Do you think the cops were crooked for doing this to me?

Question

Last night I went with some friends to N.O. for Mardi Gras. First, we went to a parade in Metairie, La, and I thought everything would be cool for the rest of the night. After the parade we headed toward Bourbon Street. We tried to walk down the street; everything seemed cool at first, but someone started pushing the crowd in one direction; as a result, my friends and I were separated. After about five minutes, we were reunited with each other, but this incident paled in comparison to the subsequent incident.

As my friends and I were walking down a street off of Bourbon, a cop car comes flying a thousand miles per hour down the street, so I told my friends to get out of the way so they would not get hit. About two minutes later, this man (who is dressed in street clothing) approaches me aiming a gun at my chest. I started shouting to the policeman behind him, but the man who approached me tells me that he’s a cop. The cops escort my friends and I to the police car, while I am constantly and angrily shouting, “I did not do anything.” When we arrived at the police car, I had to spread my legs and place my hands on the car so I could be searched. Next, I was placed in cuffs because I was too “jumpy.” We asked the cops to enlighten us of the crime we had committed, and they informed us that I looked like I was warning my friends that they were coming and that I looked “suspicious,” and I replied, “Yes, I was warning them that you were coming because I did not want them to get hit.” About two minutes later, they got a call on their radio, and they let us go to go and harass some more people. I am cognizant of the crime statistics in N.O.; however, I do not believe that the cops should have used that as a pretext to treat me like a savage.

In closing, I want to say that I have the utmost respect for the policeman who performs his or her job well, which is to protect and serve, but I do not have any respect for those policemen who abuse their authority. Also, I have learned that no sober person should walk down Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras at night because it is not a fun place to be. Intoxicated people may be having fun while a large portion of New Orleans’ citizens are still living in FEMA trailers, and only half of them have returned, but I do not drink alcohol.

*This incident occured February 18, 2007.*

Answer 1

NO is in turmoil right now,Mardi Gras only intensifies this,the police there are over worked under paid and out matched by the criminals,sounds a little excessive but they are just trying to keep the city safe and try not to get killed themselves,cut them a little slack.

Answer 2

I don't believe the cops were "crooked". What crime did they commit?

Ask yourself if the situation would have turned out differently if you had not been "constantly and angrily shouting, “I did not do anything.” " at the policemen. If you had acted calmly and followed the officer's directions, would he have felt the need to handcuff you.

It was Mardi Gras, he had probably been dealing with intoxictated and disorderly partygoers all night. When he came up to could your behavior been construed as being an intoxicated person who may become violent?

If your story is true, I do not agree with the officer pulling a pistol on an unarmed person, and not identifying himself as a police officer right away.

I do agree with him restraing and searching you for his protection. He did release you after two minutes.

I fail to see where he treated you like a savage. Nowhere in your post do you mention verbal or physical abuse on the part of the police.

How is it that an unmarked police car can drive at a high rate of speed on Bourbon Street? I thought most roads were blocked off to vehicular traffic and full of people. If the road was open to traffic why were you and your friends in the roadway?

Like it has been said earlier, every story has opposing views.

Answer 3

It's always hard to say what is right and wrong in this type of situation because only one side is presented and it may be a bit skewed as well. If the officer was here to say something he may offer a completely different view on the matter. NO is basically a free for all environment especially at Mardi Gras, cops are outnumbers 1000 to 1, they naturally take a more aggressive route that normally wouldn't be needed. If he found a weapon or drugs this post wouldn't be here. I am not saying it is right, I am saying he went home that night in one piece.

Answer 4

I agree that they should not have done that and were abusive of thier power, but i wouldn't criminalize them or look to much into it. It was madi gras, so they were definatly being over worked. they know that drugs are rgoing to be everywhere and im sure you could pick 4 peopl out of the crowd and at least one is carrying something. they were just overworked and paranoid. cut um some slack they are only human.

I've been in a similar situation where 3 of my friends and i were pulled out of the car, handcuffed, and my friend was actually beaten because he tried to scratch his nose. We had done nothing wrong we were actually the ones who called the police, about 2 (not four) guys who we had seen breaking into the neighbors house. We were out looking for them because we saw them run. the cops wouldn't even give us thier badge numbers. *******

Answer 5

same thing every cop does--lie and violate peoples rights and break the law and then get away with it. they're all crooked in my book. they're supposed to uphold the law, but there isn't a single cop out there that doesn't break the law themselves.

Answer 6

First incident - The fact that a moving crowd caused you to be separated temporarily from your friends doesn't really sound that big of a deal.

As far as being stopped the second time, you can't automatically assume that you got stopped for nothing. The officer may have seen something that warranted checking further. You may have looked like someone else he was looking for. He may have thought that you were doing something illegal. I am a police officer myself.

Often, I'll stop someone, and even my partner doesn't know why. That doesn't mean that I don't have a reason. Maybe there's a crack in the windshield. Maybe the tags are out. Maybe they match the description of a robbery suspect. Until I tell him, he won't know for certain.

Now, my partner rides with me every day, and knows just about everything about me. If HE doesn't know for sure, what makes you think that YOU should know for sure?

I will tell you, though, that if a suspect seems really nervous, I'll put handcuffs on him. I don't know you from any other yokel on the street. My ultimate goal is to go home in the same condition that I went to work in. Remember that the handcuffs come off just as easy as they go on. Also remember that they've got a job to do, and that calmly following their instructions is the best way to not get handcuffed in the first place.

Answer 7

I feel for you but I think you should take it as part of life experience. We lived in a crime ridden world - if you were some loonie the police would have been onto you. As it was "you looked suspicious" but they let you go. Doing their job -if you want soemone to blame, blame the criminals who make our lives a misery.

Answer 8

While I think their actions were questionable I can understand police being cautious.

The fact you weren't arrested mitigates your situation somewhat. However a police officer probably has no way to know whether you are a law-abiding citizen or a hoodlum and their first concern should be protecting the public and protecting themselves.

I would move on and chalk it up to experience.

It certainly could have been much worse than it was.

Answer 9

I live in New Orleans, and it is not surprising what happened to you,considering the quality of people they have on the police force today. I live here all my life, and I am 59 years old, and the NOPD has gone to the dogs for about over a decade .

Answer 10

I wouldn't go so far as to say crooked but I understand you being upset about it. I'd be peeved myself. Sounds like a lack of training on their parts. Sorry, you had to go through this. Yes, it will be a long time before New Orleans returns to a state of normalcy.

Answer 11

You have learned a life lesson, congrats,1. To many drunks in one location can never be a good thing. 2. some life lessons can have a high price. be glad this was fairly inexpensive