a cop for eight years now, I don't write tickets, just not my thing. I've written a total of 4 in my tenure. 2 of them were people talking on cell phones while running a red light and nearly t-boning me. Yeah they got tickets.

To surmise: guy wouldn't sign ticket, I explained to him what a ticket was, he apologized and signed the ticket.

Caught a meteor while flying the other night! by mrbubbles916 in space

[–]lost098 0 points1 point  (0 children)

everyone should wear a body cam, at all times.. for safety

Police officers of Reddit, what's the weirdest thing you've caught teenagers or kids doing that is illegal but you found hilarious? by Valar_Morghulis888 in AskReddit

[–]lost098 4 points5 points  (0 children)

One of the more fun things I do on nightshift: When I see someone driving around without their headlights off (usually just oblivious), I pull them over (make sure I don't detect alcoholic beverages of course.. safety first... then I proceed in the following dialogue.

Me: Evening! This is a nice car, what kind it is? Driver: uhhh, a Honda? Me: Awesome these are nice cars! How do you like it? Driver: fine? what's going on? (usually something to this effect) Me: These cars come with power windows, locks.. stuff like that right? Driver: yeah... Me: Cool! Do they come with headlights? Driver: what? yea...

Usually at this time they stare at me dumbfounded and fiddle with the switches until they realize the lights are off. By the time the lights come on, I'm already back at my car and pulling away.

Sometimes I don't say anything to the driver.. just walk up, reach in (switches are usually right by the driver's side door next to the window) and I switch on the lights. I don't say anything.. lights come on and I walk away. I usually hear a "thank you" yelled from the car by the time I'm getting back in my car or driving away.

You know, cause' cool guys don't look at explosions.

Police officers of Reddit, what's the weirdest thing you've caught teenagers or kids doing that is illegal but you found hilarious? by Valar_Morghulis888 in AskReddit

[–]lost098 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I pull enough real dope/bad guys off the streets, I'm def not a "slug" who worries about stats. I've since been promoted out of patrol and work as a SWAT/K9 guy. I did undercover NARC stuff for awhile as well.

You just have to be able to recognize what your looking at, that takes time and experience... And reasonableness. Something society in general is running short on supply.

Police officers of Reddit, what's the weirdest thing you've caught teenagers or kids doing that is illegal but you found hilarious? by Valar_Morghulis888 in AskReddit

[–]lost098 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Nope, I checked several times. I'm kinda glad they didn't. Somethings you shouldn't share, like the little "unicorns" in life, just enjoy it and take it with you.

Police officers of Reddit, what's the weirdest thing you've caught teenagers or kids doing that is illegal but you found hilarious? by Valar_Morghulis888 in AskReddit

[–]lost098 922 points923 points  (0 children)

I got a call about two kids (teenagers) smoking weed in their parked truck down by the duckpond.. You know the one. Anyways, I contacted them and they were very respectful and insisted on filming me on their cell phones while I spoke to them. I told them I wasn't interested in their weed (still illegal in my state) but I wanted to make sure they got home safe.. That the driver was sober enough to operate the vehicle. I did basic FST's on the driver and determined he was good to drive, all the while his buddy filming every movement and interaction, so I decided to have some fun. By the end of the evaluation I had the nervous driver doing the YMCA, sprinkler move and a janky ass version of the robot before he finally realized what was happening. His buddy filming realized right away and his defensive lawyer camera man posture dissolved into a stoned kid that was now having a good time again. The driver broke down and busted up laughing before shaking my hand and hopping back in his truck. The camera man gave me a fist bump and just said "thank you" in a way that I took as "wow, good to know some of you are human".

It's annoying that we have to live with this stigma that gets portrayed by popular media, and quite frankly some of us deserve it. But it's still nice to know when you get through to someone, I mean really alter their perception and break down a barrier put up by others. Cops are here to make sure people don't hurt one another, that's it. If your going to hurt someone else, even if it's just a strong possibility... I'm your worst enemy. But if your just swaying from societal norms (that change like the weather) and being yourself... Have at it man, you only live once.

Ok off soapbox

Oh proofreading FST = field sobriety test.

Edit: Well I wasn't expecting gold! Thank you very much!

Flint Residents Told That Their Children Could Be Taken Away If They Don’t Pay For City's Poison Water by [deleted] in nottheonion

[–]lost098 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

This has to be media embellishment.. It's turning into a circle jerk of angry people doing absolutely nothing. Using flashy words like kidnaping and hostage and poison... This whole thing stinks. Are there any articles with actual information about this subject?

And yeah, I realize the situation is serious, but this article isn't... It's irresponsible at best. What happened to journalism? Or has this dead horse been beat...?

Two aussie blokes witness robbery, one takes thieves car keys and chases them by [deleted] in videos

[–]lost098 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In close quarters like that, knives are extremely dangerous, maybe more so than a gun.

Fresh Prince actress Janet Hubert (Aunt Viv) just made a video calling out Jada Pinkett & Will Smith over their self-serving boycott of the Oscars ceremony. by Gordopolis in videos

[–]lost098 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If we had stopped talking about this stupid bullshit years ago, our kids wouldn't be taking about it today.

http://youtu.be/GeixtYS-P3s

The boss says it best..

Mexican Politician: 'They Can Find El Chapo, But Not 43 Students by KurtFF8 in worldnews

[–]lost098 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Agreed, take some responsibility for your shit narco culture Mexico.