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

Are big city police stations more likely to be smaller than suburban stations? Because in the NYPD for example, there are many of them, so they can spread units out. Whereas a suburb has to have all its units working in a few or one station.

Asked by Ryan over 12 years ago

It varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  There are no rules, and I doubt anyone can make any accurate generalizations.

In movies and TV shows, many members of the mafia engage in crime with out being arrested. Is this a realistic picture? If so, what are the factors that keep police from arresting them for simply being members of a criminal organization?

Asked by Writer23 almost 13 years ago

95% (or better) of the stuff you have learned about law enforcement in the movies or on TV is garbage.  Movies are written, directed and acted by people who have no experience or first hand knowledge of law enforcement or crime.  

Regardless of the type of crime - shoplifting to running a criminal enterprise - law enforcement officers can only arrest someone if probable cause exists.  If this burden of proof does not exist, no lawful arrest can be made.

Obviously legal gun owners cannot always be trusted either. If you don't want to take away guns, what about stricter regulation of who can own one?
(Thank you for your service. I have complete respect for you and your opinion, just making a point.)

Asked by Hello over 12 years ago

I'm confused by the concept of "stricter regulation."  There are thousands of laws and regulations on the books now that regulate the purchase and ownership of firearms and ammunition in the United States.  There is an entire federal law enforcement agency dedicated to the enforcement of gun laws (and who gets to make arbitrary regulations regarding the legality of different types of firearms, importation, etc.).  

Murder, which I presume is what you would like to stop, predates the invention of firearms.  It is already illegal, yet it still happens every day.  People have tried to prevent people from murdering others for centuries, yet no one has been able to do so.

What stricter regulation on a firearm do you suppose would stop murder? 

Evil exists.  Real, true evil exists in the world.  Some people don't want to believe it, but it does.  Evil people will not obey laws and will harm and kill others no matter what laws you put into place.

 - I oppose new gun regulations in all forms.  

 - I support the repeal of many current gun laws.  

 - I support the disolving of the BATFE.  

 - I support the right of all citizens to use that force which is reasonably necessary to defend themselves and others from attack and forcible felonies.

 - I oppose anyone who would take away the freedoms of any law abiding citizen including the rights to privacy, speak out, assemble, practice a religion, engage in commerce, and keep & bear arms.  To quote Thomas Jefferson, "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."  In other words, if a man -without reasonable cause- harms another, then the goverment has authority to act.  But, unless and until that happens, a government has no authority to interfere in the lives of free men.  I should not tell another man how to live, nor should he tell me how to live my own life.

Pursuing more restrictions on lawful gun owners serves no moral purpose, but only serves the purposes of evil - preventing people from a legitimate form of defense from criminals and illegal governments.

There is a visible spade of law enforcement officials engaging in unnessessary violance or other abuse of powers. It is no longer outlandish to conclude that some police may be a threat to my survival. When am I allowed to resist or flee?

Asked by Khannea about 12 years ago

"spade" - I do not think that word means what you think it means.

Oh, and your premise is false.

A big police station will have some interview rooms, meeting rooms, and rooms dedicated to different teams such as a gang unit room. What will a typical small police station have? (What is the minimum?)

Asked by Ryan over 12 years ago

There is no minimum standard.  It depends on the size of the building and the needs of the agency.  It may have dozens of rooms with lots of specialized spaces or just a single desk.

if a crime was committed early in 2012 can a person still be charged with that same crime a year afterwards

Asked by monalisa almost 13 years ago

Probably - It depends on the crime and the laws of your state.

What is your opinion on police screening? When do you think police screening of recruits should start?

Asked by mauisheri@gmail.com almost 13 years ago

Police screening should be mandatory.  It should start when they apply to attend the academy or apply for a job with a department (depending on what the proceedures are for your state.)  Any earlier is called spying; any later would be foolish.