Is there an image problem with LEOs giving other LEOs courtesy passes for violations?
 

This is part 2 of 2 in a series concerning an issue in the Firearms Forum on this site.

Basically referencing the fact that apparently some LEOs do not believe that it is a problem with fairness that they will turn a blind eye to minor law violations made by other LEOs and ex-LEOs, yet would generally charge a non-LEO for the same crime under the same circumstances. They consider this as a "perk" of the job. My question about this is: Does this practice present an image problem to the general public? Basically this is a "do as I say, not as I do" sort of conflct"?

I don't think the majority of citizens have a problem with this. On the road a LEO is the boss and he or she also enjoys some fringe benefits. As I said before, they are brothers.

Do9es it irritate me when they're driving over the speed limit in what appears to be a non emergency? Hell ya, but I understand they're no different than me and I'm over the speed limit all of the time.

The person on the other end of the 911 call (even if its not a life or death situation to you) still wants the response to be as quick as possible. When you are on the other end of that call waiting on police it is very important that the police get there quickly (to you) which is what is going through the LEO's mind on the way to the call.

The FL legislature specifically wrote a law pertaining to the fact that LEO are exempt from normal traffic laws while in the performance of their duty (not always a lights and siren type run - any duty) as long as it doesn't expose the public to unnecessary and unreasonable dangers. If the officer feels that going 5, 10 or 15 over the speed limit is what is needed then he is allowed to do so by law. Generally the departments want the officers to follow the laws as much as possible (mostly for the public perception of the speed etc) but they allow the officers to use their discretion as well.

Thanks for explanation. That's why I underlined "what appears". I'm as guilty as the next guy when I assume something but like you said there is no way to know where they're going.

Its called professional courtesy...

Yea, I hope the response I typed didn't sound snippy. It is impossible to tell what people think on the computer since there are no facial cues or verbal tones to hear. I was just saying the call is important to someone. :thumbsup:

Not snippy at all. Well, maybe to some. :rofl1:

I was taught as a rookie, that the one time you interact with a citizen, may be the only interaction they'll ever have with law enforcement, and you (and LEO's in general) will be judged by that interaction forever.

As well, that call, that crime, that situation, at that moment, is the biggest thing in thier life....treat it as such!:thumbsup:

I still live that way.:yesnod:

If what a cop does has no effect on me, or the well being of others, I really don't care what they get away with. If they want to speed, or they want to get a free donut, I'm fine with that. I still have to abide by the speed limit, and if I am caught speeding, I expect to pay the piper. Life is risk vs. reward. Also, I still have to pay for a donut if I want to have a donut.

Have I ever gotten away with speeding? Yes, :yesnod: and it was at the discretion of the cop. Have I ever gotten a free donut? No :nonod: No discretion there, and no free donut for me.

Heck, if a donut shop owner or operator wants to give an LEO a box of donuts, but not me, then I don't have any problem with that. If, however, a LEO steals the box of donuts, and an arresting office lets that LEO go BECAUSE he or she is an LEO, but would not let me go under the same circumstances, then no, that isn't kosher at all.

As for speeding, unless in uniform and on official business that requires extreme haste, cops have to follow the same laws we do. Enforcing the law doesn't make you above the law.

Being able to violate laws, at will, should not be a perk of the job.

You said 'minor law violation"- stealing a box of donuts is not the same as being given donuts.

My comments addressed the "minor law violations" in your op. To me, a minor violation is getting a free donut even though the cop should pay for it.
To me, a minor violation could be speeding, but not recklessly and hazardous to others.

Most people would consider stealing a box of donuts as being a "minor violation" compared to say, murder, armed robbery, or rape.

If someone GIVES someone a donut or a box of donuts, it is no violation of the law at all, at least that I am aware of. TAKING a donut or a box of donuts without permission, however, would still be stealing, no matter who is doing it.

Speeding is a violation of the law, and if a LEO is engaging in speeding while off duty and not in the performance of their duties and gets caught AND the officer allows him or her to walk SOLELY because of the LEO status whereby a civilian WOULD have gotten a ticket, is just wrong and an abuse, in my opinion. It is allowing LEO's to violate the law solely based on their status of being a LEO.

What is even worse, in my opinion, are those LEOs that EXPECT that sort of preferential treatment and abuse the laws by acting as if they are above the law.

Has anyone here been stopped for speeding and NOT been issued a citation?

I've only been stopped once for speeding while living in Florida, the day after Christmas, 2008, and yes, I got a ticket. It was one of those areas where the speed limit drops from 55 to 45 just because of the intersection.

Yeah, I've gotten away with a few doozies in my driving lifetime. :champagne:

It's a discretion thing really. I know one trooper that lives in your area Rich, that would write his own mother a ticket, really. And another that just doesn't write speeding tickets. He told me, "I don't write speeding tickets, I speed". It's up to the individual officer and what their agency makes them do/allows them to do. I wrote very few speeding tickets, a lot of warnings, but few actual speeding tickets. 92 in a 55, yeah, you get a ticket. 65-70, probably not. Every officer has there own pet peeves but the bottom line is we all have our faults, none of us are perfect. Yes, I speed, but not in a dangerous manner. In other words like on a highway with no other vehicles and no pedestrians. And, no, I couldn't tell you how fast my patrol car could go. Unlike some other officers I know.

Heck, I dont' have a problem with the discretionary nature of such things EXCEPT in the case where LEOs give carte blanch to other LEOs to do as they please. This smacks of "do as I say, not as I do", and it sets a bad example for people observing such actions.

Quite frankly if a LEO gets pulled over for speeding while in civies, he or she shouldn't even flash their ID or badge expecting to get let off. I find it pretty difficult to respect any LEO that would do such a thing. The fact that you are a an off duty LEO is no excuse for breaking the law.

IMHO, of course.

Well, it's like this. If I wouldn't give Joe Blow a ticket for it, I'm not going to give my brother in Blue/Green/Tan a ticket for it. I've stopped a few that warranted a legitimate stop for excessive speed(10-15 mph over posted) but I personally haven't witnessed another officer driving in a reckless/dangerous manner. I've heard stories of others that have and they deserve what they get. Like I said, 92 in a 55, you get a ticket. You only get professional courtesy when you act professional.

Besides, I don't think there is a soul that has been driving for more than five years that can honestly say they have never been guilty of speeding at some time or another.

And we don't "flash our badges". That is very unprofessional, the kind of crap you see on TV. Unless we are in an undercover position we are advised to identify ourselves as law enforcement officers when we have contact with other officers. If that officer wants to ask for ID then it is presented. Most of the time we will know through casual conversation if the person is LEO or not.

That sounds reasonable enough to me. Fair is fair.

And this is not about professional LEOs.

I would say no, there is no problem. I've been pulled over before for speeding and knew he had me dead to rights, but only received a warning. Of course, it wasn't professional courtesy that was behind his decision to give me a warning. But I was grateful anyway. I certainly wasn't going to argue with him and demand he give me a citation because I thought if he didn't it would look bad. I took the gift and went on my merry way.:yesnod: