Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

I've been in law enforcement for 10 years, and just left the profession.

After college, I was a police officer. Because of all the time I spent in courtrooms, I was able to watch prosecutors try a large number of cases, and decided that I wanted to go to law school and become a prosecutor.

I went to law school part time for one year while still working as a police officer. I then resigned from that job and attended law school full time, while working for another prosecutor's office part time as an investigator/law clerk.

After graduating law school, I took a job as at a prosecutor's office and have worked there for a couple years. I resigned recently to work in the private sector

Ask away.

BTW, 2 rules:

1) I'm not going to advise anyone about personal situations.
2) I'm not going to respond to what I perceive to be flames. buriedbeds, this means you.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

I'm a criminal defense attorney. Do most cops have a particular attitude towards defense attorneys? Did your attitude towards them change over the years?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm a criminal defense attorney.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know. You seem very intelligent.

[ QUOTE ]
Do most cops have a particular attitude towards defense attorneys?

[/ QUOTE ]

The good ones (98%) realize that you're an integral part of the criminal justice system. The bad ones don't

[ QUOTE ]
Did your attitude towards them change over the years?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, it didn't change over the years. I've always known that criminal defense attorneys protect the rights guaranteed in the constitution more than anyone else - judges included. Without them, the government would become tyrannical because no one would be there for protection.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
2) I'm not going to respond to what I perceive to be flames. buriedbeds, this means you.

[/ QUOTE ]

Damn! I saw the title and I was getting all worked up at the prospect. Foiled!

Incidentally, I'm currently working to join you on the other side of the bar. No, not as a criminal (hopefully). I've got no quarrel with lawyers (except the ambulance chasers, of course). So I actually have a question for you - are you glad you did it? Because everything that I've been hearing about the legal profession of late has been MISERABLE. I'm beginning to think that if I go to law school next year I'm going to channel my efforts towards government instead...

-bb.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
are you glad you did it? Because everything that I've been hearing about the legal profession of late has been MISERABLE.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm actually leaving the practice of law. I enjoyed law school but hate the practice. Prosecuting was good work, but it pays crap, and I don't want to practice private law.

If I had the opportunity to do it all over, I wouldn't go to law school. Some people love it.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

it seems like cop shows and movies have a lot of [censored] waving and pissing contests between people in different branches of law enforcement. how accurate is that?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

If I murder a random person I have never met before and bury them in the vast ocean of sand between Phoenix and Tucson, really, what's the odds I'll get caught?

Ray

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
it seems like cop shows and movies have a lot of [censored] waving and pissing contests between people in different branches of law enforcement. how accurate is that?

[/ QUOTE ]

At the federal level it happens much more often than at the state level, at least in the northern US. In the south, and out west, there are states that have both police departments and sheriff's offices, something I don't understand. I've heard, but have no firsthand knowledge, that in these areas it occurs.

[ QUOTE ]
If I murder a random person I have never met before and bury them in the vast ocean of sand between Phoenix and Tucson, really, what's the odds I'll get caught?

[/ QUOTE ]

What's your IQ, and where are you going to kill them?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]


[ QUOTE ]
If I murder a random person I have never met before and bury them in the vast ocean of sand between Phoenix and Tucson, really, what's the odds I'll get caught?

[/ QUOTE ]

What's your IQ, and where are you going to kill them?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm a smart guy. Honors courses in High school. Good SAT scores. So so scores in college due to boredom and lack of trying. Pretty successful businessman. I'm no super genius, but I have clue.

It would have to be a random kill of opportunity. No bystanders and such, but the location can easily be variable based on chance of success, chance of being seen, etc.


Ray

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

When you were a cop on the beat, how many donuts would you eat per shift?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

Is there some kind of unwrittin traffic code where if you drop a name of another cop that you know when pulled over you let the person off off from a traffic violation?
Say i get pulled over in a totally different district will the cop try to catch up with my friend afterword?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

Time you were most scared while on the beat?

Ever shoot someone? Story?

Ever think about becoming a detective or PI?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
are you glad you did it? Because everything that I've been hearing about the legal profession of late has been MISERABLE.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm actually leaving the practice of law. I enjoyed law school but hate the practice. Prosecuting was good work, but it pays crap, and I don't want to practice private law.



[/ QUOTE ]

could you be more specific about the pay scale? what salary range would one expect out of school and living in what geographic area to put that range in perspective? how about five to ten years down the road?

do you laugh when they wax philosophical on every episode of Law and Order?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

Three questions.

What is the funniest/weirdest story you have from being an officer.?

What was the biggset crime\charge\incident you ever arrested someone for?

Before I ask this let me say I am 100% supporter of police. This is not a flame attempt, I'm actually curious.

Was there ever a time, you might be having a bad day, when looking back on it feel now feel you acted like the negative stereotype - "cop on a power trip" to someone?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

Speeding tickets:

Typical situation, a person is pulled over for doing something like 15 over the speed limit.

What's your best move to get out of the ticket?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

Obviously, any intelligent person realizes that they are far less likely to be caught for a crime if the victim is random. Motive isn't an element in criminal laws, but it sure makes it easier to catch and convict a person if there's a motive.

So I'm not sure what the actual "chances" are of getting away with murder since it's clearly a case by case basis. I can tell you this, though - the vast majority of people who get nabbed for a crime are caught because they do things too quickly and don't put enought thought into leaving the least possible amount of evidence behind.

Also, when I asked you where it was going to be done, I meant the geographic location. If state lines were crossed, the feds would become involved, and your chances of being caught would have increased astronomically. The feds aren't that much smarter (they are, to some degree), but their resources (compared to state-level law enforcement) are enormous.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
When you were a cop on the beat, how many donuts would you eat per shift?

[/ QUOTE ]

Depended on cost. Being a cheap bastard, I only wanted them if they were free.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
Is there some kind of unwrittin traffic code where if you drop a name of another cop that you know when pulled over you let the person off off from a traffic violation?
Say i get pulled over in a totally different district will the cop try to catch up with my friend afterword?

[/ QUOTE ]

My traffic patrol experience is EXTREMELY limited - maybe 10-15 shifts. The code, as far as I know, is "No, I don't know your friend Officer so-and-so, and you're still getting a ticket."

Don't name drop. It doesn't work.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
Obviously, any intelligent person realizes that they are far less likely to be caught for a crime if the victim is random. Motive isn't an element in criminal laws, but it sure makes it easier to catch and convict a person if there's a motive.

So I'm not sure what the actual "chances" are of getting away with murder since it's clearly a case by case basis. I can tell you this, though - the vast majority of people who get nabbed for a crime are caught because they do things too quickly and don't put enought thought into leaving the least possible amount of evidence behind.

Also, when I asked you where it was going to be done, I meant the geographic location. If state lines were crossed, the feds would become involved, and your chances of being caught would have increased astronomically. The feds aren't that much smarter (they are, to some degree), but their resources (compared to state-level law enforcement) are enormous.

[/ QUOTE ]

Definitely in the Phoenix/Metro area..

Before I start coming off as too creepy, this line of questioning is coming in relation to the Baseline Killer in AZ.

Ray

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
Time you were most scared while on the beat?

[/ QUOTE ]

Serving a warrant on the biggest piece of white trash I've ever seen, my partner is telling his wife to STFU after we cuffed him. Out of nowhere comes a big German Shepard barking and snarling. I think I had a quick heart attack before pulling my gun. The dog had stopped about six feet in front of me before I pulled the gun, and the wife made him calm down. If he hadn't stopped, I never would have pulled the gun in time and probably would have been attacked.

[ QUOTE ]
Ever shoot someone? Story?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, fortunately. Above story is the only time I actually pulled my gun.

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Ever think about becoming a detective or PI?

[/ QUOTE ]

Nah, too much work to establish a business, and the hours are crazy. I'm not sure how much they make, either.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
are you glad you did it? Because everything that I've been hearing about the legal profession of late has been MISERABLE.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm actually leaving the practice of law. I enjoyed law school but hate the practice. Prosecuting was good work, but it pays crap, and I don't want to practice private law.



[/ QUOTE ]

could you be more specific about the pay scale? what salary range would one expect out of school and living in what geographic area to put that range in perspective? how about five to ten years down the road?

do you laugh when they wax philosophical on every episode of Law and Order?

[/ QUOTE ]

In the suburbs, you're looking at anywhere from $28-35K or so. Major cities are $40-50K. Assume 3-5% or so increase/year. This is my best guess.

Law and Order, along with every other police/LE show (ESPECIALLY CSI) is so far from reality that I can't watch them.

Actually, CSI has caused prosecuting offices a lot of trouble in the past couple years. Juries want the kind of evidence from those shows IRL, which is absurd.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

http://imblog.aufeminin.com/blog/D20..._H120639_L.jpg

OR


http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~sepinwa...imone-head.JPG

?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

Im sure this has been asked 100 times, but i seem to get different answers from different POs. You may not know as you didnt do much Traffic, but do you have a minimum for each month/week/day you have to give out?

If name dropping doesnt work, ill assume PBA/similar cards dont work either, if so what is the use of them? I know they are just to show usually that you donated and such, but what about the one i got from my step father? If it doesnt help why give them out?

Is 15mph the general lowest over the speed limit most POs will pull you over for?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

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What is the funniest/weirdest story you have from being an officer.?

[/ QUOTE ]

Big fat load calls 911 on a Saturday night claiming his wife is assaulting him. We get there, he is flipping out and says he has a protective order against her. We want to know where the wife is, out comes this little think probably weighs 90 pounds soaking wet. WTF is my first thought.

Anyway, turns out that he does have a protective order against her because she whipped him with electrical cords while he sat around doing nothing. He lifts up his shirt, I came pretty close to throwing up - probably 400 pounds - and there are the welts from the cord and plug.

Pretty wierd.

[ QUOTE ]
What was the biggset crime\charge\incident you ever arrested someone for?

[/ QUOTE ]

Attempted murder

[ QUOTE ]
Before I ask this let me say I am 100% supporter of police. This is not a flame attempt, I'm actually curious.

Was there ever a time, you might be having a bad day, when looking back on it feel now feel you acted like the negative stereotype - "cop on a power trip" to someone?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, there were days when I was a dick because of bad personal circumstances. I never did anything that I wouldn't have done on a normal day, but my attitude sucked those days. I feel very bad that I acted that way.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
Speeding tickets:

Typical situation, a person is pulled over for doing something like 15 over the speed limit.

What's your best move to get out of the ticket?

[/ QUOTE ]

Man: Diarrhea (sp?), but that's probably overused.

Woman: "Officer, my monthly visitor just showed up and I really need to get to a bathroom." I don't want anything to do with this.

If you ever get pulled over, use "sir" or "ma'am" if the officer uses that with you, which should be 100% of the time. Otherwise, use "officer."

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

i have a question regarding the underlying motivations for going into law enforcement. Generally speaking, what do you think are the motivating factors for most cops to be. In my town, a college town, i find that most of the cops seem to be reasonable people,with altruistic intentions. However, there seems to be a sizable minority who seem "get off" on there postions of relative power. Do you think a sizable percentage of cops have taken the job for less then honorable reasons?

Post deleted by Mat Sklansky
 

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
Im sure this has been asked 100 times, but i seem to get different answers from different POs. You may not know as you didnt do much Traffic, but do you have a minimum for each month/week/day you have to give out?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, my department didn't and I don't know of any that did. I have heard that some do, but again, don't have any firsthand knowledge.

[ QUOTE ]
If name dropping doesnt work, ill assume PBA/similar cards dont work either, if so what is the use of them? I know they are just to show usually that you donated and such, but what about the one i got from my step father? If it doesnt help why give them out?

[/ QUOTE ]

The might help someplaces. Think about it this way. They're pretty much akin to a bribe. Hey, I gave money, so I shouldn't get a ticket. Think about how much trouble an officer who did this regularly would get in.

I never really did traffic unless absolutley necessary, so I certainly can't say that my opinion on this is end-all. It probably is, though.

[ QUOTE ]
Is 15mph the general lowest over the speed limit most POs will pull you over for?

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess so, but it depends on where you are. I've been pulled over for 11 over before and got a warning (dick).

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

Why did you get fired?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
i have a question regarding the underlying motivations for going into law enforcement. Generally speaking, what do you think are the motivating factors for most cops to be. In my town, a college town, i find that most of the cops seem to be reasonable people,with altruistic intentions. However, there seems to be a sizable minority who seem "get off" on there postions of relative power. Do you think a sizable percentage of cops have taken the job for less then honorable reasons?

[/ QUOTE ]

The motivating factors are almost always honorable. People become police officers because they want to help out other people and make a difference in their communities.

There are, however, a VERY small minority of people who went into police work to get off. It's like the cop in Harold and Kumar - found out that bullying didn't work after high school and wanted to put themselves in a position to continue a power trip. This is very rare in my experience. I can think of one person who fit this description, but he was fired, and last I heard, was working as a bouncer.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
Why did you get fired?

[/ QUOTE ]

Raiding the evidence room and taking evidence from an important trial. Watch, in two weeks or so I'll make a "I'm dying from cocaine" thread.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
The good ones (98%)...

[/ QUOTE ]
Do you really consider 98% of cops to be "good cops"?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showfl...e=0#Post7275461

[/ QUOTE ]

Smart move calling the non-emergency number. People call 911 for the most ridiculous reasons.

Once my grandfather called 911 after a storm to find out when the power was going to be restored because he wanted to watch the final round of the golf tournament on TV.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
Is 15mph the general lowest over the speed limit most POs will pull you over for?

[/ QUOTE ]

I had a PO who was the head of traffic enforcement for a large department tell me this:

1. If it's just a regular PO then the general rule is 14 over the speed limit. This has to do with the type of radar they use and other mitigating factors.

2. If it's POs that specifically give traffic tickets then it can be as little as half of that. These are the guys with lasers and usually they are two motorcycle cops. I've personally received a ticket from these folks for 9 over.

3. If you are going over in a school zone, you are probably getting a ticket for as little as 5 over. Depends on the PO though they might just give you a warning. His advice was to never ever go over the speed limit in a school zone.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The good ones (98%)...

[/ QUOTE ]
Do you really consider 98% of cops to be "good cops"?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes.

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

Heh, yeah. So do you think I was correct in alerting officers? I mean, can't hurt anything right?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

do you like Reno 911?

Re: Ask Freerollin` about 10 years in Law Enforcement
 

Thanks for taking the time.

You seem like someone who truly wanted to work as prosecution, so could you tell me (a) what were you making approximately when you decided to pack it in, and (b) how much the pay would need to be approximately in order for you to stay?

Bonus question: What did you study in college before joining the police force?

Mickey Brausch