# Inappropriate Police Behavior **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 27, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335 "2006-02-27T17:40:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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 2, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/41 "2006-03-02T03:23:28Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > I think the report is suspect. The undercover video was shot by members of an anti-cop group… Here’s the bio of the [executive director](http://www.policeabuse.org/director.html) Diop Kamau, and [The Police Complaint Center](http://www.policeabuse.org/index.html) home page. A brief snippet from Kamau’s bio, Diop received a Bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice from California Lutheran College in 1980 and a Masters degree in Criminal Justice at Penn State University in 1994. His ten years of law enforcement experience include one year assigned to Ventura County juvenile and adult correctional facilities, two years as a deputy with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, and seven years with the Hawthorne Police Department as a field supervisor, detective and sergeant specializing in undercover and sting operations. Diop has an advanced certificate in Peace Officer Standards and Training. He is a qualified instructor in Police Control Restraint Techniques as well as a Federal and California State qualified expert on use of force, police report writing and officer misconduct. He has also testified before the California State Assembly and United States Congress on police practices. Mr. Kamau is also a licensed private investigator. So is it only former cops that we can’t trust? > [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > …and it aired during sweeps… That proves what exactly? > [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > …They also got two of their most important facts wrong: [the Miami-Dade PD has a complaint form online in three languages](http://www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/irp/complaint_filing.asp) and [the Broward Sheriff’s Office has an online commendation form](http://www.sheriff.org/apps/commend/index.cfm) which presumably can also be used for complaints. And if you don’t have access to a computer, or know the sites exist, just how do you file a complaint? CMC ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/42 "2006-03-02T04:35:06Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > So is it only former cops that we can’t trust? Not if they’re going after bad cops like McCarthy went after commies. > [@](#): > > _That proves what exactly?_ Not a thing. It does raise the possiblity that the report was deliberately inflammatory in order to attract more viewers. > [@](#): > > And if you don’t have access to a computer, or know the sites exist, just how do you file a complaint? Go to a library and plug _Miami-Dade Police_ or _Broward County Sheriff_ into Google. They do have libraries with Internet access in Miami, yes? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/43 "2006-03-02T04:55:11Z")
Point is, those departments _do_ have forms and other ways to take written complaints (as do [Lauderhill](http://www.lauderhillpolice.org/) and [Wilton Manors](http://www.wiltonmanorspolice.com/ccform.html)), contrary to what is said in the video clips. Smaller departments don’t have online forms but they some have contact information. For example, [Hialeah Gardens has a Community Relations Officer](http://www.cityofhialeahgardens.org/police_patrol.html) (who wouldn’t have been in the station so late at night) and [The Hollywood PD even spells the procedures out for everyone](http://www.hollywoodpolice.org/special_units/i_a_page.htm). Funny how none of this was ever mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/44 "2006-03-02T05:10:48Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Point is, those departments _do_ have forms and other ways to take written complaints (as do [Lauderhill](http://www.lauderhillpolice.org/) and [Wilton Manors](http://www.wiltonmanorspolice.com/ccform.html)), contrary to what is said in the video clips. > > Smaller departments don’t have online forms but they some have contact information. For example, [Hialeah Gardens has a Community Relations Officer](http://www.cityofhialeahgardens.org/police_patrol.html) (who wouldn’t have been in the station so late at night) and [The Hollywood PD even spells the procedures out for everyone](http://www.hollywoodpolice.org/special_units/i_a_page.htm). Funny how none of this was ever mentioned. Well if they have the forms then why the fuck are the cops working the frontdesk either too stupid or too big of assholes to point a complaintant to them? ---
**Author:** ![markdiscordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@markdiscordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdiscordia)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/45 "2006-03-02T07:57:33Z")
> [@myskepticsight](#): > > Most cops aren’t like this 99% of cops really give the other 1% a bad name. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/46 "2006-03-02T11:55:28Z")
> [@](#): > > **GusNSpot** said: > and the police were doing this to a civilian I didn’t know that police were soldiers in the United States. Since when are they anything but civilians themselves? Is this another part of this ‘us versus them’ attitude that makes me distrust the police? > [@](#): > > **buttonjockey308** said: > No cop wants to jeopardize their career just to pull over a black guy just for being black (this of course is not to say that DWB doesn’t exist, and not to say it’s not a stain on the decent cops everywhere). Right, **no cop** would ever do that. Cops are good people who have to be trusted and obeyed and always have a good reason for what they do. They’re never infantile egomaniacs with guns and badges and an automatic excuse for nearly anything they do to someone who isn’t a cop. And of course, as a non-cop, I never have to think about the fact that people will automatically side against me in any dispute against a cop or disagreement over who is telling the truth. I never have to worry that even if the cop is a lying, infantile egomaniac he will be believed because he is a cop. Decent people don’t have to distrust cops because cops would never do anything bad to a good person. The only people who distrust cops are criminals, and they deserve to get fucked up by the cops. What I see in that article and in those videos is no different than what happens when a cop decides to target a person for intimidation and harassment on the street. It doesn’t matter if you’ve done nothing wrong, either. I’ve been hassled for doing nothing other than walking down a sidewalk. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/47 "2006-03-02T13:27:12Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > That was my point and that is why 14 is not indicative. Even the 38 isn’t. The OP was trying to paint all cops with a wide brush and it backfired. Did you even read my post? Please point out where I painted “all cops” with a wide brush please? I pointed out bad behavior from _some_ cops, not all. If you want to take that ball and run with it be my guest but at least have the courtesy to read the post correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/48 "2006-03-02T13:30:05Z")
Sorry, I just saw where you got that from. My intention wasn’t to include all cops everywhere, we were talking about the situation in Florida and that’s what I was refering to in my second post. I should have elaborated, my apologies. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/49 "2006-03-02T13:35:41Z")
Man, trying to read that article was torture. Where do I file complaints against the editor? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/50 "2006-03-02T13:45:29Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Man, trying to read that article was torture. Where do I file complaints against the editor? The article is a word-for-word transcript of the video, minus the comments from the Miami chief. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/51 "2006-03-02T13:56:23Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > Well if they have the forms then why the fuck are the cops working the frontdesk either too stupid or too big of assholes to point a complaintant to them? Maybe because some unknown persons with chips on their shoulders wandered in at around 8:00 at night (my guess judging from how dark it was outside) wanting to know how to file a complaint. Personally, I wouldn’t go to a station so late at night unless it was an emergency. Also, cops tend to get pissed off when people refuse to give a direct answer to a simple question. This is news? Looks mainly like a bunch of scaremongering to me, which is par for the coruse for local news during a sweeps period. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/52 "2006-03-02T15:03:04Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > GusNSpot said: > > and the police were doing this to a civilian > > I didn’t know that police were soldiers in the United States. > > Since when are they anything but civilians themselves? Is this another part of this ‘us versus them’ attitude that makes me distrust the police? Well, I could have said, ‘Other than police’ or I could have said, ‘they were doing it to people who were not military, not federal employees, just normal citizens ya know.’ and you would have bitched about that too.? Now I was in the ARMY once. We wore uniforms and carried guns. Police wear uniforms and carry guns. When I was a soccer ref, if you were not a member of the 22 players on the pitch or their coach, as far as I was concerned, you were a civilian. If we are talking things aviation and you are not an licensed pilot or A&P, then you are a civilian to me. Seemed a easy and not clumsy way to say it but then, I don’t get so damned pissy about PC talk nor do I look so hard for a way to dig at a personal hate like you seem to. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/53 "2006-03-02T17:29:10Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > I didn’t know that police were soldiers in the United States. > > Since when are they anything but civilians themselves? Is this another part of this ‘us versus them’ attitude that makes me distrust the police? Civilian is used here to describe someone without the perogative of legitimate violence. A couple of the sergeants actually did give the information they needed, saying, “That’s not how it works,” and then explaining how it does work. A desk sergeant is not likely to have the customer service skills that, say, a hotel desk clerk would. Still, it is not a wise policy to have a system where complaints are evaluated initially by a desk sergeant. It would be intimidating no matter how nice a guy he was. Also, the police would be accused of a cover-up (which was mentioned several times by the sergeants in the transcript), even if the complaint were completely invalid. There’s no paper trail, and no way to document how or even if the complaint was evaluated. A lot of cops feel like they’re “guilty until proven innocent,” and not documenting a process like this doesn’t help. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/54 "2006-03-02T18:06:58Z")
> [@](#): > > **GusNSpot** said: > Seemed a easy and not clumsy way to say it but then, I don’t get so damned pissy about PC talk nor do I look so hard for a way to dig at a personal hate like you seem to. So thinking that cops have an ‘us vs. them’ attitude because their guns and badges give them a status above citizens who aren’t cops is being ‘pissy about PC talk’? I see this whole ‘civilian’ thing as just another way of cops saying ‘there’s regular people here on this level, and then there’s us, on a level above that.’ Then again, I’ve been mistreated by the egomaniacs in the BDUs and badges for no reason, and you haven’t. > [@](#): > > **saoirse** said: > Civilian is used here to describe someone without the perogative of legitimate violence. Well I’m glad I live in Pennsylvania where I have, as a citizen, the perogative of legitimate violence. > [@](#): > > A desk sergeant is not likely to have the customer service skills that, say, a hotel desk clerk would. And why would cops need people skills, after all they can just unholster a gun any time they don’t feel like dealing with someone who’s not wearing a badge. It’s not like they’re supposed to be public servants or act like anything other than complete dickheads when dealing with us non-badge-wearing peons. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/55 "2006-03-02T19:41:50Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Maybe because some unknown persons with chips on their shoulders wandered in at around 8:00 at night (my guess judging from how dark it was outside) wanting to know how to file a complaint. Personally, I wouldn’t go to a station so late at night unless it was an emergency. > > Also, cops tend to get pissed off when people refuse to give a direct answer to a simple question. This is news? Looks mainly like a bunch of scaremongering to me, which is par for the coruse for local news during a sweeps period. Well if it’s just some nutjob then it’s good that the department has an internal affairs office to handle and dismiss the claim. It’s not the job of the random person charged with dealing with the desk for 8 hours to decide what’s valid and what’s an invalid complaint. So now 8:00 PM is a time when you’re not allowed to talk to cops unless it’s an emergency? Then why the fuck are they holding office hours? The simple answer is that the random person at the desk doesn’t have a right to a direct answer to any question off the top of their head. Cops are law enforcement. They investigate, prevent, and arrest people for probable crimes. How is asking for a complaint form a probable crime? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/56 "2006-03-02T23:35:54Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > Well if it’s just some nutjob then it’s good that the department has an internal affairs office to handle and dismiss the claim. It’s not the job of the random person charged with dealing with the desk for 8 hours to decide what’s valid and what’s an invalid complaint. It _is_ the job of the random person charged with dealing with the desk for 8 hours to determine why a visitor is there. > [@](#): > > _So now 8:00 PM is a time when you’re not allowed to talk to cops unless it’s an emergency?_ I did not say that. I did say that _I_ wouldn’t visit a station unless it’s an emergency. If I did go when it wasn’t an emergency, I’d be prepared to answer lots of questions regarding why I was there. > [@](#): > > _How is asking for a complaint form a probable crime?_ Just aksing for a complaint form? No. Asking for a complaint form, at 8:00pm, and refusing to answer the sergeant on duty’s questions? In this day & age, that just might well be. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/57 "2006-03-02T23:49:06Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > Then again, I’ve been mistreated by the egomaniacs in the BDUs and badges for no reason, and you haven’t. That’s practically the definition of a drill seargant. 😉 When did the military harass you? And what does that have to do with Florida police? ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/58 "2006-03-03T00:05:25Z")
> [@](#): > > **kidchameleon** said: > When did the military harass you? And what does that have to do with Florida police? I’m talking about cops and their infantile egomaniac way of trying to look like drill sergeants so that they can be all scary and intimidating. I bet hassling me for walking on a sidewalk gave that jackass a boner. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/59 "2006-03-03T00:31:21Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > I’m talking about cops and their infantile egomaniac way of trying to look like drill sergeants so that they can be all scary and intimidating. > > I bet hassling me for walking on a sidewalk gave that jackass a boner. Uhhh, cops don’t wear BDUs. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335/60 "2006-03-03T02:05:29Z")
I’ve seen them wearing BDU pants. You claiming I’m lying? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-police-behavior/346335.md?page=4)