Has an officer ever harassed you?

Question

If you were honestly doing nothing wrong have you been accused otherwise?

I have had many questionable encounters over the years and every time I get so irate but the laws here are so full of loopholes AGAINST civilians! Fighting the harassment is worthless.

One time I was sitting in my car in a well lit parking lot, eating a quick meal and reading a newspaper. The officer said I "looked suspicious".

Answer 1

The guy didn't come out of the nowhere to harass me, but abused his authority. Why bother explaining cops here will side with him and call me names anyway.

But I filed a citizens complaint, and noticed he walked the straight and narrow afterwards, and the court dropped all charges against me!

Always file a complaint, even though it may never get you grounds for a civil lawsuit because they cover for each other, it goes in the cop's personnel record and may be the drop that overflows the cup, or may be a serious warning to get his act togather, and respect citizens.

Answer 2

My husband was questioned in a school parking lot, he was waiting for his cousin, a teacher, to finish his shift. The cousin vouched for him and everything was fine. The principal of the school asked that he not make a fuss about the questioning since it was students that reported him and actually that's what we want them to do. Husband said it wasn't a problem and we get quite a laugh out of it now.
I got stopped 3 times when I was driving home from night shift, this was at about 3 in the morning. I think the only reason they stopped stopping me was because everyone in the city knew my car. I have no problems with it though they seemed friendly enough when they approached the car from both sides, hands on their sidearms, flashlights lighting up the interior of the car.
In Canada you can file a harrassment charge, after about the 3rd or 5th, not sure here, the officer is officially reprimanded. Before the reprimand they do tell them to cut the crap. So file away if you have a good reason, just don't make it for something stupid.

Answer 3

When I was young (30-35 years ago), the local and state (Massachuetts) police seemed ok. I can't say I ever got treated in anything less than a professional manner.

In my adult life, almost all of my three or four encounters with police have been much less pleasant. They've acted very aggressively - verbally abusive, impolite, nasty.

I'm a clean-cut middle-aged American, nothing special in appearance or behavior. I've always been polite, cooperative, and respectful. I was brought up that way, and my time in the Navy and serving on Shore Patrol then also shaped my understanding and behavior in that direction.

The two that really stand out were Massachusetts State Police officers that screamed at me after stopping me for alleged minor moving vehicle offenses. One actually had spittle flying from his lips - just disgusting behavior. I'm not aware that part of issuing a citation requires an accompanying insult and high-decibel chewing-out session.

One alleged infraction was for an illegal U-turn (which he didn't see, just surmised) in a very broad and quiet section of roadway with excellent visibility, no traffic, and clear daylight weather). That was Officer Spittle.

The other was for an alleged failure to yield. This was a case where an ambulance came through a red light without its siren going and because of the layout of the intersection (angles, lights, obstructing signage...), I didn't see it until I was almost in one of the two lanes available to the ambulance to proceed. I stopped where I was after ensuring that the pickup truck that was tailgating me wasn't going to ram me from behind, then proceeded carefully after the ambulance passed.

I went to court over both citations and both were dismissed as being without merit.

Even my few voluntary encounters with police over the last several years (asking for advice or assistance, etc) have been less than pleasant. They've seemed somewhat rude, dismissive, and too busy to help someone out or answer a question. I don't know, maybe things have gone downhill.

Answer 4

So, you were sitting in a well lit parking lot, eating a meal and reading a newspaper. There are some more details I'd like to know, like how long had you been sitting in your car and what sort of business were you sitting outside of? I'd like to know if the business district you were in has been plagued with robberies or kidnappings. If the officer approached you and questioned you, there was a reason. He/she may have been dispatched to check you out. The business you were sitting outside of may have noticed you and become worried for their safety. Maybe someone walking with their kids saw you once and upon leaving saw you again and became suspicious. Or maybe, just maybe, the police officer took notice of you because you had been there for some period of time and he was actually doing his job to protect and serve his community...and you. By you sitting in your car like you were, you may have just as well been a victim to a crime. Some crook may have seen you sitting there, all relaxed, not paying attention to your surroundings because you were reading the newspaper and targeted you as his next victim for a carjacking. So, don't jump to conclusions that you are being harassed. Sounds to me like the cop was doing his job in protecting you my friend.

Answer 5

Yes. I was going to steak and shake when i was pulled over for not using a turn signal. I honestly did not but this cop kept asking me over and over again is there anything in the vehicle. After the third time I said stop playing mind games with me. He flipped out on me told me to sit on the curb and called his boys for backup. They harrased me to give up anything I had but I had nothing. I refused for consent to search and he wrote me two more tickets. When I took all three to court he showed up and I had to pay all of them.

Answer 6

Yep. I was blamed for something another person did and nothing on God's green Earth would change that perspective.

I had stepped out of McDonald's, got in my car - and was behind a muscle machine hotrod waiting for him to move. Well, he did move and left a trail of burned rubber and smoke behind him.

The problem was - two cops were inside, heard the squalling and roar of the engine and ran outside just in time to see my car pulling through that smoke (non of it mine).

My buddy who was with me was drunk - had opened beer in his hand - I was sober and did not drink at all. The cops hunted me down like a dog and treated me like I was a major crime lord or something, AND no thanks to my buddy being drunk and having an open beer - I was charged with reckless driving and transporting beer in an open container.., they had to drop the drunk driving charge when the Breathalyzer proved I had not been drinking.

These cops did not care who they got - their meal was interrupted and somebody was going to pay. Anybody - and that anybody ended up being me.

So next time you hear someone mention "Anybody" thats me. Just so you know. (the story is true despite the last minute joke)

PS...,
For the record - this was when I was around 19, many, many years ago.., around 1979-1980. I wised up since then and do not transport drunks around, friend or otherwise unless its to keep them from driving and killing themselves or someone else.

Answer 7

Law enforcement is very truthful where I come from. I do believe sometimes there is SOME dishonesty.

Answer 8

Where? I had many such infarctions when I was younger and walking home from a college dance!!

Answer 9

I was stopped for being handsome in a "No Handsome Zone". They released me despite the overwhelming evidence.

Answer 10

yes, but in small towns you can't fight it, unless you have undeniable facts, or then they have the whole force on your as@s