ask a cop/jailer

[GunnerGraye]

Wow this reminds me of Hot Fuzz...so that leads me to these questions:
1. Have you ever fired two guns whilst jumping through the air?
2. Have you ever fired one gun whilst jumping through the air?
3. Ever been in a high-speed pursuit?
4. Have you ever fired a gun whilst in a high speed pursuit?

I have a cousin who is an officer, he's told me some awesome stories, so I know some of the stuff you guys go through. Much respect.

 

[Beffudled Sheep]

Alright, I have a question.

Lets say that hypothetically my S&W Model 500 was stolen and used in a robbery.

Would i face any charges?

 

[iron codpiece]

also why are the lights red and blue?

 

[ace_of_something]

Why do cops all have those stupid mustaches?

Most departments have regulations about facial hair and having a 'clean neat appearance' for line (lower ranking) officers. Most departments consider the stage at which a person is growing a beard to be 'unkempt' or a beard itself to be 'unkempt' few departments however consider mustaches to be 'unkempt'. I will admit that I attempted to grow the stache but my facial hair above my lip is white so even when it was thick and bushy it was hard to see. As a C/O though I have free reign to fuzz my face all up and am current sporting chops and a goatee.

I've got to ask how you found this old thread?

*snip* Hot Fuzz Reference *snip*

I have a cousin who is an officer, he's told me some awesome stories, so I know some of the stuff you guys go through. Much respect.

Thanks! However these questions were already answered
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.78482?page=4#985803

 

[stormcaller]

As a man of the law do you get annoyed when we make all those horrible jokes about mass-murder and such?

 

[ace_of_something]

I got one why do cops demand so much respect from you. Yet they give you so little?
Also why do so many cops not respect the bill of rights and commit so many illegal searches. Do you guys just think the Constitution is out of date? (This is because I pulled of illegally, searched illegally, and then charged illegally and it still cost me 2 grand in court fees and lawyers fees)

Well, not to sound like a broken record but cops are people too they come in many different flavors (Me? Why I believe I am grape or Lutefisk flavored) Some are dicks. It's a hard job that causes some people to give up their principals.

THE LAW and by extension the CONSTITUTION is an officers first and foremost responsibility. Not personally knowing anything about your case I can't hazard much of a guess.

But Most cops wouldn't date do an illegal search it's to easy to lose a case. There are misconceptions about what is illegal to do an immediate search you need probable cause. Probable cause is very very broad; especially car searches. "He seemed nervous" is a viable reason in a car search. Which I always thought was stupid, whose not nervous when they get pulled over.

Also, did you win? If not you either were searched very much legally or your lawyer sucks because even cruddy public defenders can get an illegal search thrown out. (no disrespect; most PDs are excellent at their difficult jobs)

 

[GunnerGraye]

Thanks! However these questions were already answered
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.78482?page=4#985803

Damn. I've been beat to it! Oh well. At least I know now. Thanks, man.

 

[ace_of_something]

I've got something that I've always wondered. I don't plan on doing this, because it would be silly and would probably get me attacked, but theoretically, is it legal to carry around a wooden sword if it is not concealed?

Concealed and open weapon laws are usually very local so i wouldn't know in your area beyond some generalizations. Usually if it 'LOOKS' like a weapon then it can be considered a weapon. I am assuming you mean like a kendo sword? Well some years back we had someone rob a gas station with one of those. The young men were given weapon charges.

Alright, I have a question.

Lets say that hypothetically my S&W Model 500 was stolen and used in a robbery.

Would i face any charges?

Depends this happens more often than you'd think. It also has a lot of if then scenarios. Hypothetically the gun was fired and so they can do a ballistics test.

Lets suppose you have this gun registered -
If you reported the gun stolen long before the robbery; you will likely be brought in for questioning and then let go. If you never said it was stolen expect to get a real ass grilling from the police if you look at all like the suspect; it's up in the air.

Lets suppose you don't have the gun registered -
If they figure out it's yours somehow you're ass is getting an unregistered firearm charge which is usually a federal charge and very serious. That's even if they understand you didn't do the robbery and have a completely different suspect for that. There are many many federal prisoners who let a friend borrow a gun or sold them a gun to commit a crime without doing paperwork to transfer gun ownership.

 

[bue519]

I got one why do cops demand so much respect from you. Yet they give you so little?
Also why do so many cops not respect the bill of rights and commit so many illegal searches. Do you guys just think the Constitution is out of date? (This is because I pulled of illegally, searched illegally, and then charged illegally and it still cost me 2 grand in court fees and lawyers fees)

Well, not to sound like a broken record but cops are people too they come in many different flavors (Me? Why I believe I am grape or Lutefisk flavored) Some are dicks. It's a hard job that causes some people to give up their principals.

THE LAW and by extension the CONSTITUTION is an officers first and foremost responsibility. Not personally knowing anything about your case I can't hazard much of a guess.

But Most cops wouldn't date do an illegal search it's to easy to lose a case. There are misconceptions about what is illegal to do an immediate search you need probable cause. Probable cause is very very broad; especially car searches. "He seemed nervous" is a viable reason in a car search. Which I always thought was stupid, whose not nervous when they get pulled over.

Also, did you win? If not you either were searched very much legally or your lawyer sucks because even cruddy public defenders can get an illegal search thrown out. (no disrespect; most PDs are excellent at their difficult jobs)

Thanks for an the informative answer and yes I did win the case. (Judge threw it out of court) I just find it unfair that I had to pay so much money just to get it thrown out. Do you think that by holding them responsible and maybe having the court pay part of the lawyers would maybe make police less likely to commit such actions?

 

[ace_of_something]

also why are the lights red and blue?

First of all; I just figured out you're my roommate! Second; I don't care if your computer is broken.

I've been told it's because people who are colorblind can't be colorblind to both blue and red so they can see at least one of them.

 

[Fronken]

"Excuse me what seems to be the officer, problem?"

Have you ever heard of someone actually using that line when pulled over for D.U.I?

 

[ace_of_something]

*Snip*
Thanks for an the informative answer and yes I did win the case. (Judge threw it out of court) I just find it unfair that I had to pay so much money just to get it thrown out. Do you think that by holding them responsible and maybe having the court pay part of the lawyers would maybe make police less likely to commit such actions?

Hmm while that idea sounds good on paper it's one of those 'slippery slope' things. Making cops too apprehensive about doing any part of their jobs might make them not do it when they really should. Chances are if it was found illegal by idiocy the cop just feels like a dummy and learns from their mistake. If it was found immoral the cop will be expecting a call from internal affairs (the cops who investigate cops)

 

[Beffudled Sheep]

Thanks for that... Im going to leave America now for completely unrelated reasons.

I got another one.

How many firearms can a person own?
Is there like a number where cops/government would say "thats too many, arrest him"?

 

[Frank_Sinatra_]

In my area police officers cruisers are allowed a M4 with 2 clips in the trunk. Are (were) you issued high firepower in you cruiser.

Also has your force received new vehicles. In my area our police force got about 20 Dodge Chargers!
Fun fact: most of the cops I see in those are speeding

 

[ace_of_something]

As a man of the law do you get annoyed when we make all those horrible jokes about mass-murder and such?

Most law enforcement officials have horribly black senses of humor. I am one of them. However, I do really hate rape jokes. Having formerly been the first responder to rape scenes I can say it's one of the most horrible things a human being can do to another and it's not fucking funny in any way. (and also having had friends who were raped and this http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.78482?page=2#980485 )

Murder though; that's hilarious.
I recall being the first on scene to a shooting The guy was shot in the temple a very close (but not point blank) range the detective turned over the body the eyes were gone blown out the other side of his head he looks at me and says "Well son, now this is bad; this guy is gonna be blind for the rest of his days."
Hmm. I guess you had to be there to find the humor in it.

"Excuse me what seems to be the officer, problem?"

Have you ever heard of someone actually using that line when pulled over for D.U.I?

Yes... pretty sure they weren't doing it on purpose though. I've had perfectly sober people do that to. Something about stern faced 6'6" cop just intimidates people. (i can't help that my face is like that, i'm really very friendly)

 

[ace_of_something]

Thanks for that... Im going to leave America now for completely unrelated reasons.

I got another one.

How many firearms can a person own?
Is there like a number where cops/government would say "thats too many, arrest him"?

More a question for the ATF but as far as I know if they are legally registered and you yourself have a very clean criminal record you can have as many as you want. I live in the midwest and it's not uncommon for someone to have umpteen rifles and shotguns in their house.

Unregistered? Holy crap be careful every unregistered gun can be it's own federal charge.

 

[Flap Jack452]

How often do riots pop up?
Is it true what they say about the soap?

 

[implodingMan]

Does prison rape actually happen frequently? If so, would it be possible to sue the prison for.. failure to prevent it or something?

Also, did you commit crimes while you were an active officer, like speeding or downloading pirated movies, and did you have any moral or guilt related feelings towards this?

 

[ace_of_something]

In my area police officers cruisers are allowed a M4 with 2 clips in the trunk. Are (were) you issued high firepower in you cruiser.

Also has your force received new vehicles. In my area our police force got about 20 Dodge Chargers!
Fun fact: most of the cops I see in those are speeding

We mostly had souped up Taruses (cheap!) but if a drug-dealer or something had his assests siezed we often would get his car and convert it which has lead to a very eclectic selection of a dozen or so cruisers. I often was assigned a converted jeep because I am very tall and it was one of the few cruisers i could ride comfortably in. I'm not a big car fanatic so I wouldn't be able to tell you what's under the hood but the gear heads assured me they were all barely street legal and that the city dumpped a lot of money into them.
At the jail we drive child molester vans to take inmates to the hospital (a white van with no windows)

 

[ace_of_something]

How often do riots pop up?
Is it true what they say about the soap?

In a jail? It's only happened once in the two years I've been there. It was in a mod about 20 people beating the crap out of each other. We just fill the mod with pepper spray run in with gasmasks and handcuff everyone. Then get accused of 'brutality'.

What they say about the soap is not true; mostly because very few jails/prisons have the open communal showers anymore (they're not space efficient) Usually they're stalls with no doors. That and people that rape in jail/prison are likely to get killed eventually.

Does prison rape actually happen frequently? If so, would it be possible to sue the prison for.. failure to prevent it or something?

Also, did you commit crimes while you were an active officer, like speeding or downloading pirated movies, and did you have any moral or guilt related feelings towards this?

No it doesn't. It's very rare. Almost non-existent in jails. Prisons however; There were problems in isolated pockets of the country until about 2003ish. Thanks to the Prison Rape Elimination Act by former president G.W. Bush. Correctional facilities identify and remove potential predators and victims. Many have tried to sue for that but few have won.

I have never illegally downloaded anything that I know of. Speeding? Pssh all the time, I even got ticketed a once. No one really feels guilty for light speeding (5-10 mph over) especially in this part of the country where if you're not going about 5 or 10 over you're considered a dangerous slowpoke.



Here's a bootylicious link for those inquiring about the problem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_Rape_Elimination_Act_of_2003