Real Life Cops...

[Lone_NCO]

First off i'd like to say I have a great deal of respect and admiration for the majority who serve this country along our side, particularly the other branches. However, recent encounters within the past year and a half or so, I've became less and less fond of our police. Not to say they're all $hit birds but there are a whole lot of them that are. I apoligize in advance for my extra long rant.

Info: I drive a silver monte carlo on black 20s with tinted windows and a fairly loud system (which was not on in anyone of these scenarios)...just like 3/4 of any major military installation. While in these kinds of situations I try to be as polite as possible, being a minority does make me a bit nervous when dealing with police in general. Also anytime I show my drivers license I show my military ID because all of these situations took place outside the state I have my drivers license in.

Encounter 1: I was driving across the country (PCSing from Pendleton to Columbus) and I was stopped around Oklahoma going the speed limit. I was asked for my Drivers license and insurance and they asked to search my vehicle. I said "sure, why not". This being my first of many incidents to come. They searched the inside asked to check my trunk, even smelled my rims and speakers...when I ask if I did anything wrong they said "honestly we thought you were selling drugs"...after they saw my military ID...

Encounter 2: While picking another Marine up from the airport back in Detroit, I stopped at my familys house to pick him up, car running, fellow Marine in passanger seat. A patrol car followed me from the airport to my brothers house, drove around the corner and turned on the lights as I was coming out of the house. I showed my ID and Insurance and this officer was the most pleasant i'll speak of, he just told me he stopped me because I was parked on the side walk....

Encounter 3: Once again in detroit, at my familys house I was stopped...Well actually it was very late, and I was in my car arguing with a girlfriend and my car was turned off...anyways, they pulled up, flashed that really bright light on my face, as if they were'nt less then 2ft away from me and asked me for my ID. Then they asked me what I was doing, I said "its late and i'm arguing in my car because the people in the house have to work in the morning". Some how one of the two officers came to the conclusion I was selling drugs (through the phone apparently) and asked to search my vehicle. As the trend goes I say "sure, why not" and the search begins. After about 20 mins and they're lights flashing in front of my familys house my brother came out and ask if I was good. The officer told him to mind his business and go inside. At that point I was pretty irratated and began asking questions. Is this standard procedure, do you have any probable cause, things of that nature. The officer at one point thought he wanted to fight me...halfway cant blame him. He wasted his time, acted an @$$, and didnt even find what he was looking for!

Encounter 4: One night while going to pick up my roomate from work at a local mall, a police officer (not mall security) told me to take off my hood. I took off my hood and respectfully asked why? His response "because i'm in a uniform and said so"...I dont think I need to elaborate on this one...

Encounter 5: I stopped at a gas station a few blocks from my apartment. On the way back I noticed a police officer following me. As I entered my apt complex he stopped me. Asked for my drivers license, and left to check his little computer and run my plates. When he came back he ask me what I was doing. "I was on my way home". When does your IDs expire? (because being able to read apparently isnt a prerequisite to being a police officer) "whatever month, 2011 for both" He then asked what I was doing here? (obviously I live here but I explained I was stationed here blah,blah). Not once to he bother to tell me what legitimate reason he stopped me for, but the same infamous line came out of his mouth "I thought you were selling drugs".

Point of this, besides to relieve some frustration, is to look for some enlightenment. I doubt to much will be found, i'm a young Sgt and I like my car. That seems to be the probable cause in most of these stories.
I just have this thought that the internet is broad enough to reach so many people, that maybe some of this will stop happening. I cant possibly be the only one experiencing this. I still cant believe all that happened after I showed my miliatary ID. The part that pisses me off the most is that they're not doing any real work. Anybody from any major city can probably spot out a drug trafficking incident without any effort walking down the street yet, i'm being searched because of my car.

MPs, I think instances like these also bring your image down.

[OIFCOMBATVETNYC]

If I was to think that the whole part was burnt due to some isolated incidents; then I am being too narrow. Its like saying that all jarheads are all dumb when that is far from the case. Anyway, nice rant. We all been profiled at some point; especially myself being hispanic from the South Bronx.

You dont have to consent a search but LE likes to get that if probable cause isnt clear or established or incident to an arrest. Also, alot of military personnel still like to look, act and dress like thugs. You look the part then expect some precaution on the other side. I took a more conservative approach in my wear and lifestyle as I matured and believe me, I am not harrassed. Not saying you are but its just what I observe at times. I see some military personnel still act like that are on the block talking slang to senior and diddy bopping all the time. Look in the mirror first before making a snap judgement on cops. Yes, many are Aholes but that is the role you have to play at times to survive. I played that role doing it and while patrolling the streets of Iraq. Kept me alive.

From a former jarhead and Army MP.

[fenway]

the problem is that you have a certain image or profile . most people in that profile are selling drugs. probably the majority of the time they stop someone in a similar situation they find drugs

you have the right to do as you please, but if you want different results, either the LE experience on the streets need to change or you do

If I see a vw with flowers painted on it I assume "hippies", If I see a pick up truck with a lift kit and a gun rack .. I might assume country boy or redneck... now that is what the public would assume as would LE

I had a relative that had a beat up sportscar he commuted in and he drove fast. he got tickets andgot followed a lot. That car died and he got a beat up ford truck..still drove fast but with no problems.

marines are trained not to be targets

[Lone_NCO]

the problem is that you have a certain image or profile . most people in that profile are selling drugs. probably the majority of the time they stop someone in a similar situation they find drugs

you have the right to do as you please, but if you want different results, either the LE experience on the streets need to change or you do

If I see a vw with flowers painted on it I assume "hippies", If I see a pick up truck with a lift kit and a gun rack .. I might assume country boy or redneck... now that is what the public would assume as would LE

I had a relative that had a beat up sportscar he commuted in and he drove fast. he got tickets andgot followed a lot. That car died and he got a beat up ford truck..still drove fast but with no problems.

marines are trained not to be targets

I liked that, particulary the last line. I've also gotten two speeding tickets, but I have no problem with those. I was in the wrong and they did what they were supposed to. However, profiling based on a car is not really putting in the effort you would expect from those serving your community. And like I said, not all are bad. Similar to us though somethings should be corrected.

Regardless of how I dress they cant see me, I have tinted windows. I do understand what you guys are getting at though, I'm just not a big fan of those who base there decisions on stereotypes. Or who justify there actions "because i'm wearing a uniform" sounds a whole lot like "because I wear _____chevrons". Never a good answer. For me, the point when I show them my Military ID and they say I think your selling drugs I take it as them doing more harassing and less of their job.

[Gunny08]

Profiling can be helpful but as with all 'tools', should be used with discretion. My grandson was followed by a cop into the parking lot of a convenience store. My grandson has a shaved head and looks Hispanic. He asked the cop why he had followed him, his answer was 'I don't recognize you from this area'. The cop became tongue-tied when grandson told him he had grown up in this town, pulled out his own badge from another department and pointed to his FOP emblem on his windshield.

[kenny10]

Ive met one decent cop and he let me off with a warning because I was a Marine and he was a former navy petty officer. He actually gave me shit because I was a Marine but he let me off

[TJMAC77SP]

Profiling can be helpful but as with all 'tools', should be used with discretion. My grandson was followed by a cop into the parking lot of a convenience store. My grandson has a shaved head and looks Hispanic. He asked the cop why he had followed him, his answer was 'I don't recognize you from this area'. The cop became tongue-tied when grandson told him he had grown up in this town, pulled out his own badge from another department and pointed to his FOP emblem on his windshield.


I don't know why the cop was tongue-tied. The end of that conversation is...."ok, have a nice day" No harm, no foul

[CplH5811]

Gunny08, like you said, "profiling" can be a very effective tool. In my 5 plus years of law enforcement experience, both military and civilian, it has helped a lot. Now, I have also had my share of wrong guesses. Now, I myself have even been profiled. I'm a white male but at the time when I was at Pendleton, I had a Chrysler New Yorker which had moderately tinted windows. Well, long story short, I got pulled over by Oceanside PD and when he walked up to my car, before he even looked at me, he told me to turn my car off and put the keys on the dash. When he looked down and saw 3 nicaely dressed white males in the car, he kinda got a look on his face like "crap, they're white" and I felt a bit offended. But, one of the things to understand is that although it may look like a duck, and quack like a duck, doesn't mean that it is a duck. But, it doesn't hurt to check sometimes.

[wzgriffith]

Gunny08, like you said, "profiling" can be a very effective tool. In my 5 plus years of law enforcement experience, both military and civilian, it has helped a lot. Now, I have also had my share of wrong guesses. Now, I myself have even been profiled. I'm a white male but at the time when I was at Pendleton, I had a Chrysler New Yorker which had moderately tinted windows. Well, long story short, I got pulled over by Oceanside PD and when he walked up to my car, before he even looked at me, he told me to turn my car off and put the keys on the dash. When he looked down and saw 3 nicaely dressed white males in the car, he kinda got a look on his face like "crap, they're white" and I felt a bit offended. But, one of the things to understand is that although it may look like a duck, and quack like a duck, doesn't mean that it is a duck. But, it doesn't hurt to check sometimes.

"Crap, their white." Thats f-ing funny.

[Lone_NCO]

I would take his scenario over mine any time. Checking is one thing harrassing is another.

[DevilNuts]

I live in trenton NJ, and I am not a minority. Even still, I had an encounter about a week ago outside of my house. I was outside smoking a cigarette, rifling through my car with the door open. An unmarked patrol car drives past, then flips a u turn and rolls up on me (you know how they like to "roll up" on you just for that COPS effect).

Two big cops in semi-tactical gear pop out and ask me for ID.

So the cops asked for my ID and I said "can I help you officer?"
They wanted to know if I was breaking into the vehicle.

"No, this is my vehicle," I told them. "Alot of bad stuff happens around here and we are just trying to make sure..." he kept saying that, two or three times.

So this time he asked for my ID to check against the vehicle registration when he ran my plates. Good enough for me. I handed him my liscense and my military ID, and got that *oops* look from him and his partner. and they took off.

I maybe had an easier time because I am white, but in the city they tend to profile anyone who isn't dressed to go to church. Thinking about it afterwards, it was worth the five minutes of hassle to know that if someone was actually breaking into my car somebody out there may actually give a crap about it.

[wzgriffith]

In all honesty, profiling is a good thing. Look at us in Iraq and Afganistan, we profile the hell out of people. You're suspicious of any military-age male. We deploy for 6 months to a year or so, cops are on the street their entire career. While at any one time, being deployed in the millitary is more dangerous, cops deal with a lot of scum bags on a daily basis. Their lives depend on their insticts and whatever other tools they can use.