# My observations while watching "Cops:" Share yours please. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 3, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853 "2013-09-03T02:19:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/41 "2013-09-04T19:41:12Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Nobody who runs ever gets away from the cops. They’re never too obese or out of shape to catch a suspect, even an athletic 20-year-old high on cocaine and adrenaline. I’m more impressed by the cameraman that keeps up than the cops. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/42 "2013-09-04T20:52:53Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > I’m more impressed by the cameraman that keeps up than the cops. Those dudes are awesome. To keep up and climb over fences while hauling a camera is impressive. I remember an episode where they were looking for a bad guy in a parking lot full of semi-trailers. The cop walked past a trailer with the dude fairly obviously hiding underneath it. The cameraman stopped, pointed and said “is that him?” It was. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/43 "2013-09-04T20:58:37Z")
> [@grude](#): > > This is more a meta thing but, why do the more recent vintage COPS episodes feel…less authentic? It got to the point where I was like wait is this reality show staged too?😕 > > It was a lot of things like perfect lighting, more weird calls(I think I remember a clown hooker in full makeup?) just felt less real than the earlier episodes. Cops is all real. But there have been several imitators that look just like it that are totally fake. You may have stumbled onto one of them. It’s hard to tell them apart because the newer shows immitate the style exactly. But things are filmed just a little too perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/44 "2013-09-04T22:27:47Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > And even if you can outrun the V-8, you can’t outrun the radio. Or the police helicopters. > [@gotpasswords](#): > > No matter how stumbling, puking drunk a person may be, they’ve never had more than two beers. Heh - in the recent movie “Flight” with Denzel Washington, a guy speaking at an AA meeting says just that. > [@Laggard](#): > > Those dudes are awesome. To keep up and climb over fences while hauling a camera is impressive. > > I remember an episode where they were looking for a bad guy in a parking lot full of semi-trailers. The cop walked past a trailer with the dude fairly obviously hiding underneath it. The cameraman stopped, pointed and said “is that him?” It was. Rat fink camera man! ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/45 "2013-09-05T02:07:11Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > People are never driving their own cars, and are therefore ignorant of the contents. This is also true of pants. It’s surprising how often people on Cops are wearing pants that don’t belong to them and have no idea whose crack that is in the pocket. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/46 "2013-09-05T02:17:23Z")
> [@MagicEyes](#): > > This is also true of pants. It’s surprising how often people on Cops are wearing pants that don’t belong to them and have no idea whose crack that is in the pocket. There was one where the suspect claimed he didn’t notice the pistol when he put on the pants that morning. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/47 "2013-09-05T02:23:00Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > There was one where the suspect claimed he didn’t notice the pistol when he put on the pants that morning. Is that a gun in your pocket, or… ah never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/48 "2013-09-05T02:30:03Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > Not only that but everyone who’s on the show (without their face pixelized) has signed a release letting the producers use the footage without, as far as I know, any compensation. Agreed. That’s the thing I’ve always found most shocking. It’s amazing how desperate so many are to get on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/49 "2013-09-05T02:30:23Z")
> [@Oglomott](#): > > The contents of your pockets or purse are not yours; they’re someone else s. In some cases even the pants you’re wearing aren’t yours. :rolleyes: This is what we now refer to as The Lindsay Lohan Defense. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/50 "2013-09-05T02:33:15Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Agreed. That’s the thing I’ve always found most shocking. It’s amazing how desperate so many are to get on TV. Is this actually true? For some reason I thought that being filmed in a public location meant that you had no expectation of privacy: certainly in ones own home, but in public? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/51 "2013-09-05T02:35:57Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Is this actually true? For some reason I thought that being filmed in a public location meant that you had no expectation of privacy: certainly in ones own home, but in public? But it’s being filmed for a profit making show, And _you’re_ the star! ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/52 "2013-09-05T03:42:05Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Is this actually true? For some reason I thought that being filmed in a public location meant that you had no expectation of privacy: certainly in ones own home, but in public? The producers of the show never show anyone’s face without a signed waiver. Same with all the girls on “Girls Gone Wild”. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/53 "2013-09-05T04:22:43Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Agreed. That’s the thing I’ve always found most shocking. It’s amazing how desperate so many are to get on TV. It blows my mind, too. We see it all the time on “Judge Judy” - people who look like complete fools on tv, but they came on the show willingly. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/54 "2013-09-05T04:29:18Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Nobody who runs ever gets away from the cops. They’re never too obese or out of shape to catch a suspect, even an athletic 20-year-old high on cocaine and adrenaline. I’ve seen a few where, yeah, you may outrun the dog-handler but you won’t outrun the dog. ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/55 "2013-09-05T06:12:59Z")
> [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > I’ve seen a few where, yeah, you may outrun the dog-handler but you won’t outrun the dog. This. “Stop or I’ll shoot!” is a legitimate choice, marksmanship is not at its best in darkness with adrenaline and running and such. “Stop or I’ll send the dog!” is time to just stop. At least bullets don’t change direction or take it personally. ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/56 "2013-09-05T07:27:45Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Agreed. That’s the thing I’ve always found most shocking. It’s amazing how desperate so many are to get on TV. Actually, what I’ve heard is that a ton of legal paperwork is presented to them, concisely explained and the release is among it all. At that point, you’re already frazzled and just signing stuff to get it all over with. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/57 "2013-09-05T09:20:55Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > The producers of the show never show anyone’s face without a signed waiver. Same with all the girls on “Girls Gone Wild”. If only there was a way to combine the two shows into one. Now _that_ would be entertainment! ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/58 "2013-09-05T14:02:09Z")
> [@planetcory](#): > > Actually, what I’ve heard is that a ton of legal paperwork is presented to them, concisely explained and the release is among it all. At that point, you’re already frazzled and just signing stuff to get it all over with. Maybe these dopey bastards think signing a “release” means they’re going home. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/59 "2013-09-05T14:06:13Z")
The thing about Cops is I almost want to laugh at how brazenly stupid some of these people are when they get caught doing a crime, but a lot of the time the story turns sad. You’re ready to see the idiot go to jail, and then you find out their kid is nearby and it’s just pathetic how they’ve not only made a mess of their own lives, but also the lives of everyone they touch. But I agree about the shirtless thing. People on tv used to dress presentably to do crime. On Dragnet even the bums would have a second hand sports jacket. Frankenstein s monster too. ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853/60 "2013-09-05T14:32:29Z")
It’s a bad idea to doze off on the couch with COPS on, unless you want to be woken up with “POLICE! SEARCH WARRANT! GET ON THE GROUND!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-observations-while-watching-cops-share-yours-please/667853.md?page=4)