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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615 Questions

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Last Answer on October 29, 2014

Best Rated

Can someone who wears hearing aids become a police officer?

Asked by Oberyn almost 11 years ago

Yes.  Some departments may not allow it, but I know of some that do.  Check with the recruiter at the agency you apply to.

My wife gave our old car to my brother-in-law. But I want the car and the registration is under her name. How could I get the car? We are still married and he didn't want to give me the car. Should I report to police as stolen car?

Asked by Shwange almost 11 years ago

I don't know if you should.  You can certainly call the police and talk to them about your circumstances.

Are you getting paid to answer this Q&A, or volunteering? Also, have you seen the show Alaska State Troopers? My dad and I watch the show (he's OSHP), and every time he watches it, he tells me that he wants to lateral over there.

Asked by Joe about 11 years ago

No, I am not paid to participate here.  I don't think I've seen the Alaska Satte Trooper show.  I tend to avoid cop programs.

i live in oregon and im 17 , im kinda shy so this is a big step for me. if i run away from home, now , will i get into legal trouble? will they send me home? back to the place i want to leave?

Asked by derika almost 11 years ago

If you are not an adult, you have to obey your parents.  If you leave without permission, you can be detained, returned to your parents or taken to a juvenile detention facility (jail).

Why are cops rarely held criminally responsible for police brutality?

Asked by Shannon R almost 11 years ago

An interesting, but loaded, question.

The term "police brutality" is a subjective one that is likely to inflame the conversation.  I'll presume that you are referring to the unlawful use of force, which is any time a police officer uses force - regardless of the perceived brutality - when it is not legally permissible.

Police officers are permitted to use that force which is reasonable during the performance of their duties.  Many people do not understand what is reasonable because they do not have the training in, or understanding of, the dynamics of a violent encounter.  I'd suggest looking at credible sources such as the Force Science Institute ( http://www.forcescience.org/ ) for a better understanding of the application of force.  Anything you've seen in the movies is likely crap, by the way.

For a better understanding of when officers may use force, a review of the case law is an excellent starting point.  Graham v. Connor [490 U.S. 386 (1989)] is typically cited as being the defining case regarding police use of force.  Although the case clarified a number of issues, the court essentially said that things were pretty clearly stated in their earlier decision in Tennessee v. Garner [471 U.S. 1 (1985)].  Both cases offer remarkably insightful opinions, and they should be read in full.  Summaries of the cases in Wikipedia and elsewhere fail to give the true scope and color of the opinions.

An additional problem with your question is the unstated assumption that there are frequent incidents of police officers unlawfully using force.  I believe the premise is false, and every credible study on police use of force I have seen shows that officers are very hesitant to use force.  In fact studies have shown that even when clearly justified, officers still are slow to use force.

Are there times when an officer unlawfully uses force and are not criminally prosecuted?  Sure.  There are a variety of reasons this may be true.  For example, the unlawful use of force may be charged at the federal level if the officer was acting under "color of law," or at the state level for the charge of battery (or similar).  Just like any other case, the prosecution must be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused officer committed the crime and that he or she intended to commit the crime (mens rea).  Lacking the ability to prove those things, the prosecution will not proceed.

if you got caught in a parking lot "parking" and you didnt sign a paper or anything does that show up on a record anywhere?

Asked by sydney almost 11 years ago

Your information and the details of the contact are probably stored in the local department's database.  If they are networked with other agencies, they all departments in that network would have access to the information as well.

If you were not charged with a crime, then the information would not be in a national criminal database.

I have a question

Asked by Gillian almost 11 years ago

"Questions are a burden to others; answers a prison for oneself."

Bonus points for anyone who knows from where that quote derives.