Any police officers on this board?

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Why is it necessary to sit on the side of the highway doing post-traffic stop/post-accident paperwork with your lights flashing? So frustrating to sit in a backup for 10 minutes only to find out it's just rubberneckers looking at a single officer on the shoulder.

Why don't you guys do the paperwork off the highway?

 

[Bsims01]

I've got a question also...why is it necessary to sit on a 4 lane road with a speed limit under 35 (where no traffic accidents occur EVER) at the end of the month? I see this in vegas all the time. Meanwhile, worse crime than going 40 is happening all over this town.

FYI..i know the answer, it just annoys me!!!!

 

[RunRonnieRun]

Nah, most of us on the board went to four-year college.

 

[vevois23]

I've got a question also...why is it necessary to sit on a 4 lane road with a speed limit under 35 (where no traffic accidents occur EVER) at the end of the month? I see this in vegas all the time. Meanwhile, worse crime than going 40 is happening all over this town.

FYI..i know the answer, it just annoys me!!!!

What 4 lane road has a speed limit of 30 or less? Outside of maybe being part of a school zone?

 

[GwinnettNole]

I would literally rather shovel horse $hit than be a cop today.

With the current events since, oh around 2009, who the heck would want that job?

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

I would literally rather shovel horse $hit than be a cop today.

Kinda the same job, isn't it?

 

[More Kirk Less Spock]

Cops have tough jobs, harder than most. They do, however, have a propensity for writing tickets in areas where it seems easy rather than necessary. A FHP officer who is a friend of our family said his performance reviews always suffered when he failed to write enough tickets. He said he'd pull people over and just see how suddenly miserable they were and cut them a break. This did not endear him to his supervisors.

 

[Bsims01]

What 4 lane road has a speed limit of 30 or less? Outside of maybe being part of a school zone?

come out here to vegas and I will show you exactly where it is. I'ts not a school zone. There are also cops that sit on a 25 mph road that everyone speeds on because nobody is on that road, but they are only there on the last few days of the week as well.

 

[vevois23]

I'll be there in 59 days. Look forward to being shown it. Can I assume then given the 25 MPH speed limit that it is a residential area? Just hard to see 2 lanes of traffic in each direction with that slow of a speed limit without some sort of mitigating factor

 

[Bsims01]

I'll be there in 59 days. Look forward to being shown it. Can I assume then given the 25 MPH speed limit that it is a residential area? Just hard to see 2 lanes of traffic in each direction with that slow of a speed limit without some sort of mitigating factor

It's somewhat residential. It's in an underdeveloped part of the town in the NW area, about 30 min off the strip. There is a stretch of road between two developed communities with horse property in between. Here it's 25 and the motorcycle cops love it here at the end of the month.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

He said he'd pull people over and just see how suddenly miserable they were and cut them a break. This did not endear him to his supervisors.

That's too bad, because he sounds like the kind of cop we need more of. Empathetic and understanding of where and how his authority can be best utilized in the pursuit of public safety.

His supervisors seem like they're content to just be part of the problem - a police force that monetizes civilians.

Someone on this board, can't remember who, had the idea of prohibiting police departments from utilizing funds from citations/tickets/etc... but instead putting that money into community programs, at-risk kids, programs to steer folks away from crime... This thread is exactly why that idea is top-notch.

If people didn't break laws, the police would be out of business (and jobs) -- they seem well aware of that and quite adept at "business development".

 

[goldmom]

Nah, most of us on the board went to four-year college.

Are you aware that many Police Departments in this state require new hires to have either a 4 year degree or military service and an Associate Degree?

No cops in my family BTW

 

[LT4PLY]

Are you aware that many Police Departments in this state require new hires to have either a 4 year degree or military service and an Associate Degree?

No cops in my family BTW

I don't know of any in Fl that a 4 year degree is required. Looked favorably... Sure. Required? You will need to provide backing there. Usually it's a GED. There might be some that require it but I'd imagine it's the exception, not close to the norm.

 

[RONole]

I like that idea on using ticket proceeds. I agree with some of the general sentiment in a way too. With tha said....if you think the laws are silly like a wrong speed limit for the area, there are avenues to push for change rather than complaining about enforcement. I imagine if we all dealt with accident scenes for a living and were called on for next of kin notifications, we might view simple speeding infractions a little different, myself included. I respect the job done by 95% of our police more and more every day.

 

[goldmom]

A senior JSO detective told me that. I'll ask him if he's a liar.

Wish me luck

 

[jim65]

A senior JSO detective told me that. I'll ask him if he's a liar.

Wish me luck

GENERAL INFORMATION ON HOW TO BECOME A JSO POLICE OFFICER
QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must possess a High School diploma or GED equivalent
• Must possess a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university OR Possess an accredited Associate’s Degree or equivalent (60 semester/90 quarter hours) with four (4) years prior active military or full time law enforcement experience OR Possess 90 semester/135 quarter hours with two (2) years prior active military or full time law enforcement experience.
• Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age.
• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Must possess a valid Florida driver’s license.
• Be in good physical condition.
• Be of good moral character
• NOT HAVE TATTOOS above the collarbone (e.g., neck, face, or behind the ear) or below the wrist (e.g., hands, fingers).
• NOT HAVE received a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces
• NOT HAVE been convicted of any felony
• NOT HAVE been convicted of a misdemeanor involving false statement, perjury or domestic violence
• MUST HAVE Criminal Justice Basic Abilities Test (CJBAT LEO) for Law Enforcement
• Contact the Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) at (904) 633-8388 or click here for Assessment and Certification testing information.

OR

• MUST HAVE a Basic Law Enforcement Training Certification issued by the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. A copy of state exam test score must be submitted. Out of state certified applicants contact Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) at 1-850-410-8600 to obtain certification transfer information.

 

[JohnnieHolmesNole]

Cops have tough jobs, harder than most. They do, however, have a propensity for writing tickets in areas where it seems easy rather than necessary. A FHP officer who is a friend of our family said his performance reviews always suffered when he failed to write enough tickets. He said he'd pull people over and just see how suddenly miserable they were and cut them a break. This did not endear him to his supervisors.

Although people claim there are no "quotas," and cite to the recent bogus legislation limiting the amount of revenue that can be generated from traffic tickets, the reality is that all of these guys still operate under quotas. Change the terminology, use the secret code language at meetings, whatever.....it's all the same. The "supervisory people" in law enforcement got those promotions BECAUSE they were prolific revenue generators when they occupied "street" positions.

 

[JohnnieHolmesNole]

Are you aware that many Police Departments in this state require new hires to have either a 4 year degree or military service and an Associate Degree?

No cops in my family BTW

FSU generates a large number of cops (and other relatively low-paying workers).....it's one of the reasons our fundraising efforts are not on par with other schools.....we don't (yet) have generations of successful doctors, engineers, veterinarians, etc.

 

[FreeFlyNole]

That's too bad, because he sounds like the kind of cop we need more of. Empathetic and understanding of where and how his authority can be best utilized in the pursuit of public safety.

His supervisors seem like they're content to just be part of the problem - a police force that monetizes civilians.

Someone on this board, can't remember who, had the idea of prohibiting police departments from utilizing funds from citations/tickets/etc... but instead putting that money into community programs, at-risk kids, programs to steer folks away from crime... This thread is exactly why that idea is top-notch.

If people didn't break laws, the police would be out of business (and jobs) -- they seem well aware of that and quite adept at "business development".

That was me, my most hippy idea ever. Otherwise they are just road pirates. They should have 3 point hats and parrots instead of dogs.

 

[SeaPA]

A senior JSO detective told me that. I'll ask him if he's a liar.

Wish me luck

I believe that in the Tampa area, Hillsborough County SO is the only department that requires college (they require at least 60 hours/Associates degree, but have exceptions for retired military or with experience at another department). Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Manatee all only require a HS diploma or GED, along with completion of the program at a certified law enforcement academy.

 

[JohnnieHolmesNole]

I believe that in the Tampa area, Hillsborough County SO is the only department that requires college (they require at least 60 hours/Associates degree, but have exceptions for retired military or with experience at another department). Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Manatee all only require a HS diploma or GED, along with completion of the program at a certified law enforcement academy.

Makes sense that some of the smaller communities, in particular, would not require college degrees. I mean, practically, how many college graduates are going to be cops in some of the rural/outlying areas (i.e., think Dixie, Levy, Gilchrist, Union, Taylor Counties, among many others)?

 

[vevois23]

It's somewhat residential. It's in an underdeveloped part of the town in the NW area, about 30 min off the strip. There is a stretch of road between two developed communities with horse property in between. Here it's 25 and the motorcycle cops love it here at the end of the month.

Ahh, that makes sense. When the recession hit LV and real estate development dried up it definitely left a lot of underdeveloped areas. Sucks that law enforcement is using such areas as ticket mills. Especially since LV is truly "back", at least as of the last trip there in January.

 

[KitingHigh]

Why should we care if they have college degrees? Detectives, sure, but why would a beat cop need a degree? I'd much rather them have job specific training.

 

[runkpanole]

That's too bad, because he sounds like the kind of cop we need more of. Empathetic and understanding of where and how his authority can be best utilized in the pursuit of public safety.

His supervisors seem like they're content to just be part of the problem - a police force that monetizes civilians.

Someone on this board, can't remember who, had the idea of prohibiting police departments from utilizing funds from citations/tickets/etc... but instead putting that money into community programs, at-risk kids, programs to steer folks away from crime... This thread is exactly why that idea is top-notch.

If people didn't break laws, the police would be out of business (and jobs) -- they seem well aware of that and quite adept at "business development".

This part of policing we can agree on. The Wire really hit on this regarding officers being raised on stats.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

That was me, my most hippy idea ever. Otherwise they are just road pirates. They should have 3 point hats and parrots instead of dogs.

Thank you for perhaps one of the best, most reasonable, ideas ever seen in the Locker Room.
It made so much sense, esp the way you worded it, that they'd never implement it :/

 

[RogersHall84]

FSU generates a large number of cops (and other relatively low-paying workers).....it's one of the reasons our fundraising efforts are not on par with other schools.....we don't (yet) have generations of successful doctors, engineers, veterinarians, etc.

The trade-off is that our football players are protected by local law enforcement. /sarcasm

 

[NoleandDawg]

It's somewhat residential. It's in an underdeveloped part of the town in the NW area, about 30 min off the strip. There is a stretch of road between two developed communities with horse property in between. Here it's 25 and the motorcycle cops love it here at the end of the month.

I live in the NW part of Vegas. That sounds like Grabd Teton Blvd. my in laws have been busted up there, and I've had to fix a few tickets for them.

 

[LT4PLY]

I like that idea on using ticket proceeds. I agree with some of the general sentiment in a way too. With tha said....if you think the laws are silly like a wrong speed limit for the area, there are avenues to push for change rather than complaining about enforcement. I imagine if we all dealt with accident scenes for a living and were called on for next of kin notifications, we might view simple speeding infractions a little different, myself included. I respect the job done by 95% of our police more and more every day.

Our country doesn't govern on logic and sound data. It's governed on feeling. Data shows the autobahn is safer yet we continue to dish out driver licenses with practically no training and use heavy enforcement of brainwashed cops of brutally slow speed limits. The avenues to get things changed include going through every brainwashed person.... Every person who assumes speed kills. Every person who wants it easy to get a license. That isn't an avenue at all, it would be a form of insanity and punishment trying to get things done right.

 

[billanole]

I live in the NW part of Vegas. That sounds like Grabd Teton Blvd. my in laws have been busted up there, and I've had to fix a few tickets for them.

Well now. I may call on you sometime out that way, N n D. The fixer...
Let me know if we can help in Western NC sometime.

 

[JonSch7]

I am a law enforcement officer in the state of Florida and graduated from FSU with a Masters Degree in Public Administration. I think everyone has this idea of what police officers do all day long, but in reality they have no clue. I encourage everyone to come on a ride along. I think it will open up your eyes to not only what we really do, but to see a lot of the challenges that we have to encounter.

As far as your question about sitting on the road with emergency lights on. Quite possibly waiting for a tow truck to arrive, or could be anything. I doubt any just sit there in a very unsafe location just to piss off commuters.

Traffic stops are a huge tool in conducting proactive police work. Traffic stops lead to wanted people, drugs, stolen property, unlicensed drivers, etc. Most often, officers aren't there for the sole purpose to write you a ticket. They are looking to make a citizen contact and look further into the stop. Our agency receives hundreds of neighborhood traffic complaints each year. They are typically distributed to officers to check on, in order to satisfy the citizen and as well as to be visible.

In Florida there are no quotas. I think one must remember that if you get stopped by an agency's traffic unit officer, you most likely will get a ticket. They are responsible for enforcing traffic laws, and usually that is their sole purpose. Someone referred to FHP....there job is to write tickets and handle traffic crashes.

After being in this profession for 15 years, I don't think it has ever been this bad, in regards to lack of support from the general public. Officers are afraid to perform any proactive work out of fear that any use of force or search and seizure could turn into a major fiasco. Recruitment numbers for many agencies are at an all time low. Many agencies are short staffed and are getting very few quality applicants.

Granted I signed up for this job, and knew the repercussions when I signed on. But this job is scrutinized like none other. I had a gentleman question me during a lunch break yesterday, and asked why I was taking a paid lunch on his tax dollars. Or the lady I arrested for shoplifting, who later cussed me out in front of my 5 & 9 daughters while off duty at the movies.

I'm not going to change anyone's opinion, that is obvious. But give us a break every once and awhile. It is a job just like anyone else has. Maybe stop by and say hello next time you see one, and ask them how there day is going. Or ask them why they sit at the same street like you mention.

 

[RunRonnieRun]

I am a law enforcement officer in the state of Florida and graduated from FSU with a Masters Degree in Public Administration. I think everyone has this idea of what police officers do all day long, but in reality they have no clue. I encourage everyone to come on a ride along. I think it will open up your eyes to not only what we really do, but to see a lot of the challenges that we have to encounter.

As far as your question about sitting on the road with emergency lights on. Quite possibly waiting for a tow truck to arrive, or could be anything. I doubt any just sit there in a very unsafe location just to piss off commuters.

Traffic stops are a huge tool in conducting proactive police work. Traffic stops lead to wanted people, drugs, stolen property, unlicensed drivers, etc. Most often, officers aren't there for the sole purpose to write you a ticket. They are looking to make a citizen contact and look further into the stop. Our agency receives hundreds of neighborhood traffic complaints each year. They are typically distributed to officers to check on, in order to satisfy the citizen and as well as to be visible.

In Florida there are no quotas. I think one must remember that if you get stopped by an agency's traffic unit officer, you most likely will get a ticket. They are responsible for enforcing traffic laws, and usually that is their sole purpose. Someone referred to FHP....there job is to write tickets and handle traffic crashes.

After being in this profession for 15 years, I don't think it has ever been this bad, in regards to lack of support from the general public. Officers are afraid to perform any proactive work out of fear that any use of force or search and seizure could turn into a major fiasco. Recruitment numbers for many agencies are at an all time low. Many agencies are short staffed and are getting very few quality applicants.

Granted I signed up for this job, and knew the repercussions when I signed on. But this job is scrutinized like none other. I had a gentleman question me during a lunch break yesterday, and asked why I was taking a paid lunch on his tax dollars. Or the lady I arrested for shoplifting, who later cussed me out in front of my 5 & 9 daughters while off duty at the movies.

I'm not going to change anyone's opinion, that is obvious. But give us a break every once and awhile. It is a job just like anyone else has. Maybe stop by and say hello next time you see one, and ask them how there day is going. Or ask them why they sit at the same street like you mention.

Tl;dr - being a police man is hard sometimes.

 

[LesClaypool]

The Waldo police force was caught and disbanded for ticket quotas. So your comment about there not being quotas in Florida is factually untrue. I don't believe for a second that Waldo was unique either. They were just too aggressive about it, and rightfully got popped.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

The Waldo police force was caught and disbanded for ticket quotas. So your comment about there not being quotas in Florida is factually untrue. I don't believe for a second that Waldo was unique either. They were just too aggressive about it, and rightfully got popped.

http://www.wesh.com/news/new-law-makes-traffic-ticket-quotas-illegal-in-florida/33089614

Apparently not as of July 1st. Good move by FL, but I would assume the new unspoken quota will be 32% of the depts revenues.

 

[HilltopperNole]

To be a deputy in my hometown you only need a 4 month class from a community college. Seems like everyone I graduated with that didn't go to college went the FHP or Corrections route to avoid all the hassle of being a cop.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

To be a deputy in my hometown you only need a 4 month class from a community college. Seems like everyone I graduated with that didn't go to college went the FHP or Corrections route to avoid all the hassle of being a cop.

Ah yes, and who better to reform + rehabilitate our prisoners than some barely trained corrections officers. No wonder our prisons are so highly regarded!
Not really sure what the FHP's mandate is, but if it's just to enforce speed limits and help folks with flat tires and accidents (as stated by JonSch7 above), I'm pretty okay with them not being college grads -- but perhaps we should take away their guns, at least until they've achieved some seniority.

 

[Bsims01]

I live in the NW part of Vegas. That sounds like Grabd Teton Blvd. my in laws have been busted up there, and I've had to fix a few tickets for them.

Bingo! It's in that area. I stay away from Grand Teton for the most part. I usually travel on Tenaya and Rainbow, and that's where i see the motorcycle cops hiding in the bushes busting people for idling too fast. However, i did get a $209 speeding ticket for going 3 mph over on 95 last year. The ticket was complete crap and the cop either lied to me or on the ticket. He pulled me and said he clocked me going 68, and I asked to see his radar because i was doing 65, and would not concede to speeding, which i was not according to my speedometer. He said he paced me, which he didn't pace me because I passed him and that's when i was pulled. However, the ticket said he paced me and confirmed speed with radar. I'm still furious about that ticket. That cop was a complete a-hole.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

I am a law enforcement officer in the state of Florida and graduated from FSU with a Masters Degree in Public Administration. I think everyone has this idea of what police officers do all day long, but in reality they have no clue. I encourage everyone to come on a ride along. I think it will open up your eyes to not only what we really do, but to see a lot of the challenges that we have to encounter.

As far as your question about sitting on the road with emergency lights on. Quite possibly waiting for a tow truck to arrive, or could be anything. I doubt any just sit there in a very unsafe location just to piss off commuters.

Traffic stops are a huge tool in conducting proactive police work. Traffic stops lead to wanted people, drugs, stolen property, unlicensed drivers, etc. Most often, officers aren't there for the sole purpose to write you a ticket. They are looking to make a citizen contact and look further into the stop. Our agency receives hundreds of neighborhood traffic complaints each year. They are typically distributed to officers to check on, in order to satisfy the citizen and as well as to be visible.

In Florida there are no quotas. I think one must remember that if you get stopped by an agency's traffic unit officer, you most likely will get a ticket. They are responsible for enforcing traffic laws, and usually that is their sole purpose. Someone referred to FHP....there job is to write tickets and handle traffic crashes.

After being in this profession for 15 years, I don't think it has ever been this bad, in regards to lack of support from the general public. Officers are afraid to perform any proactive work out of fear that any use of force or search and seizure could turn into a major fiasco. Recruitment numbers for many agencies are at an all time low. Many agencies are short staffed and are getting very few quality applicants.

Granted I signed up for this job, and knew the repercussions when I signed on. But this job is scrutinized like none other. I had a gentleman question me during a lunch break yesterday, and asked why I was taking a paid lunch on his tax dollars. Or the lady I arrested for shoplifting, who later cussed me out in front of my 5 & 9 daughters while off duty at the movies.

I'm not going to change anyone's opinion, that is obvious. But give us a break every once and awhile. It is a job just like anyone else has. Maybe stop by and say hello next time you see one, and ask them how there day is going. Or ask them why they sit at the same street like you mention.

Appreciate the response. In this case, the guy was sitting on the shoulder of a 4 lane highway by himself. I have no issues if it's a traffic stop or a disabled motorist, but no reason to do paperwork with lights flashing while cars back up for a mile and a half behind him.

I can imagine your job is difficult and I actually do say hello to officers I see in passing. I've had one traffic stop where the cop was a complete ahole but otherwise most all my experiences have been positive.

Regarding speed traps - I actually don't mind them in residential areas, school zones, or areas where there's a lot of traffic or people. But the dept/officers that run traps on interstates or highways are the worst of the worst.

 

[GatorPhin]

Didn't the entire police force of Starke (near Gainesville) just get dissolved because a ticket quota system went public via a whistleblower?

ETA: Oops, just saw someone else mention Waldo above.

 

[JonSch7]

Ah yes, and who better to reform + rehabilitate our prisoners than some barely trained corrections officers. No wonder our prisons are so highly regarded!
Not really sure what the FHP's mandate is, but if it's just to enforce speed limits and help folks with flat tires and accidents (as stated by JonSch7 above), I'm pretty okay with them not being college grads -- but perhaps we should take away their guns, at least until they've achieved some seniority.

In all fairness, why would someone with a four year degree want to make less than $30k a year working with some of the most horrible people in society, working 12-hour shifts in a concrete walled prison, some with no air conditioning/heat, and having to live in rural communities where most state prisons are located? It all comes down to money. Bribery is rampant in state prisons. Why, because guards have a hard time surviving on their pay, and resort to other means to make extra money.

The FHP does more than just speed enforcement. Like a previous poster stated, often times police work is data driven. FHP typical conducts enforcement on state roads and interstates. Based on data, the most common cause for crashes is excessive speed. So of course they will be out there enforcing this.

Like others have brought up, Waldo PD as an agency was disbanded, due to having quotas. This only reitterates that quotas are not legal. Agencies don't really make that much money on citations. Most revenue collected does not even go back to the city/county law enforcement agency, it goes to the city/county general fund. In my opinion, traffic citations are way to expensive. I often have a hard time writing someone a $175 ticket for running a stop sign. I think if citations were $75, officers would be more incline to issue them, and citizens probably wouldn't be as upset if they were cited.

 

[goldmom]

You're making too much sense, asking too many logical questions, and are posting in a reasonable voice.

In other words, you have no chance of getting through to the group who hate cops. I don't know why, but there you have it. Ask how many of them would like to live in Lake Butler or Raiford no matter how much the salary might be.