PoliceLink

I recently responded to a post here on this topic to another poster and I would like to hear what other LEO's takes are on this topic and quote that I got with relation to LEO speeding on highways.  the comment and the quote are below.  This was in relation to giving warnings to LEO's with regard to noncriminal offences committed by LEO's.

lynettesman says ...

I don't have a problem with giving warnings. however i was talking with a local cop I know. In asking him why I have seen him doing well above the limit (20-30) his response was because I can. Is that not the very attitude that leads to other activity that our boys in blue are eventually going to have to deal with.

 

MY RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE COMMENT:

In my opinion that is just taking advantage of your position.  Those are the LEO's that have a hard time getting personal respect.  I am not saying that we don't respect the badge just the person.   The way I look at it  How can you be expected to enforce a law and have respect while doing it if you are breaking the one law that you are trying to enforce.  

MY ADDITIONAL QUOTE :

 OH!  by the way I asked that same question to a trooper here in my state and he told me  and I quote. " How do you know that we are not responding to an emergency.  A lot of the time we do not put on our lights or sirens because it only causes more problems.  When people see lights or here a siren they start acting stupid and panic and they  just get in our way.  If traffic is light we try not to use them.  Our visual markings usually get people out of the way and it causes less chaos."   Interesting thought isn't it.

Trooper is a title which is a proper noun and therefore capitalized.

KSP494

Forums Moderator

rsteade says ...

What's your point?

 

My point is generally.  What gives police the right to break the laws and enforce them at the same time.  You wonder why you don't get the respect you deserve when we witness you breaking the laws that you are trying to enforce.   The second part is just an quote.  My original quote and comment are the real issue at hand. 

Sarge624 says ...

dnldcart says ...

rsteade says ...

What's your point?

 

My point is generally.  What gives police the right to break the laws and enforce them at the same time.  You wonder why you don't get the respect you deserve when we witness you breaking the laws that you are trying to enforce.   The second part is just an quote.  My original quote and comment are the real issue at hand. 

 

When you witness us breaking the law????  How do YOU know what we are doing or what we were just dispatched to.  It could be YOUR house that a neighbor called us to say that someone was crawling through a window and we are trying to get there but at the same time use good tactics.  Do WE come to your job and tell you how to do YOUR job??? 

Point taken I stand corrected.  and to answer your last question.  YES  but that is your job as well  I am a security officer.    I mean no offence to the question I just wanted to see if there was any BS or sarcasm  in the troops response to me

Probably the wrong forum to ask this question... perhaps the ACLU site would be better

We get trained to drive fast, we get insurance to drive fast, we get held to professional standards when driving fast, we can be disciplined for driving fast.. and fired...if we do it unecessarily... howver .. a guiding principle is that the law allows us to violate the vehicle code when acting with due regard for the safety of others.. E plates and red lights

and all you get is a ticket... seems pretty minor in comparison

As stated,, are you the judge of "unecessary"....  no.. thank fully its in a policy and procedures manual in generalized terms.. which is open to the officers reasonable interpretaion

Try a ride along with your local department.. by the end of the night you'll be saying.. "damn that guy is stupid.. go get him"

Confucious say....Walk a mile before you exercise your mouth...

Right on Notmeofficer.

CIDNate says ...

Topic title and post seems argumentative and bias.  Smells fishy....

Not argumentative just inquisitive.  I expected a general response to be negative and prosecuting   I am not trying to promote any vicious attack or anything. 

CIDNate says ...

dnldcart says ...

CIDNate says ...

Topic title and post seems argumentative and bias.  Smells fishy....

Not argumentative just inquisitive.  I expected a general response to be negative and prosecuting   I am not trying to promote any vicious attack or anything. 

This "general" question has been asked and discussed multiple times.  I'd bet you have recently been ticketed or at least stopped for speeding and now have a bone to pick. 

 

No I haven't.  I have a perfect record with DMV  I was just quoting what I thought was a sarcastic remark made by a trooper.  From what I am reading here there probably was some sarcasm in his response but I except it as a point well taken.  I meant no offense by the post.  The moderator can pull it if the LEO's here feel it is inappropriate or causes to much friction.  

lynettesman says ...

I for one do not appreciate my comment being removed from the thread and the context where it was posted. dnldcart you should be aware of such things. Post your comment ask your question but allow me to speak for my self.

The officer I refereed to was a friend who I saw speeding of duty. The convo was over beers just kicking back. I don't like seeing cops speeding off duty especially with their family in the cruiser. The thread I posted this in was about officers giving officers breaks. And I posted my comment in the light of that thread.

Sir, I have been looking at the threads you are digging up, and I am thinking you are a might bit suspicious and pretencious. Please abstain from posting others comments in threads they were not intended for.

 

My apologies it wont happen again.  I meant no offense or misrepresentation.  This is my last post on the forum

" OH!  by the way I asked that same question to a trooper here in my state and he told me  and I quote. " How do you know that we are not responding to an emergency.  A lot of the time we do not put on our lights or sirens because it only causes more problems.  When people see lights or here a siren they start acting stupid and panic and they  just get in our way.  If traffic is light we try not to use them.  Our visual markings usually get people out of the way and it causes less chaos."   Interesting thought isn't it."

Amazing.  I was a Trooper for 35 years, not in your state, and these words are almost verbatum to responses I have given.  The part I left out was, "there is enough danger in this job as it is, without being stupid and driving 20-30 mph over the speed limit for no reason, endangering other people for nothing, and leaving yourself and Dept in danger of a law suit."

I have seen the reactions, more times than I cared  to, of people all of a sudden awaken from their daydreaming, or talking on their cell phones to realize there's a police car behind them with siren and lights on, they panic, slam on brakes, or look in the mirror and throw both hands up in the air like What? or Who me?

Contrary to popular belief, most police officers get to drive fast enough when required, they don't get out there and do it just for fun.  All of us have had the unattentive "innocent" driver pull out from a side street as we approach, even with lights and siren on, and putter up the road at 5 mph.  The other thing is, as a Trooper, I covered two and three counties sometimes, and it never failed that if you get to the far end of one county, the call is going to be as far towards the other end as it can be. People expect us as LEO's to appear within 5 minutes of something happening, or the famous where's the cop when you need one pops out. But let is try to hurry and get there, and we're critized too. There's no happy medium.  People just need to realize response is part of our job, we pick and choose how we do it, within guidelines and laws.

Police are always under a microscope. Since we are here to enforce the laws we better damn well not break any. We are well aware of this. There are situations that requires an officer to put some lead on the floor to a response without lights and sirens such as a burglary in progress and the like. It is done so we do not give ourselves away. Since most officers work a minimum of at least 8 hrs. per shift I could not imagine why anyone would be just "speeding" without a justified reason. If someone questions an officers actions, why should he explain him/herself to anyone except a supervisor. This would result in an answer you probalbly would not like. If you lose respect for me due to the answer given during during an interrogation my feelings will not be hurt. If you witness an act which you feel is not justified then you can make a complaint with the department Chief.

dnldcart says ...

I recently responded to a post here on this topic to another poster and I would like to hear what other LEO's takes are on this topic and quote that I got with relation to LEO speeding on highways.  the comment and the quote are below.  This was in relation to giving warnings to LEO's with regard to noncriminal offences committed by LEO's.

 

lynettesman says ...

 

I don't have a problem with giving warnings. however i was talking with a local cop I know. In asking him why I have seen him doing well above the limit (20-30) his response was because I can. Is that not the very attitude that leads to other activity that our boys in blue are eventually going to have to deal with.

 

MY RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE COMMENT:

 

In my opinion that is just taking advantage of your position.  Those are the LEO's that have a hard time getting personal respect.  I am not saying that we don't respect the badge just the person.   The way I look at it  How can you be expected to enforce a law and have respect while doing it if you are breaking the one law that you are trying to enforce.  

MY ADDITIONAL QUOTE :

 

 OH!  by the way I asked that same question to a trooper here in my state and he told me  and I quote. " How do you know that we are not responding to an emergency.  A lot of the time we do not put on our lights or sirens because it only causes more problems.  When people see lights or here a siren they start acting stupid and panic and they  just get in our way.  If traffic is light we try not to use them.  Our visual markings usually get people out of the way and it causes less chaos."   Interesting thought isn't it.

 

 

dnldcrt, your post is offensive, and boarderline anti law enforcement which is one of the rules on this site. If you came to this site to bash LEOs I suggest you find another site to vent frustration. I will tell you what gives me the right to break the law. Go to your search engine and type in,"Choice of evils doctrine." You are in private security, why don't you talk about all the laws security officers break? Let'stalk about all the SG's impersonating police or something like that.

In regards to the first post I would say you can not judge all police by the actions of one, no more than you can judge all doctors, all teachers etc...etc...

In regards to the second I can relate very well. Not only is it good habit but it is our policy to turn of the siren at a certain point when responding to domestics, alarms, etc...etc... so as not to alert them that you are there and have them flee. Lights and sirens don't "allow" me to exceeed the speed limit, I already have that authority by law when responding to emergency calls. Lights and sirens just assist me in clearing a path and as the Trooper stated a lot of times with lights and siren activated people don't know what to do and end up getting in your way and slowing you down. On limited access highways (interstates, parkways) the left lane is usually referred to as the passing lane and you are to stay to the right unless passing. The left lane is for emergency vehicles.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: When an emergency vehicle does approach from either the front or the rear people are to IMMEDIATELY move as far to the RIGHT side of the road as possible and STOP not keep driving and slow down, not move to the left. BUT do NOT stop in a blind curve or on a hill. What if we were going to your house to save someones life and you got in our way.