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

If while driving through the intersection a person's front wheels were past the stop line when the light turned red, is that breaking the traffic law (running a red light)?

Asked by RH about 12 years ago

It depends on the state's laws.  Some states yes, others no. Additionally, red light cameras typically operate under a different set of laws in each state.  The rules for mailing tickets may be substantially different from on view violaions observed by a police officer.  So, you may or may not get a ticket mailed to you.  I really dont know.  Call the police department in question if it is really bothering you.

In washington state legal age of consent is 16 but i read their is a 5 year rule ?, does this mean a 16 year old can legally date or engage in sexual activity with anyone from ages 16 to 21 legally and how old can they LEGALLY date if not?(5/27/14

Asked by jada over 12 years ago

I have no idea.  You should contact a police officer in the state of Washington about those laws.

Is it possible to become a police officer with an Environmental Science degree?

Asked by Molly P almost 12 years ago

Yes.

When did you know you wanted to be a police officer? Was it a childhood dream?

Asked by 2014 about 12 years ago

I was in college and was not happy in the aerospace engineering program I was in.  I explored the possibility of police work, and after riding a few shifts with officers, I decided to go into law enforcement.

Okay I guess I should tell my parents. But when I do, what's the next step? I mean I more concerned about them than me. I understand what it means to drink. Does what they are doing violate "Social Host" laws?

Asked by Julian over 12 years ago

I don't know what a 'social host' law is.  However, your parents should be able to provide you guidance on what you should and should not do.  Good luck.

Do big-city police radio systems sometimes work like a tree where a dispatcher handles say 20 units in a precinct; another dispatcher communicates with 10 of those dispatchers so an officer can comm with an officer on another district or something?

Asked by Sal over 12 years ago

I've not had the chance to observe the dispatch center of a very large agency (such as a NYPD, LAPD, Chicago, etc.)  What I've seen in medium sized departments (100-200 officers), you would have a dispatcher on each channel.  A single channel might be dedicated to a specific area or precinct, while another might be dedicated to records checks.  

So if a department had three precincts, there might be four channels (a dispatcher for each of the three precincts plus one for running warrant checks, license checks, etc.)  Then there would be at least one supervisor who would make sure everything is running smooth.  There would be call takers (people answering the phones) who might be cross-trained to dispatch.

Typically, there will be extra people available to bring up an extra channel if a special event happened.  For example, lets say you had a vehicle accident with a death.  The traffic homicide unit plus the officers working that scene might go to an extra channel to work and keep their radio traffic off of the precinct channels.

I hope that helps.

 

What are the typical questions a person would ask a murder suspect in an interrogation room?

Thanks

Asked by edwurd over 12 years ago

It depends on the circumstances.  Detectives go through a lot of training to learn how to interview people and how to investigate homicides.  It is far to in-depth of a question for me to answer.