I Met the Nice Policeman

[damyankee]

Wow, a state trooper compared to an Airborne Ranger......

 

[Technosavant]

The one time I had a, er, "roadside conversation" with a police officer since I obtained my permit went very well. It was a Missouri Highway Patrolman who pulled me over at night (was doing about 74 in a 65). I pulled all the way off to the right and turned on the interior lights in the car. When he walked up to the car, he found me with my hands in plain sight on the wheel, and before I moved them, I told him I had a CCW permit (not required to notify in MO, IMO, I'd rather notify than surprise him) but was unarmed (was leaving the state, the two states I was visiting did not honor the MO permit). He ended up just giving me a verbal warning and told me that the road would go from 4 lanes (divided) to a 2 lane with construction, and to watch the speed.

I felt sheepish for getting pulled over, but he was very courteous and professional.

 

[Robert Hairless]

CornCod:

The New Jersey State Police is an odd outfit. They have a kind of paramilitary tradition. They were founded by Norman Schwartzkopf's father, a World War One calvary commander. They have rigid discipline, excellent training and espirit de' corps. They wear uniforms faintly reminescent of those from Hitler's Germany. Prior to the 1960's, they actually lived in barracks like soldiers. Just after the Korean War, my father passed the test for the NJSP, but decided that a married man should go home at night! They are all muscleheads and spend hours a day at the weights and look like professional weightlifters.

Well, fifty years ago they kept the peace in rural areas. Now, essentially, the whole state is served by local police departments, so 95% percent of these well-trained, militaristic, body-builders ride up and down the two big North/South highways in NJ, the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike, giving out traffic tickets. They are frustrated men. Its sorta like telling an Airborne Ranger that his main task in World War Three is to act as a security guard at the local seven-eleven.

No excuse for a cop being rude, but as Paul Harvey used to say, that's.....the....rest...of the story.

Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf controlled the investigation when Charles A. Lindbergh's son was kidnapped from the New Jersey home. An insight into his character and priorities might be found in this statement on a reasonable good web site: "Initially, he found his investigation impeded by the Lindberghs' desire to negotiate with the kidnappers for the return of their child." Schwarzkopf was no longer troubled by that impediment after the Lindbergh baby was murdered. His spirit seems to live on in the men of the New Jersey State Police.

 

[yy]

this is the coolest thread, ever

I really enjoyed the positive-encounter stories. Makes for a more balanced day.

Thank you all for sharing. I find the positiveness good for my soul.

 

[Glockamolie]

"Now, one question...Texas Rangers...do they perform traffic stops or are they into more specialized stuff?"

The Texas Highway Patrol and the Texas Rangers are both under the Texas Department of Public Safety. They are primarily an investigative branch, usually in high-profile cases, or investigations involving other law enforcement agencies among other things. There's only 118 of them in the entire state. I doubt you'd ever see one making a traffic stop. They are selected from DPS Troopers, usually with 20+ years of experience.

 

[Spreadfire Arms]

The Departement of Public Safety (state troopers) are (I think) a branch of the Texas rangers. So technically they do make traffic stops. But actual Texas rangers are (I think) a more investigative agency (like the FBI)

actually the opposite is true. the DPS is the state law enforcement agency. the Texas Rangers are an investigative body that is part of the DPS. the Rangers are licensed peace officers and can make a traffic stop, but it is not in their regular course of duties. they specialize in high profile criminal investigations.

 

[Big Calhoun]

DPS :: Texas Rangers

OK, cool. Thanks for the explanations!!! It's different coming fom Jersey where you dealt with the locals and the NJSP versus Texas where you can seemingly deal with the locals, county sherrif, court constables, and DPS. Keeps ya on your toes!!

 

[IfYouOnlyKnew]

Over 20 years ago a local LEO I believe saved my life. I was serving a court order to a mother in the hospital to place her new born in state custody. Always a nervous situation. The alleged father showed up and the officer with me steered him aside and outside. Later he asked me if I saw the pistol in the guy's back pocket. I almost wet my pants. I hope I get to thank that officer one day in person for stepping in when he did as later the same patrolman was killed in the line of duty working an accident on the interstate. Nice policeman? A hero to me.

 

[Anna's Dad]

Florida

I wasn't aware that it was a requirement to advise a LEO that you were carrying a concealed weapon. Does anyone know if that is a requirement in Florida?

I haven't had any encounters with LEOs since I started carrying and I always figured I probably would say something to avoid any problems, but I certainly never knew it was an obligation.

 

[Doug.38PR]

actually the opposite is true. the DPS is the state law enforcement agency. the Texas Rangers are an investigative body that is part of the DPS. the Rangers are licensed peace officers and can make a traffic stop, but it is not in their regular course of duties. they specialize in high profile criminal investigations.
__________________

Really?

How can the Rangers be a part of the DPS when the Rangers have been in existance for 160 years and the DPS is a fairly modern post 1900s police agency?

 

[MD_Willington]

I had an interesting meeting with a small town cop, a couple of days ago. I was mixed up in an auto fender bender. When the cop showed up I told him what happened and said I had a cpl and was carrying. He told me to get my papers and my cpl then get in the passengers seat of his car. The report was filed and he said goodbye. No horror story, no problems. He never brought up any firearm questions. I hope all cops are this professional.

My local LEO knows I have a CPL, his twin brother did my prints, all of the brothers are LEOs IIRC.

Couple that with the fact my 4 year old told the guy "My dad has a gun too" "if you need help call my dad and he'll bring his gun"...

The LEO just laughed...and asked if I was carrying, I replied I wasn't at the time as we were going to the school playground for some serious Tonka truck construction stuff...

 

[Jody Johnson]

Actually, The Texas Rangers are the "detective bureau" of The Texas Department of Public Safety.

Vacancies are filled by test/board and the applicants are almost without exception serving members of DPS.

There are other specialized investigative units within DPS, but the Rangers are probably best considered generalists altho', just as within other agencies, there are individuals with certain unique skills or expertise.

They don't ordinarily work traffic, nor are thier vehicles equipped to do so.

Rangers share a unique heritage from the past, and most, probably all know and honor it.

 

[XD Fan]

I have been pulled over many times in my life (actually, not so much after I reached the age of sanity and quit driving like a maniac...funny about that) and with only three exceptions, my experiences with officer have been really great (except the occasional ticket part).

 

[FTF]

I'm pretty happy with my personal cop experiences thus far in life.

If they wanted things to be worse, they could have EASILY been worse lol. Lots of warnings I probably wouldn't have given myself... especially in my teens. Luckily, I turned out fine

I get up in arms about some things I see on the news, but I'm more than happy with what I'ver personally seen. Hopefully they continue to leave me the heck alone!

 

[DRMMR02]

I have had 3 experiences with police in my life. The first was for speeding, and I got off with a warning. The second was also for speeding, by the same officer in the same location. I got a ticket. And the third was for vandalism. You know those signs that some businesses have where the letters slide into brackets? Well a few friends and I got caught moving them around to say inappropriate things. We got caught and just got yelled at and told to come back the next day and apologize to the business owners, which we did.

All in all, I have never been mistreated by police, even when I was in the wrong.