Why do they yell, "Police! Stop!"

[ThelmaLou]

The suspects never stop. And the TV police often yell it when they're half a block away and the exit routes aren't covered.

On the flip side, why do the suspects always run? In places where's there no chance of escape.

Rhetorical questions. Never mind.

[RealityChuck]

By identifying themselves as police, the suspect can't argue in court that he saw two dangerous men chasing him and ran because he feared for his life.

On TV, the suspects run because it's more dramatic.

Though I do remember a cartoon in the New Yorker a few decades ago showing two men in a prison cell and one saying, "Then someone shouted 'Stop! Thief!' and I did."

[PatriotGrrrl]

The ones that don't run don't make good television.

The ones that run when it's hopeless probably panicked.

[BMalion]

I remember another New Yorker cartoon of a London Police officer running:

"Stop! Or I shall yell 'stop' again!"

[Saltire]

Originally Posted by BMalion

I remember another New Yorker cartoon of a London Police officer running:

"Stop! Or I shall yell 'stop' again!"

In other words, "Stop, or I'll shout!"

[friedo]

Stop! Or my mom will shoot!

[Der Trihs]

Originally Posted by RealityChuck

By identifying themselves as police, the suspect can't argue in court that he saw two dangerous men chasing him and ran because he feared for his life.

They also can't pull out a weapon and kill the pursuers with the defense that they thought they were only defending themselves.

[River Hippie]

I'd yell "Free Porn!"

[DrFidelius]

Because "Yes, officer. Can I help you?" makes for boring television.

[ThelmaLou]

I just mean it makes more sense to wait until you're closer to yell "Police- stop!" than to yell it and alert the guy when you get out of your car half a block away. The police (on the shows I watch anyway) yell it naively as though they think the guy is REALLY going to stay put until they can cuff him. It makes more sense to approach the guy without drawing attention to yourself, and THEN yell and nab him when you're only a few feet away.

As for running, if you're the one the police yell at when THEY'RE a block away, and it's an urban setting, it makes perfect sense to run. Especially if it's your neighborhood and you know the good hiding places. But heck, the bad guys run in a convenience store? In a hospital? In their own (small) house? Sometimes even in the police station. I guess if they were smart, they'd be rocket scientists, not bad guys. Although some of the bad guys turn out to be rocket scientists.

A foot chase definitely makes better entertainment than a peaceful surrender, I get that, of course. I just want it to make sense.

One of the great foot chases was in Point Break where Patrick Swayze ran forever, including through people's houses.

[Son of a Rich]

Originally Posted by ThelmaLou

One of the great foot chases was in Point Break where Patrick Swayze ran forever, including through people's houses.

Another good one in Raising Arizona. Also through houses.

[LC Strawhouse]

Originally Posted by ThelmaLou

One of the great foot chases was in Point Break where Patrick Swayze ran forever, including through people's houses.

The absolute best one IMHO is the 1980 movie Night of the Juggler, where the almost the entire movie is one long chase through the worst, dirtiest parts of NYC (causing tons of damage in the process). The good guy is chasing the bad guy (who has his daughter) but at one point the good guy is also getting chased by a dirty cop too! Awesome stuff!

[aceplace57]

Legally you have to obey a command from a police officer. You can be charged if you don't.

They are giving a command when they Say "Stop". They are also identifying themselves as law enforcement by saying Police! Stop!

[Dallas Jones]

Originally Posted by aceplace57

Legally you have to obey a command from a police officer. You can be charged if you don't.

They are giving a command when they Say "Stop". They are also identifying themselves as law enforcement by saying Police! Stop!

Yes, an extra charge can now be added, 'attempting to elude a police officer'.

[NoClueBoy]

When the bad guys shot Superman, he would stand there, all chest out and stuff, while the bullets bounced off him. Then, when out of bullets, the criminal would throw the gun at Supes. And HE WOULD DUCK!

So, bullets are no danger to Superman, but a thrown firearm ...

And now you know.

[NoClueBoy]

Is this some kind of bust?

Well... it's very impressive, yes, but we need to ask you a few questions.

[Misnomer]

Originally Posted by BMalion

I remember another New Yorker cartoon of a London Police officer running:

"Stop! Or I shall yell 'stop' again!"

No idea which one predates the other, but that was also a Robin Williams joke: he did it in his 1986 "Live at The Met" show.

(Which I know/remember because it's the only Robin Williams special that I've watched over and over and over...)

[ThelmaLou]

Originally Posted by aceplace57

Legally you have to obey a command from a police officer. You can be charged if you don't.

They are giving a command when they Say "Stop". They are also identifying themselves as law enforcement by saying Police! Stop!

I'm not objecting to the police yelling STOP. I just think the police should wait to yell STOP until they are CLOSER to the bad guys, so that when the bad guys run, as they surely will do, the police will have a better chance of catching them.

[simster]

Originally Posted by ThelmaLou

I'm not objecting to the police yelling STOP. I just think the police should wait to yell STOP until they are CLOSER to the bad guys, so that when the bad guys run, as they surely will do, the police will have a better chance of catching them.

I always like the look of 'shock' on the cops face - the double take with the partner as they decide who gets to give chase.

"Huh, thought that would work this time"

[NoClueBoy]

I'm getting too old for this ...



How about when the young cop gives chase to a car on foot. And actually catches up!

[Lacunae Matata]

My phone ate the TLDR version, but my husband once had a rookie colleague yell "Stop!... or I'll yell stop again!" while they were chasing a suspect. Fortunately, the tracking dog arrived about then, because everyone else was laughing too hard to run after the guy anymore!

[BMalion]

Originally Posted by Misnomer

No idea which one predates the other, but that was also a Robin Williams joke: he did it in his 1986 "Live at The Met" show.

(Which I know/remember because it's the only Robin Williams special that I've watched over and over and over...)

I may have heard the joke repeated and mis-remembered it as a cartoon.

I defer to you.

[Arkcon]

Ever since I was a kid, when the guy ran in Midnight Express, I'm always bewildered. Where did he think he was going to go? He's in Turkey. They have his documents. He speaks no language in common usage. Its not his nation, there is nowhere he can go, no one who would help him. Why run? Just ... why...where...oh heck, I guess that's what you do when you're in trouble.

[Der Trihs]

Originally Posted by NoClueBoy

When the bad guys shot Superman, he would stand there, all chest out and stuff, while the bullets bounced off him. Then, when out of bullets, the criminal would throw the gun at Supes. And HE WOULD DUCK!

So, bullets are no danger to Superman, but a thrown firearm ...

Kryptonite inlays on the grips? Maybe they should have tried pistol whipping him.

[NoClueBoy]

Originally Posted by Arkcon

Ever since I was a kid, when the guy ran in Midnight Express, I'm always bewildered. Where did he think he was going to go? He's in Turkey. They have his documents. He speaks no language in common usage. Its not his nation, there is nowhere he can go, no one who would help him. Why run? Just ... why...where...oh heck, I guess that's what you do when you're in trouble.

Didn't his dad have an escape from the country set up for him? I seem to recall someone did. All he had to do was get out that prison and stay under the radar on the way to where ever it was he was supposed to go to get out of the country as well.

[Lust4Life]

I was once in quite an intensive fight when I heard the words "Stop Police" said in a quiet speaking voice.

I stopped actively fighting, restricting myself to preventing my opponent throwing punches, but the other bloke hadn't heard the copper and carried on.

He made the mistake of shouting at them that his dad was a senior police officer in Scotland and that they would all be in deep cacky after he'd reported them.

He was duly arrested and cuffed, and accidently had his head banged against the car when they seated him.

I was allowed to walk off.

Though the following day my presence was required at the police station.

But to this day I am puzzled why the arresting copper declared his presence in a very quiet voice, was he perhaps hoping to get into a bit of a punch up himself ?

I really don't know.

[BMalion]

Originally Posted by NoClueBoy

When the bad guys shot Superman, he would stand there, all chest out and stuff, while the bullets bounced off him. Then, when out of bullets, the criminal would throw the gun at Supes. And HE WOULD DUCK!

So, bullets are no danger to Superman, but a thrown firearm ...

And now you know.

Can you post a link to any Superman show where this happened?

In other words, cite?

[NoClueBoy]

Originally Posted by BMalion

Can you post a link to any Superman show where this happened?

In other words, cite?

I take it you've never watched Seinfeld?

I can't recall if it was in his show or from some of his stand up.

[BMalion]

Originally Posted by NoClueBoy

I take it you've never watched Seinfeld?

I can't recall if it was in his show or from some of his stand up.

Nope.

So I take it was a joke?

[NoClueBoy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGf1r8-Snss

From 1:02 on.

I seriously had no idea! Just knew the Seinfeld joke.

Facepalm myself!

[Little Nemo]

As others have said, it's a legal thing. The police have to identify themselves as a lawful authority and give a lawful order. Telling "Police! Stop!" does this quite economically. Other popular forms are "Police! Freeze!" "Police! Hands where I can see them!" "Police! Down on the ground!" and "Police! Drop the gun!"

If the police officer has established his authority and you fail to follow his order, he now has legal justification for using a variety of means to compel your obedience. And assuming you're still alive when he's done taking you into custody, you can now be charged with an additional bonus crime.

[Disposable Hero]

Originally Posted by Lust4Life

But to this day I am puzzled why the arresting copper declared his presence in a very quiet voice, was he perhaps hoping to get into a bit of a punch up himself ?

I really don't know.

"Constable, did or did you not identify yourself as a police officer?"

"Yes, yes I did, your honour"

Well he's not committing perjury....

And on a similar story, a friend of mine told me that once he was involved in a fight outside a pub, he was in a general melee and fighting all round him when he felt someone grab his shoulder, he turned and punched the person who had grabbed him hard in the face...it was a female police officer.

He says he very nearly got a hiding from several large and extremely angry male officers until the policewoman indicated that it had been a misunderstanding.

So that's part of the reason why you should clearly identify yourself as a police officer if intervening in a situation!

[BMalion]

Originally Posted by NoClueBoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGf1r8-Snss

From 1:02 on.

I seriously had no idea! Just knew the Seinfeld joke.

Facepalm myself!

Well done!

[control-z]

Whenever one of the agents on NCIS confronts a suspect with "NCIS!" I always say "What's NCIS?" I doubt most people would have ever heard of the NCIS agency outside of the show.

[Kimballkid]

Originally Posted by NoClueBoy

Is this some kind of bust?

Well... it's very impressive, yes, but we need to ask you a few questions.

No this is some kind of bust.

[Typo Negative]

I figure it also lets bystanders have the opportunity of getting out of the way, or tackling the running guy.

[KneadToKnow]

FWIW, the Robin Williams joke was about bobbies in the UK not carrying guns.

[Misnomer]

Originally Posted by KneadToKnow

FWIW, the Robin Williams joke was about bobbies in the UK not carrying guns.

As BMalion implied with the "London police officer" part. I didn't think it necessary to emphasize that point, but you're right -- and the joke doesn't work unless you know that.

[KneadToKnow]

Originally Posted by Misnomer

As BMalion implied with the "London police officer" part. I didn't think it necessary to emphasize that point, but you're right -- and the joke doesn't work unless you know that.

Yeah, a surprising number of Merkins don't know that.