So I am walking to work, and a fucking cop pulls out in front of me on the crosswalk. OK, that’s fine, it will be a couple minutes before I actually reach that part of the crosswalk. No worries right.
Well, the cop sits there long enough that I have to walk around behind the car. Despite the fact that there was absolutely no traffic that early in the morning. Whatever, I am a big boy.
Then, just as I get back on the crosswalk, after sloshing through a puddle. The fucking cop honks his horn, gets out and starts berating me for “walking dangerously” whatever the fuck that is supposed to mean. I ask him to kindly quote what law/bylaw that is and he tells me that if he sees me again, “There’s gonna be trouble boy.” Uh huh, take your jowls and attitude somewhere else.
What. The. Fuck. The funny thing is, I watched a group of old ladies jaywalk right the fuck in front of your car you fucking urban buffalo.
Jesus Christ I hate cops.
—Whatcha gonna do
This article appears in Sep 10-16, 2009.
It takes a certain kind of person to want to be a cop and here it is.
it’s not what you do, but who you are. the cop probably didn’t get laid by the hooker he just hustled.
Here, I’ll rephrase: It takes a certain kind of person to want authority over others.
It is WHAT you do (your actions) that best describes WHO you are.
” It takes a certain kind of person to want authority over others” -Kay
Kay, I agree with you 100%.
It cetainly does take something different from say, myself. Those who want control & power over others are IMO, for the most part control freaks. After all persons who want to control the actions of others are defined by the mental health professionals as suffering from ‘Behavior Disorders ‘ Which is a form of mental illness.
Isn’t that wonderful we are being “Protected & Served” by the mentally ill.
Really makes me wonder about the validity of such a system ?
Oh boy! Here comes the cops are bad crowd!
The funny thing about this group is that when you talk to them about their seething hatred towards police, you have to dig a little deeper to find the truth.
Usually their dislike stems from “All I had was a little weed…”, “Sure I was drunk, but…”, “She deserved it…”
Do a ride-along some night to see what they have to put up with.
“It takes a certain kind of person to want to be a cop”
It sure does. Having the media and ignorant fools second guess every decision you make.
“why didn’t you shoot him in the knee? why didn’t you disarm him with your ninja skills? aren’t cops trained?!?”
Your ‘clients’ will do whatever they can to hurt you. They will place needles in their pockets so you will get pricked and infected when you search them. They will phone in fake calls and then swarm you when you respond (Montreal). They will throw rocks at your car, smashing your windows. They will cut the elevator cords if you use them to respond to a high level apartment. They will beat you into a coma and receive no jail time at all (Halifax) but smash a bus stop and they will get 9 months (Halifax).
You will be called racist for any interaction with a minority.
You will work hundreds of hours preparing a case for court, only to have the crown prosecutor or judge throw it out with a negligible sentence for the offender. Think if you were a ditch digger and every time you completed one, someone filled it in. Hard to stay motivated I would think.
Shift work will take 10 years off your life.
If you are RCMP you will work for an understaffed detachment, busting your ass non-stop.
If you are male and work RCMP you may be posted to a reserve or Nunavut, or NWT.
If you are HRP you will pay $10 000 for your own training, then be rewarded with a year of 12 hour shift foot patrols. Then 12 hour shifts patrolling Dartmouth and Spryfield. Joy!
Your chance of divorce are one of the highest of any profession. If you are a female cop, good luck even finding a husband.
You will be continually hampered by the courts in your ability to do the job, and then criticized by the public for all the criminals getting away.
That’s just a taste.
It does take a special person to sign up for all that bullshit, you’re right.
So don’t most ppl carry celllphones now? While being forced to walk around the car (and I would have walked around the front of the car), pull out your cell and dial 911 for help. Then write down the car #, the plate# and demanded the cop’s badge #. Next call, my lawyer. Quick way to sue for a cool mill.
I agree with you, Matthew. While there are stupid, biased, power-hungry and unethical cops around, I think that there are more good, honest, wanting-to-make-a-difference cops. I can only imagine what they must put up with while working their shift, and I am sure it is more than I am prepared to handle (never mind the disrespect from the very people they are working to protect). As well, when I call for help, I am glad to see even the ‘bad’ cops show up.
While not having to take any shit from the public in general is a great perk I disagree with the “certain type of person” statement. When I was a kid I totally wanted to be a cop. As I got older I realized that it’s probably not as fun as it looks and would no doubt turn me into a hypocrite. I have no doubt that there are cops out there who are cops because they want to make a positive impact, and could care less about the intoxication of power.
Just like in all areas of life there are good and bad examples. The police exist to serve and protect. The bad ones seem to lose sight of this fact.
There is WAAAAAAAAY more to this story than the OP is letting on. The scenario exactly as he describes it just doesn’t make sense. A cop got out of his car and yelled at you for simple walking behind his car…nothing else happened? not a chance !
There is a huge chunk of info missing here!
I agree LL. Usually when someone “kindly asks” a cop to have laws and by-laws cited to them, the exchange is probably not as “kind” as we are led to believe.
Well that’s another issue. Almost every time people report things, they lie.
Ever read a negative autobiography? When telling stories people cut the bad bits out.
Amen yorkke!! These idiots love to shit on the cops for doing their job, for not doing their job, for not doing what they think should be there job. It’s ridiculous!
Incredible post yorkke!! Very well said!
Perhaps the cop was waiting for you at said crosswalk for something you did before the “once upon a time I was walking” part. That would be my guess.
The OP pretty much blew his case with the last line in his rant “Jesus Christ I hate cops”. Pretty much says it all about his take on the situation. Then again when I see the morons on here taking his word for it and jumping on the cop-hating bandwagon I can see why he would fabricate this nonsense. Try doing their job just ONE Friday night..I dare you. Listen to idiots putting you down, calling you pigs, spitting on you, etc. and then come back and enlighten us as to what control freaks they are. Strangely enough,. most of you haters would be the first ones to call 911 if you needed them.
You’ll notice Bobby, nobody posts a bitch about cops being there when they’re needed. It’s when they’re not needed and all they do is push around their big ego’s is when people bitch. Police work is one of those jobs that consumes the entire person. It`s not just a job, it`s not just a career, it`s a lifestyle. Of course you call 911 in an emergency (unless you’re on a plane then dial 121.5 learned that last night surviving disasters)
I`m no “cop hater” but I can safely say there are no control freaks in my social circle… not for long, anyway.
File a complaint, OP. If I were you I would have told the pig to go fuck himself and take a photo with my cell phone.
There’s no grounds for arrest by telling a cop off, especially when they’re harassing the public for no good reason.
HRPD are nothing more than a bunch of cocksuckers.
The thing about the police is that even though some go I hate their guts and utter other disparaging remarks, they will still respond to your emergency.
Thanks gal, and never wrong. No retorts to my post yet. The silence speaks volumes.
Police work is probably the most important job in our society, but one of the least understood.
Doesn’t give them a right to be pricks with badges…
“They will cut the elevator cords if you use them to respond to a high level apartment.”
Really now? So criminals have access to elevator shafts in which they can cut through the cables that hold the elevator?
The police cannot search your pockets. That would require a warrant. They are allowed to do a pat down of you, meaning they can use their hands to check the outside of your clothing for weapons. If there was a syringe in your pocket, you’d most likely have stabbed yourself with it before the cop put his/her hands in it. If they do find that you have a weapon in your pocket(s), that would give them the right to search your pocket. But by then, the officer would know what you had in there based on the initial pat down. Take for example the recent case where the cops pulled over a car based on suspicion of drinking & driving. They saw open liquor in the car and then went to search the car. The driver’s jacket was in the car, and the cop did a pat down of the jacket. The cop claims that they looked in the pockets of the jacket and found a small amount of weed and so arrested the driver for possession. Judge ruled that the driver’s charter rights were violated when the officer searched inside the jacket. The ruling was based on the fact that the jacket shouldn’t have been searched since the officers were only looking for open liquor or additional liquor in the car. Patting down the jacket would have revealed that there was no alcohol there. The officer was on a fishing trip and based on the stop of the car, there was no need to search the jacket pockets. Charges of drug possession were thrown out due to the illegal search.
The officer can honk his horn and yell at you all he wants. If you respond, all you have to do is ask him if you’re under arrest? Or you can tell them that you do not consent to the conversation. He cannot use his position to intimidate you into talking to him. Tell them that unless you’re under arrest, then you don’t want him wasting any more of your time. Then just go on with your business and let him/her simmer all they want.
I hate cops. I got jumped by one a couple of years back.
“The police cannot search your pockets. That would require a warrant.”
Wrong, wrong, wrong. In case you didn’t hear, wrong. Upon arrest a peace officer may search the accused. Exactly how do you think they get things out of your pockets when you’re lodged in cells? Read the Criminal Code and learn.
Exactly Tim, the problem with these Doogie Howser’s of law is they don’t read the criminal code.
“There’s no grounds for arrest by telling a cop off’
Really? How about under the Criminal Code part IV, 175, Causing disturbance, indecent exhibition, loitering, etc.
Only the truth, so you think cops walk up 10 and 20 stories for the exercise?
Furthermore, there is not difference between a ‘pat down’ and a search. When cops search, they search. Light pat downs sometimes occur when a male officer is forced to search a female.
If a prick by a syringe isn’t a concern how come cops put on gloves with padded fingers before they search people’s pockets?
The recent case you mention is relevant, but that decision isn’t uniform with the decisions given across the country for years. Most likely it will be overturned on appeal.
Cops don’t need warrants to search pockets. If you are under arrest, they can search you. Your pockets, your bag, your car, etc. As Tim said, otherwise people would be shooting up drugs and carrying around shotguns sitting in jail.
Also, on the occasions they do need warrants, they can get them over the phone now, takes 2 minutes, no big deal.
I don’t know why I even bother with this, it’s like talking to a chimpanzee.
Bro Tim,
Wrong. They do not have the right to search your pockets. They are allowed to do a pat down and that’s it. Why do you think they always ask you if it’s ok if they search your pockets? If you say yes, then that means you’ve consented, and therefore they no longer have to have a warrant. If they do so without your consent, then search violates people’s charter rights against unreasonable search or seizure.
If you’ve been arrested, then that is a different scenario. They would then tell you to empty your pockets. I don’t believe that they physically put their hands in your pockets to remove items.
A simple road side stop does not give them the right to search your car or pockets. Case in point the fellow who I mentioned in my earlier posting. It contradicts what you wrote. as the judge noted that the police violated his charter rights when they searched the pockets of his jacket. That illegal search, which turned up some drugs, resulted in the charges being thrown out.
Reading the Criminal Code is one thing. But understanding it and how it applies to your rights is another. I believe you my friend need to learn your rights before you type “Wrong wrong wrong”. In case you didn’t hear, wrong.
If you would like another example, you can read it here:
http://www2.canada.com/topics/news/story.h…
And the case that I’ve used in my posting is here:
http://www.whyprohibition.ca/blogs/jacob-h…
Read it and you’ll see how you things work in real life. Readers should know their rights and not give into police intimidation. Know your rights and exercise them!
yorkke,
Yes, they take elevators. But give me proof that the criminals actually go into elevator shafts and manage to cut the cables. What, do the elevators just float in thin air, defying gravity after the cables have been cut?
Yes, there is difference between a pat down and a search. The police are only allowed to pat you down. They are not allowed to search your pockets without a warrant. If they can get them over the phone, the go for it. But if they don’t have one and they search you without your consent, they’ve violated your charter rights and the charges will be thrown out.
Being under arrest does not always mean they can search you. Case in point:
http://blueline.ca/articles/search_evidenc…
I don’t know what kind of chimps you’re talking to, but obviously you don’t know your rights either. You and Bro Tim need to do some reading and most importantly, UNDERSTANDING your rights. Btw, the officer can be a prick and arrest you for telling him off, but the charges will never stick. Do you think a prosecutor is going to waste their time doing all the paperwork because someone told that cop to go eff off?
yorkke,
I, for one, appreciate your input to this post. Thank you
This is why we need more civics classes in high school. How many people do you think actually know what their rights are when dealing with police? The criminals have it down pat, but the average joe’s knowledge is considerably lacking and influenced too much by Judge Judy and COPS.
The elevator situation has been documented. The author Gina Gallo has talked about it in her book Armed and Dangerous.
The cops won’t take you to court for telling them off, but you might be sitting on the curb of Gottingen Street at 6am putting your show laces back in.
Thanks Kay. Police issues are like a pet peeve for me, there is so much misinformation around, I try my best, but sometimes I just wonder what the point of it all is.
The one positive is, there are only two types of people that have beefs with cops.
1) Kids
2) Criminals
Unfortunately, there is a never ending supply of both.
“there are only two types of people that have beefs with cops…”
Not true. I’m not a criminal and I’m not a kid. I’m an adult who minds her own business and expects everybody else to do the same, neighbours, cops and government officials included.
My son used to think cops were upstanding citizens, even kind of cool right up until he saw an anxious, young rookie respond to a noise complaint / domestic concern and arrest the woman next store for spitting on her idiot boyfriend as she kicked him of the house. That’s assault, yup, it sure is but wouldn’t you say this cop was power tripping and hiding behind a code instead using common everyday experience to deal with the situation? They even convicted her because the boyfriend was threatened with legal action if he did not appear as a crown witness, so he showed up. Done. Guilty as charged. Now the woman has a criminal record on top of becoming a single parent and the court ignored her as she pleaded for no weapons restriction as she had never handled a weapon in her life and had just started the course to become a cop. Can you believe that? If I wasn’t sitting in the courtroom with her I’d say it was bullshit but this is a true story. The 2-year weapons restriction prevented her from completing her study. Lesson learned? When you scream at your asshole boyfriend do it with your teeth clenched because if you end up spitting on him in your fury you, voila, become a “criminal”. Nice, eh?
I’ve had cops try and stick their finger (one index finger each; two cops on each side) and they didn’t appreciate it when I backed away and told them to stay the fuck out of there. THEN I was arrested for public intoxication; I had just exited an establishment (that had no ATM) to go to an ATM down the block.
They told me I was in a nearby business tearing up magazines. And, no, they didn’t take me there to be identified but just straight to the tank.
I was then told that if I filed a complaint that I’d be charged.
onlythetruth, what part of “upon arrest” don’t you understand? I never said a police officer can just go ahead and search you. Now if you’re dumb enough to empty your pockets when asked to, not being under arrest, then you desrve what you get. I bet you don’t realize the police can break open a door if they believe there is a medical problem or if someone is being harmed. Search and Seizure is not as strict as you may believe. Customs can open ANYTHING coming into the country. The military has the right to search ANYONE on military property.
kay in domestic cases where someone has been assaulted (and it doesn’t matter how severely), the police must effect an arrest and charge the offender. In Canada the only time a spouse is compelled to testify against their partner is in Domestic cases and child abuse cases. So the officer’s hands were tied.
She spit on her boyfriend while screaming at him. Did you catch that? Do you and the community feel safer now that dangerous criminal has been taught a “lesson” with a ruined career aspiration? Is that the mandate of police? To throw spitting women in the slammer for the night, see through the charges and prosecute? Don’t cops have IMPORTANT things to file paperwork over and spend resources on? I suggested the crack-crazed hangover the boyfriend got thrown out over would have been a very good start. Nope. The spit will do. Is that serving and protecting the community and if so, how so? I’m sorry, it’s up to the individual cop to decide if charges are laid. It wasn’t a domestic abuse call. Some other neighbour called in a noise complaint… imagine if she had thrown her shoes at the crackhead instead!
That story is anecdotal. You can’t judge the entire police force on the poor judgement of one rookie officer. That’s not really fair, is it?
Who’s judging the entire police force? It’s when cops are not needed and all they do is push around their big ego’s is when people bitch and that was a prime example. So is the OP.
I’m no cop hater and if you knew what I did for a living you’d find this quite amusing.
Sorry Kay, but your opening comments were very broad generalizations about police. It sounded like you were judging the entire police as being full of a certain type of people who like to shove their egos around and have authority over others.
Kay, so what DO you do for living? If you are going to dangle that carrot why not just say it?
Police officers have the right to search and siezure and that includes going into your pockets. All they need is reasonable suspicion that a crime HAS been committed or WILL be committted. I have taken several courses on case law including a course on unreasonable search and seizure. Read the case law at http://www.canlii.org.
Easy Going, wrong. A peace officer may arrest someone who has, who is, or about to commit an offence, and in those circumsatances but they CANNOT search someone until they are arrested or have a search warrant. A peace officer cannot search you unless one of these situations occur except where I mentioned above regarding Customs and the military.
LL, I can’t say and still remain anonymous. All I can say is I’m very proud if the work I do. It serves our environment, our youth and community safety.
Carrot soup anyone? mmm
Bro Tim, I believe you misinterrpreted my post because I said exactly what you did. That is, you do not necessarily have to be in the process of committing an offence in order to be searched.
The issue is reasonableness. I police officer must prove that there was REASONABLE suspicion in order to conduct searches and/or seizures. In onlythetruth’s post, charges were thrown out because the cop searched the jacket and found weed. While it was reasoanable for the cop to search the car after noting the open liquor as this is an obvious offence, it was not reasonable to search the jacket pockets as they were not related to the offence (liquor). It would be different if the cop had pulled the person over for the suspecion of trafficking or possession of narcotics, but that wasn’t the premise for their search. The same goes when a police officer conducts a warrent-based search; if I have a warrent to search your house for pornography and in the process discover a weed grow-op, I would need to secure ANOTHER warrent for the grow-up before arresting you for that offence.
People have the misconception that searches and seizures cannot be conducted without a warrent and that is simply not the case. In fact, laws have been changed recently to give police officers even more freedoms when conducting searches and seizures. Again, I urge you to read case law as the laws of this province and country are continuously changing as a result of court decisions and appeals. This is the only way to know your rights.
Miles, “You can’t judge the entire police force on the poor judgement of one rookie officer.”
Unfortunately you get only ONE chance to make a first impression. My young son looked on as the “criminal” was taken away and the crack-head set free. How does one reason with 12-13 yr old (at the time) that it must have just been a rookie cop so, son, disregard the “protection” that was just bestowed upon our community by this police officer and reinforced by their partner. And just ignore the fact that a month later his little friend’s mother was branded “criminal” and punished by the courts in front of everybody in the community AND her make-the-world-a-better-place tuition wasted. Sure, explain justice after that.
If you can imagine being very young and reaching for a pretty dog to pet to discover the pretty dog will bite you the child does not seek other dogs to pet no matter how pretty they are. Live and learn. When you call the cops you’d better dam well need them and pray when they arrive there is NO possibility for an asinine interpretation of “the scene” that turns ordinary citizens into “criminals”.
I encourage a pragmatic approach to all things including toward the cops who are in it for the POWER over others rather than being in “it” to serve and protect those same individuals. Pragmatic or not and generally speaking from my own experience it seems women become cops to gain control of their own lives as well as the dip-shits around them…. and that might include you should you not hold your temper in your own home and she arrives a rookie. Strong personalities are required so a cop’s motives are EVERYTHING.
Bro Tim,
Wrong again. They cannot just search your belongings even if you’re under arrest. The two cases which I gave you show that they violated the victim’s charter rights.
Case 1: Victim was under arrest, and police searched his backpack. Case is under appeal due to violation of charter rights (unlawful search & seizure).
Case 2: Victim under arrest for being under the influence and driving. Police searched his jacket pockets. Case dismissed due to violation of charter rights.
Customs & Military police are different cases. And to add a twist to your scenario to travel in airports:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labr…
Know your rights!
Learn to fucking read. Where did I say belongings. If you are wearing a jacket and you are arrested it will be searched. If your jacket is on the front seat or hanging up, they cannot. Quit trying to change things. So if you think a police officer isn’t going to search the jacket you are wearing when you are arrested, then you are nuts.
Why is the name of an officer in light blue on a dark background ?
Why is the name of an officer not in white on a dark background ?
Guess which one is easier to read.
Bro Tim, relax. It’s an internet discussion.
Ok, I think we’re having a debate on police arrest and police detention. When under arrest, I believe it’s still a grey area on what the police can and cannot do. We’ll have to wait for a Supreme Court ruling to help clarify things.
However, on police detention, they still cannot search your pockets without a warrant or unless they feel there is a threat of imminent danger. For example, during the pat down they feel a gun or knife in your pocket. That would give them the right to search your pockets. If they felt a set of keys, and thought it was a weapon. They search your pockets and find drugs. Those drugs would not be admissible in court. The following link backs up that scenario:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu…
Good article on pat downs and your Charter Rights:
http://members.shaw.ca/tjromaniuk/wp06v01p…
Reading these comments while listening to “Bad Boys” is actually interesting. Break’s over, back to the discussion;
I have doubts that 90% of LTWWBers will ever be the subject of a police investigation, but in case I’m wrong, the best thing to do is just keep a cool head and keep your hands in sight. Don’t scream, shout, or make sudden movements. Get the names of anyone involved and write them down.
Not sure if it’s still up, but on the public bathroom building on the Commons by Cunard St., there was a poster giving a basic list of what to do when you’re questioned/arrested by police and what your rights are when witnessing police abuse. It was actually quite well written IMO.
How about you just don’t break the law and you’ve got no worries.
BTW- Looks like they caught the Bedroom Stalker early this morning. Fucking useless police.
Good thing we live in a nation where the “spirit of the law” is observed.
yorkke,
It’s not always about breaking the law. Police intimidation is often used against people who are minding their own business and not breaking the law. People need to know their rights and what to do in such situations. There is nothing wrong with informing people of their rights.
I’m not advocating people go break the law, nor am I bashing the police. I’m just trying to inform people of their rights.
Not to put a damper on your pro-police stance, but what about Paula Gallant or Jason MacCullough? Maybe the police should spend less time arguing with the general public and more time on major crimes instead.
*whistle whistle*
you people are some cranky, boring, motherfuckers…the cop, in this case, as it was told, was being an asshole. I hate when I have to walk behind cars parked in crosswalks , it puts me in harm’s way every time…and then to be harassed by a cop who forced you to take the detour? yeah I can see how this would piss a person off, if you don’t get that you might just be an idiot.
just because you wear a badge doesn’t mean you never do wrong (yorkke)…there’s nothing wrong with questioning overzealous authorities, they do need to be accountable for heir actions just like the rest of us (cops DO have a real problem with being asked to justify themselves, and usually respond with threats, so suck it if you think I should just say yes sir to every young cop that tries to enlighten me on the way life is)
you know what? fuck it! there’s no point in commenting on these posts
but you make for great entertainment while counting the minutes to beer-o-clock!
Kay, I was not looking for your name, name of your employer, title and the address of your work place, just title of your occupation If you said “lawyer” or “doctor” as an example you’d still be plenty anonymous.
Although by your reluctance to get into specifics of what you do combined with your eagerness to tell other people what their problem is and the solution to it I suspect politics of some sort? …municipal? Provincial?
Just kidding 😉