[Racelady88]

I had an encounter with the local police when I lived in North Port. Seems we had left the side door to the FL room open when we went to bed. Apparently a pair of officers were cruising down my street and observed that someone a few houses away had left their car door open after bringing in groceries and my door was open. They were concerned for a burglar. Apparently they called my house, but the phone lives as far away from the bedroom as it can (so as not to be disturbed while sleeping). All I know is now I have that pounding on my front door at 3:00 in the morning (nobody can knock like the police!). My dog is now barking her fool head off. I open the front door and have 2 officers with their hand on their sidearms and maglites blaring in my face. "Ma'am we believe there is a prowler in your house" I'm thinking "whatever! Do you hear this dog?", but they asked if they could check it out. I said sure. They searched my house with guns in hand. They left. The next morning, after I was over being annoyed at being roused from sleep, I called and got the names of the officers. I wrote a letter thanking them for doing their jobs, and pointed out that if they didn't do them so well I would likely have felt the need to check all of my doors before I went to bed.

I also have a friend who used to be a K-9 officer with FHP. He left because his salary was not keeping up with what it was costing him to live. Sadly, he got out of law enforcement altogether. He is a great guy with a sense of humor and a deep sense of fairness. It was a loss to the FHP when he left.

[The Panda god]

From my expierence with the police force... the country police seem to be more cordial and friendly than the city police.

However, I've also met some hot shots that, if they had the chance, would have busted my b---s in a second.

The city police, depending on where you are and at what time... are not that bad but if you catch them at the wrong time, eh... be nice and you might get off.

As far as calling for help, I don't do that anymore. It seems that everytime I call them, it ends up turned around on me; victim to perpetrator. Tis like they've never seen a skinny kid with a leather jacket before...

[LM1]

Originally Posted by Tarastomsgirl

My husband is a police officer in Nh currently trying to get re-hired in Fla... NH academy is one of the hardest in the country to graduate from. Think boot camp slightly easier than the Marines. My husband lived on "base" for 4 months, did military style everything, was not allowed phone calls, computers, laptops etc.. They even told him how he would eat. eg never look down at your food stare straight ahead one hand in your lap, feet 30 degree angle heels together, eat wipe mouth eat wipe mouth. Oddly enough NH has one of the lowest crime rates in the country, behind Maine and Vermont.. Yet they're extreamly strick in LE training.. Now that being said, the Fla academy.. I can only speak for Naples is a JOKE.. Monday 9-5 non military style class work.. I could pass it, and I'm disabled! And Fla is no crimefree paradise... Something must be done to up the standards for the academies in Fla...

They do however do psycological tests, physical etc. My husband for Fla when he worked there had to see a shrink for a personality test, do a lie detector, have a full physical, take various math, english etc test and have interview after interview.. All in all it took 6-7 months to get hired by the sheriffs office. So they do put them through rigours interviewing if you wanna call it that.. But sometimes the crazies slip through

The Northeast has markedly higher standards for their law enforcement than Florida (or the South at-large, for that matter). They would be a fantastic model for the rest of the country to look towards. While I am all about preserving certain things about living in the South, the shamefully lax practices involved with the hiring of Law Enforcement isn't one of them.

[LM1]

Originally Posted by mrs1885

The laws have been so totally turned around to protect the criminal and send the deputies up the creek.

Well, isn't that a huge myth... Everyone loves to feel like a victim- I guess it applies to cops too.

The laws at present give Law Enforcement the 'benefit of the doubt' to such a substantial degree that they can basically do whatever they want under the guise of some statute or rule that regulates their official duties- people doing nothing wrong can be arrested and detained for "suspicion", the traffic code is written in such an abstract way that anyone can be pulled over at any time and the cop will always have a degree of deniability in the courtroom- lets not even get into the civil liberties aspects of things like DUI "checkpoints"... Hell, they can walk straight into your house if they "think" a crime might be happening... That's a pretty damn large "right", i'd say, since it's such an easy thing to lie about after the fact.

I am completely unaware of a single law- save for those pesky ones that are meant to protect civil rights- that slants anything towards criminals and away from cops... Yes, if you open fire on someone who isn't threatening anyone or sodomize someone with a broom handle back at the station, it doesn't matter if he was breaking into a car or has a criminal history- the cop is held responsible for that.

While we always hear that the "laws protect the criminals and not the cops", you will notice that the people saying it can never cite a single example of it happening where the cop wasn't doing something wrong him or herself.

[jhsrichards]

Originally Posted by AONE

I think you are asked to make up budgets via the ticketing process which is nothing more than another tax. When a city budgets the ticket revenue, then it becomes an essential part of your duties. When you are tasked to deal with someone that is going 6 mph over the speed limit then you can't spend your time protecting the people by dealing with burglaries, murders , rapes or the other offenses that affect us.
I think the power of the police is great and unfortunately it can be abused at the sacrafic of our rights.
I find it unconscionable when police commit the acts they ticket the masses for and there is no consequences. If you pull over a cop for an infraction ticket him as you would any other. You have this habit of "protecting your own" it is the people you are to "protect"
I think there are some that are way too agresssive and should not be in their roles. The majority are hard working under paid people that need the support of the public. but they need to work with the public to rebuild the trust and respect there once was for the profession. A few bad apples have spoiled the view for the good ones.
I think it is unfortunate we allow the sale of machine guns and assault weapons and place you in harms way. I think we have created a bureaucracy that has created an impossible task for the few of you that chose to do what you are doing.
I think if you would stand for the ideal and do the right thing you will receive support form the community as they largely go about their business and never notice the tasks you have to do.
You have a thankless job. For those that do it well I appreciate your efforts. For those under performers, overly agressive, power abusers... get out of the business. and do something your excess testosterone won't cause hurt to others.
Drive safe out there and be careful. If I see you in need I will help.

I could not agree more. There are is not enough law enforcement out there that is tasked to stop the real crimes. Minor speeding incidents (10 over) should be ignored, and community policing needs to increase significantly. But this is not all the cop's fault. A lot of it is the government, which, behind the scenes, probably orders their law enforcement to spend time "pulling in money" instead of simply trying to stop break-ins, rapings, and muggings.

[Alphaman]

Originally Posted by LM1

Well, isn't that a huge myth... Everyone loves to feel like a victim- I guess it applies to cops too.

The laws at present give Law Enforcement the 'benefit of the doubt' to such a substantial degree that they can basically do whatever they want under the guise of some statute or rule that regulates their official duties- people doing nothing wrong can be arrested and detained for "suspicion", the traffic code is written in such an abstract way that anyone can be pulled over at any time and the cop will always have a degree of deniability in the courtroom- lets not even get into the civil liberties aspects of things like DUI "checkpoints"... Hell, they can walk straight into your house if they "think" a crime might be happening... That's a pretty damn large "right", i'd say, since it's such an easy thing to lie about after the fact.

I am completely unaware of a single law- save for those pesky ones that are meant to protect civil rights- that slants anything towards criminals and away from cops... Yes, if you open fire on someone who isn't threatening anyone or sodomize someone with a broom handle back at the station, it doesn't matter if he was breaking into a car or has a criminal history- the cop is held responsible for that.

While we always hear that the "laws protect the criminals and not the cops", you will notice that the people saying it can never cite a single example of it happening where the cop wasn't doing something wrong him or herself.

Here is a prime example of a cop doing whatever he wants because he is a cop.


15-Year-Old Skateboarder Says Officer Used Excessive Force - News Story - WFTV Orlando


I had a cop one time rough me up because I was peeing on the side of the road no stores would let me in to use the rest room. I had to do what I had to. He just wanted to mess with a teen (18) that was out late at night on my way home.

[Bones]

Tampa police picked up a guy I worked with years ago "AGAIN" (5th offense) for DUI and permanent suspension of license. This is great.... now put him in jail and throw away the keys, period...
When I lived in Clearwater, sheriff deputies were always quick to respond...

[Edvard]

Originally Posted by Tarastomsgirl

My husband is a police officer in Nh currently trying to get re-hired in Fla... NH academy is one of the hardest in the country to graduate from. Think boot camp slightly easier than the Marines. My husband lived on "base" for 4 months, did military style everything, was not allowed phone calls, computers, laptops etc.. They even told him how he would eat. eg never look down at your food stare straight ahead one hand in your lap, feet 30 degree angle heels together, eat wipe mouth eat wipe mouth. Oddly enough NH has one of the lowest crime rates in the country, behind Maine and Vermont.. Yet they're extreamly strick in LE training.. Now that being said, the Fla academy.. I can only speak for Naples is a JOKE.. Monday 9-5 non military style class work.. I could pass it, and I'm disabled! And Fla is no crimefree paradise... Something must be done to up the standards for the academies in Fla...

They do however do psycological tests, physical etc. My husband for Fla when he worked there had to see a shrink for a personality test, do a lie detector, have a full physical, take various math, english etc test and have interview after interview.. All in all it took 6-7 months to get hired by the sheriffs office. So they do put them through rigours interviewing if you wanna call it that.. But sometimes the crazies slip through

NH State PD has some of the most squared away cops I ever saw. They're doing something, maybe everything right. Potential recruiters down here will know about their rep, he'll be fine.

[Tarastomsgirl]

Originally Posted by Edvard

NH State PD has some of the most squared away cops I ever saw. They're doing something, maybe everything right. Potential recruiters down here will know about their rep, he'll be fine.

Thank you I agree.. They all attend the same academy so whatever they're doing at that academy (everything short of beating the hell outta them ) Must be working.. Fla police academies are very lax.... Although they do the same hiring routine as Fla as far as polygraphs etc. Its the academy which needs to step up its standards and get with the programs

[GR82BAGATOR]

I think Florida has a larger police presence than some other states. We went to Oregon in September for a week and only saw ONE police car and we drove all over that state. Not sure if you consider that a pro or con.

Originally Posted by FLTPR

I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW FLORIDIANS FEEL ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN FLORIDA. IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE INTERESTING TO KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT CERTAIN AGENCIES: COUNTY, CITY, HIGHWAY PATROL, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, MARINE PATROL, ECT. ANY WAR STORIES OR MEMORABLE STORIES? I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE WHAT FLORIDIANS THINK ABOUT US WITH MY CO-WORKERS. BE SAFE GUYS, IT'S CRAZY OUT THERE!!!!