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

how much paperwork does a police officer have for a charge like assault on a police officer

Asked by tyler about 13 years ago

It depends on state laws and department policy.  For example, on the above charge I would have to complete an arrest affidavit for the court, an incident report for my department, a use of force report for my internal affairs division and a evidence submission form for any and all evidence I was submitting.  Additionally, each item of evidence would have to be tagged and bagged and then submitted to the property division.

Of course, there is likely another charge that would go along with the above charge.  For example, in the course of investigating a domestic violence call the subject assaulted me.  I would also have to complete an arrest affidavit for each additional charge (such as battery on his wife) plus complete a domestic violence supplemental report.  For something like a DUI, I would also have to complete a variety of additional paperwork including a field sobriety worksheet and any traffic tickets I was giving, in addition to the charging documents for the DUI.  

If the assauit occurred when I was conducting a DUI investigation as part of a motor vehicle accident investigation, I would also need to complete a multi-page accident form plus criminal supplements to that form.

If during the course of the investigation I was injured, there would be additional paperwork.

I think you are starting to get the idea.  There is a lot of paperwork associated with being a cop.  Unfortunately, most of the forms are created by people who don't have to do the job so they wind up being very cumbersome.

If you're traveling in the fast lane of a 3 lane thru-way, and you're passed on the right hand side by a vehicle in the middle lane. The vehicle that passed brakes hard after noticing a trooper, And you get pulled over and ticketed, What can you do?

Asked by Hilliary M. almost 13 years ago

You didn't mention if you were speeding.  I'd suggest paying the ticket if you were.  Other people were speeding worse than I was doesn't generate much sympathy from a judge. 

If the trooper was using laser, then you were definitely the person he measured going whatever speed was on the citation.  If he/she was using radar, there could be some doubt that an experienced traffic attorney could bring up in trial.

The above is not legal advice, of course.

Did you know that speed is the #1 contributing factor to traffic fatalities?

My question can a Muslim woman be a cop if she is citizen? And she also wear hijab

Asked by Dina almost 13 years ago

First question - Absolutely.  There are no prohibitions or requirements for any specific religion or absense thereof to be a police officer.  Of course, any religious biases that prevent you from impartially and effectively enforcing the laws of your state should prevent you from pursuing a career in law enforcement.  For example, if you believe sharia law trumps the laws of your state, you have no place in police work.

Second question - I sure hope rules are not changed to allow police officers to wear a hijab.  Police officers are required to wear uniforms, and that means a standard way of dressing.  Clothing visibly worn for religious purposes should not be part of a police officer's uniform.  A law enforcement officer is expected to impartially enforce the law for all citizens, and when there is an obvious bias it undermines the public's trust in the officer and agency.

If you believe you should be able to wear a hijab at work, then law enforcement is not the job for you.  

Keep in mind that the nature of law enforcement does not allow you to regularly take off holy days.  This is the same for Christians have to work Easter, and Jews who work on Yom Kippur.

Faith is very important, and if your faith will cause you conflict in a law enforcement career, you might want to consider an alternative job path.

If a Police Officer becomes injured and is knocked out during a routine Traffic Stop by oncoming traffic, a unruly citizen, or etc. What should you do as the person who is currently pulled over? Remain in the car?

Asked by Chase over 12 years ago

You can get out and help the police officer.  Sitting in the car while an injured police officer is laying in a lane of traffic is unconscionable.

When you were a sergeant and lieutenant what was your job assignment? I know it depends on the PD, but for you, how did the change in rank change what you did during your work?

Asked by Ryan about 12 years ago

I was a sgt at one department and a lieutenant at another.  The duties of the ranks were different at each of the two agencies.  For example, one of my duties at both jobs was being the commander of the field training and evaluation program.  Yet one department assigned that to a sergeant and the other agency to a lieutenant.  There are no hard and fast rules.

So then how should I go about getting experience for police k9 training? Where do the police officers who train the dogs get their experience from?

Asked by Alessandro Ferri over 11 years ago

Working the road. Where else?

Until you've had to make decisions on when to deploy a dog in a real-life, volatile use-of-force situation, and then justify those decisions to your chain of command, an internal affairs investigation, a city attorney and (probably) a court, how exactly do you figure you will have the credibility to tell others what they need to know?

It's one thing to know the law from reading a book or attending a training class, its another to apply it appropriately in the field. It is a bit like training in the dojo vs. a street fight. Or perhaps a better analogy is the guy sitting on the couch watching a football game who has never stepped onto the field, yet thinks he knows better than the players. 

Reality is a harsh, unforgiving mistress. Until you've danced with her a while, you simply don't know what you don't know.

Can a auto part store order and sell you illegal parts ? I went to O'relly today and the man said he can order me white headlight for my car and im afraid it'll be illegal

Asked by eatbreathcheer almost 13 years ago

I doubt there are very many auto parts that are illegal.  What you do with them might be.  For example, selling exhaust cutouts is legal.  Running them on a street car is illegal.  Running them on a track is legal.

Chances are any of the headlights in an autoparts store are legal for your area.  If you have any doubts, contact your local department and talk to one of the traffic enforcement officers.  He or she will be able to give you the exact information you are looking for.