Ask a Police Officer anything

615 Questions

Last Answer on October 29, 2014

Do police officers eat for free at local restaurants?

Asked by Tripp over 12 years ago

Not typically. Many restaurant owners choose to offer certain people discounts, such as members of the military, firefighters, paramedics, police officers, etc. Those are individual choices a business owner makes and there is no hard and fast rule. Some businesses do offer a free meal to officers, but they are an exception. Some kind of discount is more common, and most places do not offer that. I have been honored to have my meal purchased for me by a kind (and always anonymous) citizen on occasion. Those are always appreciated and humbling.

910 Votes

What weapons police officers carry at all times?

Asked by FPS over 12 years ago

Typically, at least one handgun and two or more intermediate weapons such as oleoresin capsicum (pepper spray), impact weapon (expandable baton, PR-24, etc.), and/or electronic control device (Taser or similar).

910 Votes

My neighbor is a police officer in anoather town. While off duty, he came to our front porch, rang the door bell, & began yelling at my husband on the porch. My husband diffused the situation, but, I was very frightened. Do we have any recourse?

Asked by dolly1925 about 12 years ago

If your neighbor was acting in some type of official capacity (Was he in uniform? Was he threatening some type of official action? etc), and you believe he acted in an unprofessional manner you can call his department and speak to his supervisor or professional standards unit.

If your neighbor was not acting in any kind of official capacity, and instead just happens to be a cop, then it doesn't sound like his job doesn't have anything to do with the dispute. Neighbors sometimes don't get along and this might be one of those cases.

As with anyone, you can always ask your neighbor to leave if you don't want them on your property. If they refuse, call the local department for assistance.

Keep in mind that nothing can make someone be nice to you.

909 Votes

Well ok, but do your arrest people for driving 66 in a 65? Point being, when you witness a minor infraction (like smoking a joint in a park) where no one's in real danger, wouldn't your time be better spent addressing more serious crimes in your area?

Asked by Cheech Jr. (again) over 12 years ago

Speeding is not a crime, so no, I do not arrest anyone for speeding. Its not my job function to make value judgements on what is and is not a crime. Society does that through its elected officials. If you think marijuana should be de-criminalized, then I would encourage you to contact your elected officials and like minded citizens to work to change the laws.

906 Votes

Also on Jobstr...

Stand-Up Comedian

How do you fend off hecklers?

Nurse Practitioner

Could a nurse practitioner do the job of a primary care physician?

Literary Scout

Can a novelist achieve huge success through self-publishing?

what would you do in the scenario of you pull over a car with 4 people you arrest one of them with only one pair of handcuffs and the other 3 gang up on you injure you where you cant radio dispatch with no handcuffs and the 3 guys coming after you?

Asked by tyler about 12 years ago

First of all, I would never try to arrest anyone by myself in the scenario presented. Secondly, I always carry two pairs of handcuffs on my person, and have additional restraints in my patrol car.

However, if I found myself in a situation similar to what you describe, i.e. three people attacking me without any backup, I would treat that as a deadly force situation. In other words, it is reasonable to believe that three people who are attacking a police officer are likely to cause the officer great bodily harm and/or death. Additionally, an incapacitated officer would not be able to prevent them from taking his firearms and other weapons to do additional harm to the public. Since they are an imminent deadly threat, lethal force is a reasonable response for me or any other officer.

Shooting them would certainly be a reasonable course of action. It is unfortunate, but attacking me is the choice they made and dictated my response.

905 Votes

Thank you for the previous answer. Just wanted to add, I did tell the lieutenant I wanted to meet in person so that I could bring someone for moral support. Now I can't. I was assaulted by someone I trusted. I had hoped he'd have been more sensitive.

Asked by Carolyn about 12 years ago

I hope everything works out for you.

904 Votes

Do you need to get a person's consent before you test his DNA looking for a match? Or if the person is in a public place and, for example, discards gum or a cigarette can that be collected and tested without his consent?

Asked by twotimes over 12 years ago

The collection of DNA evidence is still an evolving body of case law, so there are few absolutes on obtaining it. Its admissibility into a court of law is beyond my area of expertise. Generally, however, discarded items are considered abandoned property and can be collected, tested, etc. without anyone's consent.

904 Votes

Showing 71 - 77

Show All

530 More Answers by Police Officer

Last 7

8 9 10 11 12 13

...

Next 7 Answers

Police Officer

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Do police officers eat for free at local restaurants?

What weapons police officers carry at all times?

My neighbor is a police officer in anoather town. While off duty, he came to our front porch, rang the door bell, & began yelling at my husband on the porch. My husband diffused the situation, but, I was very frightened. Do we have any recourse?

Well ok, but do your arrest people for driving 66 in a 65? Point being, when you witness a minor infraction (like smoking a joint in a park) where no one's in real danger, wouldn't your time be better spent addressing more serious crimes in your area?

Also on Jobstr...

what would you do in the scenario of you pull over a car with 4 people you arrest one of them with only one pair of handcuffs and the other 3 gang up on you injure you where you cant radio dispatch with no handcuffs and the 3 guys coming after you?

Thank you for the previous answer. Just wanted to add, I did tell the lieutenant I wanted to meet in person so that I could bring someone for moral support. Now I can't. I was assaulted by someone I trusted. I had hoped he'd have been more sensitive.

Do you need to get a person's consent before you test his DNA looking for a match? Or if the person is in a public place and, for example, discards gum or a cigarette can that be collected and tested without his consent?

Police Officer

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Do police officers eat for free at local restaurants?

What weapons police officers carry at all times?

My neighbor is a police officer in anoather town. While off duty, he came to our front porch, rang the door bell, & began yelling at my husband on the porch. My husband diffused the situation, but, I was very frightened. Do we have any recourse?

Well ok, but do your arrest people for driving 66 in a 65? Point being, when you witness a minor infraction (like smoking a joint in a park) where no one's in real danger, wouldn't your time be better spent addressing more serious crimes in your area?

Also on Jobstr...

what would you do in the scenario of you pull over a car with 4 people you arrest one of them with only one pair of handcuffs and the other 3 gang up on you injure you where you cant radio dispatch with no handcuffs and the 3 guys coming after you?

Thank you for the previous answer. Just wanted to add, I did tell the lieutenant I wanted to meet in person so that I could bring someone for moral support. Now I can't. I was assaulted by someone I trusted. I had hoped he'd have been more sensitive.

Do you need to get a person's consent before you test his DNA looking for a match? Or if the person is in a public place and, for example, discards gum or a cigarette can that be collected and tested without his consent?

Login

Forgot Your Password?

Register