Run in with LEO last night, not too happy....

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"I would suggest that you advise your significant others that if they are stranded and you go get some help that MAYBE they should try to stay where you left them.

And there is this.



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Anyways, she was calling from a call box and the dispatcher said that she was dispatching CHP and it would be high priority.
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added to this.


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So I start backing up on the on-ramp looking to see if I passed them. Midway down the ramp, the red light come on and a Sheriff's car pulls up to me (he had been parked at the bottom with his lights off).
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What makes you think that the SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT gets dispatched to highway patrol calls?"


Ok, I am thinking that this is getting blown WAAAAAY out of proportion. Perhaps some information on how LE works will help to clear this up. First, in any given area there are usually several local level agencies including the city police (that can often reach into the county), the sheriff's dept., and the Highway Patrol. All have different missions and yet not so different missions. Also, in many places they do not share radio nets or dispatchers. There is often a HUGE disconnect in information between them, so it is unfair to assume that the officers you saw even knew what was going on. Also, they may have been responding to a call that took priority like a crime of violence. The fact is that you do not know what was going on in the cars that passed you or even if they knew that the women needed assistance.

If your initial call went to the HP and you were stopped by the Sheriff's Dept, he had no idea what you were talking about and most likely assumed that it was a ploy to get out of the ticket. Think about it, how many stories have you heard about the girl that cries her way out of a ticket or folks making up stories about having to go to the restroom...etc. People get creative when trying to get out of a ticket and he probably thought that you were doing the same. It also sounds like you were a bit pissed and he picked up on that.

I hate to break it to the cop haters, but LE is not all knowing. Just because something is reported to a dispatcher somewhere, does not mean that all leos automatically know the information. There have been many many times that I have seen wrong, incomplete, or must plain no info coming from the dispatcher when a lot of info had been provided to the dispatcher.

Personal Example:

One night, I was off duty and waking to my house when I was threatened by a crack dealer on a nearby street corner as I walked by. For my own safety, I chose to confront him immediately, as he would have been able to see where I lived if he watched me go home (about another block). He ran...I chased and caught him in about 20 yards. I cuffed and searched, found some dope and a knife, called 911 and asked for a marked unit quickly, but no lights and siren. I explained that I was on scene, but needed another unit.

How it went out over the radio: The scene in safe, already an officer on scene, one in custody, no assistance needed...seriously.

Well, after his homies started coming out of the woodwork, I called back and requested it again and got it straightened out, but it still took 15 minutes.

The moral of the story is that information flow gets F'd up and it is not the fault of the guys on the ground. No cop I know would willingly ignore a glaring safety hazard and risk the lives of two women to write a traffic citation. Filing a complaint when the info probably never went out on his radio is over reacting. The fact that you told him is not all that much evidence either, since we all get lied to about why people do things on a daily basis and he did what most of us would have done, writhe the ticket and let you go on your way.
 
I don't think he assumed that the Sheriff's dept knew about the call. He TOLD the ticketing officer about the situation and was blown off. THAT's what he's irritated about.
 
Akron PD

One of the worst departments I've ever delat with is the Apron PD. They shot someone every few months and never seem to be held accountable for it. Plus their chief of police was one of the big anti-self defense guys. I guess he didn't want anyone to be able to defend themselves unless they cops.
 
I have purposely stayed out of this thread for alot of reasons, however, after reading more comments, I feel it necessary to respond. First, I am currently a police sergeant in a large department, in the East Bay. In fact, not too far from where this incident occurred. I've worked as a police officer for 15 years and you name it, I've done it, in the police field.

this is not a LEO bash
It may not have started out that way, however, that is exactly what this thread turned into.

What I am about to say will not be taken warmly by certain people. In fact, it will probably be perceived as rude and uncaring. However, here it goes:

He TOLD the ticketing officer about the situation and was blown off. THAT's what he's irritated about.

First, that is an assumption on your part and on the parts of everyone else here. There were only THREE persons at the scene at the stop. One of them has posted what they PERCEIVED occurred. It does not mean that is actually what occurred.

By his own admission, the person was upset, probably a little pissed off at the time (for missing the turn off), and had a million things running through his mind. Could it be his perception of the incident was quite different then what actually occurred?

Second, BLAME SOCIETY ITSELF. Yes, read that again: BLAME SOCIETY ITSELF. You've all heard it, you've all experienced it. In my line of work, it holds true: 10% of the population ruin it for the other 90%.

You do not know how many times I've been burned for falling for someone's sob story. After you get burned a few times, you stop getting burned. So it could just be, that deputy/officer whatever, had heard the "sister left on the highway" routine before. And he/she had been burned for that or something similar.

You try to be nice, you try to give a person a break, and they are the one's who are at the counter complaining. "If I had been speeding, why didn't the officer give me a ticket then?" After a couple of those, everyone gets a ticket and/or gets arrested.

Third, CHP was handling the call and had officers enroute. What was the deputies supposed to do? Drop everything and go? You do not know the officer safety risks, concerns, of following people around. Are the preparing you for an ambush? Who knows?

He admitted to the vehicle code violation, so why not just take the ticket (which he says he has no problem with), be quiet, and he would be on his way in 5-10 minutes?

Again, how was the deputy/officer supposed to know he was even telling the truth about the sister? What are they supposed to do, knowing CHP is handling the problem? Drive somewhere, with some unknown someone, and possibly get killed? The first rule of police work is safety and an officers job is to control/run his stop. Not let the person control the stop.

Finally, the internet and these message boards are a wonderful place. Truly wonderful. However, you really should be careful about getting and using "advice" posted here and elsewhere. Several people have posted information on this thread, which is completely WRONG. Worse, it can land your butt in jail. Be very careful of "self proclaimed experts."

What I was actually saying is that threatening to haul somebody to jail for that particular offense just because the officer considered it "reckless driving" is a load of crap. he can certainly issue a ticket for it (as they did in your case) but arresting somebody for it would be out of the question.

23103 VC-reckless driving; its is a misdemeanor, committed in the officers presence.

40303 VC- gives a peace officer authority to make an arrest for 23103 VC and PHYSICALLY TAKE THE PERSON INTO CUSTODY. Meaning you would go to jail, be fingerprinted, and photographed. True, after this, which could take 4-12 hours, you could be released on a citation.

Final note: As a supervisor, I take these types of complaints almost daily. After talking to the person making the complaint, 99.9% of them admit the contact didn't occur the way they said they did, when they originally complained. In fact, most just say: I though if I complained, I could get the ticket dismissed. My cousin told me that would happen. Again, be wary of the "self proclaimed know it alls."
 
tetleyb

"Third, CHP was handling the call and had officers enroute. What was the deputies supposed to do? Drop everything and go?
First, YES That is exactly what the officers should have done. Their job is to prevent/solve crime. Here is a citizen that was reporting a possible absuction to the officers ans all they seemed to be concerned with was making their monthly quato of tickets and bulling the citizen when they did not think he was subservient enough to them.
Second, Blame society? What kind of whine is that? It isn't my fault that I don't take the time to do my job right it is societies. The officer is supposed to treat each and every interaction with the public on a case by case basis.
If you as a supervior are taking these kind of complaints everyday about the same officers then I can tell you as a manager of over 100 people, that you do have a problem with your staff.
 
Let me congratulate all you non-LEOs for providing such a fine example of the "us vs. them" attitude on the non-LEO side. :fire:

Their job is to prevent/solve crime.

Having a distant cousin who is stuck in a wheelchair because of some jackass backing up an on-ramp gives me a different perspective on the severity of the ticketed violation. So, in my opinion, the officer was doing the right thing. He responded to the violation he actually saw with his own eyes rather than to the problem that the person he just saw violate the law reported. What a shock.:rolleyes:
 
Yes of course you can get the ticket dismissed!
But the real question is whether you should file a complaint - and I think you definitely should. Anything we citizens can do to highlight good and bad LEOs appropriately helps the integrity of the system.
 
Guys,

I do a lot of criminal defense work. I have discovered that somehow, someway, the vast majority of people in general are morons. Unfortunately, this also applies to cops. Often, the conduct of the police makes me wonder if they are just the most powerful gang. On the other hand, there are many honorable, intelligent police officers who do everything humanly possible to conduct themselves ethically. Unfortunately, the outrageousness of the "bad cops" usually overshadows the quiet dignity of the good ones.

I have no illusions about the quality of the average LEO. Still, I wonder why people think that the cops are going to be any better than the average clod on the street. Grow up and deal with it.


O.K. so I'm grizzled.
 
Tetley and Fed,

No way, no how, should the officer have reacted in the way he did. This guy should file the complaint for the officer's unprofessional behavior. He should still go to court and see if he can get off the hook or at least embarrass the officer about his behavior (he'll probably perjure himself - so much for LEO integrity).
 
Sounds like both sides could have done waaaaay better than they did.

From the deputy's point of view, sounds like another BS story to get out of a ticket, how much time should he waste checking it out?

More than he did.

You know you and your kin screwed up more than once in this story; don't do it again. ;)
 
"Any LEO found guilty of purjury should be executed. No exceptions no appeal. Because of their position police officers should be held to a higher standard, if they lie under oath and violate the system they were entrusted to protect, death is the only suitable punishment.

We should have secret police who's only job and power is to peform sting operations on the "normal" police. These cops of the cops would have no authority with respect to normal citizens, only police officers. Entrap those lying @#%@#$ left and right, stick 'em all in the chair and throw the switch.

P.S. Before throwing the switch, take out their salvagable organs, sell them, and give the proceeds back to all the families who's lives these people have ruined."

Sounds like you have some issues.
I'll disagree with you. Perjury, even from an officer, is not something suitable for a death penalty sentence. That type of sentence would absolutely violate certain rules about excessive or unusual punishment. Should it be tolerated? No. Is it a death penalty offense? No.
 
By all means...file the complaint and see where it goes;)

Here is a hint: You go to the station, swear to the complaint, go through the interview, the complaint gets typed up and you must wait around to sign it. If the officer taking the report does it right, it will take about 5 hours out of your day...but he is getting paid the entire time.

Then, the officer you complained on will get called in to be interviewed whereby he is also getting paid to be there and they will finish his part up in about an hour. He will contradict your side of things and if he has a dash cam, it will likely do the same.

The complaint will be investigated and found to be without merit and that will be that. The end result is that the complainant loses 6 hours of their day and the officer is off the street and not fighting crime while dealing with a complaint that is going nowhere anyway.

Complaining will do one thing though, it will absolutely ensure that the officer will show up in court and testify that you are guilty of the offence and he might just have a word with the prosecutor if it ends up going to trial so that you are given the maximum possible sentence...you hit, we hit back.

As was stated, you got off light. He could have arrested you, or taken your license right there. In TN, LEOs have the ability to take your DL right there and you have to go be retested at the DMV prior to getting it back. Take the citation and move on. Don't back up ramps, it is not worth the risk!
 
Exactly what part of that us unethical...

I just explained how it will go and that is truly how it will go. If this were a different kind of complaint, such as alleged criminal activity or some sort of abuse it would be different, but in this case where the officer did not violate any law or department policy, he can not be touched by the dept... If he had violated a policy or law it would be different, but from the story he did not do any of that. Being rude is not against the law or dept. policy...
 
I gotta tell you....Management not backing up officers in the field is epidemic. If you complain...you may hear nothing from the Dept. But I can PROMISE you the officers will hear about it. Especially a Sheriff Dept. They are elected and very suseptable to public sway of opinion. But once in a while....they won't do a thing. Very rare though.

1.) make a formal complaint to either the Asst. Deputy in Charge of Patrol or Deputy in Charge or Sheriff himself.

2.) contest the ticket...drag him into court with you.

3.) move to Texas....we don't leave women stranded on the highway.
Absolutely correct. DPS drove my sister 35 miles to the family ranch when her car broke down and couldn't get cell service. Score 1 for Texas cops. :D

My truck broke down 70 miles outside of Barstow, CA halfway to Needles. No cell service. Tried to flag down the two CHiPs that passed me while I was hiking to the call box in the middle of the day smack dab in the middle of the Mojave desert. They both saw me and kept driving. I encountered a rattlesnake next to the call box and had to scare it away so that I could call AAA (which only costs $60 a year so buy it for your sister, 50Freak). When the tow truck showed up an hour and a half later, we loaded up my truck and had to continue eastbound for a few miles until we could exit and turn around. As we turned under the underpass, there were the two CHiPs sitting on the truck of their cars in the shade, chitchatting. I had the driver stop and I hopped out and asked them why they didn't stop, and they said that they don't have to. I didn't push the issue since I was on the way to a shoot and had a small arsenal with me. CA cops are known for taking your guns and holding them until you prove that you're innocent and that they're legal. Never made an issue with the department, but needless to say, Score -1 for CA cops. :(
 
Was this a Santa Clara County Sheriff? If so, it would not suprise me.. They tend to be pricks.

I would not bother fighting it... The traffic commissioners in the area are corrupt (allowed illegal evidence) and will find you guilty and the cop may lie. (He lied when I was in court).

I would file a complaint with the super. I don't care what kind of day he/she had. LEO should always be polite.
 
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Being rude is not against the law or dept. policy...
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And one wonders why most LEO's are painted in a bad light.

A term like "being rude" is open to interpretation, though. Someone may perceive something as "being rude" simply because to them the officer didn't treat them like some good old long lost buddy.While swearing, etc should not be tolerated, I don't see that its a good thing that you get all warm and fuzzy with someone.
 
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