Ask the cop

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
461

Hey Badge. Just have a couple of technical questions for you.

  1. I’m curious as to what type of lightbar or emergency lighting you use? Our local PD use the Whelen Liberty all LED lightbar, and I must say, it is an attention grabber. So what about your department? Strobes, LED’s, rotators? And are you satisfied with the intensity of the light and the response from traffic when you are running emergency.

2 Also curious as to what type of radio system you use. Does your agency have multiple frequencies for different tasks, such as a primary channel or car-to-car channel? Do you use a form of voice scrambling or digital encryption for sensitive information?

  1. Last question, does your agency provide a silent “officer needs help” system, either on the radio or your belt, so you can request help if you are in a fight or cannot speak. I know our agency utilizes these, and I was wondering if they were becoming mainstream.
462

  1. Do your cars have bullet proof glass? If not, why?

  2. Do you ever wish you had a different weapon, other than what is supplied?

  3. What is your theme music? (The movie police heros have them!)

463

Awesome thread (spent 3+ hours lapping it all up, which is something I rarely do)!

I am curious about one thing… How much do police officers usually make per year? Are cops usually satisfied with their salary, or is there a feeling that they should be making more?

Sorry if this is nosy! Feel free to leave yourself out of this question and speak more generally, if you wish :slight_smile:

464

We use Whelen lightbars with strobes, a couple of different models. They give plenty of light and warning. However, I don’t think any emergency responder is ever satisfied with the response we get from traffic! Most people have no idea how to just get out of the way. They slow down, stop in the middle of the lane, pull into the lane I want to use - anything but pull to the right and stop like they are supposed to do. Cartooniverse can back me on this one.
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We do have several different channels to use. One is for general dispatch, another for running checks, several different specialty channels for car-to-car and special operations. We do have scramblers on all of our car radios (as do most of the agencies in the county), but not on our portables.

No, but I wish we did. I’ve always thought that is a great system. If I need help, I need to get a hand loose enough to key my microphone and yell!

465

Cost would be the main reason. Not only is the bullet-resistant glass expensive, but the car would probably have to be modified to carry it because of the weight.

Not since they finally started issuing semi-autos (Glock .40 caliber). When they issued revolvers, I bought my own semi-auto to carry.

Don’t I wish! I always wanted a badge wallet like Joe Friday, that plays that great Dragnet theme every time I flip it open!

466

There is huge variations in this. Here in Western Washington we make more than twice what an Eastern Washington cop might make. I’ve talked to cops in other states who make less than I did when I was a dispatcher.

Personally, I’m pretty happy with my salary, and I could make a lot more if I worked in the Seattle-Tacoma area. But I don’t like getting shot at all that often, so I’m satisfied to stay here.

467

As a lawyer and a former Washington State resident I woul just like to say you are a credit to all peace officers. I appreciate the time you take to answer, in a polite manner, all the questions put to you. You disserve recognition for your efforts at community outreach. I thank you. :slight_smile:

468

Well, thank you. I do appreciate the kind comments that I’ve gotten from everyone. And I’ve enjoyed doing this a great deal! :slight_smile:

469

Confidential to my friend in South America: (gee, don’t I sound like Dear Abby!)

I’ve tried to reply to your e-mail, but your system keeps rejecting my message (it apparently has something to do with a spam reduction program).

I would recommend contacting the superior court in the county in Florida where this may have happened. I know it could have been filed elsewhere, but that’s your best bet.

Try e-mailing me again if you have more questions, and we’ll see if we can find a way past your system’s filters.

Badge

470

Great thread Badge. I’ve read about half of it, so if this is a repeat I am sorry.

I do veterinary work for the canines used by several local PDs. It has been very interesting…I could write a book with the stories I’ve heard. Over the years I have donated somewhere between 10 and 15 thousand dollars in goods and services.

Anyway, one LEO in particular wants to show his appreciation. He gave me a FOP card that has his home and cell phone numbers along with an explaination of what I have done for his department. It asks that he be called and that “anything that can be done to help would be appreciated”.

So I have this card in my wallet. The other day I made a stupid illegal left turn. It was 3 am and there was nobody in sight for miles, except for a police car sitting and watching with its lights out. I felt like a moron, and graciously accepted the ticket. We started chatting and I asked if he knew the LEO who gave me the card (different towns). Turns out they are good friends.

In the course of our conversation I mention (just to show what a cool guy my friend is) the card and he says that I shoulda showed it before he ticketed me. I told him I felt that what I did was so stupid that I deserved to pay the fine, so I never even considered trying to get out of it. He was actually a little angry, and wanted to get the ticket “taken care of” but I would not allow that.

So…in general, how would a cop view this card? Let’s say the offense is something short of murder. :wink: Would you be insulted? Is it possible to view it as a bribe (no, I am not talking about handing the card with a $50)?

Thanks, and stay safe.

471

We have them on our radios. I like the concept, but I don’t particularly like the application. The radios have a big red button right on top and the buttons are just too damn sensitive. I’d like to see them with a 2 second delay, or something like that.

St. Urho
Paramedic

472

Well, it’s not a bribe - it’s more of a professional courtesy being extended to the officer that gave you the card.

As to how I would take this - that’s tough to say. Obviously it would depend on the violation involved, and how you presented it would make a big difference. If you show it and ask for a little leniency is one thing, but if you were to demand a free pass that would be very different.

It’s funny. I don’t believe that being a cop entitles you to get away with breaking the law any more than anyone else, and I’m not very fond of the idea of professional courtesy as a rule. However, I do believe that a citizen who has done something special does deserve some special treatment. I would not have given you a ticket if I knew about that card.

473

Not to hijack your worthy thread. But I thought you might enjoy this short comment.

Years ago, I was a passenger in a car driven by the woman to whom I am now married. We were returning from a party and I had been drinking, she had not. We had to go through a very bad part of town to get home and there was a car going very slow in frint of us. My soon to be wife was about to scream cause she had to pee so badly. I (being the drunk dumbass) said "Pass em, if you had balls you would do it. Next thing you know she floors it, swerves around the car at about 1000mph. It didn’t even phase her when the red flashers came on(what undercover officers use around here) she had to go so bad she kept it floored all the way home, with the officers in hot pursuit. She skidded to a stop in our driveway, jumped out, threw her wallet at the officers and ran into the house to go to the bathroom. Meanwhile I am rolling on the driveway laughing my fool head off. Believe it or not they did not cite her for any of the numerous violations possible.

I have found that being curteous and respectfull to law enforcement personel usually reduces the chance of having a bad experience.

474

IANAL, but I believe this varies from state to state too. For example, I think it’s either illegal or a very difficult legal process to possess full-auto guns in California.

475

Why did you feel the need to interject inacurate legal advice to a comment that was made almost two weeks ago, in a thread that is clearly run by Badge who has demonstrated that he knows what he is talking about?

476

Sorry. I wasn’t aware that the legal advice was inaccurate, and I didn’t realize that the comment was as old as it was. And no disrespect meant to Badge or anyone else.

477

Hello Badge,

Thanks for answering my school zone question above. They finally did fix the light, after I called the school 3 times and the police dept. twice.

My next question: are off-duty officers required to be armed? If so, under what circumstances? At all times? Outside the house? If they aren’t required, are there recommendations? From an earlier post (like 2 year ago) you implied that you usually have a gun and handcuffs with you off-duty.

If you’re interested, this was brought up by another thread, where an off-duty officer in NH shot a dog that he believed was threatening his children. Questions have come up as to why he was armed while taking his kids to the park.

I’ve quoted this thread in there as well.

478

About assault weapons and rifles:

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. A good friend of mine is a lawyer, and another good friend owns a firearms shop, and I have had lengthy discussions with both of them on this subject.

I am not attempting to contradict Badge or anyone else, I am just trying to clarify a subject that there is a lot of confusion on.

An “assault rifle” is defined by the military as a rifle capable of selective full-auto or semi-auto fire. Since it has the capability of full auto (bullets come out as long as you hold the trigger back) fire, it requires a federal Class 3 license, which are not easy to come by. Several states have completely outlawed the possession of full auto firearms.

An “assault weapon” was defined by Congress in the assault weapons ban of 1994. It defined an “assault weapon” as a magazine fed, semi-auto rifle with 2 or more of the following features: pistol grip, bayonet lug, flash hider, folding stock, and maybe 1 or 2 other odd ones I’m forgetting. No new “assault weapons” could be manufactured after this bill was passed, but those that existed before the bill could still be legally possessed, transferred, sold, etc. The bill also outlawed the manufacture of new magazines that held more than 10 rounds for civilian use. Again, magazines manufactured before the law took effect would still be legal to own, sell, etc.

After the ban was passed, most manufacturers changed the design of their rifles that met the “assault weapon” definition - mostly by getting rid of the bayonet lug and flash hider. You can walk into a gun store today and buy a semi-auto-only clone of an M-16 that is identical to one manufactured before 1994, except that it doesn’t have the bayo lug or flash hider.

Again, several states have laws on the books that are more restrictive than the federal law.

The 1994 assault weapons ban expires this fall (it was written with a 10 year sunset period), so if congress doesn’t renew it, manufacturers will be able to make new rifles with folding stocks, bayo lugs, etc, and start manufacturing new large-cap mags as well.

479

Some agencies do require officers to be armed at all times, but I believe that isn’t very common. My department does not require us to pack while off-duty. In my department, myself and one other officer carry while off-duty on a regular basis, all the others don’t.

In Washington, a police officer has full police powers 24 hours a day, whether on duty or not. As such, we have the authority to carry a gun at all times and in places where other citizens cannot (such as in liquor establishments, courtrooms and schools).

When I do carry, it is only for the most extreme emergency where I need to protect someone’s life (a dog threatening to hurt children would certainly qualify).

I would never try to make an arrest while off-duty unless it was absolutely necessary. That’s because while I’m off-duty, I don’t have all the stuff I carry on duty (vest, baton, radio, etc.), and because the uniform itself helps protect me. If I’m not in uniform, even if I’ve identified myself, I just don’t project as much authority.

480

You’re certainly not contradicting me - in fact you support what I meant on the topic. I don’t think of assault rifles in such technical terms. When I said assault rifle, I simply meant a military style rifle with a high-capacity magazine. I would never think of a full-auto when talking about assault rifles (though I know assault rifles can be full-auto). If I’m thinking full-auto, I just call it a machine gun. :slight_smile:

Thanks for giving such a clear definition, muldoonthief