If a police officer drives up to a Hardees restaurant and orders a meal that is provided to them free is that a crime? If the get a free cup of coffee is that a crime?
2006-12-14 13:56:52 · 14 answers · asked by Gloom and Doom 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Yes it is illegal for a police officer to take anything free, although the person is giving it to them they are expecting something in return,IE: extra patrol, therefore it is considered a bribe, and an officer can be charged with a number of charges. The most serious that i have seen charged is extortion, a very rare charge under these circumstances, but a very effective way to remove an undesirable Police officer from the force and keep them out of law enforcement permanently.
2006-12-14 14:12:31 · answer #1 · answered by Smoky! 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Wow, I love these answers from some people who have no clue.
It is not illegal and is not a crime and is not a fringe benefit. Most agencies have policies against free merchandise and even "gifts." Cops can't receive anything free at my husband's agency unless the general public is getting it free as well. Most of the cops I know wouldn't take anything free just b/c it doesn't look right and obviously, people question it.
It also depends in some cases, such as, in our area sometimes the cops help the volunteer fire department when there is a fire. Sometimes, people bring out bottled water for the guys getting over heated. No one around here seems to think anything of it, if the cop who's helping take some water.
My personal opinion, cops should be able to take a free cup of coffee once in a while. It's an act of appreciation they don't often get and who's going to rob you when a cop's sitting there? Think about how much coffee gets thrown out anyway. I would leave ti at that though, just to keep everyone involved honest. :o)
2006-12-14 15:16:21 · answer #2 · answered by BrutalBaby 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not a crime.
More then likely it's a violation of an departmental internal rule for the police force. If a police officer goes into say McDonald's and they give him his food for free, that's receiving a gratuity because that officer should pay for his food like everyone else. At that point, the officer is in violation of a department rule against receiving a gratuity.
If that same officer pulls someone over for a traffic violation and the violator, by slight of hand give the officer a monetary payoff for not issuing a citation, then yes he has just committed a crime along with the traffic violator for giving the bribe for not giving him/her a citation.
2006-12-14 14:09:59 · answer #3 · answered by Allen P 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
No, most states have specific laws and most departments have rules for it,
For example where I was a officer, you could accept a gift if it was under 10 dollars any larger gifts had to be turned over to the depatment or refused.
you could accept any meal as long as you ate it on site, or it was under the 10 dollar value.
It was commom for PIZZA places to funish departments with free pizza, most places like McDonalds, Hardees, and the such give either free or 1/2 price food to the officer.
Most gas station stores, give free coffee to the officers,
And yes, most donut shops give free donuts to the officers
( I think just to be funny myself)
But it is considered a perk of the job,
The buyers at grocrey stores for examples and some department managers get free samples from the sales people
Frieght mangers get free ideas from freight companies.
The reason they do this, is that many of these stores are the ones that get robbed easy or have alot of homeless hang around, and by getting officers to come by regular, to get that free coffee, or a cheap burger, keeps the store safer.
2006-12-14 15:29:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
That is not a crime at all. Police officers (depending on how long their shift is) are allowed 1-2 Paid meals. Their "meal allowance" is different for each meal. Example: They may be allowed $20 for a dinner meal. This money does not come out of their pocket.
2006-12-14 14:55:36 · answer #5 · answered by Eric 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just like Allen said above. Many times businesses offer that stuff so that it keeps the police coming back..and therefore, they have a police presence around their business. Think about it. If there is a police presence and people know "the cops hang out there a lot", chances are the business is less apt to have problems (be robbed, etc).
An exchange of services, so to speak, although the police aren't necessarily "making a deal" with the business, it just works that way.
Technically, it is a form of "police corruption"...as per my Intro to CJ prof (former capt at a sheriff dept) back in the mid 90s.
2006-12-14 14:46:15 · answer #6 · answered by retrowfmk 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Eateries usually give police/fire personnel a discount, but usually it is not free, because this could lead to conflict of interest issues down the road, if the officers were called to the scenes of these places. Anything they do could then be construed as biased.
2006-12-14 23:57:31 · answer #7 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not illegal if the items are given freely by the business,not coerced or asked for, if the business is not expecting to receive and is not being given special treatment by the officer and there is no city or state ordinance or law prohibiting officers receiving gratuities.
2006-12-14 14:06:22 · answer #8 · answered by ihave5katz 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
no not at all most restaurants feed the cops that are there because, they dont alwasy get to eat there food before they have to go on a call.
i work at mcdonalds and we always feed the cops that come in to eat. there food drinks whatever is free to them.
and we also know that when we need them they are always there.
2006-12-14 14:06:08 · answer #9 · answered by jlw78418 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well it is not illegal but in most department there is a code of ethics that do not allow them to talk free things so they can be reprimanded by there department
2006-12-14 14:02:32 · answer #10 · answered by cuddydman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋