Or do you think it happens more than some people think? Do you think that most people who are arrested get what they deserve as far as how they are treated by police?
2006-11-17 17:37:34 · 17 answers · asked by Marie 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
I don't believe it is rare. I was almost shot by a policeman with his .45 caliber gun. I am just a mild mannered, middle aged computer programmer who was coding a program all night at a software company. I left the building at 3:00AM and accidentally triggered the alarm that wouldn't reset after attempting to reset it for 10 minutes. So, I left the building carrying my black name and address booklet in my hand. Suddenly, a huge, towering man approached me from behind ordering me to drop what was in my hands and put my hands behind my back. There was no police car present, no motor cycle present, and he did not identify himself. I thought he was a night watchman. I explained that I was an employee and had accidentally tripped the alarm. He screamed that I should not look at him and should drop what was in my hands and put my hands behind my back. It was dark out, and I couldn't see him well. He shined a bright light on me and looked through some kind of viewer which I now know was a gun. Eventually, after he demonstrated severe and frightening anger, I obeyed him and was handcuffed. I figured he was just some angry security guard. Moments later police cars arrived, and I was relieved that some professionals showed up. Those officers were very nice to me. But, the big guy who had initially stopped me, then revealed to me his gun and how close he was to having shot me. He repeated that several times and also stated he thought my name and address book might be a weapon. And, I didn't find out until the next day that he actually was a real police officer who worked foot patrol. I thought he was a guard by his wearing of a blue shirt instead of the black police uniform the other police wore. Had he only identified himself as a police officer at the initial encounter, I would have obeyed immediately.
2006-11-17 19:18:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The misconception of police crossing the line is best looked at in other ways. First, the people on the street have passed multiple psych tests to ensure they are not prone to "cross the line". Their backgrounds are usually spotless. In my process, there were 550 applications and for 5 seats. Most people do not realize that the amount of force is dependent on a process called the force continuum. This policy dictates what level of force will be used in a situation. Every department has one and it is reviewed by the lawyers regularly. The problem is that the general public has no clue about this. They see 3 cops on 1 guy and think it's a gang up. They see a cop taser someone who is non-compliant and it's abuse. Most cops I know don't meet the force continuum policy and end up getting themselves hurt because they didn't want to escalate the situation.
2006-11-17 23:51:59 · answer #2 · answered by spag 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it happens more than we realize but the ratio of police that are unethical is small in comparrison. However any in such an important position is un-acceptable.
My father was a police officer when I was young and the good he did far out weighed the bad. He never abused anyone but he was shot at and had bricks thrown through his windshield. He took it all as part of the job. Back then there was a courtesy code. If you were stopped for speeding and flashed your badge chances were you would get out of a ticket. Not ethical but it did and does take place.
Those who enforce the law should follow the same rules. It is too easy to get caught up in the wrong side. Even the police are human and are often put in unbelievable situations.
2006-11-17 17:50:02 · answer #3 · answered by Sunshine 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
relies upon on 2 aspects. First, is the guy being chased because's believed she or he dedicated a criminal? if so the county line could nicely be crossed and the party arrested. If the chase pertains to a site visitors infraction, to confirm that the government to pass the line, they could have an contract/permission from the county the automobile is approximately to pass into, in any different case the unit could injury off the chase. This handed off regularly between Culver city Police branch and the l. a. Police branch, returned in the 60's. They have been at 'war', which led to the two entities having to break off chases as quickly as the offending automobile crossed the, subsequently, city lines.
2016-10-22 07:13:47 · answer #4 · answered by freudenburg 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is rare.
Most officers just do their jobs. However, if you have never been one, it is difficult to understand.
As an officer, you must always maintain control of the situation. When you put hands on someone during an arrest, you try to cuff them as fast as possible before they start to resist.
Being cooperative goes a long way. Getting arrested does not mean you are guilty, it means that there is probable cause to make the officer think you are guilty. Guilt is decided in a court room.
Officers can not walk away from a situation. Their duty is to confront the situation. "Resistance is futile" You can go the hard way or the easy way, but it is up to the offender which way he chooses.
Officers are not paid to fight. They will use whatever force necessary to effect the arrest.
There are a few exceptions to the rule, but they do not last long.
2006-11-17 18:15:52 · answer #5 · answered by tnmack 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There have been quite a few cases reported in metro cities nationwide, where there was brutailty during arrests,and in prisons.
There is good and bad in everyone.
No I don't think it's rare (depends on the city you're in)...,but for the MOST part, I wouldn't say that EVERY LEO crosses the line. They are sworn in law officers. For the most part , they are doing their jobs with enforcing the law.
In my opinion :
Don't give LEO's a reason to have you arrested or make a situation worse for yourself....
2006-11-17 17:54:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a dispatcher and I know that all of my officers are very patient when dealing with criminals. It takes a LOT to get one of them to even become physical in anyway with a suspect. They know what repercussions they will face and how much paperwork they have to fill out and what kind of questions they will have to answer if they get physical with someone. Plus they respect that they can't just go around abusing people. People make complaints about the smallest/most meaningless things because they are always out to get his name and badge number and they WILL have his job in the morning. Believe me, those officers want things to go as smoothly as possible because they want to get back to their families. If someone who is arrested get some rough treatment then believe me they deserve it and it is much less than what you or I as ordinary, everyday people would do to them. Cops put up with a lot of crap from the people they arrest.
I have worked here for two years and it is EXTREMELY rare that one of my officers has used any type of force on a subject and there have definitely not been any instances of excessive force.
2006-11-17 19:20:13 · answer #7 · answered by Sherrie C 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the many instances I have been involved with police while a arrest is made are usually assaulted by the police and charged with assault on a police officer! A police officer is totally responsible for the safety of a person once arrested and they are not to touch those after an arrest! I have seen many assaulted by the police after a person was under arrest, cuffed behind their backs, to include physical assault including the use of batons and heavy flashlights, assault with their fists and kneeing them in the groin!
Not all police or Police departments are like this, but there are too many that are! I would not want to get arrested in Los Angeles!
2006-11-17 17:47:12 · answer #8 · answered by cantcu 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
In my view the police do a great job.Its just the small minority that do abuse their authority that causes other people to stereotype the police as racist thugs,bullies or whatever else they are called.
To say that "white police" pick on blacks is wrong. Thats racial stereotyping based on what has been heard and seen.
Yes it does happen and vice versa aswell but it is only the small minority.
People need to think before they pass on their views because sometimes its not their views there are providing, its what they have heard thru hearsay
2006-11-18 00:09:12 · answer #9 · answered by big g 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think that it is as rare as you think. There are many good cops out there, but there are also those who shouldn't be wearing a badge. They just can't handle authority, and abuse it.They hide behind the badge to do things they could NEVER get away with normally.
2006-11-17 23:56:44 · answer #10 · answered by WC 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋