# Things I learned from watching TV cop shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [May 9, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820 "2023-05-09T18:54:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/501 "2023-06-17T12:19:22Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > I have really bad memory and I am amazed how the detectives will ask a suspect where they were on a particular days years or even decades ago and the suspect will manage to remember in detail everything they were doing on THAT particular day. I thought I had a good memory. 10-15 years ago, we had a criminal suspect in our cul-de-sac. He’d crashed his stolen car a block or two over, and ended up knocking on my door asking to use a phone. He seemed a bit off, so I declined. Police officer came by within an hour or two to show me a photo lineup, presumably including the guy. I literally couldn’t pick him out of a line up. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/502 "2023-06-17T20:21:17Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > No one ever seems to flat out say “I don’t remember crap. It was TWENTY years ago.” I sometimes have issues remembering last month. 😜 😱 ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/503 "2023-06-17T22:05:32Z")
I once looked at a photo lineup because the police called, sounding urgent, wanting me to look at these pictures. It had been about two weeks before I had been assaulted in my own home. So I looked and in the lineup was a guy I was sure was the one. I told them so and they looked disappointed, thanked me for my time, and left. The next morning, in the newspaper, there was an article about a local murder, and the picture of the accused was one I recognized from the lineup, but not the guy who had attacked me… So they weren’t really workin on MY case but trying to pin something else on the shooter. Jerks. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2023, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/504 "2023-06-18T17:40:40Z")
> [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > Do not stand next to street displays of fruits. These are often hit by speeding cars. This is _ **exacly** _ why I got out of carrying large panes of glass _perpendicular_ to the flow of traffic, when crossing the street. Tripler . . . and I got out of the caged-chicken business too. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/505 "2023-06-19T05:07:40Z")
It actually happened in Cleveland several years ago fatally. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/506 "2023-06-19T13:37:13Z")
I have a serious question. All FBI Agents are called “ **Special** Agent Jones.” Are any FBI agents NOT special? If so, what does it take to be promoted from Agent to Special Agent? If all agents ARE special, then why bother with the modifier? OK, that’s 2 questions. So sue me. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/507 "2023-06-19T14:19:32Z")
From the [wikipedia page for the F.B.I.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation) > The following is a listing of the rank structure found within the FBI (in ascending order):[[68]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation#cite_note-68)[_[failed verification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability)_] > > - Field agents > - New agent trainee > - [Special agent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_agent) > - Senior special agent > - Supervisory special agent > - Assistant special agent-in-charge (ASAC) > - Special agent-in-charge (SAC) > > \*FBI management > > - Deputy assistant director > - Assistant director > - Associate executive assistant director > - Executive assistant director > - Associate deputy director > - Deputy chief of staff > - Chief of staff and special counsel to the director > - [Deputy director](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deputy_Director_of_the_Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation) > - [Director](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Director_of_the_Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation) ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/508 "2023-06-19T15:35:49Z")
I don’t think there are any “agents” in the FBI , but there are in other agencies. Which is part of the reason for FBI agents being special agents - government often uses the same title , pay grades etc for different agencies and special agents need to be distinguished from agents even if a particular agency has either one or the other but not both. Also ( and I’m not 100% sure about this) special agents both investigate and arrests while agents have the authority to do one or the other but not both. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/509 "2023-06-19T19:39:06Z")
> [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > I have a serious question. All FBI Agents are called “ **Special** Agent Jones.” Are any FBI agents NOT special? If so, what does it take to be promoted from Agent to Special Agent? If all agents ARE special, then why bother with the modifier? In most all Federal agencies- A Special Agent carries a gun and has the powers of arrest. Look at the different from a IRS Revenue Agent (a tax auditor, with indeed, quite some authority) and a IRS Special Agent who investigates Criminal tax fraud. A Special Agent is a LEO- Law Enforcement Officer. An Agent is not, altho they have more than a little authority. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/510 "2023-06-19T19:57:21Z")
> [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > I have a serious question. All FBI Agents are called “ **Special** Agent Jones.” Are any FBI agents NOT special? If so, what does it take to be promoted from Agent to Special Agent? If all agents ARE special, then why bother with the modifier? It’s a lot like banks. There are just 3 positions below the CEO, teller, manager, and vice president. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/511 "2023-06-19T20:13:21Z")
I worked on a systems implementation for a bank in 1991. It’s the predecessor of one of the five biggest banks today, but was much smaller then (before banks really became coast-to-coast behemoths). They had ~25,000 employees, but in those days banking was a labor intensive business. Lots of tellers and call center employees. They had over 600 people with VP in their title. A lot of them were Assistant Vice Presidents, which were just Branch Managers of the larger branches. So you’d have an Assistant VP to whom a couple of Teller Supervisors reported, in addition to a few New Accounts Representatives and a couple of Loan Officers. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/512 "2023-06-19T21:27:30Z")
You’re not kidding. I was an “Assistant Vice President” at the bank I worked at. I put together spreadsheets and databases for sales contests. I had zero people reporting to me. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/513 "2023-06-19T23:17:08Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > There are just 3 positions below the CEO, teller, manager, and vice president. The FBI has a _lot_ of clerks, paraprofessionals, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/514 "2023-06-20T13:06:47Z")
Thanks for all the answers about Special Agents. Sorry for the hijack. We now return to the original thread, “already in progress.” ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/515 "2023-06-20T15:47:43Z")
Anyone can shoot any type of gun, from the classic snub-nosed .38 to a howitzer, in any enclosed environment (e.g., a tunnel inside a mountain, a cellar in a house, a submarine) without suffering any loss of hearing or ear damage whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/516 "2023-06-20T16:52:11Z")
If you have just been involved in a multiple-person shootout that required you to shoot and kill bad guys, you landed a major drug bust and and you are shot… Best get working on that police report right away. It’s due tomorrow morning. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/517 "2023-06-20T21:33:31Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Best get working on that police report right away. It’s due tomorrow morning. And it will be especially hard, because no detective in history has ever had a class in typing/keyboarding, and must do everything with two fingers. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/518 "2023-06-20T21:44:19Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > And it will be especially hard, because no detective in history has ever had a class in typing/keyboarding, and must do everything with two fingers. Well, if you ever watched any of the guys I worked with… To be fair, that was a couple decades ago. We got woodshop, the girls gut typing. I did manage to take a one semester typing class, but one person watching me on a computer said my speed was all over the place- usually around 20 wpm, but with bursts of more. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/519 "2023-06-21T17:25:55Z")
You must be quite a bit older than me. In my high school in the mid-80s, typing was for all sexes. One of the most useful things I ever learned in that school, as a matter of fact. I was also lucky enough to be in a first-rate school system for elementary and junior high, in the late 70s. My junior high was excellently well-equipped, with full wood _and_ metal shops, as well as a Home Ec room with six full kitchens and six sewing machines. More to the point, _all_ students, boys and girls, had to take Shop as well as Home Ec. The school board didn’t see any reason that girls shouldn’t know how to spot-weld a trivet and patch drywall, or boys how to sew on a button and cook an omelet. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820/520 "2023-06-21T20:44:42Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > You’re not kidding. I was an “Assistant Vice President” at the bank I worked at. I put together spreadsheets and databases for sales contests. Right. Back in the 80s working at the IT Department, I had coworkers (programmers) who quit and went to work for a bank’s IT Department. They all had Assistant Vice President titles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-learned-from-watching-tv-cop-shows/983820.md?page=27)