# Why don't the Portland police arrest the camouflaged feds? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 25, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331 "2020-07-25T18:32:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/21 "2020-07-25T21:30:54Z")
I have not seen a vehicle labeled “Federal Agent”, no, but as there is no such agency as the “Federal Agency” of course I wouldn’t. I have seen vehicles displaying ATF, BLM (the land management agency), CBP, DEA, EPA, FBI, HHS, INS… okay, I can’t come up with a J one. And they do have their own uniforms. Cops are not the only law enforcement agency that gets to wear a uniform. And if they are acting as LEO, then they should be dressed appropriately. But you are right, they aren’t cops, so why are the playing like the are? ---
**Author:** ![kswiss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@kswiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kswiss)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/22 "2020-07-25T21:59:25Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I have seen vehicles displaying ATF, BLM (the land management agency), CBP, DEA, EPA, FBI, HHS, INS… okay, I can’t come up with a J one. Doubt it ---
**Author:** ![kswiss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@kswiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kswiss)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/23 "2020-07-25T22:04:55Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I have not seen a vehicle labeled “Federal Agent”, no, but as there is no such agency as the “Federal Agency” of course I wouldn’t. > > I have seen vehicles displaying ATF, BLM (the land management agency), CBP, DEA, EPA, FBI, HHS, INS… okay, I can’t come up with a J one. > > And they do have their own uniforms. Cops are not the only law enforcement agency that gets to wear a uniform. And if they are acting as LEO, then they should be dressed appropriately. > > But you are right, they aren’t cops, so why are the playing like the are? I am in agreement with you that Trump probably shouldn’t be doing this. But it is perfectly legal for him to do so. You are like a person, buying illegal narcotics, who asks your dealer if they are cop. Thinking that they have to answer you truthfully. They don’t. ---
**Author:** ![kswiss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@kswiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kswiss)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/24 "2020-07-25T22:17:57Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I can’t come up with a J one. Justice department. Have you ever seen a Black and White vehicle with Justice department displayed on the door? ---
**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:** [July 25, 2020, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/25 "2020-07-25T22:40:05Z")
The federal agents don’t seem to need any proof to arrest people. I think being armed and dressed like a terrorist without official law enforcement insignia is enough of crime to bring anyone in, more so if they are seen grabbing innocent citizens off the street. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/26 "2020-07-25T22:47:28Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I have seen vehicles displaying ATF, BLM (the land management agency), CBP, DEA, EPA, FBI, HHS, INS… okay, I can’t come up with a J one. [Here is a handy list of federal agencies in the United States.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_federal_agencies_in_the_United_States) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/27 "2020-07-25T22:56:58Z")
> [@kswiss](#): > > good luck with that But that is exactly what the law enforcement agencies tell you do. We’ve had cop impersonators pulling that shit around here, and the police tell you to do exactly what @kbfriender says. ---
**Author:** ![kswiss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@kswiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kswiss)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/28 "2020-07-25T23:31:40Z")
nitpick all you want. There is nothing illegal about it. Tell the judge you asked the undercover cop if he was a cop and he said no. And you read on the internet that the cops have to tell you if they are a cop. So when he arrested you for buying heroin, it was illegal. Again, I do not support the policy of what is going on. But is all perfectly legal. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/29 "2020-07-25T23:45:25Z")
> [@kswiss](#): > > Tell the judge you asked the undercover cop if he was a cop and he said no. And you read on the internet that the cops have to tell you if they are a cop. So when he arrested you for buying heroin, it was illegal. Apples and oranges. That’s not at all what I was talking about. Sure, an undercover cop can say no, he’s not a cop. That’s one thing. But if some bruiser is coming at you, no warning, no nothin’, and he seems about to attack your ass violently and with no explanation, and I was legally packing heat for self-defense, what if I emptied my gun right into the guy? FULL DISCLAIMER: I don’t pack heat. I have no plans to empty a gun into anyone. Just wondering. ---
**Author:** ![kswiss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@kswiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kswiss)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/30 "2020-07-26T00:01:39Z")
That’s why they come at you hard and fast. So you don’t empty your gun into them. And I would reject even the basis of this thread, that Federal Agents are just randomly picking peaceful citizens off the streets. At the least, failure to disperse is a crime. Throwing bricks even more so. It is paranoia to think the secret police are roaming Portland looking for hippies to arrest because of their political affiliation. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/31 "2020-07-26T00:03:39Z")
> [@kswiss](#): > > That’s why they come at you hard and fast. So you don’t empty your gun into them. But if you did …? ---
**Author:** ![kswiss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@kswiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kswiss)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/32 "2020-07-26T00:24:20Z")
you’d be dead. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/33 "2020-07-26T00:24:59Z")
> [@kswiss](#): > > At the least, failure to disperse is a crime. Throwing bricks even more so. It is paranoia to think the secret police are roaming Portland looking for hippies to arrest because of their political affiliation. “Just because we are paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get us…” Failure to disperse isn’t a crime if the order to disperse was unconstitutional. And I have lots of company in thinking that _they are looking for people to arrest because of their political affiliation_. ---
**Author:** ![kswiss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@kswiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kswiss)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/34 "2020-07-26T00:26:20Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > “Just because we are paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get us…” true enough ---
**Author:** ![kswiss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@kswiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kswiss)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/35 "2020-07-26T00:35:33Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > But if some bruiser is coming at you A highly trained law enforcement officer, who doesn’t want to be there any more than you do, but he/she has a job to do and you are throwing bricks and causing civil unrest, although you think your just exercising your rights under the constitution but not realizing other people have constitutional rights who have to go to work but 1000s of hippies burned down their business or have otherwise prevented them exercising their constitutional rights. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/36 "2020-07-26T00:38:32Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > If a plainclothes cop is arresting someone they’d identify themselves as police, show their ID, and explain why you’re being arrested. These federal agents are not doing any of that. That second sentence is still in contention before the courts. Got a cite for an actual ruling based on the evidence yet? There are plenty of good legal reasons for law enforcement to identify themselves while making an arrest. It is not **criminal** if they fail to do so. To arrest them, or anyone, the arresting officer should be able to offer evidence of an actual crime. Got a cite for a law that these federal agents appear to be breaking? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/37 "2020-07-26T00:39:22Z")
Here in Oklahoma, there are plenty of Bureau of Indian Affairs police cars. They are marked just like any other police cars and they can and will stop you for speeding. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/38 "2020-07-26T00:46:35Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Can anyone tell me a reason why they legally can’t detain them to make sure they really are federal agents and have the authority to act as they are? That is a reasonable action. It will be over before it has hardly begun. “Hey! What the fuck?!? Stop, police!” “Federal agent!” -Shows credentials- -Looks- “Carry on.” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/39 "2020-07-26T01:14:27Z")
The Governor of Oregon, Oregon’s Attorney General, and the Mayor of Portland have tried to stop this by all legal procedures, and failed. The ravings of self-appointed internet tough guys aren’t going to do better. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331/40 "2020-07-26T01:59:15Z")
> [@kswiss](#): > > A highly trained law enforcement officer, who doesn’t want to be there any more than you do, but he/she has a job to do and you are throwing bricks and causing civil unrest, although you think your just exercising your rights under the constitution but not realizing other people have constitutional rights who have to go to work but 1000s of hippies burned down their business or have otherwise prevented them exercising their constitutional rights. I’m trying to parse this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-portland-police-arrest-the-camouflaged-feds/916331.md?page=3)