Posted: 3/20/2005 6:38:45 PM EDT
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Well, I've always kinda of browsed through here but now, I'm proud to say I'm in law enforcement. Not completely though, I'm just part time. The agency here is short on man power and they offered to pay for whatever I needed to do part time. Granted I don't get paid, but hey - if I can help, I will. It goes a long the lines of the fact that people always point out the bad in our law enforcement, but never do anything to help. I appologize for the speech and I'm sure yall have heard it a millions time, but what I am really here to do is ask if there are any tips that you guys would like to share? I'm in a rural area and our primary problem is domestic violence and meth. We have no gangs outside of the small "clicks" of teens to occastionally cause problems... Also, any tips on how to get along with partners? I'm sure there are some out there that like to cruise alone, so... *EDIT - I heard of an application for off duty officers to carry concealed nation wide. Is this in the works or what? and is it limited to full time? |
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tips? (and I know what you're talking about. I'm LEO in a small town). Well here's some and they don't necessarily pertain to operating/duty. BUT VERY IMPORTANT to working small towns (it's worked for me and also has prolly kept me outta trouble). - Don't be an asshole to people if you can help it. you WILL run into them again maybe at a domestic or whatever, they'll rember you and it will help make things easier. (I know, DUH!! but you'd be surprised on how some guys don't think about that concept) - Be mindful to present yourself as a supah professional copper even while doing the littlest things in public. the town "gossipers" are notorious. Word WILL spread. - gather lots of intel on the social politics of the small town (I'm assuming you don't live there). It's just knowing the climate of your surroundings. IT WILL COME IN HANDY. - gather a "shithead" list (local youngin trouble maker list). Go out of your way to be a "cool guy" to the good kids. they'll provide you with more info than even they think are. - know the faces/names of your city councilmen & women. - Know who the "cop haters" are, know who they hang with. Also, with in reason, run plates to know who's who. Be a step ahead of the game. - (if single) STAY away from girls in that town. don't drink with the townies. that's all can think of for now. good luck |
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I've been doing something similar as a cadet and now I'm upgrading to reserve so here's some stuff I picked up. What sucks for me is when I'm off duty I'm a civvie so the nationwide conceal carry doesn't apply to me until I go FT. I have to get a CCW just like everyone else, which is fine with me because I'll already be qualified and the background check has already been done. So it is just a matter of telling the Sheriff that I want one. The sucky part is though I'm a civvie off duty I still have lots of LE training so it counts as semi-LE if I ever get involved in something off duty (to the negative for me most likely). Meth: be on the look out for large quantities of sudafed or other brands of cold medicine. If someone has a case of it, that's something to be aware of and investigate if you can. Talk to your detectives (if you have them) and ask them what they'd like you to be on the look out for and what to alert them of. Learn what ether and acetone smell like. If you smell them while out on a call and can't figure out why that's another thing to make a note of or investigate (or get out of there because you are standing very near a meth lab that may go boom). Don't lean up against a wall at a meth lab or touch anything with your bare skin (acid burns). Listen to the old/experienced guys. They are enormously helpful as backup on calls and know about the bgs and dirtbags in the area. Make sure that when you run traffic, that if possible, you run it on a radio that will allow the veterans that are out to hear your traffic. They might tell you something about who you have stopped that might save your ass. Plus if you listen to them you get some of the benefit of their experience. Nothing is ever routine. Things may not turn out to be what they are dispatched as. Example: On my 2nd to last ride as a cadet we were dispatched to a domestic violence call. Turned out to be a mini-grow op where one of the parties was trying to flee the state. Had we been totally focused on the domestic we would have missed the bigger picture. On partners: I always have to ride with another officer, so I have some experience here. One thing to do is know contact and cover. Ask in advance some what-ifs so you know what the other officer wants you to do. Pursuit, should you handle the radio so they can drive? High-Risk stop, who gets the AR if there is only one? What else do they want you to do? Don't be annoying. +1 to don't piss them off. Usually the guys that like some company will want you to ride with them right off to see how you do. If you do a good job you'll find some officers you like to ride with and you will be encouraged to come out (usually by those officers). That involves having your ducks in a row though. Which goes back to listen to the veterans. I know that's long and the FTs around here will have some better information. |