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

In movies and TV shows, many members of the mafia engage in crime with out being arrested. Is this a realistic picture? If so, what are the factors that keep police from arresting them for simply being members of a criminal organization?

Asked by Writer23 over 12 years ago

95% (or better) of the stuff you have learned about law enforcement in the movies or on TV is garbage.  Movies are written, directed and acted by people who have no experience or first hand knowledge of law enforcement or crime.  

Regardless of the type of crime - shoplifting to running a criminal enterprise - law enforcement officers can only arrest someone if probable cause exists.  If this burden of proof does not exist, no lawful arrest can be made.

If there is a small village police department with 2 or 3 officers per shift, will they probably use the radio channel and dispatcher of the county PD that also patrols the village?

Asked by Sal almost 12 years ago

It depends.  Some small agencies will work off of a county channel.  Others will handle the dispatching, but the county will handle the 911 call answering.  Others will have a full 911 center (take the emergency calls and dispatch.)  I hate to say "it depends" so much, but things vary a lot.

How come on "COPS" (a show filming real police officers), I rarely hear people being read their Miranda Rights? Is this what really happens, while scripted TV shows have what does not really happen? Thanks.

Asked by Jorge over 11 years ago

1. There are no "Miranda rights."2. An officer is not required to read you the Miranda warning because you have been arrested.3. COPS is edited. Boring things - such as reading someone a Miranda warning - are cut out.

i want to become a police officer but my family have been in jail can that have an affect on me ?

Asked by Michael Bover over 11 years ago

It can, but it depends on the circumstances.

Are there procedures in place that make it so if an officer is in trouble, they can say it on the radio without being blocked by less important use?

Asked by Asd almost 12 years ago

Yes.  There are multiple methods.

Can someone go to jail for resisting arrest if it was found that the suspicion for why they were stopped in the first place was proven to be false?

Asked by Red over 11 years ago

Yes.

Back in the 1970's, my father bought two fake grenades from a surplus army navy store. They look real, and if I throw them in the trash someone could freak out. Is there any way the local police would take them without freaking out if I call them?

Asked by JP over 11 years ago

Yes, they are completely legal.  But, you are right and someone might freak out if someone sees them.  Calling the PD and explaining the situation should be fine.  We helped dispose of all sorts of stuff (ammo, explosives, etc.).