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 why are they used instead of regular handcuffs?

Also what's the difference between being detained and arrested?

Asked by Josbtr over 11 years ago

Disposable restraints tend to be lighter and more compact than metal chain or hinged handcuffs.  Depending on policy, an officer may choose to use them instead of traditional handcuffs for the weight and space savings.  Additionally, they can be used in a mass arrest situation since more of them can be carried by each officer.

There is a huge difference between being detained and arrested.  If you have been arrested, you are being charged with a specific crime and supported by probable cause.  If you are being detained, officers have established reasonable, articulable suspicion that you may have committed a crime and they are now investigating to see if a crime has been committed.

I am trying to get in a police academy in Florida.I have read that traffic violation do not DQ you from getting accepted but i am wondering.I have 4 traffic citations. 3 speeding and 1 from my brakes failing in a wreck but he put following close

Asked by Johnny about 12 years ago

You can probably still enter an academy, but it will be difficult to get a department to hire you.  Three speeding citations and an at-fault accident is a fairly significant indicator of poor driving.  Few agencies would want to put an officer into a patrol car for 40+ hours a week and expose themselves to the potential liability of his or her foreseeable bad driving.

As time passes, the citations become less of a problem for getting hired.  For example, two years since the last citation looks like you have improved your driving.  Five years looks even better.  Different departments will have different guidelines based on the agency's risk tolerance.  

If some one is complying with the officer at what point is the officer justified in shooting someone

Asked by Jamiyssalinn@gmail.com over 11 years ago

In general, a police officer can use that force which is reasonable to defend himself or another, to prevent a crime or to detain a subject. Refer to http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=490&invol=386 and http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=471&invol=1 as a starting point for this body of work.

If while driving through the intersection a person's front wheels were past the stop line when the light turned red, is that breaking the traffic law (running a red light)?

Asked by RH over 11 years ago

It depends on the state's laws.  Some states yes, others no. Additionally, red light cameras typically operate under a different set of laws in each state.  The rules for mailing tickets may be substantially different from on view violaions observed by a police officer.  So, you may or may not get a ticket mailed to you.  I really dont know.  Call the police department in question if it is really bothering you.

Hey, thanks for all the time you take to answer! You mentioned you avoid police shows? Is there any reason why? Also Is this a common thing in law enforcement?

Asked by Ali G almost 12 years ago

When I did the job for 8-12 hours a day, I had no interest in watching more of it on the tv.  

Besides, the way the editors cut the reality shows like Cops up to make them fit between commercials is not realistic.  You only see a fraction of a case, say 10 minutes of something that took the officers hourse to resolve.  It might be exciting, but it builds a very unrealistic expecation in the public.

Oh, and about 95% of what you see in CSI is b.s.  I can't tell you how many times I had someone tell me to do something impossible that they saw in that show.

If im a 16 year old girl in missouri what can I do to move out and leave my house.

Asked by Sophie over 11 years ago

Call your local police department and ask for their assistance. They will know what to do.

I have been in and aced both Psychology and Law Enforcement in my High School. I am considering going to college to study law. The only problem is that it seems like a depressing job. Is there any fun to be had as a Police Officer? Or is it all bad?

Asked by Trent over 12 years ago

There are a lot of good aspects to being a police officer.  If you are interested in the job, I highly recommend doing a ride-along with a few different departments and see what the job is like.