Only the best from Bexar County's finest... (San Antonio, Anton: house, neighborhoods) - City-Data Forum

concernedSAcitizen · 03-08-2009, 11:23 PM

This evening I pulled up into my driveway as a Bexar County Sheriff's officer fled from one house down the street, and turned around with in the cul de sac with tires squealing. Furious that he would drive through our neighborhood with such recklessness, I flagged him down. I would have been satisfied with a simple apology and having him slow it down, but instead, the officer decided to escalate it.

He called two other officers to the scene! I then took pictures of him and his car, all the while he told me I could not and that I had to stop. Is San Antonio now part of China? The senior sergent who responded to the scene demanded that I hang up the phone (I believe I needed a witness) and told me that he would come back to arrest me if I posted the pics I took on the internet. When I asked him what the charge would be he ignored me and walked away.

This is at least the third time in the last month that the BCSD has sped through or past our subdivision. Sure, the argument that they could have been responding to a call exists, but the fact that they are speeding through the very streets our children play on, no emergency lights, no sirens, and here's the best part, when they get to the traffic light, they just stop, as if there is no emergency.

Many of us have noticed the increase in officers patrolling our roads, ticketing speeders. The behavior I witnessed tonight, total disregard for the law, and contempt for the safety of our children makes their "efforts" in patrolling our street seem to be more about financial gain for the department than the safety of our citizens.

I am in the process of learning my legal rights in regards to my freedom to post pictures and specific information regarding these officers on the internet. If we, as a community, band together, we can stop this recurrent and worsening behavior that our sheriff's department exhibits. Abusing the same laws they are sworn to uphold is against their oath. Their arrogance and contempt will spread as long as it goes unchecked. We need to report each of the officers we encounter to ensure the safety of our neighborhoods and maintain law and order within or sheriff's department.

Pontifikate · 03-08-2009, 11:31 PM

cool story bro

wCat · 03-09-2009, 12:04 AM

I'm curious how your cell phone camera could record the speed of this errant police officer. If the cars were parked, what exactly were you taking pictures of?

Keep in mind, that if back up was called, it wasn't for a party. Your interference while responding to a call is definitely a criminal offense.

I personally think our police need more volunteer watch groups to increase the safety in numbers. That might help the problem with CRIME.....not in how the police should respond. Good luck with your cause.

cwh · 03-09-2009, 12:23 AM

Even if he was responding to another event, that is now excuse for excessive speed or squealing his tires.

If it continues to be a problem, keep a video camera handy as I am sure one of the local tv stations would find the video interesting.

concernedSAcitizen · 03-09-2009, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wCat

I'm curious how your cell phone camera could record the speed of this errant police officer. If the cars were parked, what exactly were you taking pictures of?

Keep in mind, that if back up was called, it wasn't for a party. Your interference while responding to a call is definitely a criminal offense.

I personally think our police need more volunteer watch groups to increase the safety in numbers. That might help the problem with CRIME.....not in how the police should respond. Good luck with your cause.

I took pictures with my 6.3 mp camera. And I did not take the pictures of him speeding, he had already stopped at that point. I was taking pictures to record the identity of the driver and to document the vehicle he was driving. I did this after he became threatening. I did not trust him, and I do not trust the sheriff's department. As far as I know, they were going to falsely accuse me of a crime. I know someone else this happened to, again by our sheriff's department.

The officer called backup to assist him with ME, there was nothing else going on. He called them to back him up. I will also add that they then asked my neighbors to lie and sign an affidavit stating that they were not speeding.

I hope this clears up any confusion. I was not impeding ANY official business.

If this was an isolated incident I would not have created this thread. This is a recurrent problem, and it is worsening. Like it or not, it IS our responsibility to maintain a system of checks and balances. Our community and our children depend on it.

concernedSAcitizen · 03-09-2009, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwh

Even if he was responding to another event, that is now excuse for excessive speed or squealing his tires.

If it continues to be a problem, keep a video camera handy as I am sure one of the local tv stations would find the video interesting.

Good idea, I think it is wise advice.

01Snake · 03-09-2009, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by concernedSAcitizen

I would have been satisfied with a simple apology and having him slow it down, but instead, the officer decided to escalate it.

Apologize? If I was the cop I probably would have laughed in your face but hey, that's just me.

concernedSAcitizen · 03-09-2009, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 01Snake

Apologize? If I was the cop I probably would have laughed in your face but hey, that's just me.

That is the type of behavior that continues to fan the flames of contempt so many citizens have for our officers. That is the same contempt that jeopardizes the safety of you and your family.

Moderator cut: inappropriate

Tasksgirl · 03-09-2009, 12:36 AM

Hey I have seen some cops drive pretty crazy.. and if they were responding to a call they should have their emergency lights on.. but whenever I see them driving like that they never do..

This reminds me of the movie Lakeview Terrace.. haha

I've had mostly good experiences with officers and in my city they have a strong presence and it's a very safe city because of that.. but I have also seen some that just don't follow the rules and abuse their power.. LAPD..

concernedSAcitizen · 03-09-2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tasksgirl

Hey I have seen some cops drive pretty crazy.. and if they were responding to a call they should have their emergency lights on.. but whenever I see them driving like that they never do..

This reminds me of the movie Lakeview Terrace.. haha

I've had mostly good experiences with officers and in my city they have a strong presence and it's a very safe city because of that.. but I have also seen some that just don't follow the rules and abuse their power.. LAPD..

Exactly. This is NOT a rare event.

My other favorite is when they come upon a light as it's turning red and they flick on their lights to drive through, only to be held up at the next light. It seems to me, if it WAS a real emergency, they would have their lights on to go passed the traffic at the second light.