Deferred ajudication

[C150J]

Wow..... Very sorry you all feel that way. I guess in my years in Law Enforcement I saw things as very different. Generally the one's crying fowl the most were those that were screwing up the most. I am just curious as to how many actually have experience with this, or was it a case of you heard from a friend who had an experience. If you did have an acutal experience with a "crooked cop", than on behalf of those that I served with and any other LE Officer around, I appologize. Hopefully, you made a formal complaint with the departments Internal Affairs division and hired an attorney to right the wrong..... If not, for the sake of Law Enforcement everywhere, please do. Because how else will things change?????????

I was a Sergeant for six years. About 20 percent of all complaints called in by the public were valid. And most were for attitude issues (Officer having a bad day... (does happen being human an all))... or was a procedural issue.... Most complaints involved the public not liking the fact that their family member was put in handcuffs when arrested (Policy here and if the Officer had not put them in handcuffs, they would have been in trouble with the department... major officer safety issue) or that the officers had their guns drawn... (again Officer safety issue and the officers are following policy) I could go on, but the short of it was that most people make complaints because they do not like the police or because they do not like the way we did business and held them accountable.... Oh well.....

Fortunately, I can remember only a handful of times were things occured where the officer was acting in a criminal way..... They were fired and charged criminaly (as they damn well should have been). Neither I nor anyone that I worked with closely tollerated that kind of behavior.

Do me a favor and please, if given the opportunity, attend a citizens academy.... I know it sounds goofy, but it is actually a great way to get a better insight as to what the job requires of it's personnel, as well as the reason things are done the way they are. Maybe you will still not be fond of them and maybe things will change.... Just a thought..... But please make complaints if you feel wronged. Just make sure the complaints are valid.

In addition, GOOD people deal with law enforcement so rarely that it is tempting to make one negative encounter a general opinion of all police officers. No one is denying that there are bad ones out there (low hiring standards in some respects combined by high attrition and growth lets some slip through the hiring cracks), and they truly do a disservice to those who do a great job. There is also a huge "file-drawer" effect that occurs with "cop stories." Most people will "file away" police contact that didn't elicit emotion, but are quick to remember both good and bad experiences with cops.

As Juskl said, a lot of the complaints usually arise from officer safety issues. For example, on a traffic stop, a subject exits the vehicle. The officer may yell at the person to get back in the car, which could be taken as a very rude statement. The officer had two choices though - yell at someone and temporarily hurt their feelings, or run the risk (however small it may be) of that person approaching them with a weapon. Juskl can tell you about a video that shows what happens when a cop is too lenient - the cop gets shot multiple times by a shotgun... I never want to hear that man's screams before he died again.

I am not defending what happened to the original poster, however. If what he says is true, shame on the task force (I googled it and saw that it was disbanded).


"There are a ton of pilots I know who leave their wedding vows at their base."
"Why should little planes fly at all, all they do is crash and kill people."
"I live near the airport and I'd like to see the airport shut down."

...I encourage people to consider all the pilot stereotypes. I can't tell you how many times I've been complained to about some issue or accused of being a reckless person because I fly - ludicrous if you're in this field, but maybe plausible from the outside looking in.

 

[SpiraMirabilis]

If I recall correctly most employment applications ask if you've ever been CHARGED with a felony -- or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to one, which you may have even if it was dismissed later.

 

[tonyw]

No No you are 100% right...My record shows an arrest and that the case was dismissed. Thats it really.

Well, if there's no conviction, then there's no crime committed. Are you 100 percent sure that it shows case dismissed and that's it, without any PBJ stuff?

Make sure. Because if it shows an arrest and a dismissed case, then you are innocent of a crime from a legal standpoint. You still are innocent until proven guilty!

If I recall correctly most employment applications ask if you've ever been CHARGED with a felony -- or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to one, which you may have even if it was dismissed later.

The ones I've seen ask about CONVICTIONS. And they do for a very good reason. If you are found not guilty, then the crime never happened. O.J. Simpson, regardless of what we think, is considered innocent by the legal system. He can truthfully put down on his application that he has never been convicted of a crime.

The presumption of innocence is one of the most fundamental rights we have here in this country, notwithstanding the latest attempts by the Congress and the President to get rid of that right.

 

[TXaviator]

If I recall correctly most employment applications ask if you've ever been CHARGED with a felony -- or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to one, which you may have even if it was dismissed later.

i dont see how they could legally use that against you. i can CHARGE anyone i want with murder, rape, etc...let the accusations fly!!

in this wonderful country it is the burden of the accusor to PROVE beyond any doubt that the crime was committed.

simply accusing proves NOTHING.

seriously, where are the rights and values of this country going? :-(

 

[TXaviator]

juskl, just so you know, in my personal encounters with police they have ALWAYS been very very courteous, professional, and willing to work with me through the situation.

however i have been witness to some of the grossest and scariest abuses of power that i can possibly imagine.

ive seen these things with my own eyes. and they truely shook me to the bone regarding how this country really operates.

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

i don't see how they could legally use that against you. i can CHARGE anyone i want with murder, rape, etc...let the accusations fly!!

There are some state law variations on what can be asked, especially in the area of arrests.

I'm not sure, but I think, for example, that arrests for certain crime of dishonesty may be considered for positions where financial security is an issue and that full criminal record checks (that will show arrests) are fairly standard in the child care industry. Do you have a problem with those (some people would, so I'm really just asking).

in this wonderful country it is the burden of the accuser to PROVE beyond any doubt that the crime was committed.

Not quite. In a criminal p[rosecution, it is the burden on the =government= to prove beyond a =reasonable= doubt that a person committed a crime before putting them in jail or fining them. It's a rule to help prevent government abuse. If you commit a crime against another person and the person sues, the only thing they need to prove is that it is =more likely than not= that you did it. Same conduct; different burden.

 

[amckinnerney]

Sorry so long to get back...Well I got out my old paper work and called my lawyer. Mine is not related to a conviction. so I think its fine.

Man I stirred up a • storm on this law enforcement thing HUH?

Well let me give you my perspective on law enforcement. My wife is a parole officer. Her mother, brother , and grandfather were Highway patrol. Her grandfather finished his career as a texas ranger. NOW, this is were it gets good and I left this out.... My wifes mother was mad at me at the time I got in trouble and actually had some hand in me GETTING set up. I didnt learn this until last year....Man I love cops!!! They are a tight band of brothers. I am not a drig dealer, user, or anything in between. Maybe I just got caught up with the wrong ones...I have no other experience to base it on...Not even a traffic ticket. I know there are good cops out there. I just hope that I get one if I ever need it. I hope I dont need it.

 

[juskl]

Please, Please, Please......... File a complaint, go to the attorney general's office for your state if you have too...... In that situation, if you felt you were set up and it sounds like you were, do not let that situation sit idoly by...... Because otherwise Officers whom held themselves to the highest standards (as well as those around them), will never have a leg to stand on. I worked for the Glendale, Arizona Police Department. We prided ourselves in holding ourselves and all in our department accountable (as do most in the Phoenix metro area). I honestly want to vomit when I hear stories of other agencies doing something dishonest, inappropriate or outright illegal......

Just so you all know, I love coming to this site to read and learn and interact from time to time. Just got a button pushed (still feel strongly I guess) when I read about these situations..... Anyway sounds like you should be fine as you were not actually convicted of anything. But again, file a complaint and get it on the record at the minimum.... That way (God forbid) that situation happens to anyone else, it will be documented.....

Ok.... Now I need a beer..... or three.....

 

[juskl]

This was one of the reasons I decided to call it quits after thirteen years.... Give me 20 gusting to 35 X-wind anytime over dealing with this s..... again.