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

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.

I am an 18 year old New Jersey resident who was recently charged for public misdemeanor/disorderly conduct for stepping unto a hood of a persons car and stepping off. Will the courts give me leniency to pay in payment plans? I am poor cant afford.

Asked by John over 11 years ago

I don't know.

Is it possible for me to buy a ATV and make it street legal?

Asked by Tanner over 11 years ago

Possibly. Try contacting the state patrol for information.

In your department, how was the city divided up? (Districts, precincts, etc.) And what did those mean as far as how many stations there were in that area, who was in charge at the different levels, etc. Thank you!

Asked by Rob almost 12 years ago

At one department, there were three patrol zones and only a single station.  A sergeant plus three or four officers were on duty at any given time. (Not including any specialty units.)

At a larger agency, there were six patrol zones with multiple officers assigned to each zone.  There were three "sector offices" plus the main station.  There were up to 24 patrol officers on the road.  Generally there were 2-3 sergeants on duty at any given time plus a lieutenant and possibly a captain depending on time of day/day of week.  Those staffing numbers did not include specialty units that might have also been working.  For example, three traffic units plus a sergeant, a gang unit plus sergeant, etc.

What can a police officer do if they see a person who is harming themself (or evidence that they have done so recently) but not anyone else or any property? Are they obligated to help that person?

Asked by kaderu over 11 years ago

Different states have different laws. You might want to look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Involuntary_commitment

In your experience (or in general) if a patrol officer calls for one backup officer for assistance (not a serious emergency), will that person come from another patrol area or will more than one officer patrol one area at the same time? Thanks.

Asked by 456 almost 12 years ago

In a smaller department, only one officer may be assigned to a specific area.  In that case, the back up officer will come from another area.  In medium or larger agencies, there may be two or more officers assigned to a specific area.  In that case the backup officer will probably come from inside that area.

Hi my name is susana and I have a question about abuse. My best friend since we were kids is being abused daily and she has 4 kids. She does not have any place to go and mu house is to small. She has tried to leave but he threatened to kill her

Asked by susana over 11 years ago

If she is unwilling to contact local police for assistance, she can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233 for confidential assistance.