Ask A Cop!!! Post Your Questions Here!

[TJcop]

question: What's the nicest thing a civilian has done to you when on duty?

At the holidays, citizens and businesses usually send in wonderful baked goodies and meals. I've also had bystanders help in detaining people that I've had to fight with prior to other officers arriving on the scene.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

That's awesome, TJ. Policemen have a tough and thankless job. It's nice to see them get help, meals, and goodies, too.

 

[TJcop]

That's awesome, TJ. Policemen have a tough and thankless job. It's nice to see them get help, meals, and goodies, too.

Thanks!

Yeah, this job is sometimes tough and thankless...but I feel that I'm compensated. Don't get me wrong, I'm not rich, but I'm not exactly starving either. Officers are routinely heard saying "It's a good thing I don't have to work for a living", which is true, since we are paid to play!

I also like the saying "We aren't paid for what we do, we are paid for what we MIGHT have to do."

 

[MikeC]

As a state employee we are prohibited from taking any freebies. Doing so could result in termination.

Does this rule cover every state employee?

If it covers all state employees,it could also prohibit a janitor at a state college from accepting a gift as well.

Is it illegal to offer a free bottle of water to a state employee?

 

[RonDawg]

It was RCMP. They're not very quick to draw their guns. I think if you pulled a stunt like that in the States you'd be lucky not to get shot.

Having a couple of friends in the RCMP, including having done some ridealongs with them, as well as seeing them in action in various videos, I would highly disagree with you.

In the States you wouldn't necessarily get shot but you will definitely make the officer a lot more nervous.

 

[RonDawg]

A question about freebies. There is a local convenience store that gives coffee to the county officers for free. The shop also allows the officers to use their restroom, the restroom is off limits to the public. From what I understand the coffee is available to any uniformed officer working out of the nearby precinct, there are no rules about who can and who can't get it.

The whole issue of what constitutes a "gratuity" is a controversial one within law enforcement.

There are those who believe that even accepting a discounted (much less free) meal or drink leads down the "slippery slope of corruption."

There are others, including myself, who weigh each individual offer on its merits. It's no secret that many restaurants offer discounted meals to cops. On the surface, they appear to be doing something nice for the police, and that may well be the case. In many cases though, they get free armed security for the duration of your visit. If I stay an hour and get a $10 meal for free, they just got a bargain, because it's pretty tough finding an armed security guard for $10/hour, much less a police officer.

If I don't feel comfortable with an offer, I don't accept it. I have had to turn down niceties from many businesses that have had adversarial relationships with their neighbors, or even the police itself, to prevent any appearance of impropriety.

When I go into an establishment and purchase something, I always go in with the expectation of paying full price, and I have my money out ready to do the same.

 

[RonDawg]

What's the nicest thing a civilian has done to you when on duty?

The nicest thing the public can do for its local law enforcers is to always be supportive of them, even if they have to take enforcement action against you or appear to have done something unpopular, but still within the law.

 

[MikeC]

A little off topic. Ontario has the OPP, Ontario Provincial Police. Never had any negative interaction with them, NO tickets!! Every one of their officers that I have seen wore their body armor on the outside of the uniform shirt. WHY?? In spring, summer and early fall you are showing a bad guy where to shoot or aim a knife at. From what I remember the vests weren't level IV hard armor, just regular level III/IIIA. (maybe even lighter.) Not really a question, just an observation.

 

[RonDawg]

Wearing of body armor over the uniform shirt seems to be a Canadian thing. My friends at the RCMP do so as well, and when asked why it's because both tend to be inside of their stations a lot, so it's a lot more comfortable to be able to take it off when inside a secure location.

From what I've seen at Canadian police forums, this practice is somewhat controversial, with those against it citing the same concerns as you.

With American police officers, you rarely see them wearing exposed body armor unless they are on a SWAT team or a special enforcement/anti-crime type of unit. Body armor, even the latest ones, can be quite uncomfortable especially in summer, so in many ways I am quite jealous of my Canadian counterparts.

 

[chip104]

is intimidation and deterrence against would-be assailants a reason brought up in these forums for them wearing the jackets on the outside? just curious.