Cops Smoking Cigarettes In Public In Uniform (Austin: elementary school, litigation)

[LaMor2]

Fyi, APD is a tobacco free department, I'm sure there are rules against it

[cp102]

If they are off duty who cares. Its their personal time, I don't have the right to tell them what to do or would I want too.

[curious1111]

Originally Posted by cp102

If they are off duty who cares. Its their personal time, I don't have the right to tell them what to do or would I want too.

If they are in uniform, how can you tell just by looking at them that they are on break? I guess that is part of the issue...

[love roses]

Originally Posted by Arabianhorsebreeder

Ok, I normally lurk here, but Where EXACTLY do you live???

Hutto, but yes, lots of the ladies on our street don't mind that either

[Arabianhorsebreeder]

As I've stated, I normally lurk here but IMO, I think police are better role models by driving safely, ie obeying the speed limit, using blinkers, and spending time getting to know those they protect. My biggest pet peeve is witnessing a cop blowing by me like I'm standing still, weaving in and out of traffic without using blinkers, and as I saw last week on IH 35, crossing over from the left lane to the far right lane (without using blinkers) and exiting ....speeding on the feeder ( I was going 72 mph and he beat me) then merging onto the freeway only to exit, make a U turn and drive to the PD. No lights or sirens. Now, that bugs me a heck of alot more than seeing a cop smoke. I attend Texas State and think the police here should set an example for the young people whose driving skills ...let's just say, suck.

[Arabianhorsebreeder]

Originally Posted by love roses

Hutto, but yes, lots of the ladies on our street don't mind that either

Ha! Too far from home for this 53 y/o plus my husby is HOT, but your street sounds interesting.

[love roses]

A lot of our firemen are actually rotated in from austin and Westland fd's, and cedar park. It's refreshing to hear women say their husbands are hot.

[texdav]

They already have mnay restrction on their actions;I see no reson to nopt allow them the same rights as other. They are public seravts not servats .We already have enough trouble getting them to stay in the profession ;so I say layoff. I'd preoabvly start smoking if i had to deal with the public under circumstances they do.

[someguyatx]

Wow lots of comments on this but add me to the cops should be able to have a smoke if they want camp. I dont think they should be smoking while giving somebody a ticket or taking a statement but if they want to grab a cup of coffee and a smoke mid shift they should be able to.

For the original poster worried about their kids, the best role model for your kids is you.

[curious1111]

Originally Posted by someguyatx

Wow lots of comments on this but add me to the cops should be able to have a smoke if they want camp. I dont think they should be smoking while giving somebody a ticket or taking a statement but if they want to grab a cup of coffee and a smoke mid shift they should be able to.

For the original poster worried about their kids, the best role model for your kids is you.

The two aren't mutually exclusive. If you think police officers in uniform shouldn't smoke in public, that doesn't mean you are abdicating your parental role, or any other broad assumption.., don't respect cops, want a nanny state, etc.

In the fullness of reading all the posts, this has become much more about the differences in belief systems about freedoms vs social norms, society with agreed upon standards and practices vs anything within legal bounds goes, etc. Many here think the standard should be legal vs illegal, with no in between. All I am saying is that there should be some middle ground.

Do you drop the "F bomb" loud and clear in front of someone's child? Could a policeman? It's not illegal?

As I have said from the beginning, making obvious statements like parents are the most important role model doesn't answer the question at hand. And the police departments agree, apparently.