From a cop's perspective...

[fireman43]

Don't know if this has been posted already. If so, I apologize. I didn't find it in a search, and I thought it was good. I almost pursued law enforcement, went through half the training, but decided to go with firefighting instead. I have great respect for the men and women that place themselves out there everyday to keep us all safe.

What cops would like the public to know.........

When you see an emergency vehicle behind you with its lights and sirens
on, pull to the RIGHT, and Stop. We are usually required to pass cars on the
left.

When you're driving in the fast lane and you see a cop behind you, don't
go 5 mph under the speed limit. We are not impressed by how safe of a driver you can be, we're trying to go help someone (or catch that guy in the SUV that just cut you off). Safely move over and let us pass please.

If you get a warning instead of a ticket from a motorcycle cop, go buy a
lottery ticket, because you've already beaten the odds.

When you see an officer conducting a traffic stop, or with a suspect in
handcuffs, it is generally not a good idea to approach him and ask for
directions. If you do, don't expect the officer to be nice when he tells
you to get lost, and don't expect the officer to take the time to explain.

If a cop causes a car accident we usually get a ticket, and sometimes we
get suspended. When is the last time you got 3 days off [without pay] for rear-ending a guy at Wal-Mart.

If you think you can fan all the pot smoke out of the car before we smell
it, good luck.

We know you've had more than 2 beers. When I've had two beers, I didn't hit six parked cars or drive my car through the front doors of a Toys-R-Us, pissed my pants, or passed out at a traffic light.

Here's how to get out of a ticket.don't break the law.

If you drive a piece of crap, that is why you're getting pulled over.

In one week I pulled over 10 cars for minor equipment violations.
5 out of 10 had no vehicle insurance.
3 out of 10 had suspended driver's licenses.
2 out of 10 had warrants.
1 out of 10 had felony warrants.
1 was a known sex offender with his 12 year old niece in the car without
her mothers knowledge.

If you've just been pulled over doing 70 in a 35, do not greet the
officer with "what seems to be the problem, officer".

We get coffee breaks too, and sometimes we run into stores and do some
shopping during them.

When you're the victim of a burglary, take the time you spend waiting for
the officer to find the model #'s and the serial #'s of the stuff that
was taken.

Some cops are just jerks, but take heart in the fact that other cops
don't like them either.

If it's nighttime and you're driving a vehicle with tinted windows and I
pull you over, it's not because of your skin color. I usually can't tell
if the vehicle even has a driver until the windows rolled down.

Every time you hear on the news about people running away from a crazed
gunman, someone's son or daughter in a police uniform is running TOWARD
that crazed gunman.

Yes it's true, cops usually don't give other cops tickets. Think of it as
an employee discount, perk or benefit. Other Cops are family and you
wouldn't give your brother a ticket if you were a cop either.

If your local police agency has a helicopter everyone ! knows it 's loud and
annoying, but did you know it can cover the same area as 15-20 patrol
officers, and safely chase criminals that are driving 90 MPH through city
streets. Many times the guy has no idea it's there and slows down.

Your 5 year old kid getting pushed down by another 5 year old kid is NOT
a police matter; talk to the other kid's parents, not the police.

If your kid won't do his homework or do his chores, 911 is not the answer
for a uniformed parent.

Police work is...writing reports.

If you rob a gas station you're only going to get $20, but I get to see a
K-9 dog use your arm as a chew toy. For all I care you can keep the $20.

In 1 year of patrol work in a large city only about 10 minutes would be
cool enough to be on the television show, COPS. But if COPS was about report
writing and accident reports each show would be a year long.

Every traffic stop could end in gunfire, but we have to be polite and
professional until that time.

I've taken about the same amount of men and women to jail for domestic
violence, so NO it's not always the man.

People love fire fighters.

If you find crack pipes in the ladies purse, there is a good chance they
belong to her.

If the light was yellow, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

Cops know you pay taxes and that your taxes pay cops' salaries. Cops also pay taxes, which also pay cops' salaries so, hey, this traffic stop is on me. Now sign here, press hard, there are five copies.

[Diesel Kinevel]

sooo true.....damn I cant wait!

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by fireman43

We know you've had more than 2 beers. When I've had two beers, I didn't hit six parked cars or drive my car through the front doors of a Toys-R-Us, pissed my pants, or passed out at a traffic light.

Speak for yourself!!

Great post, with all being funny and most being absolutely true!

[Ivory Tower]

Am I free to go now?

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Ivory Tower

Am I free to go now?

Just leave the cigars on the ground, and slowly walk away....

[mikey202]

Nice post. My brother is graduating from the Louisville,Kentucky Police Academy in December.And I was an MP in the Army.

Everyone hates a cop, until you need one.

[ghostrider]

Originally Posted by mikey202

Everyone hates a cop, until you need one.

Even then, there are some...

Nice post, thanks. I've said this in a couple other posts, but I'll say it again. It's about respect. Respect yourself, your neighbor, and the cop that got called to get you out of the trouble you put yourself in when you forgot what respect was.

[c-poc]

Nice post... I laughed. SOOOoooo true

[MiamiE]

A little off topic but Fireman43 how do you like it out there in NC. I work down here as a firefighter/paramedic and my fiance and I are considering a move to NC. Charlotte sounds nice but the pay is putrid compared to what I get here in Miami. Also my paramedic certification goes out the door since EMS and Fire are seperate unlike here. Any departments that are BIG, pay well, and combine Fire and Rescue services?

[MiamiE]

Originally Posted by mikey202

Everyone hates a cop, until you need one.

It gets me pretty pissed every time someone bashes cops. I wish you could tell them next time someone is breaking in your house, your car, or assaulting you dont call the cops.

[Zoomschwortz]

Originally Posted by fireman43

Yes it's true, cops usually don't give other cops tickets. Think of it as
an employee discount, perk or benefit. Other Cops are family and you
wouldn't give your brother a ticket if you were a cop either.

One question my friend was asked when joining the Washington State Patrol was: If you pulled a car over for speeding and your mother was driving the car, would you write her a ticket.

His answer was "Yes I would"

Their response was: "You would write up your own mother?"

His answer was: " I sure would. She doesn't have a license and has never driven before and has no car. If she is driving she had to steal the car and most likely will kill someone while driving. I'd be saving her life or someone else's."

They all got a laugh out of it but, I think he really would write her up.

One story I loved was when he responded to a single car accident where a man and women had been fighting over meth and someone forgot they were driving. When they got there the man was still beating the women and then became violent with the officers. When they hog tied him and put him in the back of the car, he claimed that he was having chest pains and couldn't breath so they called medics. By the time the medics got there the Sheriff depart had arived too and they had Tasers.

As they were releasing the restraints from the man he started acting up again so my friend asked him if he could see the red dots on his chest and groin. The man said he did see the dots, so my friend told him those dots are from the Taser's and if you get violent when I release you we may be having a weenie roast.

They didn't have another problem with him that night

They don't pay these guys enough for the crap they go through.

[borndead1]

Originally Posted by Zoomschwortz

They don't pay these guys enough for the crap they go through.

Cops should get paid WAY more money, so should the Armed Forces. If you think about what they are risking every day just doing their job, they get paid squat.

[piperman]

All true I don't think they get the respect they deserve.....