A Cop's Advice on Dealing with Cops

[Elhuero]

Do you mean CCW or some other ID?

CCW.

a military ID never helped at all when in contact with cops, but I was never in uniform.

if some denver area PD took one of my guns and destroyed it, I would go on the warpath.

[hurley842002]

if some denver area PD took one of my guns and destroyed it, I would go on the warpath.

At that point, it becomes a principle issue, and depending on my financial means at the time, an attorney WOULD be hired, and that agency WOULD be buying me a new LCP.

Its surprising to me however, that they destroyed your LCP, just like that. Working in LE myself, and actually dealing with property stuff a few times during my career, there are strict accountability procedures in place for peoples property. Most agencies have a certain time frame to which they must hold property, and you have the chance to pick it up, provided its not being held as evidence. Something sounds fishy on the part of the agency that you dealt with. I hope some ass doesn't have himself/herself a free LCP.

[cstone]

It is sad that life in the US has come to this, but it is what it is. When you feel wronged and there is no other way of addressing the issue, hiring a lawyer is often the only option. I'm not a lawyer. I don't like most lawyers, the way some people don't like most cops. There are lawyers I trust and there are cops I don't trust. Isn't that true about many of the people we meet?

No one knows the details of Byte's circumstances better than Byte. Given the way he described it, the PD had no right to destroy his lawfully owned, private property. While the cop on the scene has good reason to secure a weapon while he is in contact with the owner (for everyone's safety), the weapon should have been returned as soon as possible.

I work in law enforcement but no longer in uniform. You learn very early, never argue with a cop in uniform on the street. You will lose. If the cop in uniform wrongs you, then you will have to patiently wait until you get your turn, either in court or with internal affairs. Pay back is a muther and it is best served cold.

That said, I agree with an earlier post. That department would have bought me a brand new gun. Then they would have paid my attorney's fees and some pain and suffering for the loss of my beloved possession.

[Irving]

OneGuy: You seem to have difficulty admitting that shitty cops exist in this world. I've seen first hand, shitty versions of every occupation I've ever had, and I have no issue admitting that they exist. We understand that you are an upstanding guy. There are more "bad cop" stories that can even be told here.

Here is a recent post from another board. This is from a pretty stupid member, with a history, so take it with a grain of salt.

Was my constitutional right Violated???

So yesterday i was on my way home,this NHP pulls me over with 3 more cops behind him and said his radar said i was speeding (56 in a 35) so even tho i know it wasn't true,i took the ticket without fighting about it. Well as i take the ticket,the cops open my door and pull me out (guns in hand) and tell me i was going to jail because in the state of Nevada,if you have a felony (witch i do but well over 7 years ago in Cali) that i need to register as a EX felon. They start going threw my car trowing all my stuff out on the side of the rode,and tell me there letting me go but i need to follow them to the station to get photos and fingerprints taken. So i go and ask why i had to register like I'm some child rapist,and they said so they can track me. They said i need to let them know where i go,where i work,and if i go out of state,i must tell them where I'm going and when ill be back. Now (IMO) its like there putting my ass back on probation.
I call the state capital and talk to an officer there about this so called LAW. He said that working as an officer for over 30+years,he had never herd about this and the cops had know right to jerk me out of my car like that,and i should call an attorney fast. I have been searching everywhere on the net about this LAW and can't seem to locate it.
What do you think i should do? Fight it or just let it be?
And the felony isn't all that bad,i can get it removed but just can't afford it right now.
I have been living in Nevada a little over a year now and been stopped 2 times and never had a problem.

My fiance once went on a date with a young cop. All night he bragged about going out with his police and fireman buddies and getting tanked and driving around because, "...we're the 'Boys in Blue' and can do whatever we want! Who's going to say anything?"

I've had an average amount of encounters with police, and for the most part they've been a-okay. I've recently noted how the police in my neighborhood show up fast, and in numbers when ever I call them. However, that doesn't allow me to over look and ignore the countless stories of shitty officers. There are literally hours and hours of videos of cops doing terrible things on Youtube that are completely inexcusable, regardless of any surrounding circumstances.

Gnihcraes - I'm surprised to hear that the lady officer that searched your dad's truck put a single thing back, let alone all of it. He is very lucky in that regard.

Byte - A family member was carrying his pistol concealed, while drunk, (not driving, walking on the sidewalk) when he was confronted by the police. He was arrested and they took the gun. I was pissed and was going to call the police and ask how to get the gun back, since it wasn't used in a crime. I was lazy and never did it. After like 18 months, they sent a letter to him telling him that he could come and claim the gun back. Color me surprised.

[Byte Stryke]

Maybe I am coming across wrong.
I do not approve of an encounter with a figure imposing unchecked immediate authority over me.
This might be a Local PD, State or federal officer or a DA of any Level.
Go to a courtroom and listen to the way they arbitrarily trade off sentences... YEARS of a Mans life regardless of Innocence or guilt. I have seen more concern by an 8 year old over a pokemon card.
Experience has taught me that regardless of what the facts actually are or your position in the events in Question, that cop can fuck you up and say ANYTHING and its up to you to disprove it.
Ask the guy that responded to his neighbor being shot in Englewood.
He was ON THE PHONE with 911 when the PD Bum-rushed his ass and threw him in Jail breaking his leg/ankle whatever. Sounds like Dispatch and Englewood PD are NOT doing their Jobs. Makes me REALLY want to be a good citizen and become involved... and then PD investigators wonder why nobody comes forward. "When the system learns your name, there is no escape."
When Cops have Hand gestures to EACH OTHER to plant illegal substances on a Citizen because they cannot find any on him...When a cop can beat the fuck out of someone illegally and get a slap on the hand and a paid vacation, There is a huge problem with the entirety of the system.
It's not that I only distrust Law Enforcement, I don't trust anyone with my rights.

when a LEO pulls you over your shit is done... and if you don't surrender your rights your life turns to shit.

[hurley842002]

Byte - A family member was carrying his pistol concealed, while drunk, (not driving, walking on the sidewalk) when he was confronted by the police. He was arrested and they took the gun. I was pissed and was going to call the police and ask how to get the gun back, since it wasn't used in a crime. I was lazy and never did it. After like 18 months, they sent a letter to him telling him that he could come and claim the gun back. Color me surprised. [/INDENT]

Most agencies will literally beg you to come get your crap (kind of a CYA). I've seen property sheets from a couple different agencies, and you would be quite surprised at some of the stuff they log and hang on to, so that you can later come pick it up, we're talking rubber bands and paper airplanes, lol.

[Irving]

Oh yeah, I've also been asked if I had any drugs or guns in my vehicle during a stop for a speeding ticket. Oh wait, I didn't get a ticket. I was pulled over coming out of "The Loop" up in Westminster and I just got a warning. I was going like 6 over.

The best experience I've had while being pulled over was when I was doing like 80 mph on an off ramp trying to get to class on time. Cop pulls me over. He was pissed. He came up to my window and said, "You were doing 80 mph on an off ramp." I said, "I was." As in, I was affirming what he just said. He misinterpreted that as me playing dumb and saying, "I was?" He responded, "Yeah, you were." He went back to his car, came back in like 4 seconds with a ticket. I signed it and we were both on our way. The whole stop took under 4 minutes. He didn't waste either of our time.

I've been stopped before and sat on the side of the road for 30 minutes while the two guys had a tickle fight or something in the car behind me. They purposely wasted my time because I told them I was on my way to the airport to pick someone up (I was).

[Irving]

Most agencies will literally beg you to come get your crap (kind of a CYA). I've seen property sheets from a couple different agencies, and you would be quite surprised at some of the stuff they log and hang on to, so that you can later come pick it up, we're talking rubber bands and paper airplanes, lol.

The letter was sent to the house he lives at with the parents. They told me about it. None of us told him about it, because we don't really think he should have a gun (too immature). Think they'll send another letter?

[hurley842002]

The letter was sent to the house he lives at with the parents. They told me about it. None of us told him about it, because we don't really think he should have a gun (too immature). Think they'll send another letter?

They may. I know depending on the value of the item in question, often times a letter will be sent, followed by a certified letter. It just varies by department, some just send a letter, and wait how ever long their policy requires, and then destroy.

[Irving]

I was going to buy it from him, but since I lost my job, and it has been long enough that he probably doesn't feel as dumb anymore, it probably won't happen.