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Guy says he's a cop, threatens to arrest you, but he's not in a uniform and won't show you a badge - what do you do?
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shall be exhibited upon lawful request for purposes of id...
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter41/Sect...
A.P.
Did exactly what you should do. There was a guy pulling this in my hometown earlier this year.
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/11/utica_matthew_cummings_im...
Was original guy a real cop
Was original guy a real cop tho? Did u ever find out? If he was maybe they were working on trying to set up a sting or some undercover work?
Read the article
The original guy turns out to have been a detail cop who was not in uniform.
Officer Cartman
I presume.
The driver of the car appears
The driver of the car appears to have handled it properly. If the officers actions were as detailed then he was inappropriate and unprofessional. The citizen was not being hostile towards him so the officer should have acted respectfully towards the person.
The person should filed a complaint with the department though. Even if it doesn't go anywhere, make the best efforts to see something is done.
So . . . . the road was
So . . . . the road was blocked "futher up" and the driver still thought it was OK to proceed?
Yep. The driver thought it was okay to proceed.
Whether this was a mistake on the part of the driver or simply a poorly-marked construction zone and a mistake on the part of the crew/police can be worked out in traffic court.
What the police should do is issue a traffic citation and take the matter to court.
What the police should NOT do is refuse to show a badge, refuse to provide a badge number, bang on his window multiple times and threaten him with arrest, and physically block his car from leaving.
no...
No. The road was blocked further up and the driver (me) interpreted the situation to be that it was local traffic only. Seeing as I was picking up an actual resident and didn't need to even go as far as 1/3rd of the way down to the construction blockade, I assumed I was abiding by the rules given the current situation. There were absolutely no signs at the time to indicate any restrictions, road closed, local traffic only, or otherwise. And for the record, cars were coming in and out from other houses just a couple hours later and nobody was stopping then like I was stopped.
I'm familiar with the work in the area.
At 0700 it can be a clustarfark.
I don't understand the 'not in uniform' part. Details wear uniforms, sidearms and portable radios. They look like cops. If he was standing there, he can tell you which way to go to avoid hitting construction workers.
If you're ever in a situation where you question the legitimacy of a cop, fuck a badge, ask to see his portable radio. Don't be fooled by a handheld scanner. Portables have a separate microphone on a coiled cord.
Can you tell a real badge at fifteen feet?
I don't understand why a
I don't understand why a construction detail would not be in uniform (and had to go back to his car to get his portable radio), doesn't that defeat most arguments as to why cops and not civilian flagmen should be present at construction sites?
However, I don't think you should trust the look of radio to tell you anything (though I do believe BPD radios have "BPD ####" engraved on them). I have several mics for both scanners and portable 2-ways I use as scanners that look like any cops radio. BUT, cops are issued photo ID in addition to a badge to serve as identification for the very purpose of proving their identity.
Don't rely on a portable
Don't rely on a portable radio to determine whether or or not someone stating they are a police officer is in fact a police officer. Even a badge can be a fake. Department ID is the way to go and unless its been revised BPD Rule 102 section 20 states the following:
"General Law, Chapter 41, Section 98D, requires every officer to carry his identification card with photograph and exhibit this card upon a lawful request for purposes of identification. Any officer, acting in his official capacity, shall give his name, rank and badge number, in a civil manner to any person who may inquire unless he is engaged in an undercover police operation and his physical safety or the police operation would be jeopardized by his making such identification"
Additionally, I'm fairly certain that BPD's policies also state that detail officers are to be in the "uniform of the day". To me that means boston polic uniform, unless they revamped the policy for the day and civilian clothes was the uniform of the day.
Either way, make sure to address it. Good police work requires the publics trust, without that your can't adequately do the job.
Here are the policies BPD has online. If they are outdated then maybe they will update them soon.
http://bpdnews.com/rules-and-procedures/
1 way street ( MAPLETON)
Well my opinion is the officer should absolutely proved his authority.But I agree with BPD you as me also are not above the law which means construction or not it does not give u the right to go half way up one way and pick up u r girlfriend then come back to market st I was taught one way streets mean just that u go one way u r plans were to go both ways.lol
He was just pulling up part
He was just pulling up part way, to a place before the actual construction, to pick up a passenger, if you read the article. He mentions that other local traffic later also went past the cones to destinations that were on that street.
It is not uncommon for cones to be placed to indicate that the road is closed further on, so through traffic needs to take a detour, but local traffic to points on the road before the closure can go past the cones.
I sympathize
This is just a confusing situation and the cop isn't helping things.
Sometimes, I'll approach a construction zone and will see a cop in the distance. So, not knowing what to do, I'll stop and see if he directs me to do something. But, he does nothing, doesn't acknowledge me, and just stands there. After a short while, I move forward because he still hasn't told me to do anything. Now, he gets pissed off because I moved forward even though he never told me to stop.
Look, I understand that cops are very vulnerable in these construction zones and get hit occasionally, especially by self-important, impatient drivers. That simply should not happen. But, you have to tell people what to do, and if you don't, they will rightfully move ahead.
But, the detail cop was a dick. The driver seems like he did all the right things, though you always have to remember we've only heard his side. This would have been a great time for a video.
Hey cops
I'm not rooting against you, but this attitude towards the public is why two of your brothers got shot dead. RIP to them, but learn a (expletive) lesson.
I'm pretty sure mental
I'm pretty sure mental illness and the influence of NYC millenials caught on video chanting "death to cops" caused that.
I mean, does the cause really matter?
An entire profession has a target on its back, and this guy who works for my city is bullying somebody two blocks from my house. All he had to do was say "sir, the street is closed." Then the guy asks "is it okay if I stop here and pick up my friend and then exit the street?" and then the cop gives a reasonable answer.
Civility really isn't (expletive) difficult. And if cops can't and/or won't handle that, then I don't care if they live or die.
I recently witnessed a cop
I recently witnessed a cop detailing a funeral yelling at a truck driver just because the driver was stopped in the street trying to make a delivery. The cop went all mental right off the bat with "Get your truck outta here now. Did you hear what I just said? Shut that f** gate and leave! Now! I just told you to leave, you're still standing!"
There was absolutely no civility in this case whatsoever. I fear that because of the negative view of the profession the more reasonable individuals will shy away from police work, so things will only get worse.
I've seen something like that too
Couple of weeks ago, a state trooper (what a useless department) gets out of his car to escort a Christmas parade float down Brighton Ave. He just starts yelling "let's go!" like a drill sergeant at the bypassing cars.
I don't need or want the money that I make at my job to pay for people like that to "protect" my community.
Death to Cops Chant was a Hoax
The Faux News affiliate in Baltimore cooked the sound file to make it sound like that was what they were chanting.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/fox-wbff-edit-protest-kill-a-cop
The station has apologized, but they may be facing lawsuits and sanctions for their "edit".
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/tv/z-on-tv-blog/bal-wbff-apolo...
Rudeness is an excuse to execute people?
I will officially declare you a loser Will. I might even let this public message out, and see how the bar owners want to treat you in the future.
And you wonder why you didn't get into Norteastern? Probably because your guidance counselors in high school warned colleges that people like you have no place in a professional institution, except for maybe those which deal with mental illnesses.
Rudeness is not an excuse to execute people
But the New York cops are still dead anyway. I think UH is a better place to debate this than at their funerals.
"I might even let this public message out?" Least I post here with my real name.
I'm not safe....
With assholes like you out there.
Not safe?
Guy, I weigh a buck 45 and I don't own any firearms. Reduce the paranoia.
Most killers Will.....
Are little socially rejected cowards like yourself (at least from what you have posted here today)
Jumped the shark
Will, you've been a curmudgeonly a-hole here for a while, but I think you jumped the shark on this one.
You know what else jumped the shark?
Good relations between cops and citizens. That bothers me. If that doesn't bother you, then sleep tight.
False equivalence
Now you're just doubling down on your a-holeness. You know that's a logical fallacy; I may think you're overblown, but you're not stupid. Stop acting like it to be a big man on the internet.
Revolting
Even more so than your norm.
Ambivalence about whether people live or die is revolting?
I disagree.
Seriously?
Did your parents really do that bad a job instilling ANY morality or compassion in you?
I'm going to trivia night......
And I'm going to cheat AND give out he answers to everyone.
(Instead of just busting all the under aged people in the bars, that's no fun)
I have compassion
I saw something on Facebook about a dog who was abandoned by its owners and was then put down and it made me cry.
Fuck you!
youre a vile piece of shit for blaming the cops for their own murder.
So how did War and Peace end?
So how did War and Peace end?
With a 50 page essay
With a 50 page essay deliberating on the meaning of power.
civility
Civility and patience are sorely needed in our society. So many times I have witnessed or myself been part of a situation that goes 'from zero to confrontation'. People in a position of power especially ought to ease up and be less defensive. This story is awful, but I'm glad the guy was able to write out the detail. It would be nice if these momentary (or systemic) lapses of civility could be more widely publicized, so that these incidents would be less prone to being suffered without witness.
Why does stuff like this
Why does stuff like this always happen to him?
Me?
You must have me confused with someone else. I've never had a confrontation like this in my life.
Yeah, ok..
What is the old saying, when you assume you make an ass out of you and me?
Usually when I see road cones blocking a road and seeing some sort of construction up head, however those cones are spaced out in a road, it usually means a no-go for car traffic. (And it really does not matter whether cars were allowed to motor pass a few hours later, by that time, the situation could not changed, no?) Sorry A.P. but you made an assumption, that turned out to be (surprise) incorrect, that you could drive past the cones to pick up a passenger. And then when the officer called you out on it, you made the wise decision to talk back (i.e. give a bit o attitude) to the officer. Sigh.
Aside from that, yes, some officers are jerks and perhaps this guy is/was a jerk, ok, but would not it been better if you said "oh, excuse me officer, I made a mistake, I will turn around now" instead of trying to this guy an attitude adjustment? You and your passenger would of been out of there quicker with much less drama.
Your first part is a given
And A.P. can feel free to chime in himself. The issue was how the alleged cop raised a stink, yet provided no concrete proof that in fact he was law enforcement.
Anyone could have called him out on being a bad driver. A construction worker could have given him a proper dressing down, replete with sailor's language. No story there. Only a cop or someone pretending to be a copy would get into the whole "license and registration" thing. That's where the story is.
Easy to say as someone who wasn't even there
I did not give him any attitude. The moment he opened his mouth he had an attitude. I calmly tried to explain to him what I was doing. I genuinely thought he did not understand what I was doing. He would not listen at all, however. The only attitude I gave him was when I said that maybe he should call BPD and there should be a detail officer, because he clearly had no control over the situation and did not want to listen. Then, surprise, I suggest that and suddenly he claims to be an officer.
Besides, that's not even the story here. The story is he continually tried to escalate the situation the entire time, before I even said a word! He refused to identify himself and he became incredibly agitated that I was dialing 911. That is NOT serving the public nor is it taking control of the situation. He was putting himself in danger, too. Even the 911 dispatcher told me to get out of there!
Was he black?
I think I know who he is.....
Yes, he was
Yes, he was
If you don't mind elaborating, you can reach me at [email protected]
I'm still intrigued as to whether he was an officer or not, so I'd like to hear from you if you think you *might* know who he is
Chip on his shoulder.
Our best and finest at work!
Everything I've read and see on TV says that one shouldn't trust anyone claiming to be a cop whom isn't dressed as one nor able to provide ID. How the heck can he be on a Police detail without his ID and Badge?