Re: Questions answered here
Good questions everyone, hope we help with answers. And it took a lot longer than I thought it would but yes, I love doghnuts! We don't have any doghnut shops here, just the gas station excuses for doghnuts. Krispy Kream would have to be #1 though. The reason I think other than the typical stereotype is doghnut shops/coffee shops are usually open late and open early in the mornings. They are usually quiet places to take a break. It never fails when I try to pull over to eat lunch or take a break in my car something comes by, the coffee shop is about the only place I would be left alone for 10 minutes or so. At least where I used to work it was. Here I just hide in my office.<br />The refusal of a test, check your laws before refusing. In Nebraska the implied consent law states that everyone signing their license gives consent to be tested any time an officer asks. You are notified of this when you get your license. Refusal of a test carries the exact same penalty as DWI. By refusing, if you give enough indication of being drunk, you will be charged with both DWI and refusal. The DWI will be dismissed for lack of evidence, but the refusal will stick. That is a gimme conviction, and as I said carries the exact same as a DWI penalty. It hurts your insurance just as bad too. So In Nebraska it is better to take the test. Kind of gets you in a corner the way it is written. <br />On all my field sobriety tests I demonstrate each and every test and ask the driver if they ccan do the test. If for a legitimate reason they say they can't, I will never ask them to. The tests are very simple moves directed at dividing a subjects attention between 2 tasks such as stand on one foot and count. Most sober people can do that, but a drunk has a hard time with the two tasks at once. Then I look at two or more problems with the test. If they fail I demonstrate it again and ask them to do it again in case they just don't understand. I also do at least 3 tests. Failure of one is not a sign of being drunk. They must fail at least 2 of the 3 tests. I have also made it clear to all of the bartenders and most of our chronic drunks that if all else fails call me. I will give rides home no questions asked. I will also pick the drunk up a block from the bar if needed so his friends don't laugh at him! I do this about once a month on the average. As long as one person doesn't take advantage I am happy to do it.<br />I don't have a problem with concealed weapons. I figure if someone wants to shoot me, it won't be from that gun under his shirt, it will be the one in his hand when I approach the vehicle in the dark on a deserted highway.<br />The cop attitude is a double edge sword some of the time. We carry that attitude, at least I carry an attitude when on the job to protect myself. If I go into a situation or traffic stop whatever with an easy going attitude I set myself up. If I go in commanding control of the scene, then I discourage trouble before it starts. A lot of cops need to be able to evaluate the situatiuon as they go though. If I stop a vehicle I am on edge, at the top of my game so to speek. But then I find inside the vehicle is a family out for an evening, then I bring it down to a friendly level. In most cases though, fights...domestics...drug busts that sort of thing, we need to take charge and establish ourselves from the start. It is kind of like when you put dogs together, they have to show dominance. I have to calm it down in front of my family or else I would eat myself up and die early. I don't necessarily like acting like the bada$$, and can get relaxed when at home. I am lucky to work in a small community, I know everyone. Most of our calls are repeat visits, same people same problems. They all know my breaking point and will not push me. I get along good, and since I know them know what they are going through for the most part. But they respect me and know how far to push me. Now the tourists at the lake are different. They are away from home being stupid. I have no tolerance for most of them and show it when I contact them. I have to establish that I won't put up with any BS right from the start. Sometimes it makes me look like a butthead and causes more problems, but most of the time it establishes the pecking order from the start. Unfortunately there are a lot of cops, I personally know many, who think the uniform demands respect and will push people around to get respect. I don't like these offcicers. They are the ones that always get into fights and are hated by all. They give the rest of us a bad name. When I train a new officer I give them a speech. I tell them from the start to take charge but be friendly. Be professional at all times, but let loose and act like a human at the same time. If you have to fight, you win. Never back up from anyone for anything, you will never be able to go forward again. If you do need to fight, try to reason your way out. If this isn't possible, do what you have to do. If you kick someones butt, be nice about it, offer him help as soon as it is over. Only do what is necessary to subdue the person, then stop and be friendly. I also tell them to remember that they are never ever wrong. Even if we are wrong about something, we are still right. Never ever appoligize for anything. Even if we are wrong, but we can make no mistakes so we are not wrong. Appologizing says that we messed up and opens us up to all kinds of problems. Appologize for the situation or for what happened, but never for what we did. But if we are wrong don't be too proud to back down and give a little. Above all let the suspect keep his dignity, that may be all he has left in the world. Even if we kick his butt, let him lose with pride. This is an impossible task, but in time they learn how to do it.<br />Some shorter cops and female cops do have more attitude I think. They have to to make up for size. It's all about stayin alive in this game.<br />The beeter car or the classic nice car....depends on the offense. if they are both traveling at the same speed, I do what I usually do. I get ahead of the one in the rear, pull the first one over, step out and flag the second one over as well. If this is not possible, I try to get the easiest one to catch. That is a hard one. I like picking on the so called rich or high class people. I about lost my first position when I had a persuit with the mayor in his caddy. But then the beater might be a doper or a drunk. I have to say I usually take them both or take the easiest one to catch up to.<br />I am not sure what would define a speed trap. I park in places I can not be seen and run RADAR, but never just inside a change in speed zones. My idea of a speed trap is parking on the slow side of a speed reduction sign and getting those who aren't down to speed. I will never do that, it is unfair. I also tell my men to treat people the way you want to be treated. I would hate a cop doing that to me, so I never do that. I will hide, but only on the open highway. <br />Tickets and warnings are all up to the officer. We can do whatever we want, including reduce the speed amount to drop the fines. Some departments may have guidlines about when to write. I generaly go up to 10mph over gets a warning, all else gets a ticket. But I have my days when I am nice and everyone gets warned. I check my database and see if the driver has had a warning recently. Bottom line I follow is if I think a warning will get the driver to slow down, they get a warning. If I think they will ignore the warning, a ticket they will get. Mostly I make my decision based on the offense, and have the decision made before I stop them. This keeps me from writing tickets based on attitude. Sometimes the person who is acting like a a$$ will calm down with a warning. Mostly it is the level of offense. My job is to gain voluntary compliance with the law. WHatever it takes to do this, I will do.<br />I would much rather bust a pot head. They are usually so calm and mellow. I remember when I started bustin into a house with a warrant, aiming my gun at a pothead burnout and yelling at him to get on the floor. He looked at me and said hey man, what's going on? A few months ago I busted into a meth addicts house gun drawn with 12 other cops and yelled at this man to get on the floor. he looked right into my eyes and said make me. It took 4 of us to make him. We don't have a lot of crack here, mostly crystal meth. I do not drink out of my home. Whenever I do the rumors start. A few years ago I went to the bar for supper with my family. I drank Mountain Dew from the can during supper. I ssaw one man I arrested for DWI, he tried to start a fight. I ate, left and went home. Next day the sheriff got a phone call that I was under the table drunk, and drove home. The drunk that wanted to fight was not the one that made the call. Another time I went out and had 1 beer, I didn't even finish. Same thing! So I don't go to the bar. I won't even go out to eat unless I am far away from here. Everyone wants to stop and ask questions about a ticket, or a neighbors dog barking, or a car parked illegally on their street, something. They always wait until THEY are done with their meal then come over. If I am at a friends house, I will drive home after about 2 beers. Above that I won't drive. I only drink about a 6 pack a year at best, so I am a cheap drunk and know my limit. <br />HEHE, cops kids.....Mine are too young to tell.<br />Two of my friends lcoally have teenagers and are cops. Ones kids are terrors and will tell you to your face who they are. The other will never do anything because dad will kick their butt. Just depends on the kids. <br />Whew, my fingers hurt now. Hope all was answered. Keep them coming though, glad to offer answers.
<br /><br />Whats yer favorite flavor doughnut?.... 
