ask a cop/jailer

[ace_of_something]

is it illegal to wear headphones while driving? i commute about 1/2 hour to college, and have no source of music in my car(ie, no speakers, no stereo, no nothing), but when i mentioned thinking about using my mp3 player and headphones, someone said it was illegal.

edit: also, would you feel offended if i swapped around letters and said "hi osifer, bob" (i actually know an officer bob, but i dunno whether to keep using that as a greeting for him >.<)

The headphones thing is not illegal in very many places. But it's certainly not a great idea. Some people justify it is like listening to a radio but it's not. Your ears are plugged and you can't hear almost anything but the sound in the headphones. No ambulances, no horns honking, no little kids screaming "WATCH OUT FOR THAT BOX OF KITTENS IN THE ROAD!" nothing. I would recommend buying some cheap ass speakers and hooking that to your mp3 player. Then you can at least hear the world around you.

If you know osifer bob well enough and he's a nice guy i'm sure you can adress him all silly like. Cops are people too some are good humored just like anyone else.

Dude, you are so fucking bad ass xD
Where there big explosions while you were undercover selling drugs?
Did you utter an awesome one-liner, then whip out your gun and take them both down?
Have you ever got your back axle tied to a street light?
Have you ever promptly beat someone with a riot shield?

1. If you mean a meth lab catching on fire and we had to arrive because of said fire then... yes.
2. I'm more the stoic quiet type. Though I have yelled "STOP!" and when i tackled the guy then said with gusto "hammer time."
3. can't say that I have had that happen or anything like it. Though I would hate to have the car fly in the air.
4. In corrections one time. I didn't beat him so much as I shoved him up against a wall and then handcuff him.

 

[Mighty Lighty]

Have you ever said something cheesy after arresting someone like "thats the end of that chapter"

 

[ace_of_something]

Okay, I've read the whole thread and I have a few questions.

1. I once gave a police officer a monopoly "Get out of jail free" card, and didn't get out of the ticket. Explain this. Also, he did laugh quite a bit; actually, he just about fell down laughing.

2. This is something I've heard to be true, but I'd like your expert advice.

Can a police officer enter a persons backyard without a warrant? By ways of either jumping the fence, or going through the gate (fence is atleast 7 feet tall and made of wood.)

3. If you found someone smoking pot in a road next to a home, would you call for a drug dog and a warrant to search the house.

4. Finally, do you have to show the home owner a warrant signed by a judge before entering a home?

Thanks,

Aur0ra145

1. Well, the card was get out of jail. Not a ticket. Good effort though, that probably made his day

I am a freaking expert on warrants thanks to my time in vice.

2. Yards, driveways, sidewalks, and garbage are not protected by the right to privacy and an officer needs no warrant to enter such. The reason being that they are typically in plain sight or in 'public space'. Now, if you have a detached garage or if your car is sitting in the driveway they cannot break into those things without a warrant. Though they can get close enough to touch them and look inside if they want.

3. Depends on the situation. If it's just some guy going for a walk I'd probably ask him where he lives and what he was doing around the area. Unless there is something indicating said house (like previous incidents or his statement) I'd have to say no, I wouldn't waste my time. Though like I said that's a very situational type thing.

4. A search Warrant does not need to be produced at the time of the search, in fact, it rarely is anymore. When I worked vice this would happen a lot where the situation would change and we'd need to go into another place, this happened mostly in apartment complexes where it's hard to pin down where a smell is coming from. So you call the D.A, your lieutenant, or a Judge and ask for a warrant. You sit and wait while the paperwork is processed and when you get a phone call (or a fax in your car if your dept is wealthy) Than you can go ahead.
Or if there is a chance of immediate danger like you?re chasing a suspect and they run into their house and lock the door you certainly don?t need a warrant to continue pursuit. If you smell (from a house) strong illegal narcotic smell. You usually don?t need a warrant because if you spent the time getting it the drugs could be gone. In apartments though you need to get a warrant cuz people will argue that the smell could?ve come from a different apartment.

hope that answers that.

 

[Mighty Lighty]

why do you hate protesters? why are you against the freedom of speech?

why don't you guys take action about the corruption in the force

I feel your trying to goad me into a stupid internet argument. You have disrespected me and the other people in this thread so, I will not give you a respectful answer.

best reply ever

p.s my dad`s a british bobby so he seen a lot of wierd things

 

[Insanum]

Hate to copy the idea but the asking a Christian and asking a black guy threads were neat so I figured I?d throw mine out there for you.
My qualifications for answering your questions are a BS in the topic of criminal justice, 4 1/2 years of experience on a police force, a brother who is a deputy (they are different) and I am currently working in corrections and have been for about a year and half.

To answer the first obvious question, I?m not a police officer anymore because I was injured off duty, which did not qualify me for a desk job unless you have at least 5 years of seniority? and since it caused nerve damage to my left hand I was unable to pass the yearly marksmanship test. If you want more to the story you?ll have to ask.

You can ask me questions like, things you want to know about police behavior, jail, things about the system. My knowledge from experience is strictly American, but I do have a small amount of knowledge academically of other countries (really small).

edit: and i don't think i should have to say this but... keep it civil please.

edit: got my masers in sociology and a BS in psych now.

OK, As a police officer (in the US i presume, Please correct me if im wrong) - Can you answer me:

1.What are the driving licence rules in america, If you get caught speeding is there a points system in place (if you get too many points do you get banned, Like what we have over in the UK)
2. Is every cop in the field armed?
3. Whats the average mortality rate?

 

[WrongSprite]

Right. Let me just say that having read every single post this thread has inspired me, and Police Officer is fast becoming one of my biggest job prospects.

Secondly, I can't seem to remember you answering a question on whether Officers should be armed or not, but if you have, link please

Thirdly, what's the policy on foreigners joining the American Police force? I prefer the way things are done there, and I'm British.

Thanks, and very interesting thread.

 

[ace_of_something]

OK, As a police officer (in the US i presume, Please correct me if im wrong) - Can you answer me:

1.What are the driving licence rules in america, If you get caught speeding is there a points system in place (if you get too many points do you get banned, Like what we have over in the UK)
2. Is every cop in the field armed?
3. Whats the average mortality rate?

The thing with America is that most laws are governed by the state so the rules on how a license is pulled depends on the state. That being said the laws are largely the same which only a handful of exceptions. Usually the way it works here is if you get too many speeding tickets within a two year period you will have your DL pulled. Now there is revocation and suspension. Suspension is less serious and requires a hefty fine, some classes, and a waiting period. Revocation is more serious it?s basically you can?t get your license or drive for X amount of Months/years. Period.
If you continue to drive with a revoked or suspended DL there is a pretty good chance you?ll have some jail time. In face the absolute MOST common charge that I have people in jail for is DDR or DDS. Driving during Revocation is a felony. It?s more common for these types of actions to be taken with people who drive drunk than with speeding.
2. Nearly all are. The only people who aren?t are those undercover (usually unless your cover is the type of person who would be armed) Even meter maids (people who read parking meters) usually have a taser.
3. I am not sure what you mean? Among police officers? Well, off the top of my head I remember a statistic of the 669,000ish law enforcement officials in America something like 64 were killed in 2007. It?s not actually even in the top 10 most dangerous professions. Though you are potentially in very much danger

 

[ace_of_something]

Ace:

Spoiler: mmmm texty

FYI, though this is merely a matter of semantics, Narcotics technically refers exclusively to opiate or opiod drugs - heroin, morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, fentanyl, codiene, etc. Cocaine, LSD, Marijuana, Methamphetamine, PCP - none of those are narcotic. I realize that the term is used more generally because of tradition and convenience - people know what you're referring to, even if it's an incorrect descriptor (from a medical/pharmacological standpoint).

Not trying to confuse the issue and I realize you're probably aware of this, but "the more you know", right?

Now questions!

1. What ranks are there among police officers? I assume there are levels of authority within seperate divisions of labor - ie, forensics versus investigation versus patrolman. Following that, where are you and are you happy staying at your current rank (and paygrade) or do you have ambitions of making it up the ladder to a senior position?

2. More of a psychological or philosophical question... Do you believe in the notion that people are essentially decent? During the course of your work, you have to deal with the worst your society has to offer you, collectively - does that make you feel misanthropic or doubtful of virtue in the human condition, or does it simply illustrate that the bad 10-20% demand the most attention by acting out (understatement). Ever find it hard to be hopeful because of your line of work? Further, do you find this sort of thing wears on your fellow officers, regardless of how it affects you personally?

You are certainly correct on your knowledge of terminology, Narcotics in the context I have used is a police specific term meaning ?any illegal drug other than marijuana? Controlled Substance is another popular term.

Ranks? Well that varies but for the most part it goes from bottom to top:
1. Line Officer
2. Corporal
3. Sergeant,
4. Lieutenant,
5. Captain,
6. Deputy or District Chief, Undersheriff or deputy Warden/Director for corrections
7. Chief of Police or Commissioner, Sheriff or Warden/Director for corrections

Some departments have ?sgt inspectors? or ?sgt detectives? basically it is it?s own ranking system among detective branches. Usually the same as 1 thru 4 or 5 but with the word ?inspector? or detective attached to the title. Smaller departments consider an inspector it?s own rank usually falling between Sergeant and Lieutenant. Sometimes they have a whole system of ranks for peripheral officers like that staff that keeps records or human resources. Other departments don?t consider these people officers. Ours just said you can?t do that job unless you have a degree and/are of this rank (usually corporal or sergeant)
In case you?re wondering most Chief?s are appointed whereas must Sheriff?s are elected. I was a Corporal in the police department, was a Corporal in the Jail and am now a? Corporal in the Sheriff?s department. I?m not interested in getting promoted until I have kids so I can get more money and be in less danger. (The higher up you are the less likely to get shot you are)

2.Most people try to be good they try to make it in this word by playing fair. The problem is that 10% that take advantage of the other 90% Those are the people I work with. However, remember this; ANYONE can go to jail. Everyone is one bad decision away from spending time behind bars. There are plenty of people who get arrested once or twice than never go thru it again. Some days, are most definitely harder than others though and it does put you in a suspicious mentality always trying to figure out how the other person you?re talking to is trying to screw you or if they?re on the level.

 

[Insanum]

OK, As a police officer (in the US i presume, Please correct me if im wrong) - Can you answer me:

1.What are the driving licence rules in america, If you get caught speeding is there a points system in place (if you get too many points do you get banned, Like what we have over in the UK)
2. Is every cop in the field armed?
3. Whats the average mortality rate?

The thing with America is that most laws are governed by the state so the rules on how a license is pulled depends on the state. That being said the laws are largely the same which only a handful of exceptions. Usually the way it works here is if you get too many speeding tickets within a two year period you will have your DL pulled. Now there is revocation and suspension. Suspension is less serious and requires a hefty fine, some classes, and a waiting period. Revocation is more serious it?s basically you can?t get your license or drive for X amount of Months/years. Period.
If you continue to drive with a revoked or suspended DL there is a pretty good chance you?ll have some jail time. In face the absolute MOST common charge that I have people in jail for is DDR or DDS. Driving during Revocation is a felony. It?s more common for these types of actions to be taken with people who drive drunk than with speeding.
2. Nearly all are. The only people who aren?t are those undercover (usually unless your cover is the type of person who would be armed) Even meter maids (people who read parking meters) usually have a taser.
3. I am not sure what you mean? Among police officers? Well, off the top of my head I remember a statistic of the 669,000ish law enforcement officials in America something like 64 were killed in 2007. It?s not actually even in the top 10 most dangerous professions. Though you are potentially in very much danger

ooo, thanks.

So As a standard Police officer - how many days holiday do you get every year?

And:

Whats J-Walking & is it a crime (what are the penalties)

 

[Cornwallpwns]

hey this is more of an "Whats your opinion question"

i live in cornwall in the southwest of england (hence the username) and it is PROPER country, almost evryone works on farms (me included but thats only partime) and sails/row`s for a hobby so lets just say things work a bit differently to american citys. anyway back on topic a while back a farmowner shot and killed two tresspassers (16 and 17)when they were trying to get into his barn, originaly he was sentenced to something like 10 years but all the locals made a huge fuss and the law was changed so farm owners can shoot at tresspassers and the guy was efectively released

i dont know any americans personaly so i was wondering how you felt about this as a cop no less, especialy considering that police in england cant even carry guns but now farmers can shoot people in broad daylight

 

[ace_of_something]

ooo, thanks.
So As a standard Police officer - how many days holiday do you get every year?
And:
Whats J-Walking & is it a crime (what are the penalties)

Again every department is different. The departments I work at give 12 days of vacation time a year. 13 sick days (though you get in trouble for using more than 3, it?s bullshit) Every day there is a pre-shift briefing which is about 10 minutes long that?s about 1 hour and ten minutes of pay every week (as overtime is time and a half) or you can do like me and let it accrue as extra time off. Any overtime worked counts for time and a half unless it?s a holiday than overtime is double time and a normal assigned shift (police work 24/7) you get time and half. You can take any overtime as time off. So 8 hours of overtime becomes 12 hours of paid time off. Most overtime I work is so I can buy nice things like expensive playstation games. One overtime shift = a new game and dinner.

Jaywalking is the crime of crossing the street at a place that is not a marked crosswalk or going thru a crosswalk when it says ?do not cross? This is usually the kind of thing that you?ll only get a small ($30 in our town) ticket for if you cause an accident or traffic problems.

Right. Let me just say that having read every single post this thread has inspired me, and Police Officer is fast becoming one of my biggest job prospects.

Secondly, I can't seem to remember you answering a question on whether Officers should be armed or not, but if you have, link please

Thirdly, what's the policy on foreigners joining the American Police force? I prefer the way things are done there, and I'm British.

Thanks, and very interesting thread.

One of America?s favorite stock comedy characters is the kindly Irish cop!
My current department has a few ?furners? on staff. In fact my patrol partner is (Cpl. Muithiang) is Sudanese. You just have to pass the tests like everyone else and if you?re an immigrant I?m sure provide some documentation proving your citizenship. Most departments like having immigrants because they can speak another language or have a different way of thinking. Oh hey my LT is from a town in the UK called Hla-ne-hli. I don?t know how it?s spelled he sounds like the guy that played Beowulf.

 

[ace_of_something]

did you ever arrest a woman for domestic violence? i heard a story where a wife went insane and stabbed her husband in the neck with a kitchen knife and called the cops due to some mental issue and the fact the man controlled nothing financially because he is an injured veteran and started rampaging around the neighborhood but instead arrested the stabbed man until the kids spoke up but they didn't arrest her, just let her run around the area stabbing people for no reason because apearantly women are immune to domestic violence laws and all laws similar to attempted murder. how common is this sort of scenario?

Spoiler: I...wait..

[HEADING=2]what?[/HEADING]

That has got to be one of the dumbest things I ever heard. Did that department get the stuffing sued out of them? They should've.
I would say domestic abuse is one of the most common reasons I had to arrest women. I make no discrimination. Though it is usually the male but if his marks don't look defensive in nature. She's in trouble too. I had one couple that about every other month we had to go and arrest the wife again because she smacked around her husband. He wouldn't leave her cuz it would be bad for the kids. And by smacked around I mean "hit him with kitchen utensils"

 

[WrongSprite]

ooo, thanks.
So As a standard Police officer - how many days holiday do you get every year?
And:
Whats J-Walking & is it a crime (what are the penalties)

Again every department is different. The departments I work at give 12 days of vacation time a year. 13 sick days (though you get in trouble for using more than 3, it?s bullshit) Every day there is a pre-shift briefing which is about 10 minutes long that?s about 1 hour and ten minutes of pay every week (as overtime is time and a half) or you can do like me and let it accrue as extra time off. Any overtime worked counts for time and a half unless it?s a holiday than overtime is double time and a normal assigned shift (police work 24/7) you get time and half. You can take any overtime as time off. So 8 hours of overtime becomes 12 hours of paid time off. Most overtime I work is so I can buy nice things like expensive playstation games. One overtime shift = a new game and dinner.

Jaywalking is the crime of crossing the street at a place that is not a marked crosswalk or going thru a crosswalk when it says ?do not cross? This is usually the kind of thing that you?ll only get a small ($30 in our town) ticket for if you cause an accident or traffic problems.

Right. Let me just say that having read every single post this thread has inspired me, and Police Officer is fast becoming one of my biggest job prospects.

Secondly, I can't seem to remember you answering a question on whether Officers should be armed or not, but if you have, link please

Thirdly, what's the policy on foreigners joining the American Police force? I prefer the way things are done there, and I'm British.

Thanks, and very interesting thread.

One of America?s favorite stock comedy characters is the kindly Irish cop!
My current department has a few ?furners? on staff. In fact my patrol partner is (Cpl. Muithiang) is Sudanese. You just have to pass the tests like everyone else and if you?re an immigrant I?m sure provide some documentation proving your citizenship. Most departments like having immigrants because they can speak another language or have a different way of thinking. Oh hey my LT is from a town in the UK called Hla-ne-hli. I don?t know how it?s spelled he sounds like the guy that played Beowulf.

Cheers

I've got a good feeling your LT is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanelli , but I might be wrong.

 

[iron codpiece]

did you ever arrest a woman for domestic violence? i heard a story where a wife went insane and stabbed her husband in the neck with a kitchen knife and called the cops due to some mental issue and the fact the man controlled nothing financially because he is an injured veteran and started rampaging around the neighborhood but instead arrested the stabbed man until the kids spoke up but they didn't arrest her, just let her run around the area stabbing people for no reason because apearantly women are immune to domestic violence laws and all laws similar to attempted murder. how common is this sort of scenario?

Where did you here this? What country was this in? That sounds like bunk to me.

 

[lacktheknack]

If you have nerve damage in your left hand, how do you typ-

Uhhhhhh...

Has anyone ever been arrested in your experience for carrying a watergun?

 

[dragoness]

is it illegal to wear headphones while driving? i commute about 1/2 hour to college, and have no source of music in my car(ie, no speakers, no stereo, no nothing), but when i mentioned thinking about using my mp3 player and headphones, someone said it was illegal.

edit: also, would you feel offended if i swapped around letters and said "hi osifer, bob" (i actually know an officer bob, but i dunno whether to keep using that as a greeting for him >.<)

The headphones thing is not illegal in very many places. But it's certainly not a great idea. Some people justify it is like listening to a radio but it's not. Your ears are plugged and you can't hear almost anything but the sound in the headphones. No ambulances, no horns honking, no little kids screaming "WATCH OUT FOR THAT BOX OF KITTENS IN THE ROAD!" nothing. I would recommend buying some cheap ass speakers and hooking that to your mp3 player. Then you can at least hear the world around you.

If you know osifer bob well enough and he's a nice guy i'm sure you can adress him all silly like. Cops are people too some are good humored just like anyone else.

cool. even when walking around campus, i've never had my headphones up super loud. i normally can hear my own footsteps echoing. but if i drive with windows down, i wouldn't be able to hear speakers. and i'm a lowly poor college student, so i'm not even rich enough to pay for speakers. i've got my grandmothers car, but that's to be debatable.

edit: have you ever bumped into "free runners"? and if so, what was the reaction towards them?

 

[ace_of_something]

hey this is more of an "Whats your opinion question"

i live in cornwall in the southwest of england (hence the username) and it is PROPER country, almost evryone works on farms (me included but thats only partime) and sails/row`s for a hobby so lets just say things work a bit differently to american citys. anyway back on topic a while back a farmowner shot and killed two tresspassers (16 and 17)when they were trying to get into his barn, originaly he was sentenced to something like 10 years but all the locals made a huge fuss and the law was changed so farm owners can shoot at tresspassers and the guy was efectively released

i dont know any americans personaly so i was wondering how you felt about this as a cop no less, especialy considering that police in england cant even carry guns but now farmers can shoot people in broad daylight

Well, I subscribe to the American mentality of you have a right to defend yourself. If someone is burglarizing your home it?s within reason to expect that the might harm or kill you. Lethal force may be justified? but not once the danger has passed. If they?re running away down the street you don?t chase them and shoot them. You can certainly chase them tackle them and knock their ass out. This is basically how most states have their self defense laws.
I have always found it interesting that cops don?t carry guns in England certainly some of the more resourceful gangster have to have access to guns. (Then again I might be just getting this from Guy Ritche movies) The law you described is really strange standard. Truthfully though I don?t understand a lot about England.

 

[ace_of_something]

If you have nerve damage in your left hand, how do you typ-

Uhhhhhh...

Has anyone ever been arrested in your experience for carrying a watergun?

The damage is mostly in my wrist. Also physical therapy and surgery have made it barely noticable. Still my aim isn't what it used to be. I'm a deputy now though.

Not that I know of. Though I could see it happening because if it looks like a real gun it is legally still considered a threat because the people who you are pointing it at don't know it's a toy.