# I Pit Burbank, California Cops! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 27, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942 "2009-03-27T01:28:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/41 "2009-03-27T08:05:26Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > After a shouting match with a former employer in Burbank, CA, Police came, spent over 90 minutes trying to figure out where the shouting came from. (Apparently, a person new to this country called saying they thought “a terroristic threat” was happening in our building. Those were the words used on the report.) Finally, they came to my office, I explained that the argument was over. “Terroristic Threat” is a specific legal term. It has nothing to do with someone new to the country. It has nothing to do with someone suspecting that there was an actual terrorist. The term has been around long before 911. It means that threats to do bodily harm were made or claimed. Things like “I’m going to kill you” or in some states “I’m going to kick your ass” even when there was no other action. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/42 "2009-03-27T08:46:37Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > I was hoping that a rant would at least bring out some related stories about their own individual idiotic and unjust examples of police work. I’ll have to use YouTube for that, I guess. If you do put up this rant on YouTube, post a link. I’d love to see that. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/43 "2009-03-27T08:58:04Z")
> [@Algorithm](#): > > Dude, everyone has bad days. A “shouting match” is wayyyyyy over the fucking top. It’s not normal behavior. There is something seriously wrong with that. No. Nothing wrong with that. Post production is filled with agression, daily shouting matches, just like restaurants. It happens almost every day, especially in the post production off if worked in. I doubt you’ll believe me when I tell you that part of the shouting I did was to complain about the constant shouting on a daily basis in a failing company. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/44 "2009-03-27T09:00:12Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > If you do put up this rant on YouTube, post a link. I’d love to see that. Sorry, I meant rely on YouTube to watch plenty of videos with police misconduct. ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/45 "2009-03-27T09:13:11Z")
> [@locrian](#): > > i doubt you’ll believe me when i tell you that part of the shouting i did was to complain about the constant shouting on a daily basis in a failing company. **NO YELLING ON THE BUS!!!** f ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/46 "2009-03-27T12:57:50Z")
Just wanted to point out that what the cops did, right or wrong, wasn’t based exclusively on their exchanges with you. They would have talked to a number of people around the building, and who knows how many of THEM pointed a finger at you and said, “That guy’s crazy. He told XXXX that he would tear his heart out and eat it in front of him. He tore the door off its hinges.” And the cops wouldn’t have told you what the accusations were at the time, if you still appeared agitated to them. And cops lie to people ALL the time to get them to cooperate or make admissions. That’s how they get most of their confessions – they tell the suspect that confessing will improve the situation, or doesn’t even really matter. That’s not a phenomena unique to Burbank cops. Cops LIED to you? Well, you were a suspect – duh. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/47 "2009-03-27T13:23:27Z")
Wow. Another Pit thread on the SDMB about police officers. How … original. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/48 "2009-03-27T13:55:09Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Careful. Somebody might call the cops. Well, only citizens get to do that, evidently. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/49 "2009-03-27T14:45:54Z")
I worked in Burbank for four years. One day in about '01, I was driving to work, kind of zoning out, when I saw colored lights flashing in my rear view. I pulled over; the cop walked over and said, “do you know how fast you were going?” Actually, I had no idea. I wasn’t paying attention, the street was broad and lightly populated with cars, and it was 7:30 in the morning. I admitted as much. The cop claimed I had been going 55 in a 35 zone. I had my doubts, but I wasn’t really in a position to argue. I suppose it is possible that I was going that fast, but I think I would have noticed. Anyway, this cop proceeded to tell me that, since a ticket for going more than 15 miles above the posted limit was a very serious infraction, he was just going to write me up for going 50 mph so that it wouldn’t look as bad on my record. That ended my only encounter with Burbank cops thus far. And ever since that day, I keep my cruise control on and whenever city traffic is light, I set it for 10 mph above the speed limit so that if I space out I won’t drive that fast again. Haven’t gotten a speeding ticket since, either. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/50 "2009-03-27T14:56:48Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Wow. Another Pit thread on the SDMB about police officers. How … original. :rolleyes: What’s original is that the OP was acting totally normal and the police trumped up a reason to send him to the loony bin for observation. Wait, that’s not really original either… carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/51 "2009-03-27T15:48:26Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > I was at my local pub with the usual local pub buddies while reading the rant from Stan Shmenge about his married friends. The wife committed suicide and the Burbank police were convinced the husband had gang connections. ([Click here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=501641)) This made me upset, my friends noticed and they went to their iPhones and Blackberries and read the rant in the BBQ Pit. They were really surprised at the reactions to Stan’s story. They said, “These people haven’t been to Burbank!” > > One of these pub buds is Officer Kenny. He’s a beat cop in the San Fernando Valley in LA County. He’s a great guy. Freaking HUGE dude with a Forrest Whitaker eyelid. He was the one that said, “You oughta post YOUR Burbank story. They’ll do anything they want in Burbank.” Wow, I didn’t believe that at _ALL_. I am in Burbank almost every week. I have lived adjacent to Burbank in the San Fernando Valley for going on 25 years. I have been pulled over in Burbank and ticketed several times. The cops were very professional. I, of course, was courteous. I find that courtesy goes a long way. I have had many experiences with cops over the years, including when I was an active addict hief. Only had one bad experience. That was in a podunk township in Ohio nearly 30 years ago. I’ve been all over the country and I have heard a few tales of cops doing bad things to people. And I have no doubt that some cops _ **do** _ do bad things. But here’s the thing! All of the people who tell me the bad cop stories have one thing in common. They’re jerks. Seriously. They’re jerks and not very bright. They have a little difficulty staying calm and tend to puff up their chests and act belligerantly. And they have a tendency towards self-serving tales. But that’s just my experience. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/52 "2009-03-27T17:41:49Z")
Not sure what to make of the OP’s story. If true, that’s outrageous. If not, well… And I’ve heard tales of some major asshole cops before. But as far as jerks getting bad treatment? I know this one guy that has a bit of an attitude and is a bit of a hothead. He alsways seems to have trouble with cops. When they ask him his name, things always get a little worse for him. His last name is Cocaine. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/53 "2009-03-27T18:09:32Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > That’s where I’m having a little trouble. Ahh I see. I have no experience with any law enforcement on that side of the country. So I don’t really know where to weigh it for potential accuracy, being the naive sort I sometimes default to taking people at their word too much. Rereading OP with sleep it’s either outrageous, or far fetched. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/54 "2009-03-27T19:37:13Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > Rereading OP with sleep it’s either outrageous, or far fetched. It can be outrageously far-fetched. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/55 "2009-03-27T19:50:37Z")
I was kind of surprised to all the posts critical of the OP, until I thought about it, and realized that the employer probably told the cops he was nutso. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/56 "2009-03-27T20:43:08Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > > [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > > > What I want to know is what the hell did that poor exit door ever do to you?! > > It didn’t open automatically for me. Who wouldn’t be pissed? > I sent rivets to its family as a peace offering. Part of the no contest agreement. 😉 So, you didn’t damage the door, or you did. Which is it? 😕 CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/57 "2009-03-28T07:50:44Z")
I am lost. No time for fairy tales. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Krebbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@Mr.Krebbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Krebbs)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/58 "2009-03-28T19:04:49Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > I’ve been all over the country and I have heard a few tales of cops doing bad things to people. And I have no doubt that some cops _ **do** _ do bad things. But here’s the thing! All of the people who tell me the bad cop stories have one thing in common. They’re jerks. > > Seriously. They’re jerks and not very bright. They have a little difficulty staying calm and tend to puff up their chests and act belligerantly. And they have a tendency towards self-serving tales. But that’s just my experience. YMMV. I have had a pretty bad experience with cops and the ATF (at the same time). Most people who know me will tell you that I am quiet, polite and non-confrontational, albeit less so on message boards. The law enforcement officers that questioned me did so on the pretense of investigating a theft of firearms that occurred in my home. They were there about a gun I had sold many months that ended up in the hands of someone involved in a murder (my former handgun was never used in a crime, aside from the one whoever sold the gun to the felon that ended up with it committed). The cops came to me because, in Washington state, handguns are registered to the owner when he purchases one from a business; handguns do not have to be registered to the new owner after a private sale. I didn’t became upset when it became clear they weren’t there about the theft of three of my handguns; I thought they would still help me. However, I did become uncooperative when they asked me to take a polygraph and then began lying to me (about who they had seen me with; the ATF agent told me private sales of firearms are illegal). In the end they searched my house and seized my remaining firearms and ammunition because they found marijuana paraphernalia in my home (but no drugs). :smack: They did not charge or arrest me. By the way, I don’t think that **Locrian** is necessarily lying. He may not be telling the whole truth, but I can see cops behaving in the way he describes. I met four Spokane major crimes detectives, three SPD patrol officers and two ATF “special” agents when my home was searched. One patrolman I met that day treated me like a human being and didn’t attempt to manipulate me through lying or “verbal judo.” He was even friendly when we started talking about literature (although in his mind, Dan Brown and Dean Koontz qualify as literary authors). One of nine of those cops weren’t assholes. I’m sure all of them can make themselves look like nice guys in the appropriate situations, but once you’re under suspicion, you become a mope in their eyes (whether you are one or not). Another example of police manipulation: if you’ve ever been considered a possible suspect, you know they don’t “interview” you; it is an interrogation. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/59 "2009-03-30T00:31:45Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > Wow, I didn’t believe that at _ALL_. > > I am in Burbank almost every week. I have lived adjacent to Burbank in the San Fernando Valley for going on 25 years. I have been pulled over in Burbank and ticketed several times. The cops were very professional. I, of course, was courteous. I find that courtesy goes a long way. > > I have had many experiences with cops over the years, including when I was an active addict hief. Only had one bad experience. That was in a podunk township in Ohio nearly 30 years ago. > > I’ve been all over the country and I have heard a few tales of cops doing bad things to people. And I have no doubt that some cops _ **do** _ do bad things. But here’s the thing! All of the people who tell me the bad cop stories have one thing in common. They’re jerks. > > Seriously. They’re jerks and not very bright. They have a little difficulty staying calm and tend to puff up their chests and act belligerantly. And they have a tendency towards self-serving tales. But that’s just my experience. YMMV. Now that’s not nice. This cops story is the one and only time I felt treated REALLY unfairly. (not nearly as bad as when I was detained at the corner, another post no one has attacked… yet.) I can see that some parts of my story can not be verified, but I swear on my life they are true. Spooje, you seem much older than I, which seems to keep cops less jumpy when you’re pulled over. Now, again, I really don’t see how you and many others have actually read the entire story i wrote. What about the judge in the hospital telling me “Burbank has their own set of rules”? I didn’t have to pay a fine or damages thanks to my attorney, guess you all have to believe that too. My friends at the bar, I can’t verify that or what Officer Kenny told me about Burbank cops… My one mistake was talking to the cops about anything. My employer did not ask to take me in. Remember, the dumb cops came well after it was over. IMO, it was wrong to call them in the first place. Someone could’ve knocked and asked what all the noise was about. But since the cops came, had a problem understanding the foreign guy’s English and after more than an hour, they don’t even have a perp, suspect, what have you. Let me ask you this. Do you at least believe that female officer made up, twisted my words, what have you, just to get me someplace else, showing that she did SOMETHING to her bosses and superiors? One addendum: I have filed a civil complaint against this female officer in the city of Burbank. It is not clear when or if it will happen in court, but I have witnesses from the building saying I didn’t damage any door and hospital employees saying I didn’t meet any criteria for being judged suicidal. Their statements are signed and witnessed. I probably won’t even get my day in court, but I am willing to testify against this officer at trials where her methodology seems questionable. Basically, with being sent to this type of medical care facility, I felt like it was so biased that I was being taken to a Japanese internment camp in WWII. Me: “Hey, man, I don’t even have slanty eyes!” Guard: “Well, this cop here says you are, so we can’t go around that. Since she said it, it must be true.” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942/60 "2009-03-30T05:32:02Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Now that’s not nice. This cops story is the one and only time I felt treated REALLY unfairly. (not nearly as bad as when I was detained at the corner, another post no one has attacked… yet.) > > I can see that some parts of my story can not be verified, but I swear on my life they are true. Spooje, you seem much older than I, which seems to keep cops less jumpy when you’re pulled over. > > Now, again, I really don’t see how you and many others have actually read the entire story i wrote. What about the judge in the hospital telling me “Burbank has their own set of rules”? I didn’t have to pay a fine or damages thanks to my attorney, guess you all have to believe that too. My friends at the bar, I can’t verify that or what Officer Kenny told me about Burbank cops… > > My one mistake was talking to the cops about anything. My employer did not ask to take me in. Remember, the dumb cops came well after it was over. IMO, it was wrong to call them in the first place. Someone could’ve knocked and asked what all the noise was about. But since the cops came, had a problem understanding the foreign guy’s English and after more than an hour, they don’t even have a perp, suspect, what have you. > > Let me ask you this. Do you at least believe that female officer made up, twisted my words, what have you, just to get me someplace else, showing that she did SOMETHING to her bosses and superiors? > > One addendum: I have filed a civil complaint against this female officer in the city of Burbank. It is not clear when or if it will happen in court, but I have witnesses from the building saying I didn’t damage any door and hospital employees saying I didn’t meet any criteria for being judged suicidal. Their statements are signed and witnessed. > I probably won’t even get my day in court, but I am willing to testify against this officer at trials where her methodology seems questionable. > > Basically, with being sent to this type of medical care facility, I felt like it was so biased that I was being taken to a Japanese internment camp in WWII. > > Me: “Hey, man, I don’t even have slanty eyes!” > Guard: “Well, this cop here says you are, so we can’t go around that. Since she said it, it must be true.” I have no doubt that you genuinely feel the way you say. I’m sure you see it exactly the way you say. However it is obviously colored by your own perceptions. The police have nothing to gain by placing you in a hospital. They have a lot to lose by not taking an unstable person to get help. You earlier used the term Terroristic Threat to illustrate the police misconception about the situation. When I pointed out the actual definition of that term you have not responded to it. Does this officer make it a habit to randomly take people off the street and place them in hospitals? If you have a lawsuit against them then this should be easy to find out in discovery. If this is not a usual event then the one variable is you. Can’t you see why some of us may look at this with a little skepticism? We only have your side which obviously is not the only side. (Please say you are not acting as your own lawyer. This is too complicated. You will only get your ass handed to you. Which would only prove how much the Man is gunning for you). The judge saying Burbank has their own rules means just that. The judge had no jurisdiction. She might agree with you given only your side of the story but had no say in if charges were brought against you. People are having a problem with your account because regardless of where we are in the country there has never been a problem with police randomly kidnapping people and taking them to the hospital. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-burbank-california-cops/490942.md?page=4)