Do you ever call the cops to report crime or other activities?

[Grand Master Melon]

Last night after I got off of work I went home. When I parked in my driveway I noticed a car about a block away stopped at a stop sign and not going anywhere. I went inside, and did some stuff then came back outside and had a smoke all the while the car just sat there. I went back inside and did a couple of other things and came out again and the car had crawled out in the street sticking halfway into a lane. I then went inside and called the cops because it just seemed weird. Turns out there was a drunk guy in the car who was either passed out or so drunk he couldn't do anything but just sit there in his car partially blocking a lane of traffic. Originally I thought about walking up to the car but decided I didn't want to go through all that trouble when I could just have someone else check out the situation. I was betting it was a drunk but was also thinking it could have been a medical emergency.

Now, I ask because generally speaking I'm not one to call the cops and in some way I kind of feel like I ruined this guys' night but conversely he could have ruined the night of a lot of other people had he snapped into it and started driving again or had the car finally made it up the slight incline and proceeded to cross the street and go into a house or whatever.

I've ignored plenty of situations from drug buys to arguing couples while having called on crackheads and others that were trespassing or whatever.

Whats the take around here on calling the cops?

[MNeagle]

We recently went to a "Neighborhood Watch" & the police were there to provide a neighborhood/city update.

They really drove home the point that all calls should go through 911. If you call the non-emergency police number, they will re-route you into the 911 system. And yes, they want you to call about everything, to keep your eyes open, etc.

[Agrippa]

The police are a deadly and unpredictable force. I wouldn't call them to deal with any situation in which the application of deadly force wasn't justified. Probably I wouldn't call them even then.

If the cops had come out and murdered this drunk fellow, as seems to happen increasingly often these days, I'd consider you to be an accessory to the crime....

[Large Sarge]

Last night after I got off of work I went home. When I parked in my driveway I noticed a car about a block away stopped at a stop sign and not going anywhere. I went inside, and did some stuff then came back outside and had a smoke all the while the car just sat there. I went back inside and did a couple of other things and came out again and the car had crawled out in the street sticking halfway into a lane. I then went inside and called the cops because it just seemed weird. Turns out there was a drunk guy in the car who was either passed out or so drunk he couldn't do anything but just sit there in his car partially blocking a lane of traffic. Originally I thought about walking up to the car but decided I didn't want to go through all that trouble when I could just have someone else check out the situation. I was betting it was a drunk but was also thinking it could have been a medical emergency.

Now, I ask because generally speaking I'm not one to call the cops and in some way I kind of feel like I ruined this guys' night but conversely he could have ruined the night of a lot of other people had he snapped into it and started driving again or had the car finally made it up the slight incline and proceeded to cross the street and go into a house or whatever.

I've ignored plenty of situations from drug buys to arguing couples while having called on crackheads and others that were trespassing or whatever.

Whats the take around here on calling the cops?


similar thing happened to chris Bollyn, strange car outside his home, called the police, was tasered by the police, had his wrist broken, then they lied and charged him with assault or resisting arrest etc

all this started because he called 911 for a strange vehicle outside his home

turned out the "strange car" were some unmarked police officers, keeping tabs on him after he figured out Israel did 9/11

be careful calling the police

[Twisted Titan]

As long as you can defend yourself and your home dont call the cops for nothing.

You can defend your home right???

T

[Rebel Yarr]

Sometimes you have to/should. I've had to call to get reports on file for work situations - disgruntled ex-employees ect. It is good to cover yourself in situations you can not protect yourself/others - or where youcould get into more trouble doing so.

[madfranks]

One time I called 911 after a minivan in front of my car rushed a yellow light, collided with a truck trying to make the turn before it went red, flipped upside down and skid for 20 feet or so. Both vehicles were totaled, there was lots of glass, some blood and freaked out people.

[I am me, I am free]

All good posts showing good judgment.

I used to do ride-alongs with cop friends. There was this one cop friend who was a blast to ride with because he was so over the top. One night after we'd been friends for quite a while, totally unexpected and out of the blue my friend John said, "In the future, avoid ALL contact with the police" Puzzled why he'd say such a thing while cruising around in his patrol car, he patted the console mounted laptop and said, "You have a file in the database. EVERY contact is reported, no matter *how* the contact was initiated, whether you're calling on a dog barking late at night or you're calling on some domestic disturbance next door, no matter how trivial - EVERYTHING." This was in the early '90s.

So even if a cop simply asks you for your NAME and DOB with pen and notepad in hand, KNOW that it's going into your *permanent file*. Know what a fusion center is? Do a search for it.

This has always stuck with me. That said, I would call for a 'peace officer' to respond to an accident scene or any situation where deadly force may be required due to felonious activity (it's a crime in Texas not to provide info when a witness to a crime). Good to cover your ass should the need arise later (I NEVER give up my 'name' when asked, I always try to stay anonymous). But generally when I see trouble, I move in the other direction.

[jaybone]

My litmus test:
If I am not prepared to give my own name, and go to court if need be, then I do not call.

Or,
Unless somebody's person or property is in direct peril, ie a common law offense, then there is no reason to call the revenue agents.

[Black Blade]

Never Talk to the Police

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc

An law school professor and former criminal defense attorney tells you why you should never agree to be interviewed by the police.

[Large Sarge]

I called one time, lady with kids in the car, was stuck on the interstate, she was not really all the way in the safe lane, her car had died.

She was trapped in her car, and could not get all the way over.

When I called, I explained the situation, anyway the 911 operator played 20 questions with me

not a good experience.

I am not calling as a prank, just want to report where it is, and what is happening, so they can get someone there to prevent a catastrophe.

they have all the info from your phone anyway.

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

I came back from a lunch break on a saturday afternoon (I work every sat) to see two motorcycle policemen sitting in the driveway of the company I work for. They stare me down with hate in their eyes. I think, "Okay, that's weird..."


I go inside and eat my lunch. I realize that they're using the driveway of the company to speedclock people and deliver tickets.

I called the non-emergency police line to ask that the officers relocate to public property. They tried to claim that there was no way I could know they didn't have written permission to be there, but after I stated that I thought that the burden of proof was on them and not me, suddenly the officers were gone.

They kept badgering me to give them my name, and they assumed I got a ticket and I was therefore pissed off about it. I explained that I hadn't gotten a ticket, and that I simply was a lifelong occupier of the city and that I didn't think it was fair to give tickets from private property.

[wildcard]

Training people to snitch on each other, that's all. The cops are NOT here to help you or the other party.

[BabushkaLady]

All good posts showing good judgment.

I used to do ride-alongs with cop friends. There was this one cop friend who was a blast to ride with because he was so over the top. One night after we'd been friends for quite a while, totally unexpected and out of the blue my friend John said, "In the future, avoid ALL contact with the police" Puzzled why he'd say such a thing while cruising around in his patrol car, he patted the console mounted laptop and said, "You have a file in the database. EVERY contact is reported, no matter *how* the contact was initiated, whether you're calling on a dog barking late at night or you're calling on some domestic disturbance next door, no matter how trivial - EVERYTHING." This was in the early '90s.

So even if a cop simply asks you for your NAME and DOB with pen and notepad in hand, KNOW that it's going into your *permanent file*. Know what a fusion center is? Do a search for it.

This has always stuck with me. That said, I would call for a 'peace officer' to respond to an accident scene or any situation where deadly force may be required due to felonious activity (it's a crime in Texas not to provide info when a witness to a crime). Good to cover your ass should the need arise later (I NEVER give up my 'name' when asked, I always try to stay anonymous). But generally when I see trouble, I move in the other direction.


Excellent advice to anyone with privacy concerns!! I would never call 911 with my real cell phone, that's what the throw-away one is for! If I was doing a good deed, I would make the call, telling the dispatcher that I stumbled upon the incident and was now LEAVING. If it doesn't involve your personal home property, don't ever stick around.

As a side note, I do call my favorite policemen that are good customers of mine. We've met many times outside of the station and conducted our business. They laughed when I matter-of-factly told them I do most of my sales in parking lots.

[MNeagle]

What is your business?? :conf:

[BabushkaLady]

What is your business?? :conf:


I sell things! ;D

I specialize in niche marketing so when I take on a product line, I go directly to the most likely customers. I make a few good sales and then get the customer to lead me to their friends. The police and firemen have bought a lot of outdoor rec products from me. I like to show up on payday!

[CJay8]

Late one night last year my house alarm went off. I checked the panel and saw the detached garage door was open/violated. I went out first with my shotgun and verified everything was clear but I was spooked as to why the door was open.

The thing that spooked me is that I do not have a monitoring system for my alarm. I was thinking if there were perps they might be watching to see if the cops showed up. I called the cops just to make the potential perps think my alarm system had dialed them automatically.

[Hatha Sunahara]

Training people to snitch on each other, that's all. The cops are NOT here to help you or the other party.


If I need help, I'm not going to call a bunch of thieves and murderers. When you call the police, you never know what is going to hit you. The police usually only make everything worse.

I fear the people who would call the police for the slightest reason more than I do the police themselves. I feel like I live in a society of snitches, and the circle of people I trust is very small because of it.

Hatha

[Cebu_4_2]

Last 3 calls made to the Feds were all on my first ex, couldn't do much else except protect myself which would have resulted in a peaceful past dozen years but it would have been spent in prison. So I opted 911 had everything taped and she was taken away.