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 you are out patrolling an area where you have to pay attention to suspicious activity, and you see someone commit a regular traffic violation (not causing danger), will you ignore it so you can be on the streets patrolling?

Asked by 567 over 12 years ago

One of the functions of a police officer is to enforce traffic laws.  So, while on patrol I would be looking for both criminal and traffic vioations.  Since most criminals use a vehicle in some way (to get to a crime, to flee a crime, to move stolen property, etc.), making traffic stops will frequently result in the discovery of criminal activity.  

I have made major felony cases by stopping people for relatively minor traffic infractions.  Folks like Timothy McVeigh, Ted Bundy and others have all been located on traffic stops.  I can't tell you how many terrorists, murderers, rapists and others have been arrested after a seemingly small traffic violation. 

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?

If someone has an exceptionally prestigious education (i.e. Ivy League college degree), does that give them a better chance for getting into a PD and getting promoted? (Of course in addition to experience and good performance.)

Asked by Ryan over 12 years ago

Unlikely.  It would indicate to me that the person overspent on education and might be a poor steward of the department budget.

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.

Just a follow up to last question.

Would you ticket an individual if you saw it?

Asked by Peter s almost 13 years ago

If I understand the question correctly (entered on green, waited for traffic to clear to complete the turn, light turned red and then you cleared the intersection) - no.  But then, laws vary from place to place.

If I see a child alone in a car on a hot day.....and notice that the child is struggling....can I break a window in that car to give the child some relief?

Asked by Klondike Cat almost 12 years ago

Possibly.  If the child is in actual danger, then yes, you can take reasonable actions to protect the life of the child.  However, the preumption is that you are damaging someone else's property.  You need to be able to prove that your actions were reasonable and necessary to protect the life of the child.  Calling 911 is probably the best bet in the specific scenario you described. As stated elsewhere on this page - this is not legal advice.

In your experience, does offering a monetary award for info leading to finding a missing person or a wanted suspect actually work?

Asked by Pivot over 11 years ago

Sometimes.