It never ceases to amaze me. From time to time I stand at a critical or dangerous incident and think, “what on earth are you thinking?” I started this as a young patrol officer when suspects would continue to fight with 3, 4, or 5 police officers who were subduing them. Sometimes I would say out-loud, “Dude, do you think you can actually win this…knock it off!” Of course that was generally ineffective.
Anyhow, last shift the officers who work for me had to arrest a guy for beating up his wife. Nothing too serious on the injuries, but he was going to jail for certain. Who is there to arrest him? Count with me here, folks: three armed police officers (guns drawn), one police sergeant, one police canine (sounding quite hungry) and the Philosophical Cop.
The officers order him to “Freeze” and put his hands up. His response? A highly intellectual debate on whether we have the constitutional right to be interrupting his evening.
Huh?
Say for a minute we did not. Then he is staring down 5 rogue copsand a hungry German Sheperd. That almost seems like a better motivation to follow our directions!
Fortunately for this particular genius (not so much for the pooch, who didn’t get to “play”) he finally gave up. The whole thing just reminded me that police work can be summed up in a few little sound bites. The most prominent one:
“What the hell were you thinking, man?”
Apr 2, 2009 at 8:35 am
I am a retired soldier, not a police officer. I have never envied law enforcement officers the high-wire performance that is your job. There are many crackpots out there who shout “constitution” who have never read it (and probably don’t read anything). I am concerned however (having taken an oath to defend the constitution of the US from all enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC)that police organizations are being told that people who support third party candidates, are concerned with constitutional rights, or consider our current political direction to be facsist are potential terrorists. I fear that we are two ends being played against the middle. I would submit to you that there are interests that would love nothing more than to see police put in the position of suppressing proconsitutional protests. The man referenced above is obviously an idiot; but be wary: don’t forget that many who are concerned with the constitutionality of the actions of authority are informed and concerned with the preservation of liberty for our progeny.
When I worked in the Intelligence field it was illegal to target US citizens yet now we have “fusion” centers supporting your profession, like MAIC in Missouri, collecting information on US citizens and lumping patriots with whackos in order to manipulate law enforcement officers.
Be careful gentlemen there are troubled days coming and you don’t want to look back on your life and see that you had a hand in helping tear down what you loved.
Many like me are armed (legally) and though you are taught to view us all with suspicion, we are the type of people that would gladly go into the line of fire to pull you out. Many of us, from whom you draw your authority, are just as interested in preserving the peace and liberty of our country. Beware the “us vs them” mentality that is so easily bred in your environment. Soldiers fall victim to it also and end up doing nightmarish things they carry for the rest of their lives.
May 31, 2009 at 12:34 am
PC,
I know this is an older post, but I had to leave a comment.
I think that too many people use dumb excuses for their criminal transgressions using the U.S. constitution as a shield. In reality, as Keith had mentioned, most of these people have no clue what rights are afforded to them and when they are being relinquished.
The best thing when being on an intensive call like that one is that everyone, including the suspect, comes out alright.
Oh…and I like this one the most – I pay your salary, buddy – of course, I reply: Thank you, but I pay my salary, too.