Posted on Feb 26, 2015
Sgt David G Duchesneau
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When I stopped someone and they looked at me and said "I pay your salary" that was one that really got to me, I always wanted to look at that person right in the eyes and say, "well no sh--, I do too."
Another one was "What's the matter, didn't you make your quota." I use to tell these people that they stopped giving us quotas. Now we can summons as many people we want.
What do you think are some things that would get a PO a little upset?
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SPC Stan Harrington
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What got me the worst was when I would stop another off duty officer for a traffic violation and he'd flag his badge at me like it was an automatic get out of jail free card, and the attitude that went along with it. The with the civilians that did the name dropping.
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PO2 Ron Burling
PO2 Ron Burling
8 y
SPC Stan Harrington - When I worked at China Lake, CA, the NCIS was really bad about this, once even at a traffic collision where the 'special agent' had rear-ended a car stopped at a stop sign.
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SCPO Carl Wayne Boss
SCPO Carl Wayne Boss
8 y
SSgt (Join to see) - Yep, experienced attitude on many occasions, and especially from other Law Enforcement Officers, when out on the Lakes, Rivers and Waters off shore as a U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Officer.

Many other Federal & Civilian Law Enforcement types got really upset, when I turned on the Blue flashing Beacon and hit the Siren and requested they "Cut their power, heave to and prepare to be boarded"... They'd look at me very surprised, hurt and often obviously upset & say "You talkin' to Me"?

Their first question was invariably... "What did you stop me for? I wasn't doing anything illegal! So I'd spend the first 10 or 15 minutes of contact explaining the "Reason for Stop" and why for example, their 6 year old riding on the bow of the boat, without a life jacket or some other form of PFD, with their feet hanging over the side and in the water, was both illegal and very unsafe for the Child.

And If I did a complete boarding & checked their Registration, all required safety equipment, etc. on top of that and found it lacking & had to issue a Citation with multiple violations, which happened more often than not, they were even more upset at me and my crew.

We were often threatened with "Mr. ... you better hope I never run across you on the street in my town or whatever and where ever their respective jurisdiction was!" I'd frequently ask them if they'd treat a fellow Officer on the Street or out on the Highway in their vicinity the same way?

Every now and then, I'd actually get a call later and an apology, I guess they'd think about their conduct and decide it was uncalled for...

Every now and then I'd actually have 'em show up in one of My Boating Safety Training classes, because oft times the Judge who adjudicated their case would reduce or suspend sentence if they'd come back to the court with proof that they'd attended such a class within a period of time after receiving their Citation. Many times they'd comment that they hadn't been aware of many of the "Rules of the Road" or "Nav-Rules" as they were called on the water or the minimum "Equipment Requirements".

There were occasions when I wrote Land Based Law Enforcement Officers for operating their boats at night without Lights... and when I stopped them... and I got the obligatory "What'd ya stop me for?"

They'd identify themselves frequently by handing me their driver's license, boat registration, and their badge and ID. I'd just look at 'em and ask if they were in the habit of driving their car on the street at night without their lights on? That's when they would often admit they didn't know how to turn them on or just plain didn't have any!

It was at times quite frustrating... but there is no Federal Requirement to have an Operators License for a Boat and most States don't require them either, so a large percentage of Boat Operators are ignorant of the Navigation Rules (aka Rules of the Road) or State and/or Federal minimum Equipment Requirements Afloat...

The really unfortunate thing about that is... a lot of people end up getting killed before they find out about either...
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SCPO Carl Wayne Boss
SCPO Carl Wayne Boss
8 y
SSgt (Join to see) - Yep, experienced attitude on many occasions, and especially from other Law Enforcement Officers, when out on the Lakes, Rivers and Waters off shore as a U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Officer.

Many other Federal & Civilian Law Enforcement types got really upset, when I turned on the Blue flashing Beacon and hit the Siren and requested they "Cut their power, heave to and prepare to be boarded"... They'd look at me very surprised, hurt and often obviously upset & say "You talkin' to Me"?

Their first question was invariably... "What did you stop me for? I wasn't doing anything illegal! So I'd spend the first 10 or 15 minutes of contact explaining the "Reason for Stop" and why for example, their 6 year old riding on the bow of the boat, without a life jacket or some other form of PFD, with their feet hanging over the side and in the water, was both illegal and very unsafe for the Child.

And If I did a complete boarding & checked their Registration, all required safety equipment, etc. on top of that and found it lacking & had to issue a Citation with multiple violations, which happened more often than not, they were even more upset at me and my crew.

We were often threatened with "Mr. ... you better hope I never run across you on the street in my town or whatever and where ever their respective jurisdiction was!" I'd frequently ask them if they'd treat a fellow Officer on the Street or out on the Highway in their vicinity the same way?

Every now and then, I'd actually get a call later and an apology, I guess they'd think about their conduct and decide it was uncalled for...

Every now and then I'd actually have 'em show up in one of My Boating Safety Training classes, because oft times the Judge who adjudicated their case would reduce or suspend sentence if they'd come back to the court with proof that they'd attended such a class within a period of time after receiving their Citation. Many times they'd comment that they hadn't been aware of many of the "Rules of the Road" or "Nav-Rules" as they were called on the water or the minimum "Equipment Requirements".

There were occasions when I wrote Land Based Law Enforcement Officers for operating their boats at night without Lights... and when I stopped them... and I got the obligatory "What'd ya stop me for?"

They'd identify themselves frequently by handing me their driver's license, boat registration, and their badge and ID. I'd just look at 'em and ask if they were in the habit of driving their car on the street at night without their lights on? That's when they would often admit they didn't know how to turn them on or just plain didn't have any!

It was at times quite frustrating... but there is no Federal Requirement to have an Operators License for a Boat and most States don't require them either, so a large percentage of Boat Operators are ignorant of the Navigation Rules (aka Rules of the Road) or State and/or Federal minimum Equipment Requirements Afloat...

The really unfortunate thing about that is... a lot of people end up getting killed before they find out about either...
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SSgt Geospatial Intelligence
SSgt (Join to see)
8 y
I hear you, sir.
I remember going through a boaters safety course and earning an operators license in 8th grade, but that was a small town where wveryo e went through hunters safety in 6th grade.

The expectation of other officers to be treated as if they were above others drive me nuts - just like if a service member handed me their ID along with their license. Sorry, but that's just making me hold you to a higher standard because you KNOW you're in the wrong.
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Cpl Kevin Zimmermann
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My favorite has always been... Sheriff (or Police Chief) XXXX is one of my close friends. Like somehow that was relevant or appropriate. Name dropping seems to do it for me...
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Sgt David G Duchesneau
10 y
And how about those 100 Club guys? What gives them the right to break the Law and they drop so many names that it was ridiculous. I admire and respect the 100 Club and the good it does for our fallen brothers and sisters families and most of their members are good people. But you always have that 10% that think that just because they are in the 100 Club, it's a free ride.
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SSG (ret) William Martin
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I don't get pulled over very much. I just know what to do to avoid police contact after making hundreds of traffic stops. I got pulled over once in a small town in Texas and I was issued a written warning for traveling 67 mph in a 60 mph zone. I parked my POV like I was making a traffic stop. The state trooper knew I was LE then. Once thing is for sure, never say or doing anything to influence a citation.
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Sgt David G Duchesneau
>1 y
Good move and good advice! Stay safe brother!
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