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Police Harassment

nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
edited September 2002 in General Discussion
This is taken from a "Community Policing" question and answer via e-mail forum in California:

The question is:

I would like to know how it is possible for police officers to harass people and get away with it?

And the reply from a really cool cop was:

It is not easy. In California we average one cop for every 2000 people.

About 60% of those cops are on patrol, where we do most of the harassing.

One-fifth of that 60% are on duty at any moment and available for harassing people. So, one cop is responsible for harassing about 10,000 residents.

When you toss in the commercial, business, and tourist locations that
attract people from other areas, sometimes you have a situation where a single cop is responsible for harassing 20k or more people a day. A ten-hour shift runs 36,000 seconds. This gives a cop one second to harass a person, and three-fourths of a second to eat a donut AND find a new person to harass.

This is not an easy task. Most cops are not up to it day in and day out. It is just too tiring. What we do is utilize some tools to help us narrow down those which we harass. They are as follows:

PHONE:

People will call us up and point out things that cause us to focus on a person for special harassment. "My neighbor is beating his wife," is a code phrase we use. Then we come out and give special harassment.

Another popular one on a week night is, "The kids next door are having a party."

CARS:

We have special cops assigned to harass people who drive. They like to harass the drivers of fast cars, cars blasting music, cars with expired registration stickers and the like. It is lots of fun when you pick them out of traffic for nothing more obvious than running a red light.

Sometimes you get to really heap the harassment on when you find they have drugs in the car, are drunk, or have a warrant.

RUNNERS:

Some people take off running just at the sight of a police officer.

Nothing is quite as satisfying as running after them like a beagle on the scent of a bunny. When you catch them you can harass them for hours.

CODES:

When you can think of nothing else to do, there are books that give ideas for reasons to harass folks. They are called Codes. Penal, Vehicle, Health and Safety, Business and Professions... They all spell out all sorts of things for which you can really mess with people.

After you read the code, you can just drive around for a while until you find someone violating one of these listed offenses and harass them.

Just last week I saw a guy smash a car window. Well, the code says that is not allowed. That meant I got to harass this guy.

It is a pretty cool system that we have set up, and it works pretty well. I seem to have a never-ending supply of folks to harass. And we get away with it because the good citizens who pay the tab like that we keep the streets safe for them.

Next time you are in my town, give me a single finger wave. That is a signal that you wish for me to take a little closer look at you, and maybe find a reason to harass you.

Looking forward to meeting you.


SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net
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Comments

  • lokdok1lokdok1 Member Posts: 383 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    That's excellent!

    Bartman
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  • wipalawipala Member Posts: 11,067
    edited November -1
    No Saxon the universal code requesting harassment is to weave from side to side while walking or driving and answering L.E.O. questions in a slurred loud and beligerant voice.

    Remember here at DeeDee"s If we can't kill it, it's immortal
    D.D.Snavely
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Or running out in the middle of the road starke neckade with a tinfoil cap on your head yelling "The aliens are comming, the aliens are comming."

    Hey it really happened.

    If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.

    The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !
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  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    In my experience, the only people to be harassed by police were the ones who were harassing the policeman first. I did get pulled over by a policeman once and when he approached me, he was short and blunt. I told him I could see that he was having a bad night, and I assured him he wouldn't have any trouble from me. You should have seen the look on his face. He took a deep breath, and immediatly appoligized. He told me he had just issued a ticket to and irrate drive who had questioned his family heritage. I smiled, he smiled back, then told me to slow down and continue on my way. I think we sometimes forget that these guys are human beings with a family just like us.

    Ain't that right, David.

    Save, research, then buy the best.Join the NRA, NOW!Teach them young, teach them safe, teach them forever, but most of all, teach them to VOTE!
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  • LightningLightning Member Posts: 945 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    dheffley,
    To quote you.
    In my experience, the only people to be harassed by police were the ones who were harassing the policeman first.


    Dont know where you live but if you was in my neck of the woods you couldnt truthfully say that.
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  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    lightning,

    Sorry to hear that. I do know there are some bad cops, I just haven't been the one to run into them. I'm sorry to hear you have. Good luck, I hope you meet only the good ones in your future.

    Save, research, then buy the best.Join the NRA, NOW!Teach them young, teach them safe, teach them forever, but most of all, teach them to VOTE!
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  • nitrouznitrouz Member Posts: 1,820 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I got harrassed once. Got pulled over for doing 57 in a 35. The cop saw my military id and we chatted and he said I'll let you off this time and went back to his cruiser with my license.
    When he came back he had one hand on his pistol in holster shaking like a leaf as he handed me my drivers license. He then proceeded to issue me my ticket.
    I bet they have a illegal database logging all my weapon purchases. If they did he must of been ready to fill his pants with doo-doo.
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  • REBJrREBJr Member Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I personally don't think that cops ane good or bad, I believe that it's the entire dept. a good cop in a bad dept won't be there long, or will join the crowd. my op is it boild down to the cheif/sherriff whatever.
    any thoughts, David? -Ralph

    Nothing very, very good or very, very bad lasts for very, very long.
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  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
    If you have a bad police agency in your locality, you and your fellow citizens deserve it.

    People are the ultimate bosses, and people get the sort of law enforcement they are willing to tolerate. You don't have to tolerate poor service, whether from a police agency or a fast food restaurant.

    But all too often, we take it and go on.

    SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net
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  • njretcopnjretcop Member Posts: 7,975
    edited November -1
    There's a new definition of police harrassment........getting a ticket for driving 22mph over the speed limit. Sheeez!

    Charlie

    "It's the stuff dreams are made of Angel"NRA Certified Firearms InstructorMember: GOA, RKBA, NJSPBA, NJ area rep for the 2ndAMPD. njretcop@copmail.com
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  • REBJrREBJr Member Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Nunn- maybe something you didn't know- around here police cheifs are appointed, not elected- thereby- the people have no say, and are railroaded into accepting this poor service, maybe it's all flowers and butterflies where you are, but here in the real world, things work a little differently.-Ralph

    Nothing very, very good or very, very bad lasts for very, very long.
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  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
    Police chiefs are generally appointed...by an elected official or a board of elected officials.

    My position is the same. Most people get the sort of service they are willing to accept.

    If you don't like things the way they are, use the system to make changes.

    SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net
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  • REBJrREBJr Member Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Mr. Nunn:
    BTW- did you poof the other 'cop' thread? I can't find it, and it was just getting good, people were starting to discuss a subject, instead of just blindly agreeing to everything, go figure!-Ralph

    Nothing very, very good or very, very bad lasts for very, very long.
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  • CWatsonCWatson Member Posts: 964 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    REBjr got it right.I posted earlier about the lack of "cop-eration"when I needed it from the LAPD.I also stated the professionalism I have seen from the CHP and LA County Sheriffs.I surprises me that Nunn would post such a unlevel headed response.I live in Los Angeles were the chief is chosen by the police commission.That chief is chosen for political reasons too,not for the record breaking record he/she had as a beat cop.Really?"you and your fellow citizens deserve it",you need to live in a real city,pay you taxes,work to support your family,vote,and try to convince other cops that other cops are lazy or bad(oh yeah we deserve it!),and you overthrow the entire political system and then get the police dept we deserve,maybe?CW

    1.A near miss is still a miss!
    2.Before I got married I spent half my money on women and guns,THE REST I WASTED!
    3.Wasn't me!
    4.KILL EM' ALL AND LET ALLAH SORT EM' OUT!
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  • mkirklandmkirkland Member Posts: 1,040 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Very valid point Blade! Nice analogy.
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  • CWatsonCWatson Member Posts: 964 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Blade you did make a good point,and that is exactly what many do want.In the examples I gave, and many I feel would agree is this,I don't need Dirty Harry or anyone else running to my aid but sometimes you have to call LE just to protect yourself from liability.If the thread was not "Poofed" (why?)I would tell you please check it out.When they do show up you expect them to make basic attempt to do something.I would like it if Barny Miller showed up,but I kept getting the keystone cops.I may sound like I am anticop in this post,I am not there is good,bad,and worse everywere and in everything.I was simply stating my own encounters with LE.I think most police dept are understaffed and also following the wrong agenda.Political agendas are what starts all police reform,not ways of lowering crime.

    1.A near miss is still a miss!
    2.Before I got married I spent half my money on women and guns,THE REST I WASTED!
    3.Wasn't me!
    4.KILL EM' ALL AND LET ALLAH SORT EM' OUT!
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  • REBJrREBJr Member Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ********POOF***********!!!!!

    Nothing very, very good or very, very bad lasts for very, very long.
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  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,092 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    REBJr: You are a cop hater, and you have shown it in several posts. So why don't you just fess up and let everyone go about their business?

    "If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there."
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
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  • The firearms consultantThe firearms consultant Member Posts: 716 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    And here I thought every day for an officer was like "Training Day".
    John

    I might not always tell you the truth, but I will never lie to you!
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  • dads-freeholddads-freehold Member Posts: 1,361 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    greetings, to alpine ibelieve you mistake rebj's frustration with the inaffectiveness of the police he has dealt with as hate, not nessisarily the same thing. as a peace officer he is to be objective in his approach, the very least the capt should have done was defuse the situation, with a time out, no childish yelling and screaming on a public street. he could have listened to both sides then given his recomendation and or warning. probably taken 5 minutes of his time. this used to be the way the beat cop used to defuse volitle situations, without back up or the swat called out. ofcourse we don't have a place for the beat cop any more... so sad. respt submitted dads-freehold
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  • REBJrREBJr Member Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Mr Alpine- I hope you got a chance to read my reply to you before it was poofed, nothing against Mr Nunn, it's probably best. Sometimes I get a little mad over discussions, especially when someone reads what I post and comes up with something way off base, FYI, no, I neither hate cops/LEOs, nor do I love them. some work hard and do a fine job, I'm sure, but it's a thankless job in a high profile arena, so the good goes un-noticed and the bad gets raked out over and over, this much I understand, but my case in point was that with such a high profile career/job, I expect LEOs to be more highly trained than some obviously are. And most seem to be in dire need of more vacation time than they're taking, but with low payscales, I see why they probably can't afford to be off. And a few I've seen need fired, or an enemia.
    I've oft thought of a career in LE, but I couldn't take the paycut now, so the point is moot. In all fairness, re-read my previous post, I'm sure you'll draw a different conclusion this time. If not-peace
    -Ralph

    Nothing very, very good or very, very bad lasts for very, very long.
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  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,092 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Your posts speak for themselves, and the ones that got poofed or the ones that you deleted or David deleted (does "tin badge" ring a bell?). Your posting record here is clear. You can dance around it all you want, the fact remainds.

    "If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there."

    Edited by - Alpine on 09/10/2002 01:07:45
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
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  • SUBMARINERSUBMARINER Member Posts: 1,362 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    what about that cop that passes you doing 80 in a 65 only to get off at mickey d's...or the one doing the flip in the middle and pulls out in front of you sideways on the interstate...or how about diesel bears whose soul puirpose is harrassment...no p.c. needed to pull a big rig over and you can harrass them for hours while all those cars going by are violating all them CODES discussed earlier.my personal favorite is when you get forced into the left lane by merging traffic and all the traffic tries to pass you on the right and you get hung out going up the hill.try as you might you cant get over and 1/2 way up the hill a n.y.state trooper with a piss poor attitude (and you know who you are) pulls you over and gives a ticket for failure to obey a highway sign.the way the earlier posts went youd think they would be way to busy chasing all those CODE BREAKERS to even look at someone just trying to mind his own business and make a living.ok im done ranting...i know most of yall are decent folks but to play that guys question off as something that never happens,well i know better.let the retorts fly...

    SUBMARINE SAILOR,TRUCK DRIVER,RUSTY WALLACE FAN AND AS EVERYONE SO OFTEN POINTS OUT PISS POOR TYPIST e-mail:WNUNLEY@USIT.NET
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  • REBJrREBJr Member Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Mr Alpine,
    Even if I were a cop hater, what difference would it make? I assure you I am not, I have much more important things to deal with through the day to be worried about LEOs, Its a case of apathy really, but the subject was brought up, by a LEO no less, and I've weighed in with an opinion. Now Mr Alpine, do you have an opinion to share about LEOs, or is it just me you wish to talk to? REBJr@gunbroker.zzn.com is my junk addy if you just wanted to discuss my supposed attitude. Ralph

    Nothing very, very good or very, very bad lasts for very, very long.
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  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
    AAAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!

    The post that started this thread was meant to be wryly humorous, not start a war.

    Please read it again.



    SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net
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  • Ronald J. SnowRonald J. Snow Member Posts: 1,346 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Mr. Nunn; I enjoyed your post; thank you.
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