Police Officer

Police Officer

BlueSheepdog

10 Years Experience

Around the Way, FL

Male, 40

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.

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Last Answer on October 29, 2014

Best Rated

When you were a sergeant and lieutenant what was your job assignment? I know it depends on the PD, but for you, how did the change in rank change what you did during your work?

Asked by Ryan about 11 years ago

I was a sgt at one department and a lieutenant at another.  The duties of the ranks were different at each of the two agencies.  For example, one of my duties at both jobs was being the commander of the field training and evaluation program.  Yet one department assigned that to a sergeant and the other agency to a lieutenant.  There are no hard and fast rules.

Can a California sheriff ask a woman out while he's on duty responding to a 911 call to the residence of the woman even though she was not involved with the 911 incident. She was just a roommate to the people who called?

Asked by sunny71 over 10 years ago

Sounds like he did, so I guess so. Is it in good taste? Maybe or maybe not - I wasn't there.

how much paperwork does a police officer have for a charge like assault on a police officer

Asked by tyler almost 12 years ago

It depends on state laws and department policy.  For example, on the above charge I would have to complete an arrest affidavit for the court, an incident report for my department, a use of force report for my internal affairs division and a evidence submission form for any and all evidence I was submitting.  Additionally, each item of evidence would have to be tagged and bagged and then submitted to the property division.

Of course, there is likely another charge that would go along with the above charge.  For example, in the course of investigating a domestic violence call the subject assaulted me.  I would also have to complete an arrest affidavit for each additional charge (such as battery on his wife) plus complete a domestic violence supplemental report.  For something like a DUI, I would also have to complete a variety of additional paperwork including a field sobriety worksheet and any traffic tickets I was giving, in addition to the charging documents for the DUI.  

If the assauit occurred when I was conducting a DUI investigation as part of a motor vehicle accident investigation, I would also need to complete a multi-page accident form plus criminal supplements to that form.

If during the course of the investigation I was injured, there would be additional paperwork.

I think you are starting to get the idea.  There is a lot of paperwork associated with being a cop.  Unfortunately, most of the forms are created by people who don't have to do the job so they wind up being very cumbersome.

There is a visible spade of law enforcement officials engaging in unnessessary violance or other abuse of powers. It is no longer outlandish to conclude that some police may be a threat to my survival. When am I allowed to resist or flee?

Asked by Khannea almost 11 years ago

"spade" - I do not think that word means what you think it means.

Oh, and your premise is false.

I have a few questions. When just getting out of the police academy what are your options for what department you work for? (like homicide, vice,ect) Also when you get a job at a police department do you have to go through specific training?

Asked by April over 10 years ago

If you go to work for a local police department, you will go to uniform patrol. It is there that you will learn a lot about the job and people. If you become really good at your job, you can earn your way into a specialized position. Some people are really good but enjoy patrol, so they stay in uniform.

When you first get to the department, you go through a field training & evaluation program that will help get you the very basic level of proficiency in doing the job.

Hi I'm in college pursuing my criminal justice degree but I'm worried about getting hired because I used to smoke marijuana and tried ecstasy and cocaine once in high school, does that automatically disqualify me?

Asked by Jessica almost 12 years ago

Depends on the department.  Cocaine and ecstacy are serious drugs and can have serious long-term consequences on your brain.  I would suggest contacting the department(s) you are insterested in applying to and speak to one of the recruiters about your situation.  Any department would require a long interval (several years at least) between hiring and your last use of the drug.

If you're traveling in the fast lane of a 3 lane thru-way, and you're passed on the right hand side by a vehicle in the middle lane. The vehicle that passed brakes hard after noticing a trooper, And you get pulled over and ticketed, What can you do?

Asked by Hilliary M. almost 12 years ago

You didn't mention if you were speeding.  I'd suggest paying the ticket if you were.  Other people were speeding worse than I was doesn't generate much sympathy from a judge. 

If the trooper was using laser, then you were definitely the person he measured going whatever speed was on the citation.  If he/she was using radar, there could be some doubt that an experienced traffic attorney could bring up in trial.

The above is not legal advice, of course.

Did you know that speed is the #1 contributing factor to traffic fatalities?