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

So if you find a dead body, and you don't know the victims name. Can't you just take a blood sample and run it through the system or finger prints.

Asked by person over 11 years ago

Running finger prints is one way to possibly ID a corpse. Keep in mind that someone would have had to have been finger printed so be "in the system."

Some states have a DNA registry for sexual predators, which may be a way of ID-ing a corpse if it was someone convicted of rape, molestation or a similar crime.

I was taken to the police station for public drinking. This is the first time I have ever done something like this. I am of legal age. Will this get recorded on my file, and hence affect my future when applying for jobs? I live in Western Australia.

Asked by Daisy over 12 years ago

I have no experience with Austrailian law.

It very well may affect your future employment.  All actions have consequences, and the decisions we make - good and bad - will follow us throughout life.

(Continued) What do you recommend I do? Are there careers out their that involve law enforcement where my degree will be more useful? And do you think it's worth it to do into Law Enf. if I'm used to a high salary? Thanks for your service.

Asked by Ross over 11 years ago

Only you can make the decision on what to do.  If you want to be a police officer, be a police officer.  If money is a motivating factor, try private enterprise.  Neither the Navy nor police work is a path to riches.  If a LT's salary is considered "high," you might be surprised at what is available if you started your own business or used your degree & experience to land a good career in the private sector.

If you are looking for the best salary in law enforcement, take a look at the federal agencies.  Local departments in the northeast and west coast pay the best, but also have outrageous taxes and costs of living.

If something requiring a lot of officer-to-officer communication happens, will officers involved switch to another channel than what officers who are not involved are using?

Asked by Asd about 12 years ago

Yes, that frequently happens.

Can off duty officer call in on duty officer to issue speeding ticket without showing ID to driver? Can off duty officer leave scene (when on duty office arrives) and not sign ticket. How far does an officer have to track to issue speeding ticket?

Asked by Steve Davis over 12 years ago

It depends on the laws of your state.  If I understand your question, it is legal for one officer to issue a citation based on another officer's observations (in at least some states - if not all states.)

why do i need a lawyer when no one knows what i am doing there is no sufficient evidence on me

Asked by wolfgirl over 12 years ago

Get one or don't get one; I don't much care.  I thought perhaps you felt bad about being a thief and wanted to take responsibility for your actions.

Do police officers usually have a time limit to how long they can be "out of service"? What exactly does that mean?

Asked by Ryan about 12 years ago

Out of service means different things to different agencies.  Do you mean off duty?  On break?  On a call?  If you are referring to a break, then yes - a department will likely have some type of policy on that.  Each department will be different.