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

Are the police taught to try and arrest armed criminals away from the public at all costs? For example, say the police have tracked a dangerous fugitive to a restaurant, would they wait until he leaves the restaurant to arrest him, or go right in?

Asked by Sam I about 12 years ago

Officers are trained to protect the public.  Each incident is differerent, and the risk to the public could be greater by allowing him to leave the restaurant.  For example, what if he is parked by the front door and has a bomb in the vehicle?  It might be safer to take him down inside.

There is no way to control a situation and completely protect the public.  That is an unrealistic, but common, view.  Officers will take reasonable actions based on the information they have at the time.  

My friend was messing with his friends who were at a party. His plan was to impersonate a cop by placing red/blue lights in his car and drive up to them. On their property, he turned the lights on. A state cop saw him and stopped him. Was it illegal?

Asked by Bubba76 about 12 years ago

Sounds like it.  Impersonating a police officer is illegal in most (all?) states.  Installation and use of certain revolving, blinking or flashing lists on a car is also illegal in most (all?) states.

Just in case you'd be interested (or anyone else) here's the San Diego study/report on single vs. double units: http://www.policefoundation.org/content/patrol-staffing-san-diego-one-or-two-officer-units-0

Asked by Jet almost 12 years ago

Thanks for listing it!

(continued) Again I have a lot of respect for police officers and I know its both physical and very mental too. I just want to know what you think. Also if I go to a top-rate university how could I use that to become a police officer?

Asked by Phillip over 12 years ago

You can spend a lot of money at a "top rate" university, but it won't help you become a police officer any more than going to a regular state university.  It will help you get deeper in debt, though.

If your desire is to go to a college, please do so.  If your desire is to be a police officer, consider entering military service, getting some life experience and a skill.  Read through my prior answers on this above.

Best of luck.

So it's okay that they put down concrete on their lawn, 10 feet into my property, which caused water runoff that flooded my basement more than once? Plus they leave lit camp fires outside over night right next to building supplies.

Asked by Jackson almost 12 years ago

As was probably already explained to you, it is a civil issue.  Contact an attorney and sue them if you so desire.

My mother in law keeps telling my fiance, her son. That she brought him to the world she can take him out with out being arrested. She has also made threats to me. To the point where we had to move out but she still says this to us. What do I do?

Asked by smalls9292 over 11 years ago

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

is it legal in Minnesota for a man to video record my 16 year old son in his own back yard? We find it hard to enjoy our backyard for fear he is recording us.

Asked by cathy mauer almost 12 years ago

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