Thank you all for the thoughtful questions. Here are my thoughts:
DRC asks if it is okay to flash your high beams at an oncoming car with their high beams on, or if that could lead to trouble if the vehicle is a police car.
I think it is an excellent idea, as your safety is put at risk by the glare and distraction of the oncoming headlights. Just be quick about it, and focus on your driving…
TaxPayingFool asked what sentence I feel is appropriate for drunk drivers who cause fatalities.
I guess it depends on the circumstances. If someone is a law-abiding citizen, with a first DUI, and was just barely above the limit, I am more forgiving. Perhaps take their license away, fine them an extraordinary amount of money, and a minimal prison term.
If, however, this is a repeat offender, and they have had their notice, then their crime is murder. Try and punish them accordingly.
Finally, Sevesteen was curious what type of “help” I would expect in a situation like this one in Boston.
I think my point is this: do something. In that video it took several minutes for a 9-1-1 call to be made! If you are capable, start kicking this guys #*&$&(@$(. If not, maybe scream for help, or attempt to kick him in the nether-regions for me. If you are lawfully carrying a firearm, please don’t pull it out unless you think the cop is about to be killed. It would be tragic for the arriving officers to shoot you because you have a gun in your hand, when all you intended to do was help.
I really enjoy answering your inquiries. It gives me the idea that I should set up a web presence exclusively to answer questions. I wonder if there would be enough interest to keep it going?
Jun 22, 2009 at 12:59 pm
I guess I’m very late to the discussion, but one of my friends just turned me onto this website and I’ve been going over some of the older posts.
I would just like to point out something about the Boston situation, and I had come across this video before. What I noticed, is that while I agree that someone should have called 911 sooner to try to get the Officer help, I don’t think that there was a wholesale inability or unwillingness of the bystanders to help. For one, most people believe that the Police always have things under control, and I think that it’s hard for some people to recognize the difference between a situation where the officer is just doing his job, and where he’s actually in a fight for his life. I think that’s why they didn’t call 911 for backup immediately. They believed that if the officer wanted backup, he would be able to handle that himself. The second thing, and I think the most important thing about the video, is that you notice as soon as the officer said that it was OK for bystanders to help, there were 4 guys who were immediately ready to jump in to help. Despite the frustration that “no one did anything”, I think it’s actually very important that they waited for the officer’s go ahead. It could be worse, in other scenarios, where whenever an officer went hands on, he would get 4 civilians jumping into the fray. It’s important that the officer makes it clear if this is a situation where civilian help is both warranted and necessary before civilians unnecessarily put themselves, the officer, and the arrest at jeopardy through untrained help.
I like your blog, it’s nice to see police perspective on current events. have you seen the alabama police chase beating?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/20/alabama.police.beating/
Keep it up, stay safe.
Sep 11, 2009 at 9:12 am
I have a question. I am 23 years old and i always wanted to be a cop. Well i am going back to school and taking law enforcement classes and i was hoping to get into the field after all the testing. That will put me at 25 or 27 years old when i finish with school. Am i to old to join now? Or can i get into something else other then a cop job, maybe fingerprinting or something else?
Sep 11, 2009 at 11:37 am
Hi Anita,
You are not too old now, nor will you be at 25 or 27. Many folks start at that age or even older. Remember most places you are looking at a 25 or 30 year pension picture, so that would still make you only 57 when you retire…NOT BAD!!
College is great, and if you can get a degree (AA or BA) that is even better. It is becoming more important every year in policing, and in hiring.
With the economy stinking it up, competition is hotter than ever for police jobs (folks look for civil service security when the $$$ stops flowing in the private sector).
As for fingerprinting, etc., those jobs are generally civilian crime scene techs that pay less and have fewer benefits than officers. On the flip side, it is less dangerous, and requires less training. Your call, but I would say you should go for it and become a cop!
Keep in touch if you like and I can answer any specific questions. Best of luck…
Sep 19, 2009 at 2:21 pm
There is a speed trap set up in front of my house. Ive never been in trouble or issued a citation in my life. I have received two in the last 15 days on the same .3 mile strip in front of my house. How do I report this where something is done about it. and do I have the right to demand the cop trap people elsewhere? (he isn’t sitting on my property, otherwise I would have called the cops)
Sep 20, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Interestingly, there might be nothing LEGAL you can do. However that doesn’t mean there is not a solution. Find out who is the “boss” of the guys running the traffic enforcement. If you are in a large PD that might be a traffic division. If your police department has 5 cops total, it might be the chief. Respectfully inform them how pleased you are that they are enforcing traffic laws, but explain the problem with your area. They might move on for a while…
It is the old balance between enforcement and PR, and these days with community policing being all the rage, it should ring loud and clear to them.
Sep 22, 2009 at 12:13 pm
How many years do beginner cops have to work the streets before they can move up in the ranks and do investigative type work or SWAT and things like that? Is there a general time frame?
Sep 28, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Generally cops need to work 2-4 years before moving on to specialized things like SWAT. That is VERY general, because a real star can do so earlier, and some departments it takes longer no matter who you are.
General rule: Large department has more opportunity than a small one.
Let me know if I can help…
Sep 30, 2009 at 12:08 pm
hey, i dig the website. i have two question for you, one that me and my friends have been debating for quite some time. what gives a police officer the right to search a vehicle? would weaving a little bit in your lane, or having an ashtray open make it possible for them to search you? just curious.
the other question i have is what speed over the limit is generally acceptable? most cops dont pull people over for going 58 in a 55, but where is the line?
any answer you can give is greatly appreciated
Oct 2, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Thanks for the compiments! A vehicle is one of the easiest things for an officer to search, because of several US Supreme Court decisions. Without overcomplicating the matter, suffice to say that since a car can be moved easily, officers get to search it much more easily than, say, a house. The house is hard to move, so we need a search warrant more often for that.
As for the probable cause to stop you on the highway, the weaving in the lane is plenty, as is any other traffic violation. And, believe it or not, 56 in a 55 is a citable offense. That said, reasonable officers use discretion in all stops.
Hope you stop by again!!!
Dec 15, 2009 at 10:47 am
Thanks for this great piece, bookmarked and rss subscribed…