Cheating death and fighting communism: that is how a fellow officer once described our job. It was meant to be funny, but as time went on it seemed all too true.
I spent more than ten years in law enforcement, all of it on the street in uniform patrol. I've been a patrol officer, instructor, sergeant and lieutenant.
Do not report crimes here. Nothing here should be considered legal advice. All opinions are my own.
As I explained, it is a totality of the circumstances. Sometimes a single fact/observation can amount to RAS or PC. Other times, an officer may have to build a series of facts/observations to meet the legal burdens. I'm afraid you cannot present a general scenario and get a specific answer.
I suspect the requirements are very similar. Click here for the Tampa PD recruiting page.
Offering protection from liability for people making a good faith effort to render aid at the scene of an emergency is a good idea. There are a lot of dirtbag attorneys who will sue anyone, including good people trying to do the right thing.
Requiring people to act, such as calling 911, when they observe something that is obviously criminal in nature makes sense - but, I always have reservations about these kinds of laws. In my opinion, they need to be narrowly written.
Depends on the state. Sounds like you should get one.
Audiologist
Are earbuds dangerous for my ears?
Security / Bodyguard
Have you ever had to disarm an attacker?
Freelance Writer
No, stopping someone without reasonable articulable suspicion would be a violation of the 4th Amendment of the US Constitution and a bunch of state laws and department policies.
Speeding, even if "everyone does it" is still illegal, hence the reason why you were stopped.
Every department has their own protocol. First duty is to protect life: citizens, officers, criminals (and in that order.) Until the scene is made safe, no investigation can begin. Once everything is safe, medical aid is rendered for anybody that is injured. By this time, a sergeant or lieutenant is on scene and takes command. Depending on the agency, either they or an outside department will handle the investigation of the use of force. A CSI unit would probably be involved, but they are only a support unit to document and collect evidence. They don't do any investigation.
The involved officers give a brief statement to the responding supervisor about what happened and are separated from the other officers who are investigating the incident. How/when the officers are interviewed varies from department to department. Officers are entitled to legal counsel as is anyone being investigated for potential criminal acts.
If no evidence exists, and no witnesses have presented themselves, then what additional actions would you suggest the officers take (within the confines of the law)? Maybe your neighbor did it, maybe she did not. People should never be arrested for "maybe."
IF you neighbor damaged your tires, and IF she admitted to tampering with your mail, it sounds like your best bet is to file a report with the postal police and see if they develop probable cause to arrest her. IF they do, then her probation can be revoked also.
It won't likely keep her in jail for very long, regardless.
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