milskidasith: To carry around a tazer and pepper spray as a cop, do you really have to be tazed/pepper sprayed? It's a popular rumor around here.
Also, what's the most graphic sight you have seen as a cop?
Nearly every department makes you do that now-a-days. It's so your understand how it feels and don't go all willynilly with it. That being said, I'd rather be tased than pepper sprayed. Tazed it's like other than getting the hooks out once your tased it's over. The OC spray makes it look like you have two black eyes for like a good 24 hours later.
The most graphic? Assuming you mean gory, probably when they hauled a body out of a swimming pool, I was the lucky patrolman who was first on scene so I had to stay around while detectives did their thing. Here's what you don't know about bodies submerged in water, the skin if not handled properly slides off the body like soft putty, exposing all of what is underneath said skin. Also chlorine burns all the hair, lips, and the eyelids off of a body, turns the eyes to raisins, and makes the skin look semi-transparent.
Little confused on the question. If someone is trespassing on your property shooting them with a paintball gun, while really stupid (what if they have a REAL gun?) isn't illegal. You're looking more at civil problems than criminal.
If YOU'RE trespassing on someone elses property and shoot THEM with a paintball gun. The paintball gun itself could be... terroristic threats, 1st degree assault, attempted armed robbery. The thing is that if you have something that LOOKS like a weapon you can still get a weapon charge. (a toy gun, or putting your finger under your coat and pretending it's a gun) I couldn't even hazard to guess the sentencing, as sentencing in this country is made of many complex formulas and deals are made frequently that'd be more a question for an attorney.
Not to pre-incriminate myself for an offense I may or may not commit, but the reasons behind the paintball query is the number of bottle/trash picking hobos we get in my complex is astounding. Being I am in Canada, there must be a big difference in how we treat paintball versus how the US does, because I don't know much about the laws, but I know pointing a paintball marker at someone, whether or not you fire it, is a felony.
So my whole line of inquiry was regarding what potential punishment I would face should I paintball the trespassing hobos, and if charges were filed against me for the attack, would the hobo also be charged for his crimes (namely trespassing, invasion of privacy for going through our garbage, and possibly other minor offenses).
I would say if it's illegal to point the marker it's probably not real smart to fire the thing.
Well, in the united states it is perfectly legal to go through someone's garbage as something you were throwing out you can not reasonably expect a right to privacy. (fbi does it a lot) Violation of rights is also a civil issue, not criminal. I would call it first degree assault since you had to think "I'm going to shoot this guy" by going to get the gun, it shows forethought. Here that's I think 6months-3years if it's the first time. I think, like I said sentencing is insanely complex.
I suggest putting glue traps around the trash, hobos hate getting their feet sticky.
Is it legal to shoot someone who is trying to mug/rob/carjack you? Have assault weapons been banned or is there a special license you need to purchase/maintain one? Why are silencers banned? How many times can I shoot someone during a home invasion before its considered excessive?
(I live in Florida, we have a conceal and carry law.)
Can you recommend a good personal defense handgun?
Are police allowed to select their sidearm, or are they assigned one when they join the force? I ask because I have seen policemen with both revolvers and semi-automatic pistols.
I'll ask a question pertaining to corrections. Have you ever used the stun belt (electric shock belt) in your facilities? If so, did they make you "ride the lightening" before allowing you to use it on prisoners?
Also, a follow-up question to that. Do you participate in other team building exercises that might (in your mind) lessen the psychological trauma associated with the act of disciplining prisoners?
Have you ever seen guards talk about prisoners as if they were less than human?
In training I was shown how to use a beanbag gun and ball shooter (it shoots little balls full of tear gas or pepper spray) Those beanbag guns fucking hurt it's like getting a baseball lobbed at you.
Helnurath: Is it legal to shoot someone who is trying to mug/rob/carjack you? Have assault weapons been banned or is there a special license you need to purchase/maintain one? Why are silencers banned? How many times can I shoot someone during a home invasion before its considered excessive?
(I live in Florida, we have a conceal and carry law.)
Can you recommend a good personal defense handgun?
1. If you can prove your life is in danger. Yes. 2. They have not yet been banned, but a special federal license is needed. 3. Because there is little to no reason to have one unless you're going to do something illegal. If you're going to fire a gun scrupulously you shouldn't need a silencer. 4. There's no magic number saying "you shot him too many times." However in a civil trial when his family sues you for killing him, 2 bullets in his head vs. 20 can sway the decision of a judge. 5. Glocks with few metal parts don't rust and are easy to maintain.
sirdanrhodes: Ask a cop... hmm... better make the question count. Do you always smell bacon? Sorry, sorry, it was a poor taste crap joke.
Nope. I think some of us/them would be a lot more mellow if they did.
Sensenmann: If a guy is throwing punches and stopping like a few centimeters from my face, to intimidate me, is it legal to use self defense?
Yes, but only of equal force. Meaning you punch him, you don't pull out a gun and shoot him. However, in situations where there is a 'fight' (both people hit) you can BOTH end up in jail. The guy doing this to you could be charged with 'terroristic threats'
666thHeretic: Has anyone ever successfully gotten out of a ticket with that retarded "my taxes pay your salary" line? Are you permitted to be a dick when someone receiving a ticket is being needlessly hostile?
No... oddly enough the people that usually say that don't realize we can see if they are on a govt assistance program and often times... they were. A good officer will remain professional when someone is being verbally abusive, but there is a point where you can get another ticket for being nasty usually it falls under 'obstruction' in most cities/counties or a special local law.
i've heard of it happening once, the person in question decided to curse at the officer in Italian because the officer in question was blond haired blue eyed and didn't realize he was Italian but from the north. the officer handed him the ticket and when questioned said "i think you know and have a nice day" in Italian. the ticket was harassment of an officer
so my questions are this, what hand to hand/armed training did you receive? i know the guys behind ISR Matrix, if not might i suggest it to you guys
also since you are in prison anything similar to what happens in Oz happen there?
xitel: Are police allowed to select their sidearm, or are they assigned one when they join the force? I ask because I have seen policemen with both revolvers and semi-automatic pistols.
It simply depends on the department. More and more departments are NOT leaving the choice up to you. FOr example in mine. Anyone hired before a certain date could have any .38 caliber. But if you were hired after... 1999 I think you had to carry a glock. Its so old timers didn't have to change the gun they'd been using for 20 years but new guys would be standardized.
wilsonscrazybed: I'll ask a question pertaining to corrections. Have you ever used the stun belt (electric shock belt) in your facilities? If so, did they make you "ride the lightening" before allowing you to use it on prisoners? Also, a follow-up question to that. Do you participate in other team building exercises that might (in your mind) lessen the psychological trauma associated with the act of disciplining prisoners? Have you ever seen guards talk about prisoners as if they were less than human?
I this state no correctional facility uses stun belts; to easy to get sued. If we did have such a thing there's a pretty good chance that you would have to do that.
Sort of, however, physical violence is never used as discipline only to protect yourself and (more often) other inmates. They train us twice a year to use a mishmash martial art that is a very dumbed down judo with a few holds and strikes sprinkled in. Discipline is done by taking away privileges. Such as the privilege to watch TV the privilege to come out of your cell. The privilege to be able to flush your own toilet. Every single thing that you have in jail/prison except for your meals and clothing is a privilege and can be systematically taken away if you don't stay in line.
I work in a facility where the inmates are out in a commons area and you sit in there with them. (they are divided into groups of 32-64) This cuts back on the 'they're not people' mentality, since you sit in there with them all day. Usually if someone takes that attitude its temporary like when a group of 4 inmates are pissing you off you might complain to the other C/Os about how they're idiots.
The thing you have to remind yourself is that ANYONE can go to jail. We're all one bad decision away.
so my questions are this, what hand to hand/armed training did you receive? i know the guys behind ISR Matrix, if not might i suggest it to you guys also since you are in prison anything similar to what happens in Oz happen there?
They use their own thing on both the police and corrections, I am not real sure who developed it, it focuses mostly on holds and using minimal strikes. (As in one hit to knock them off balance than you grab them and hold them in a painful way)
Nope. Although I do tell people all the time that it's just like Oz, mostly to fuck with them. I actually answered a similar question like this previously on the first page :-) Post number 30
My roommate just told me to put on here my answer to her question as to the saddest thing I've seen:
I was on a d.a.r.e-like program for kids in 4th grade. For those not in the states; these type of programs are where cops come in and teach kids how to identify and stay away from drugs and sexual predators. (these programs have been proven to be only slightly effective so our department retooled it significantly)
We were going over alcohol abuse and the like. At the end the kids took simple tests. One of the questions was "What is an alcoholic?" the right answer for these 8-9 year olds was 'someone who uses alcohol as a drug not a drink' or something like that. One little boy wrote; "Someone who breaks promises" and there was a wrinkled spot on his paper like it got wet (from a teardrop I think). When I read that I seriously almost cried. A few weeks later this child was given to his grandparents.
did joing the police cause you to loose friends and did it make it hard to make friends outside of the force once in/ make people uncomfortable talking to you?
also if you have nerve damage that bad how do you game?
zirnitra: did joing the police cause you to loose friends and did it make it hard to make friends outside of the force once in/ make people uncomfortable talking to you? also if you have nerve damage that bad how do you game?
Most of my friends are law abiding as well so it was a non-issue. I know many officers, and I absolutly hate to say this but most of them are Black/African-American, who claimed to have that problem. I made a lot of friends in the department and still hang out with them, some topics you can only talk to other cops or C/Os about.
The damage is in my left wrist/hand and I've had Physical Therapy. At first it made it pretty fricken hard to do FPS's but i've gotten my game back with that. I still prefer console shooters for this reason, it's easier for me to use the D-Pad (just my thumb) as opposed to PC's (where i use most fingers too move). Before the damage the opposite was true.
Say I pass you while I'm walking or driving around, you're unoccupied and I am in no trouble whatsoever. How would you react to a pleasant greeting? Would it just be annoying?
I used to have a few friends that used to worked in the state correctional facility. When i talk to police officers that I catch in their squad car (or they catch me) it's been more or less a pleasant experience. My friends, on the other hand, believe all of humanity deserves nothing less than death. Why do you think there is such a huge difference in morale between the two, and can you give your own example to reference your explanation?
Helnurath: Is it legal to shoot someone who is trying to mug/rob/carjack you?
1. If you can prove your life is in danger. Yes.
This is very much American law only. Canadian law, even if the person attacking you is armed with his own gun, it is totally illegal for you to shoot an attacker even in self defense. Yes, they would consider the robbery/assault/attempted-murder as mitigating circumstances and thus reduce charges on you, but Canadians do not have legal right to defend themselves. One of the few things making me want to move.
Helnurath: Is it legal to shoot someone who is trying to mug/rob/carjack you?
1. If you can prove your life is in danger. Yes.
This is very much American law only. Canadian law, even if the person attacking you is armed with his own gun, it is totally illegal for you to shoot an attacker even in self defense. Yes, they would consider the robbery/assault/attempted-murder as mitigating circumstances and thus reduce charges on you, but Canadians do not have legal right to defend themselves. One of the few things making me want to move.
Really? I heard something that was pretty much the opposite. In one Canadian province (no idea which it is, I think it was one of the French ones) it's illegal to not intervene if you see someone being assaulted, if you can be proven to have been there. No idea about the validity of that or not, but I found it very interesting.
Graustein: Really? I heard something that was pretty much the opposite. In one Canadian province (no idea which it is, I think it was one of the French ones) it's illegal to not intervene if you see someone being assaulted, if you can be proven to have been there. No idea about the validity of that or not, but I found it very interesting.
Sorry, I should have clarified... Use of any weapon, from a pocket knife to a firearm, is not legal in self defense. You can and will be charged if you defend yourself in this manner, even if the attacker himself was armed. Unarmed defense is legal, making martial arts training pretty damn important. But if you seriously injure the assailant, depending on the circumstances, you can still face charges or a lawsuit. But, so long as it was unarmed defense, anything short of crippling or killing the person, often the lawsuit is tossed out once it reaches the courts.
Graustein: Really? I heard something that was pretty much the opposite. In one Canadian province (no idea which it is, I think it was one of the French ones) it's illegal to not intervene if you see someone being assaulted, if you can be proven to have been there. No idea about the validity of that or not, but I found it very interesting.
Sorry, I should have clarified... Use of any weapon, from a pocket knife to a firearm, is not legal in self defense. You can and will be charged if you defend yourself in this manner, even if the attacker himself was armed. Unarmed defense is legal, making martial arts training pretty damn important. But if you seriously injure the assailant, depending on the circumstances, you can still face charges or a lawsuit. But, so long as it was unarmed defense, anything short of crippling or killing the person, often the lawsuit is tossed out once it reaches the courts.
Right, that does make sense. But still, any comment on the "you must help" rumour?
A few questions for our police and corrections' officer friend.
Self-defense within one's own home, especially pertaining to non-lethal but injury-causing attacks. Let's assume the hypothetical could be: My home is broken into late at night. Hearing the window broken into, I call the police and inform the police my home is being broken into. Before the police arrive, a robber confronts me while brandishing a knife. (Logically, this would never happen.) Assuming I manage to disarm the robber, and I managed to greatly injure his attacking wrist (perhaps even breaking it), could I be charged with assault, or does that fall within self-defense?
Second (several smaller) question(s), and these are a lot more personal: 1. How much over the speed limit must a person be driving before you, or any officers you know, pull them over? 2. When pulling someone over for any traffic-related offense, what's the short of what you could ideally expect from the person you have pulled over? I'd imagine things like turning on the in-car lights, keeping your hands on the upper-steering wheel (or, at the least, plainly visible). Are there any things you like to see/hear? Honest explanations? Do you like for them to have their Liscense/Insurance out and ready (even if it means digging around the car before you arrive at the window), or waiting until you can see what they are reaching for? 3. Like you've been asked, are there any just friends gestures you, or other officers, like to receive? Waves of hello, genuine pleasant remarks? Things of the like? Or should you usually just leave them to what they were doing?
meatloaf231: Say I pass you while I'm walking or driving around, you're unoccupied and I am in no trouble whatsoever. How would you react to a pleasant greeting? Would it just be annoying?
I would likely react pleasantly as would most law enforcement officials.
SecretTacoNinja: (If at all) How many times have you been injured/attacked on the job?
If you mean slightly injured I couldn't even hazard a guess at either one. Severely, only once, sort of, as mentioned in the original post though I was off duty but acting dutifully, a young woman at a party I was at was being raped in a bathroom I entered identified myself as a law enforcement official, but the suspect had a knife and jammed the knife through my wrist (it came out the other side) causing permanent nerve damage. The fight was a bit of a blur... Don't worry though he lost his left eye and his face looks like a jigsaw puzzle now. To make it clear I was about 8 inches taller than this guy. (I'm 6'6") Oh and he is spending 35-70 years in prison. His stupid ass refused to plea out so he got hit hard; he accused me of brutality he thought that would get him off. I was not charged with that. He was charged with sexual assault in the 1st, attempted murder in the 2nd x2, assault in the 1st , use of a weapon to commit a felony x5 and obstruction of justice. He was sentenced consecutively. (Meaning when he's done serving time for one crime he starts his time for the next, rather than serving them all at once. He also owes me a great deal of money, but I know I'm not seeing it. I would say a police officer is more likely to be injured severely where as a corrections officer will suffer a great deal more very minor injuries (a bruise on your hip)
sequio: I used to have a few friends that used to worked in the state correctional facility. When i talk to police officers that I catch in their squad car (or they catch me) it's been more or less a pleasant experience. My friends, on the other hand, believe all of humanity deserves nothing less than death. Why do you think there is such a huge difference in morale between the two, and can you give your own example to reference your explanation?
Cops see the good and the bad, they see nice folks, some people thank them and they see nasty folk. C/Os especially those at a prison, pretty much see only the bad, everyone they meet has committed crimes and usually criminals are less than pleasant people to be around. Many are aggressive, loud, smelly, or batshit insane. It could wear on your faith in mankind to see and hear the horrible things people do to each other on a daily basis.
NewClassic: A few questions for our police and corrections' officer friend.
Self-defense within one's own home, especially pertaining to non-lethal but injury-causing attacks. Let's assume the hypothetical could be: My home is broken into late at night. Hearing the window broken into, I call the police and inform the police my home is being broken into. Before the police arrive, a robber confronts me while brandishing a knife. (Logically, this would never happen.) Assuming I manage to disarm the robber, and I managed to greatly injure his attacking wrist (perhaps even breaking it), could I be charged with assault, or does that fall within self-defense?
Second (several smaller) question(s), and these are a lot more personal: 1. How much over the speed limit must a person be driving before you, or any officers you know, pull them over? 2. When pulling someone over for any traffic-related offense, what's the short of what you could ideally expect from the person you have pulled over? I'd imagine things like turning on the in-car lights, keeping your hands on the upper-steering wheel (or, at the least, plainly visible). Are there any things you like to see/hear? Honest explanations? Do you like for them to have their Liscense/Insurance out and ready (even if it means digging around the car before you arrive at the window), or waiting until you can see what they are reaching for? 3. Like you've been asked, are there any just friends gestures you, or other officers, like to receive? Waves of hello, genuine pleasant remarks? Things of the like? Or should you usually just leave them to what they were doing?
1. Depends on the circumstances, on the interstate in this state it's widely excepted you can go about 10mph over. But in a residential area I will pull you over if you're going as little as 3 or 4 over. (Really 25mph is plenty in a residential) 2. Hands visible makes an officer less nervous, sometimes, rarely, we don't even ask for the L&R so always wait until we ask. Every time you see people rooting around before you get up there you get a little tense. Traffic stops and domestics are the most likely time for an officer to be seriously hurt. Honesty is nice but if you're speeding for anything less than "My wife is in labor!" (and is IN the car) expect a ticket from most. Being called Sir or Officer is much better than "S'up brah?!" 3. Generally if you'd like someone to do it to you, you can assume an officer (who is a person) would like the same. Most cops like it when people are pleasant to them because most people are not happy to see them so it's nice when someone is.
If you mean the 'taking back the community' type programs were a group of citizens (usually 10-20) walk around their neighborhood to notify the police of suspicious activity than, thumb up.
If you mean 'the boondock saints' or 'batman' that is dangerous, and what if your wrong? It's always shown how the bad guy in unequivocally and obviously guilty in those films. But real life is not like that, you can only know what you see yourself. I made good friends (and still am) with a couple detectives and even they will admit now and than you think it's absolutely one guy that did it, you're sure, you have proof, he 'doesn't remember where he was'. It's a slam dunk. Than something happens there is footage of him at a seven eleven 8 miles away when the shots fired call happens. Now, if you acted as a vigilante and killed his ass, you would be taking an innocent man. In our system you are innocent until proven guilty. Vigilantes take that away. I completely believe in the 'I'd rather 1000 guilty men go free..." thing. But I'm a boy scout, most cops definitely believe more in the "There is no innocence only varying degrees of guilt." (Dawn of war is awesome!)
Anyways, have you ever had a relative that was arrested and they tried to talk their way out by saying something like "Hey, it's okay, I'm related to a cop, could you ask him to let me out?"
Have you ever let someone get away with something when they should have gotten a ticket or possibly even worse, and what sort of excuse could they give which would make you do that?
mydogisblue: I like this thread, very interesting.
Anyways, have you ever had a relative that was arrested and they tried to talk their way out by saying something like "Hey, it's okay, I'm related to a cop, could you ask him to let me out?"
My older brother is actually still an officer on the same department, and I have an uncle who is a 25 year veteran in a neighboring community. That being said If anyone has ever used that excuse I've not heard about it. And if they did I'd be pissed... don't go throwing my name around to save your dumb ass. I think if I had kids, I might sing a different tune... I'd like to think I wouldn't, but I know I would.
ElephantGuts: Have you ever let someone get away with something when they should have gotten a ticket or possibly even worse, and what sort of excuse could they give which would make you do that?
Many Questions in this vein seem to be of great interest here at the escapist. :) I have more than a few times just given a warning when I could've given a ticket. Usually if they were only going 5 over on the interstate or something like that (Not residential areas, there is no reason to speed in an area where children play). What caused me to do that? Usually they were very polite, admitted to fault, and I was hungry, tired or like 2 seconds before I got out of the car dispatch called me to do something important... so I get out and BS my way though the stop; because a burglary in progress is more important than some guy doing 71 in a 65 zone. As for an excuse the only one I can think of is "She's in labor" and you point to the woman in labor. In which case you'd be getting an escort to the hospital so don't think driving around with a pregnant woman is gonna help you there either.... Unless you're going to the hospital.
Oh and having one of those 'cop detector' radars (which are illegal and most of them don't work it seems) is a good way to get a ticket that takes 20 minutes to write up.
Oh and having one of those 'cop detector' radars (which are illegal and most of them don't work it seems) is a good way to get a ticket that takes 20 minutes to write up.
Yeah and useless where I live as all police/sheriffs have the instant on radar/lazer that can tag you even when driving the other way(which I never understood how that works)
Anyways another question. Can a cop write a ticket in another county? reason I ask was I was doing way over the limit, got pulled over but i pulled over right past the next county line, and didn't get a ticket or even a warning.
Random question, ever bust someone for making out/having sex in public/car? The police always spotlight people at our parks or in cars I was just curious if there was a law against it.
Nearly every department makes you do that now-a-days. It's so your understand how it feels and don't go all willynilly with it. That being said, I'd rather be tased than pepper sprayed. Tazed it's like other than getting the hooks out once your tased it's over. The OC spray makes it look like you have two black eyes for like a good 24 hours later.
The most graphic?
Assuming you mean gory, probably when they hauled a body out of a swimming pool, I was the lucky patrolman who was first on scene so I had to stay around while detectives did their thing.
Here's what you don't know about bodies submerged in water, the skin if not handled properly slides off the body like soft putty, exposing all of what is underneath said skin. Also chlorine burns all the hair, lips, and the eyelids off of a body, turns the eyes to raisins, and makes the skin look semi-transparent.
I would say if it's illegal to point the marker it's probably not real smart to fire the thing.
Well, in the united states it is perfectly legal to go through someone's garbage as something you were throwing out you can not reasonably expect a right to privacy. (fbi does it a lot) Violation of rights is also a civil issue, not criminal. I would call it first degree assault since you had to think "I'm going to shoot this guy" by going to get the gun, it shows forethought. Here that's I think 6months-3years if it's the first time. I think, like I said sentencing is insanely complex.
I suggest putting glue traps around the trash, hobos hate getting their feet sticky.