WTK: Open carry and ID in CO

[Byte Stryke]

What, in your opinion, is the difference between a peace officer and a LEO? I'm curious, so I'll know which one I'm supposed to be.

I am (personally) hoping (especially if I ever run into you) that you are a peace officer

Peace officers use their heads and the law to keep the peace.
Its a career and a dedication.

unfortunately for other "Badged persons", Paycheck and/or Attitude.
I Actually had a Cop give me extra tickets because I once punked him back in Junior high.
As I remember it was Failure to yield, Failure to Signal, Improper lane change and some other fairy-tale shit.
with all of the points it meant I had to carry an SR for 2 years.

[Byte Stryke]

I don't understand this portion of your statement. What repercussions and what was to be pursued?


*Gets Crayons*
So... if you made a stop and lets say, you made a mistake and you were looking for a MAN in a Blue SUV in Arvada and not a WOMAN in a Blue SUV in Northglen... and lets say you realised this AFTER you had the vehicle seats removed, contents of the trunk removed, door panels and anything else not bolted with more than 4 screws...
THEN it was found that your mistake had cost someone.... A LOT


and now lets assume you are one of the "kinda-good, but not really" guys.

I think it was pretty clear.

Ohh and since Police cannot detain you for 72 hours, how long is the maximum detain without charge here?

[OneGuy67]

I don't understand this portion of your statement. What repercussions and what was to be pursued?


*Gets Crayons*
So... if you made a stop and lets say, you made a mistake and you were looking for a MAN in a Blue SUV in Arvada and not a WOMAN in a Blue SUV in Northglen... and lets say you realised this AFTER you had the vehicle seats removed, contents of the trunk removed, door panels and anything else not bolted with more than 4 screws...
THEN it was found that your mistake had cost someone.... A LOT


and now lets assume you are one of the "kinda-good, but not really" guys.

I think it was pretty clear.

Ohh and since Police cannot detain you for 72 hours, how long is the maximum detain without charge here?

Okay... I guess I would REALLY need to know all the facts to this case and what exactly were they looking for that would be necessary to take the vehicle that far down. I've only seen a vehicle done that way once in my career and it was only after an anonymous tip supported by a dog hitting on the vehicle. Drugs were found in the vehicle.

If I had been involved with your aunt's situation, I would have made it right with her and she would have received an apology from me and my subordinates, if they were the ones who did it without my knowledge. I would find it hard to believe that a street officer would do that without a supervisor's knowledge. I don't know. Again, I would need to know all the information from both sides.

"REASONABLE SUSPICION":

Particularized and objective basis for suspecting that a citizen is involved in criminal activity. A law enforcement officer must be able to articulate facts that indicate a reasonable suspicion of involvement in criminal activity. More than a mere hunch. Based on a set of facts and circumstances that would warrant a person of reasonable caution to believe that an infraction of the law has been committed, is about to be committed, or is in the process of being committed, by the person under suspicion.

"Detention"

The act of stopping or restraining and individuals’ freedom to walk away. Approaching and questioning an individual outside the realm of a consensual encounter; or stopping an individual suspected of being personally involved in criminal activity.

The amount of time you can be detained is a slippery thing. There isn't an exact time. It has to be "articulable" and "reasonable". The courts have allowed time periods between a few minutes to a few hours, depending upon those two words. You can be detained to allow time to investigate a lead that may or may not lead to your arrest. But that time needed, needs to be articulable and reasonable. It is reasonable to detain you to bring witnesses to your location to identify you as a suspect; it is reasonable to detain you while a clearance is run on you for warrants; it is unreasonable for that clearance to take a long time (again, time isn't set in stone). After a "reasonable" time, you should be released if the clearance hasn't come back.

Clear as mud? These are the things that officers wrestle and wrangle with every day.

[OneGuy67]

I am (personally) hoping (especially if I ever run into you) that you are a peace officer

Peace officers use their heads and the law to keep the peace.
Its a career and a dedication.

unfortunately for other "Badged persons", Paycheck and/or Attitude.
I Actually had a Cop give me extra tickets because I once punked him back in Junior high.
As I remember it was Failure to yield, Failure to Signal, Improper lane change and some other fairy-tale shit.
with all of the points it meant I had to carry and SR for 2 years.

I can tell you, Byte, that I am a career professional that uses my head and heart, common sense and legal standing to keep the peace, but more importantly, find justice for victims, whether that victim is a person, family or frankly, the state of Colorado. I like my paycheck and my family depends upon it to survive, but I always weigh my actions and decisions with the weight of lawsuit and the loss of my paycheck and house and toys. Do I want to cave the face in of a mouthy, drunk punk? Yep, sometimes. Do I? Nope. My career, my house, my paycheck, my family mean too much to me to allow that person to get to me personally. I get my satisfaction with them being in jail. I've never used my badge to "get back" at anyone. Maybe it is because I spent a lot of years in the military before becoming a cop, getting an education, and I don't know...being a mature adult.

Now, if I run into you somewhere...hmm. I may have to arrest you for disagreeing with me!

Seriously though, there are those here that have had dealings with me. I guess you would have to ask them if I am what you fear.

[Byte Stryke]

Seriously though, there are those here that have had dealings with me. I guess you would have to ask them if I am what you fear.

Crooked/improper/undereducated/immature cops are just like anyone else.
speaking from "this side of the badge." (meaning I dont wear one) we never know what we are getting in an interaction either.
we might get a good cop with a level head and some sense of right.. and then sometimes you get the jackhole with a badge, a gun and 3 attitudes.

As with any career or profession you also have those people that will hose anyone over to get to their goals and the ends justify the means... even if it means you going to jail for shit you didn't do.


I guess what I am trying to say in a nutshell is the whole damned system is broken and as imperfect as people are... and it rubs my OCD the wrong way when I See it.

[StagLefty]

Well I admit after reading 5 pages I'm still not sure about the ID question ???