Advice from a LEO in my CCW class

[goalie]

Yes, you may end up getting off if charged, but it will destroy you financially and whithin your profession as well as your family.

1. I have enough money to pay a lawyer.

2. The nazi (responding officer) that walked into the ICU where I work and basically screamed "WHERE'S YOUR GUN!!!" at me already put me on the gossip list at work for the year, so I already have the work thing covered thanks to the extreme professionalism of the Minneapolis Police Department.

Nah, I've been there, got the T-Shirt, and your advice rings hollow, especially since the local police union advises against officers giving a statement immediately after a shooting. What's good enough for them is good enough for me, especially since I won't be getting any of that benefit of the doubt that the police get after a shooting. (See the "Blame the Glock" thread if you want an example.)

 

[FedDC]

Lawyers are only the beginning. Try losing your job, life savings, friends, family, home, vehicle, and anything of value that you have collected. That is what you stand to lose if you end up on trial for murder...and if convicted, you will lose your feedom. Like I said earlier, do whatever you think is best, but the strategy of clamming up and demanding a lawyer is most likely going to result in a big loss on your part. And BTW, no PD Union advises total silence. They advise a limited controlled release, just as I described. Release enough to ID you as the victim and then get quiet.

 

[F4GIB]

FedDC is asking you to do more than anyone can do at the worst monent of their life, scared nearly to death, and shaking with adrenenlin rush.

He wants you to

The key is a limited release of info, just enough to ID you as the victim...and no, "I thought he was going to kill me, I want my atty" is not nearly enough.

"Limited release" !!! Is he crazy? YOU are crazy if you follow FedDC's advice. You can't make those find distinctions at this time. Neither can cops, that's why the universal advice is to SHUT UP. FedDC will let you talk yourself right into prison.

You need someone who (1) is calm, (2) experienced, and (3) capable of fine distinctions such as "how much information is too much." Who's that? Your attorney.

 

[FedDC]

Oh really... Gee, how would I know? Well, lets see... I have been on the scene where a civilian shot a suspect... I have been on the scene where a Police Officer shot several suspects...I have even written the reports following an officer involved shooting. I have actually been involved in the Grand Jury Process and can tell you from EXPERIENCE what works and what doesn't. But you go ahead with your "Expert" opinion and see where it gets you. If you act like a suspect, you will be treated like a suspect and will get first hand experience with the criminal justice system from the inside.

 

[Zundfolge]

You know, rather then taking the advice of "some guy on the internet" on this, perhaps the best bet would be to SEEK LEGAL ADVICE FROM A LAWYER YOU TRUST.

More to the point, the first thing you should do when you get your CHL is find a good lawyer who is experienced in self defense type cases, and paperclip his business card to the back of your CHL ... pay a retainer if you can afford it.

Regardless of whether you are in the "Name Rank & Serial Number" or "Spill your guts at the scene" camp (or somewhere in between) you really don't want to have to crack open a yellow pages under that stress and choose your lawyer right then.

(now I need to run out and follow my own advice )

I still honestly don't want to say too much to the police officers there on the scene while I'm in the middle of an adrenaline dump (and possibly need to pause to toss my dinner) so I can understand not talking, but I certainly wouldn't treat the responding officers like I don't trust them ... the response I believe Ayoob recommends (go get your grain of salt) is to say "I will cooperate fully, but I'd rather not make a statement at this time without my attorney present" (of course if you have the presence of mind to say that then maybe it would be okay to talk).

I also imagine that your location is probably one important thing people aren't really thinking of ... naturaly if you're involved in a SD shooting in the PRK, the Chicago area, NYC, New Jersey etc. you will have a different experience then if you are involved in a SD shooting in Colorado, Texas, Arizona, Idaho, etc.

 

[bountyhunter]

Oh really... Gee, how would I know? Well, lets see... I have been on the scene where a civilian shot a suspect... I have been on the scene where a Police Officer shot several suspects...I have even written the reports following an officer involved shooting. I have actually been involved in the Grand Jury Process and can tell you from EXPERIENCE what works and what doesn't. But you go ahead with your "Expert" opinion and see where it gets you. If you act like a suspect, you will be treated like a suspect and will get first hand experience with the criminal justice system from the inside.

In California, you get the same either way. You are under the illusion (or delusion) that the cops and DA's are fair in all states. Cops in kali are like PEOPLE in Kali... because cops are people. And most cops and people out here believe that citizens should be unarmed victims. The cops are threatened by citizens who want to defend themselves and refuse to accept or happily relinquish their second amendment rights to the state. This is a liberal state and it is made up of mostly liberal cops (at least, around the major cities).

That fact has led to some vicious public exchanges: the chief of police in San Jose (Chief McNamara) teamed up with Dykeann Feinstein to make a public TV ad pushing stricter gun control and filled with the usual lies. A small minority of SJPD officers took out ads refuting the chief's position (seriously... talk about cajones). The chief ordered the officers to retract the ads and they refused. The ACLU ended up defending the officers (can you believe the ACLU defending gun rights?) and the ads stayed. The officers of course probably had their careers end right then..

Bottom line is this: I know where I live. I know what the DA;s agenda is here as well as in most Kali counties and that is to put people who use guns in jail. Period. God forbid, I have to use deadly force, the statement I will be giving the officers is:

"Let me get my pillow. Be easy with the cuffs because I have carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists. Let's go. Honey, open the phone book and call the first bail bond you come to."

 

[PATH]

Well I spoke to my attorney and he laughed. His advice was to shut the hell up and wait till he got where ever it was I was being held. HE told me that professional interrogators could have me confessing to the Lindbergh kidnapping.

I will supply pedigree.

I will supply the statement that I was in fear for my life.

I will pretend, (maybe I won't need to pretend), to feel very sick and have chest pains.

I will never volunteer information unless on the directions of my attorney.

I will counter sue any and all persons I need to in order to protect myself.

I have many friends and relatives who are LEO's and they all told me to shut the hell up!

Hmmmmmmm. Be thought of as a perp? Okay. Open my mouth and say something in haste that wil land me in prison? Not Okay!!!


I think I'll take my chances with my strategy!

 

[Otherguy Overby]

FEDDC

I'm a newbie here as far as posting goes.

However I still have a sense of smell.

You are from the government, and you are going to help...

May I ask why, in your opinion, an honest citizen has less rights than a common criminal has at an obvious crime scene: one to silence; whereas a normal citizen does not after an obvious self defense situation?

Everyone here is already aware that honest people somehow caught up in the current legal system are more at risk than criminals. An honest person has no one to roll over on and therefore does the full time. A crook, who by association, must be telling the truth because of bad association, gives a name and address and gets to walk.

Yet, all these crooks are told: "You have the right to remain silent."

Please tell us why honest citizens don't have the same right?

Please read the following quote.

"The right of self-defense is the first law of nature; in most governments
it has been the study of rulers to confine this right within the narrowest
possible limits . . . . and [when] the right of the people to keep and bear
arms is, under any color or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not
already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction." ~ St. George Tucker,
Judge of the Virginia Supreme Court and U.S. District Court of Virginia in,
I Blackstone COMMENTARIES St. George Tucker Ed., 1803, pg. 300 (App.)

 

[Trebor]

Bill2c, check your PM.