racing on the track is where it belongs, where others on the road are racing with you, and are aware of the circumstances that they have put themselves into.

 

So, I was out driving last night, and this police cruiser runs a red light and nearly t-bonedme. He didn't have his lights or siren on. Do I, the average citizen, have any means to complain about this? If I called his department with the plate number off the cruiser, would they care? I know you can't speak for the local PD up here, but how would your department handle such a complaint?

 

I think you should report it, as anonymously as possible (to avoid possible repercussions), because, if the officer in question is engaging in this type of behavior (even if he were "following" a potential perp), odds are sooner or later he will injure or kill someone. Your lone complaint may not have an immediate effect, but, if enough people DO complain about his behavior, it will eventually come to bear.

Everybody asks "who polices teh police?" Well, my friends, the answer is "WE" do. The police ARE members of our communities.If other members of our communities were flagrantly misbehaving we would have no problem reporting them. To want to become a police officer, in the first place, isn't a calling for everyone, so they tend to be a bit more tolerant of the occassional indescretion, if it's minor and doesn't happen too often. The ARE human, after all... Full of the same kinds of faults and foibles as you or I. But, repeated or excessively egregious behavior WILL be punished. Maybe not as harshly (generally the *good* they have contributed to society will be taken in mitigation {how often are YOu willing to stand in freezing-cold rain and direct traffic around a 3-car T/A, at midnight?}), but, loss of their police-privilidges is often punishment enough (imagine having YOUR favorite thing to do being taken away from you).

Bottom line, YES, report it!!!

 

You can report it, if you do it anonymously nothing will happen. If that officer took any action on you afterwards it would be a very BAD idea for him because he will get to visit internal affairs soon after and trust me we are not big fans of going there. What will happen to him? Probably be reprimanded by his Lt or Sgt, depending on whether or not he has other complaints. The other problem is a lot of officer's share cars so unless they have a sign out system, no dice. If he was chasing someone he would have hit the lights to warn others, he most likely was tired or didn't notice, but I couldn't say for sure of course. AWD is right, YOU are the police of us. Departments take complaints seriously, at least around here, so think about it and if you still want to, it's your right as a citizen.

AWD :"They ARE human, after all... Full of the same kinds of faults and foibles as you or I."
-actually we are human..... until we get in bed, then we become gods! True story, ask my girlfriends.

AWD ; "how often are YOu willing to stand in freezing-cold rain and direct traffic around a 3-car T/A, at midnight?}), "
-Don't jinx me. When your hands lock up from the cold, that's when it really hurts.



PS if it's me DONT REPORT IT!

jk....sort of

 

NAHO, understand that, as a former Military member, I view the 90-120 minutes you take to process a scene as childs-play. Stand a guard-post on the top of a hill, in the middle of nowhere, in a foot-and-a-half of snow WHILE it's freezing-raining, for 8- or 12- hours, with only a drafty shed and a tired, littlespace-heater for company, all the while hoping they haven't forgotten about your frozen azz, and questioning your mentality for deciding to join such a messed-up organization that would treat you that way... (Damn, I miss the Army)

two hours in the freezing rain, I'll do that and not even shiver... MAN UP!!!

 

What are your thoughts about it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMaMYL_shxc

I am confused...I don't know why..

 

90-120 minutes, thats a negative. Murder scenes and suchgo MUCH longer than that, sometimes days. So we can easily spend an entire 10 hour shift or more guarding it. Not whining about it, but damnit no one said you or I had to enjoy it!

 

It is VERY simple. When I do a traffic stop I am very to the point and I NEVER listen to someone's excuse, that just opens up the tables for argument. If they start to explain themselves I simply tell them unless it's a medical emergency and they need an ambulance, I do NOT want to hear it. If they want to make excuses that is what court is for. Refusing to sign the ticket IS an arrestable offense. That guy refusing to turn around and obey the officer's orders IS resisting arrest. It does not have to be physical resistance. We have to assume that the guy COULD be going back to the car for a weapon, the officer has not had a chance to check the suspect or vehicle for a weapon.The taser shot was justified. I'm sure a bunch of people who don't understand law enforcement will not agree, but all this moron had to do was sign the ticket. People amaze me sometimes. IF YOU DONT AGREE WITH THE CHARGE THAT IS WHAT COURT IS FOR, I gave a guy 5 tickets totalling 19 points for a Hit and Run last night. I was very calm with him, explained to him how the court process would work, and not to worry about the tickets until his court date. By the time I was doneexplaining it all tohim you woulda thought I gave him some winning lotto tickets. There are plenty of other people I could have hanlded exactly the same way and they probably would have wound up going to jail because they can't see past the fact that they are getting a ticket (s); refusing to sign, ripping them up, yelling and cursingetc.


I must add that I would have at least attempted to physically restrain that driver when he started walking back to his vehicle before I whipped out the Taser, just for the sheer fact that if I had done that and the guy physically resisted, it would make things MUCH easier in court.

 

I stand corrected.

 

Meh, no biggie. I'm sure we could exchange horror stories all day, but we'll spare everyone.