A police officer threatened me??

Question

i was riding my bike with my friends (we are all about 15) and the police stopped us and said if we don't put our helmets on he'll slash our tyres and then started swearing at us and said he'll slash our faces up 2. Can we take some kind of action?

Answer 1

If it is your word versus his, you are sunk. If he has a video of the conversation, you may have a case.

But if you sue, you will cost this guy his job. Is that what you really want to do?

Answer 2

Let me get this right: you were riding your bikes just minding your own business and all you were doing wrong was failing to wear a helmet. And then this mean old police officer comes along and threatens to cut your tires AND your faces just because your weren't wearing the helmets.
What really happened: you weren't wearing your helmets and the officer stopped and told you to put them on. That hurt your little feelings and you thought: "Damn cop. What a great opportunity to make up some BS and get this cop in some trouble."
I've been a cop 28 years and this story stinks. Get more creative.

Answer 3

Hey, I would definently report the policeman and as soon as possible. There will be problems for you if you do this, however. Better to just avoid the cops cause they do whatever they want and they belong to a union which means they can't be fired easily. This cop will be really angry with you, but it might wake him up too, he will feel guilty. Like all things in life decisions are never easy. I would definently report the bastard and then lay low. By the way, I was a wild 15 year old on a bike once too :) Wild Bill

Answer 4

he only wants what's best for you. Why don't you just put your helmet on? He sounds like a good police officer. I think the 2nd part of your story is BS.

Answer 5

Why not look at what the officer was trying to accomplish. He was trying to help you. If the situation had been different, and he ignored his duty and you were injured, he could be charged for not doing his job. Furthermore, I grew up with a kid that broke his neck jumping a concrete gap with a bike. Came down on top of his head, and he is paralyzed for the rest of his life.

Its all in what you want, safety or freedom.

Answer 6

Set him up, do it again and catch it on tape and be rid of another corrupt pig. They don't think boys your age can do anything to defend yourselves. Other cops probably won't believe you, can't or won't help you; reluctancy to turn on fellow officers. You know, provincialism and all. Internal affairs can only do so much, but you should try them. There is this idea that if they are messing with you, you must be doing something wrong. (9/11 didn't help either with the whole uniform hero complex that the media embraced)

I love having honest police officers do their duty for which we pay them for: catch thieves, murderers, rapists, etc... you know the hard stuff. It is rare to hear the good stuff because the ratings aren't as great, and they are highly underappreciated. I organize officer appreciation awarness events where I live. I am thankful and courteous to them even when they are an a** to me just when I'm saying "Hi" but whatever. I kind of understand the standoffish attitude.However, they chose their job. When SOME are just bullying people around abusing peoples rights because they either don't know them or cannot afford to defend their freedoms in court, that makes me very sick and I hope they are caught and dealt with. Rights are very expensive; when one stands up to those who oppress them and wins, it is a huge victory for many. I live in a city where the conviction rate is 97%. It doesn't matter if you are innocent, you should take the deal. So the best offense is keep them on their toes. They act strange now when they see my pocket constitution or "this car under closed circuit surveillance" stickers in my car.

Video tape is legal but not audio unless you inform them in which case you will have to tell them that they are being recorded, they will probably be on better behavior then as most officers are when they think a camera is on them. I have one mounted in my driver side mirror as well as inside my dashboard. I have turned taking bad cops to court from being a nightmare to a joy. It has made me a more honest person as I willingly pay the tickets I deserved, and challenge procedures which are totally out of line. I have become well known by the police in my city and have been messed with a little by pissed of officers, but for the most part left alone. My lawyer is a former CHP officer and he hates crooked cops with a passion. God bless that man. He has fought so hard for so many people rights, and put many bad people away, and I have nothing but respect for him. As it is easy to tell my view of police is highly mixed. Be careful not to do anything to antagonize the officer if he is just doing his job. You are a young man and need to be clear headed and mature about it. Their job is a very hard one. Dealing with peoples bullsh*t and constantly having to establish legal dominance day after day is weighs heavily on patience.
Good luck!

Answer 7

When confronted with the evidence, th cop will deny what he said.

However, even if he acknowledges it, he might have a defense of using psychological means to prevent you and your buddies from breaking the law in the future.

You have no case, because his threats were not immediate; you put on your helmets, didn't you?

Answer 8

I agree with the first poster, but before we go anywhere else with this, how did you respond to the cops when they stopped you?
A million people say they were threatened or abused by cops, what they fail to mention is THEIR actions which lead to the officers actions. You may have been threatened, but cops just don't randomly threaten people unless a situation is agitated by the people they are talking to.

Answer 9

I would file a legal complaint because if the cop was dumb enough to say that then he has probably harassed others to and there might already be some complaints filed on him.

Answer 10

I too doubt you are telling the truth here. If this is true, you need to speak to a superior and/or put in a complaint.

Answer 11

I don't believe a police officer would say such a thing he probably said put your helmets on or i will give you a citation or give your parents one.. Cause if he did say such a thing you would not be on here talking about it you would be seeing a lawyer instead..