If you ask someone if they are a Cop or affiliated with law enforcement do they really have to tell you? What about undercover officers and agents in the FBI, DEA, & CIA?
2007-04-20 08:06:05 · 30 answers · asked by Bizzy Da Bird 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
If you ask someone if they are a Cop or affiliated with law enforcement do they really have to tell you? What about undercover officers and agents in the FBI, DEA, & CIA?
--With the age old question where you ask "are you in any way affiliated with the enforcement of the law..." Are there any loop-holes with all the New & current U.S laws, when they HAVE TO identify themselves?
-Also, if their is an official question, does anyone know what it is, in its entirety?
2007-04-21 01:14:13 · update #1
If they are undercover, no. If they are arresting you, or giving you an order, yes.
2007-04-20 08:08:41 · answer #1 · answered by MOM KNOWS EVERYTHING 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Can I just make this really easy for everyone? No matter how you word it, or what you say, or when you say it, any law enforcement agent/officer DOES NOT have to tell you anything. Reasons being it could put an ongoing investigation at risk, risk the lives of fellow officers, get that officer hurt, or killed. The only time you have to identify yourself as a police officer is when making an arrest, entering a home, suspicious building, etc.. This has nothing to do with entrapment people. Now if you actually need help, and are in danger, and you call out for a police officer, even if one is off duty, he or she must offer assistance to anyone in need, unless doing so puts the officer at greater risk of injury death, then its up to the individual.
-Police Commander, 33 years with the dept and counting. Active duty, UCO;SWAT
2014-03-13 05:12:52 · answer #2 · answered by John S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the course of duties investigating crimes officers are not required to be 100% honest. That doesn't mean that we can tell you if you give us information on your dealer that we'll get your charges reduced but it allows us the ability to reasonably gain the trust of criminals to be able to arrest them for their crimes.
ON A SIDE NOTE
Entrapment- for the love of god read this and understand it, nothing is worse than not understanding what it means.
Entrapment as an example: You're 19yrs old, as a police officer I come up to you and hand you a case of beer and say go ahead and drink up. You crack a beer and drink it, then I arrest you for underage consumption/possession of alcohol. THAT is entrapment. Entrapment is NOT when someone makes the choice to commit a crime, ie picking up a hooker, buying drugs, etc.
2007-04-20 21:18:57 · answer #3 · answered by Officer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IN THE USA.....
Law Enforcement officers do not have to identify themselves when working undercover. Plain and simple, the end. Anything else would be plain dumb.
If I'm at a club/bar/grocery store/theater/etc and someone walks up and says "Hey, aren't you a cop?" I do not have to say yes. I never do.
PLEASE READ....
I truly can't believe the ignorance I see in these answers.
If you're going to answer someones question, please have a clue. At the very least, preface you answer with something like " I'm not certain but... "
2007-04-20 17:15:09 · answer #4 · answered by California Street Cop 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No.Watch "Cops". They pick up hookers and johns all the time who ask the cops if they are police. They always say "no" and then arrest them.
The cops used to have to tell you, but not any more. A male officer can even "feel-up" a suspected hooker, to prove that he's not a cop, without getting into trouble.
2007-04-20 16:22:03 · answer #5 · answered by Pervtor of Pervatia 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You should if you aren't a criminal, aren't involved in any criminal activity, and ask to see a shield or some identification, I don't care what anybody says.
And LOOK at it.
It's relatively easy for criminals to get one or have a fake made up. Many of them actually are given authority to carry a badge.
They're cops and etc. Not some effolgence of glory and have to abide by the law. Like anybody else.
2007-04-20 15:11:19 · answer #6 · answered by vanamont7 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No law enforcement agent needs to tell anyone anything until they exercise their authority. Then they absolutely need to identify themselves.
2007-04-20 15:17:58 · answer #7 · answered by Judge Dredd 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, only if they are serving a warrant or making an arrest. If they are working undercover, buy/bust, prostitution, or other sting operation, no they do not have to tell you.
2007-04-20 15:12:43 · answer #8 · answered by bigmikejones 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That is the dumbest urban legend ever invented. Of course they don't have to tell you. I have heard that line so many times, I love dumb pot heads would always ask "Are you a cop, you know you have to tell me." No they don't
2007-04-20 15:11:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hi, I'm here to buy drugs, heard you might be able to help me out.
First I have to ask, are you a cop?
Well, yes, but still sell to me because I want to arrest you, okay?
2007-04-20 15:25:23 · answer #10 · answered by oklatom 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sharon's answer up there above mine is wrong.
In Canada we do NOT have to identify ourselves as police officers if we don't want to and neither do undercover officers.
2007-04-20 15:12:25 · answer #11 · answered by joeanonymous 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋