Posted on Jul 3, 2015
Should cops be able to turn on their sirens just to avoid red lights, and then turn the sirens back off?
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So I was standing at a stop light, ready to cross the street to go to Rite Aid, when again a cop sees the light is red, turns his rollers and sirens on and goes through the light then turns them off. I guess to me this is a pet peeve, I see it as a an abuse of power and a bad example. Cops should use their lights and sirens when they have police business to do not because they do not feel like sitting at a red light.
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Posted >1 y ago
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Police are given different level of responses to different type of call....typically referred to as Code 1, Code 2, Code 3....depending on the emergency or issue they are responding. Depending on the department, they are normally given some latitude to intermix different aspects of the code to get where they need to get. Anytime a Police car is going to violate/ exceed what a normal citizen could do in a car, normally state law requires the Officer at a minimum to activate the emergency lights and sometimes the siren. Ultimately, the officer is always civilly and criminally liable for their actions while driving...e.g. they do something the violates the typical driving laws. A typical call that officer might have been en-route to would be like a verbal domestic or argument. Since no knowledge of active violence going on, they would not be authorized for lights and sirens...but since the likelihood of violence could occur, their department may allow them to put the lights on to clear an intersection when safe to do so, to get to the call in the most expedient manner possible.
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1SG (Join to see)
Exactly. There are bad cops who have been on the force for decades. Time on the force doesn't make you a good cop. Actions make you a good cop.
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SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell
I have worked with the good and the bad. Time doesn’t necessarily make anyone good at something.
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SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell
MSG (Join to see) perhaps it was a joke but it was also dismissive of an entire profession that is getting beat up enough for trying to protect and serve their communities. I am obviously pro police but moreover I am on Team America. In the current woke cancel culture environment, people sitting back and silently let a small group malign the values of a nation and those who are trying to serve their Country and communities is only making things worse.
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Being on a department now, I can say that it completely depends on the call. Some types of calls we feel do not warrant running code for the whole trip. But, there are certain times when we cannot guarantee people's safety while we wait at a red light.
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Your statement lacks more information and you should do a few (not just one) police ride-along in the community. Not all calls require lights and sirens but getting to the scene of a "no lights and sirene" call does require SAFETY. If you would just think about it the public service officer has a job to do and your safety is his highest concern even before his or hers. I have never been a police officer but know many of my veteran buddies that are. Get to know some of your community officers and you can find out the truth about how it is to serve others.
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SSG Bill McCoy
Even military police do that, and do it with good cause. A domestic disturbance call, or back when there were NCO and Enlisteed Clubs, calls while not classified as an emergency, were considered urgent. At red lights, it's acceptable to activate the lights & siren to expedite travel to such calls. I was never stationed anywhere that such actions were contrary to policy. The assigned patrol, or Patrol Supervisor - whoever got their first, would radio a situation report either telling the dispatcher/other units that no additional units were required, OR to upgrade the response to light and/or lights/siren for a back-up unit(s).
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A few years ago, I was on a ride along with my former stepfather who was a shift lieutenant. On a couple of the calls, he wouldn't use his lights/sirens but when we got to an intersection with a red light or stop sign, he'd turn them on. In some cases, lights and sirens have to turned off as to not alert a suspect of the response. This is especially true for domestic violence calls.
I won't lie, some cops will abuse this piwer. Sometimes, it's unintentional. Every once in awhile, a cop will have an upset stomach or whatnot and need to get to a bathroom ASAP. To that extent, it's pretty comical.
I won't lie, some cops will abuse this piwer. Sometimes, it's unintentional. Every once in awhile, a cop will have an upset stomach or whatnot and need to get to a bathroom ASAP. To that extent, it's pretty comical.
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I agree with LTC Heinlein. Unless you know what the officer was actually doing you can't assume he was using them to his benifit. I know the are certain calls that require them to respond differently
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LTC Paul Heinlein
A lot of citizens do not realize the amount of calls for service Police receive in their cities, counties, towns, boroughs, villages, etc... If a Police Car is traveling fast and weaving in and out of lanes, they are normally going to a call or something they suspect may go bad (e.g. backing up another officer and/or someone elses' call). If they are driving slow, then they are scanning/patrolling to find individual's doing something wrong.
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Maj John Bell
LCpl Mark Lefler - As an EMT we do a quarterly ride along with the county sheriff. Eight hours in a rural area. We've used lights and sirens to pass red lights, stop signs and yield signs, then switch off in the clear, on every ride along I've been on in 16 years. Not less than three time per shift IN A RURAL AREA. Every single one was a justified use of lights and there was a legit reason to not run lights and sirens the whole time.
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It depends. Do you know for sure where the officer was going or responding to? I have done that a few times myself when I was a LEO. There are certain response incidents (domestic in progress, for example) where you don't want to alert the potential suspect you are inbound. Better to come in quiet and nab the offender in the act than to scare him/her off by blazing lights and sirens from five blocks away.
Now, do some officers abuse their position? Of course they do.
Perception is everything and sometimes what we see isn't exactly what is happening.
Now, do some officers abuse their position? Of course they do.
Perception is everything and sometimes what we see isn't exactly what is happening.
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MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P
Exactly so, CPT Dan Foreman! I challenge anyone to spend a couple days doing ride alongs with the local police, fire, and EMS services. It will be educational if nothing else.
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Suspended Profile
NO......neither Firetrucks, Ambulances, or any other emergency response vehicles should be allowed to do this. BTW I am assuming the given in the questions that states it is for mere convenience.
MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P
MSgt Ronald Stacy - I can't see any instance where a firetruck or ambulance should ever do this. Police on the other hand frequently have need. I'll agree they shouldn't do it if it's merely for convenience.
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Suspended Profile
MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P - I've seen all three do it.....and have written up the Ambulance Drives....because they worked for me.....there are DOT rules that govern when to use sirens on all emergency vehicles (police also)....they are there to be followed...it's that simple.
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