Another cop story

[TallPine]

I guess I just wanted to present to you a situation that cops have to deal with all the time and think of that the next time a cop might be a it cross.

Yeah, I understand - a lot of people who call 911 are idiots.

But there is a saying on THR that goes something like: you can carry a gun or carry a temper, but you can't carry (or should not) carry both. That should apply to cops as well

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I am not sure why you would be upset with the woman. After all, it was your own superiors in the department that instructed you to stop what you were doing and go to her aid. She simply asked for help; your bosses made the decision to send the help. So I think the idea that someone could have gotten killed by pulling you off a more important assignment would fall on the shoulders of poor organization in your department, and not on a citizen calling for assistance. Triage is the responsibility of the department.

Why weren't you upset with your superiors for sending you there? I agree you are not the AAA, but who would have known that better than your superiors?

It looks to me like your own department made the mistake.

 

[fitoo1]

I am not sure why you would be upset with the woman. After all, it was your own superiors in the department that instructed you to stop what you were doing and go to her aid. She simply asked for help; your bosses made the decision to send the help. So I think the idea that someone could have gotten killed by pulling you off a more important assignment would fall on the shoulders of poor organization in your department, and not on a citizen calling for assistance. Triage is the responsibility of the department.

Why weren't you upset with your superiors for sending you there? I agree you are not the AAA, but who would have known that better than your superiors?

It looks to me like your own department made the mistake.

Yeah but I wasnt going to go into all that...again, a cops turned politicians are who runs Indiana county sheriffs deptartments. It should go without saying that triage and sound police work have nothing to do with what the sheriff wants...he wants more votes and he would rather upset a couple dozen deputies than a even one constituant.

Again, I was brought on the carpet for this whole thing. This lady complained and I was able to confront her in front of my superiors. I never did raise my voice to her, I just pointed out the fact that there where a few things that I could have been doing that I wasnt because she couldnt handle her own simple problem. Her and I were able to hash the whole thing out. I was able to tell her the background of the call etc...she was able to tell me a few things I didnt know which would have put me off If I would have been her. Im all for helping people, that what cops and firefighters do. I had a beef with the dispatcher who could have turned off the tv and called the womans son for her....whole nuther episode. I had a beef with giving her complaint one bit of credibility without asking me about it first, and had a problem with the word "suspension" even coming out of my superiors mouth without knowing the whole situation...it goes on and on....all the more reasons Im not a cop anymore. All the more reasons cops are normally in a bad mood....lol.

All this when child molesters and rapists are running around willy nilly.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Yeah but I wasnt going to go into all that...

But that is the essence of the problem. Police departments are always going to get calls that are a waste of time, or should be directed to someone else (such as a towing service). I think you are just blaming the wrong people here.

 

[FieroCDSP]

Right to be Stupid?

I know you can't help everyone all of the time, but couldn't there be a special fine for being unreasonably stupid? I don't know, 50 bucks and 5 hours of community service? The orignal post lady, people that nearly kill themselves or others cleaning firearms, incredibly bad drivers, etc....

I've seen a lot of stupid people while working in retail, and quite honestly, we could do with fewer of them.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

But that is the essence of the problem. Police departments are always going to get calls that are a waste of time, or should be directed to someone else (such as a towing service). I think you are just blaming the wrong people here.

That cuts both ways. Many here are angry at police officers for enforcing laws that they feel are unconstitutional. They should be directing that anger at their elected representatives who make those laws and appoint the judges who administer them. Alternatively, they could provide a clear structure for how an officer is supposed to judge on the fly whether or not a specific law is constitutional (especially given that many legal scholars often cannot agree on any given law).

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I agree with you Bartholomew, though the two issues are not particularly related.

The issue at hand is simply a matter of triage and screening, which should be easier for police officers to sort out than constitutional nuance.