Ask the cop

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
341

Yeah, we do tend to be that way. Cops have a hard time relaxing around anyone but other cops, and there are several reasons. One, we get so used to having to watch our backs and never knowing who wants to hurt us that we have a hard time letting our guard down. We also worry that everyone is watching us, and if we cut loose it will tarnish the image. We’re trained from Academy on to always cultivate respect, and we’re afraid to lose that. That worry is reinforced because we’re the only people who are introduced at parties by profession (“This is my friend David. He’s a Seattle cop.”)

My Police Association used to have an annual holiday party and invite the prosecutor, court staff, city hall staff, etc. It was nice, but none of us could relax and everyone was afraid to drink much. We eventually changed and only invited our own staff and a few close people. The parties then became fun.

The “cold as hell” part is also the tendency to shut off our emotions because of all that we have to deal with on the job. Psychologists always tell us not to do it, but it’s difficult to avoid.

My best advise is to maybe to have get-togethers with just really small groups of people that he really trusts. No one at all that he isn’t 100% comfortable with. Maybe then he’ll feel like he can let his guard down.

342

I probably wouldn’t charge you with anything (unless you really were reckless, such as not having a safe backdrop for your shot). I would probably lecture you on calling the police to do things like that rather than doing it yourself, but that’s about it.

343

Yeah, I yelled and he jumped right in my face and started to push me. I took him down over the hood of a car and held him there until he calmed down.

**

It is definitely not personal. I rarely develop any kind of emotional response to the people I deal with, even child molestors (it’s easier on me to not let my emotions get in the way). I have developed some pretty bad feelings for a few people along the way, but it’s very rare.

And no, I don’t “scream at and bully terrified, confused people” during interrogations. That’s just not my style. I’m more into convincing someone to tell me what I need to know, and I’m certainly not above some trickery. But the “Homicide/NYPD Blue” interrogations are just not a technique that I think I could pull off.

344

My guess would be that he thought you were someone else or were doing something else. You may also have been profiled (either by your race or type of vehicle). He was probably hoping for something far better, then settled for th $30 ticket to justify his stop. That’s just my guess, of course.

**

This was definitely something more than a simple traffic stop. The driver may have been suspended, or it was a stop for something more serious (drugs, theft, etc.). I can’t imagine Chicago cops putting that much time and effort into something simple. They must be far to busy to waste time like that.

345

I carry an automatic (Glock model 23, .40 caliber, 13 shot magazine). I don’t know anyone who still carries a revolver as their sidearm, but a few guys carry them as back-ups (I carry a Walther PPK/S .380 as a back-up).

**

No, and you would probably be safe from criminal charges as well. I’m safe because cops are cops 24/7, and it’s my job to protect people. You should be safe because “self-defence” actually includes defending yourself or another from harm. It’s more risky for you, of course, and depending on circumstances you could get charged.

We’re talking about criminal charges here. Obviously, we could both be sued civilly if we hurt the person were dealing with.

346

Thanks, Badge. Guess we’ll keep him then. :slight_smile:

347

I just had a job interview with the state police department the other day, which was conducted by an office staff person, a lieutenant, and a cop in uniform. I am 99% sure I blew the interview, because while the uniformed officer and office staff person were both very cordial, the lieutenant pretty much just sat there giving me the Cop Stare the entire time, which made me nervous and squirmy. I am wondering where you people (:)) learn this trick, and also, what is the proper response, so as to appear non-challenging and deferential, yet self-confident and secure? I tried making solid eye contact, until I felt like it was a staring contest/dominance thing, then I glanced at one of the other two interviewers, then I remembered that glancing to one side supposedly means you’re lying (except maybe it’s only glancing up and to the left… oh wait, maybe I should be paying attention to the interview), so I tried glancing down, but then I felt like that made me look less confident. Then I just tried to ignore it and get out of there as quickly as possible.

Also, they had me sign a release form to do a criminal background check. Two questions on this. What shows up on this, exactly? As far as I know, I don’t have any sort of criminal history, except one seat-belt ticket. Secondly, will it somehow show up on my record that a criminal background check had been done, and that it was for an employment check, not for a criminal investigation or something? Okay, now I just sound totally neurotic.

348

I don’t know if I asked this sometime in the dim past or not but…

Fact, I am a saint.

I get arrested on the other side of your state in April of 2000 for child molestation and am booked / charged.
Then it comes out that I am a saint and it was mistaken identify and everyone including the Governor and 3 angels apologize to me.

Then in Sept of 2002 I am arrested and booked / charged on a murder charge and in a couple days …oops, surprise, surprise, I am totally innocent, a saint and it was all mistaken identity again. Same apologizing… I just look like I do and did not have an alibi but truth, justice and the American way won out after a few days. I was not being picked on for anything, SAINT, remember…

Big set up ain’t it? LOL

Anywho, you are not busy one day last week on your side of the state and I had a tail light out and you made a nice stop on me to let me know. Of course you will run my license.
What will come back to you? At the same time you have had an unsolved murder and an unsolved child molestation in you area that has people upset.

You do not know me, from across the state, remember, and I look like this3½¢ aka GusNspot ----- for real, this is me at various times in my life, pick any where I’m over 30.

So, what would you get back on me?

Nothing, there is nothing on record? They would not jeopardize my life by leaving those mistakes out where they could do harm to me later? Right?

They tell you that I was arrested and booked / charged but that it was all a mistake and I’m a saint?

What would you do if all you got back was the two arrest records without any added info? Is that all that would come back?

I don’t know why I thought of this tonight but I am curious since this thread is active again… :cool:

349

There is always one person on every oral board who does that. It’s just institutionalized, I guess. The worst response is to fall apart with nerves. The best response is hard to define, as it depends on the job you’re applying for (prospective cops would be expected to me more self-confident and maybe even a bit arrogant or defiant, while a records clerk wouldn’t want to seem the same way) and the makeup of the board (cops on the board will expect that self-confident attitude, while citizens on a board might be turned off by that). I guess the best advice is to be yourself.

**

The criminal background check that we do will probably show any arrests or tickets, regardless of whether you were convicted or not (other employers would only get conviction data). They will probably also check with local law enforcement agencies for any other contacts, no matter how minor. It really isn’t anything to worry about if you don’t have any history.

**

The only way their checking would show up on your record is if they submitted your fingerprints to the FBI for a background check. If they do that (and they may do so before you are hired), then it will show that you were fingerprinted for employment (separate from criminal fingerprint submissions).

350

In Washington, when I run a person’s license I will get back the following:
Driver’s license status
Warrants
Missing Persons records
Restraining/Protection Orders
Probation status (Washington does not have parole)
Registered Sex Offender/Registered Kidnapper info
If you are a convicted felon (only if convicted in Washington)

So, no, I wouldn’t know about your two mistaken arrests. To find out about those, I would have to run a criminal history check. Anytime I run one of these, I have to log it and the reason that I ran it, and they are audited annually by the state to make sure that we aren’t using them improperly.

The criminal history check will show those arrests (since you were booked and your fingerprints were submitted). They should show either “No Charge Filed” or “Charge Dismissed”. Unfortunately, courts and prosecutors are notorious for not submitting the dispositions on charges, so it may show “Disposition Unknown”. If I found out that you had been arrested for these charges, I might then have to contact the appropriate court or prosecutor’s office to find out what happened to the charges.

Also, as I said to MixieArmadillo above, anyone other that law enforcement (such as employers) checking your criminal history would not even see those arrests, since you were never convicted of anything.

351

Cop shows like NYPD Blue, et al, like to portray FBI agents as
total assholes.

What’s your and your fellow cops assessment of them.

(Please ignore this if it has already been asked.)

352

Here’s one that I havn’t noticed…

When can you say no to a cop, politely?

When he asks to search your car, of course. But what about that school invasion that was recently done? What about if you’re a witness at an accident? Can you decline to identify yourself?

353

Personally, I’ve only worked with the FBI on one case, and the agent was very good to work with. I also took a class from some FBI agents (on crime scene processing) and they were all great.

I have heard other cops complain about their interactions with the FBI (and similar complaints about other federal agencies, such as DEA or ATF). It’s the nature of the beast, I believe. The feds have a different set of rules and different goals, so it naturally leads to conflict.

354

Exactly that way - politely say no.

If an officer asks for permission to search your car, that’s a pretty good indication that he or she cannot do so without your permission. If you don’t want the officer to search, just say so and ask permission to leave. That last part is pretty important, because if you stay he will continue to push and may find other ways to perform the search. If the officer refuses to let you leave, he has made a seizure of your person and has to have at least reasonable suspicion that you are involved in criminal activity. If he doesn’t have that reasonable suspicion, anything he finds after that point should be suppressed at trial.

As for that school invasion (all I know about it was a clip I saw on The Daily Show): When cops run in, yelling and waving guns, saying no is not an option. Do exactly as your told - nothing more, nothing less. And keep your hands in plain sight at all times.

Here in Washington, you can certainly refuse to identify yourself if you are a witness. If you are possibly a suspect in any way, you do have to identify yourself (that may change, depending on a case the SCOTUS is reviewing). It may be different in other states.

My best advise would be to politely refuse if you don’t want to identify yourself. If he insists and threatens you with arrest or a criminal charge, then comply and talk to a lawyer about it later. Or, if you want to fight it, continue to refuse and see if he will really charge you (some cops will bluff, claiming they can arrest you when they really can’t. I never do that, because I don’t want to look foolish if someone calls my bluff). Of course, that may actually get you arrested, so be sure it’s worth it to you.

355

Er, non-US resident here. Can anyone enlighten me on this infamous robbery, and what made it such a significant event that it has resulted in more firepower for police officers?

356

North Hollywood Bank Robbery & Shootout

357

Thanks, Ringo.

358

Badge, not how. When. What sort of thing can you say no to a policeman for?

359

Badge: When taking your Personal Disclosure Form interview, if the questions begin to stray off of the questions that were written on the PDF, can you refuse to answer them?

360

Also what if there are things you know happened, but cannot remember exact details of level of involvement and such. Some things I can’t remember and when I tell them this I don’t want to seem as if I am hiding something, but simply cannot remember accurately! And if I took a polygraph and said either “yes” or “no” it would be said with no confidence indicating a “lie”.