Need some Police Input.

[Tigeress]

Originally posted by Chairboy
This kind of response just won't do here.  You're supposed to call him a socialist or something.

hahahahaha!!!!!!!! Tooo funny!!!!

TIGERESS

[Shuffler]

Didn't read the whole thread so sorry if I ask a question that has been asked already....

1. Does the car in question run?
2. Has it been sitting in one place a long time?
3. Is it a derelick?
4. Did this Cop put the tag on it?
5. Does the Cop have long hair muscular build and talk with a lisp?
6. If yes to 5.. Does the Cop carry a large knife with a hollow handle?

If you answered yes to 5 & 6 call Col. Samuel Trautman. I saw a movie once where he attempted to save another small town like yours.

[Phil]

Hey guys !  and gals !!!

20yrs on the force...
Yes there are rotten apples outhere !
You will find 'em in every proffessions ! Doctors-lawyers-teachers etc....

I see young rookies getting on the job and do match some of the actions you have described.
I will admit that for the first couple of years on the job, some of us are walking tall and brave etc...
That usually calms down depending on the maturity of the individual...
Police officers are often critisized for doing their job. That's ok, we are trained to expect the negative bs.
The public is the police ! We need the public to fight against crime... Without you, our success in crime solving/prevention would be at a minimum.

In regards to traffic / parking enforcement, someone has to do it !
Municipal / state laws were implemented for purposes.
Highway traffic laws are also important for every one !

In regards to stopping vehicles in the rural areas, well guess what !
Sometimes we hit the jackpot ! (crime in progress !)
If you are in order with vehicle laws and rules of the roads, you don't need to worry !

Yes we are on duty 24/7 !
Uniform or not !
If our behavior crosses the "line" while out of uniform, the police association will investigate and we can be reprimanded !
If the officer is being "smart" and is using his authority while out of uniform, line up your fatcs and contact his supervisor.
Be professional and I'm sure you will be treated same !
Best of luck !!!

Well that's my input !

Salute !
Phil:aok

[Masherbrum]

Originally posted by Maverick
Tigeress,

While what you posted is somewhat understandable you have to understand something. When you are off duty you are not the neighborhood protector, or enforcer. In my department doing that off duty outside of a department approved off duty job would get you administratively punished. If it continued to happen you would end up fired.

I did not want to be bothered by neighbors who had small neighbor issues, most of which could not be handled outside of oprah or judge judy's tv show. I just wanted to be done with the job and have a life outside of work. When I was off duty I was OFF DUTY and not someones little puppet to deal with their petty problems. The neighbors could call the on duty Police and make their problems known.

If my being in the neighborhood helped the hemorhoids go somewhere else, that's fine but I did not want to deal with them on my time. I had my own life and wanted to be concerned with that on my off duty time.

In the case that Mac posted, that guy is setting himself up for a career change and likely deserves to be removed from the job if he can't learn that he's not supercop.

A squealing MEN.   In my father in law's neighborhood.  A cop was ignorant enough to get involved with a lying neighbor and trumped up "adultery claims".    The cop checked a "clean neighbors" license plate and was questioned the Chief.   The Cop answered, and the Chief dug deeper, the cop was fired because all of this was "Off Duty".

[sgt203]

Mac,

It sounds to me as if the vehicle in question was being considered "abandoned".

Now the meaning of this varies from jursidiction to jurisdiction but in alot of areas it is considered a vehicle that does not have one or more of the following:

1. Valid Registration

2. Valid Inspections

3. Ability to move under it's own power ( ie missing wheels or other necessary parts)

4. Has not been moved in over 48 hours.

Having that said if you think this guy is going overboard or acting out of line as was suggested I would contact a supervisor from his department.

Be polite advise him of your concerns and you can stress you dont want to file a formal complaint ( unless you feel that is what is needed) you would just like him talked to about the situation.

You could also just talk to the guy in person to see what the issue is from his perspective.

However you should be aware even though the vehicle is in front of your house next to the curb it is still considered a highway and therefore public domain.

If your area does not have a local ordinance against "junk vehicles" ( meeting the criteria above for abandoned vehicles) you could simply move it onto your property and the problem is solved.

Im curious as to if this guy is a "rookie" as alot of times these officers have to learn the ropes and how to relax and understand this is a job. Unfortunately this takes some time with newer officers but most eventually grow out of it, note I said most.

At times rookies can be annonying, even to their fellow officers, until they learn to adjust to the job, the responsibility and yes the power.

My thinking is that your vehicle was in violation of either being an abondonded vehicle or a junk vehicle and this guy put you on notice for it.
If it was a violation and he did this while he was working there is not alot a supervisor can do for you as he is enforcing the "law".

My best advise would be to talk to the guy and see what the problem is and be courteous and polite (even though I know you probably want to strangle him). If he explains your vehicle is in violation of something tell him you were not aware as you have been doing this for years. Ask him what needs to be done to fix the problem and get it taken care of.

The reason I say this is the best advise I can give you because if this guy is a rookie (or just being a tool) taking it to a personal level may relax him a bit, being as you are now personally aquainted, and may keep him from in the future from worrying about "petty" things. And if he does have an issue with you in the future he may just come and speak to you about it personally.

Hope this helps you out.

Edit: BTW if you do speak to him you may want to start off by letting him know you were ticked off when you put the sticker on his car and it was a knee jerk reaction.

And for the record it sounds to me like this guys being a tool.. I am not on his "side" on this just giving you best advise I can come up with..


<>

[sgt203]

Originally posted by bj229r
I @@#@# HATE cops.  

Man you dont even know me:aok

BTW Im not a cop...... Im just a guy whos job happens to be a police officer... The job does not define the man.

[AWMac]

The car in question is mechanically sound. I moved it from the curb to my driveway. The reason it was parked at the curb is that I have two Daughters with cars and are constantly in and out. My drive way has room for 4 cars, 2 bicycles and 4 cats not to mention assorted birds...  dead and alive, did I mention the cats?.  

In the 2 years or so that I parked the car at the curb there was never a question concerning it.  I drive it when the wife is at work with the Jeep.  The car is a 2002 Monte Carlo. I live in a Cul~de~Sac and the car does not restrict any traffic whatsoever. The registration, tags and insurance is up to date.

WTF?

Mac

BTW thanks for the advice sgt203 <>.

[rpm]

Originally posted by Shuffler
Didn't read the whole thread so sorry if I ask a question that has been asked already....

1. Does the car in question run?
2. Has it been sitting in one place a long time?
3. Is it a derelick?

One thing you guys gotta consider, this is Oklahoma and Mac we are talking about. I'll lay 3 to 1 odds the cop is from some big city up north and not a native.

The guy probably honestly thought the car... well, let's just say, he ain't from around here.

[AWMac]

Yep that's was what I reckoned...

I moved the car, the cats, the bicycles and some dead birds...

Anything for World Peace.



Mac

[rpm]

And a (cough)clean record.

[AWMac]

Yep

[john9001]

"Municipal / state laws were implemented for purposes."

to raise money?

[Dichotomy]

Originally posted by sgt203
Man you dont even know me:aok

BTW Im not a cop...... Im just a guy whos job happens to be a police officer... The job does not define the man.

And you're probably a pretty good one that reacts favorably when you pull someone over they turn on their inside light (if it's dark) and make sure their hands are clearly visible until you have reached the vehicle.  If they speak respecfully to you you return the favor in kind and, in some cases, let your judgement decide to let them go with a warning.  Sadly my friend I think you're becoming a dying breed. I hope I'm wrong.

[VonMessa]

Originally posted by storch


a few weeks back my daughter was test driving a new car she wanted to purchase.  they were pulled over by an unmarked car plus about seven other marked units pulled out of the vehicle tossed to the pavement which was scaldingly hot cuffed and dragged to the swale.  this occurred during a period in time when two deputies were shot in the line of duty and they were hunting white cars with stolen tags.
[/B]

     Storch, I agree to a point, especially given the circumstances, but....
 
    An (assumably) young(er) lady with a car salesman does not add up to a threat worth "drag out of car, face plant in dirt, ask questions later" behavior.  Although the officers may have been acting within the scope of their duties, did you not wonder why they didn't do an ID, or possibly a Terry Search, or give them a chance to explain that they were on a test drive.

     I live in Philly, and believe you me, I see some of the crap that cops put up with.  Most are square fellows until you disrespect them or make their job harder un-necessarily.  I have all the respect in the world for the police that are protecting my neighborhood, but if that happened to my daughter, I can't say that I wouldn't be having a "chat" with my attorney, until I(we) found some divergence from proper procedure.  I mean come on, daddy's little girl, (again, unsure of age), but, sometimes there is such a thing as too extreme.

     I do not single you out, its just that your post leapt out at me.  I have seen some very atrocious things done to some very innocent people under the "within the scope of my duty" umbrella.  Sometimes right outside my front window.  I'll use the anology of do you REALLY need the 10 lb sledge hammer when a framing hammer will suffice?  Sure the sledge will work, but was it necessary.

     I'm certainly not trolling here, just had to get that off my chest.  I'm a firm proponent for the rights granted to me and others by the 4th amendment, and beilieve that anyone who is an officer should have the wherewithall to tulips the threat level of a situation, and ask questions first if no immediate threat is appearent.  

Storch

[x0847Marine]

Before you complain, set up some kinda crude camera and record this dude and or take a few pics. Photograph and save anything he puts on your car, leave him no room to concoct a BS story.

An alternative to filling out CF forms, is to call his direct watch commander, make sure to speak with someone with at least the rank of LT... some Sgts are protective of 'their' guys, Lt's are usually command staff, have little loyalty to the patrol grunts, and would cite their mom on mothers day if policy dictated.

If he's young, new and on probation, or worse field training, a complaint about off duty antics will definitely cause him to re-evaluate his behavior. If he's in field training, a T/O worth his weight in salt would make Mr parking commando write a few dozen page research paper on "Professionalism in law enforcement while off duty".. one of the 1st things 'they' tell you is not to get in urine for distance contests with your neighbors.