Question about undercover policemen.

[TheVrolok]

I was watching this CourtTV channel I get through my cable and some show, similar to Cops, came on. It was a behind the scenes cop show on undercover work. Basically a film crew followed a team of undercovers who had an officer posing as a bum that would almost entice passers by to lift his wallet, which he had exposed outside of his jacket. The second stakeout involved a man dressed as a bum trying to buy drugs, and if successful, the team would then arrest the dealers. So it all seems well and good but then as the bum was trying to buy drugs you hear his conversation with the dealer, he displays his 'tracks,' shows off his crack pipe and needle, and then, what surprised me was that when asked if he were a policeman he responded in slurred speach, 'No, I ain't no policeman.' I was under the impression that officers could not lie to that question? Am I just mistaken? Needless to say, after buying drugs the dealer was arrested.

 

[eakers]

i ain't no police man is a double negative

oooooooooo tricky

but i afaik they dont have to tell you.


edited for clarity.

 

[Buttzilla]

first off why would you ask the bum if he were a policeman? wouldn't that defeat the point of buying drugs? gosh, people are morons these days. what channel is this show on? i wanna check it out.

 

[Mill]

A cop can lie to your face as much as they want.

 

[pyonir]

Why the general public things that a cop has to tell them they are a cop is beyond me. No...they don't have to tell you.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

The myth that cops have to say they're a cop if asked was probably started in a movie somewhere. They under no means have to answer yes

 

[royaldank]

I'll agree. Cops do not have to admit it when asked. Most people don't know this, though.

 

[Electric Amish]

You see this everytime they do a show on busting prostitutes or johns...

amish

 

[Spoooon]

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
The myth that cops have to say they're a cop if asked was probably started in a movie somewhere. They under no means have to answer yes

I've seen it in a bunch of movies.

In a Law and Order I saw recently, one of the detectives arrested a prostitute. Before the arrest, the pros asked the detective if he were a cop. He said no. So she proceeded with the transaction. He then arrested her for prostitution. She complained and said "I thought you said you weren't a cop." The detective goes "I lied."

 

[Ynog]

Exactly, otherwise the officer would be putting him or herself in a bad position.

But I do like the "I ain't no police man" use of a double negative.

Sort of like when you ask someone a do you mind question.

Like do you mind if I grap a piece of pizza. And they respond with
ya, grap a piece.

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
The myth that cops have to say they're a cop if asked was probably started in a movie somewhere. They under no means have to answer yes

Yup it was in "Blow" for one

 

[TheVrolok]

Thanks for the responses. I just needed to clear that up.

 

[amnesiac]

To those confused about the concept of "Entrapment":

It is only applicable if an individual is coerced into participating in an illegal activity through pressure by the officer. This should be an activity that the individual is not already prone to engaging in. For example, if an undercover cop goes to any Joe Blow on the street and persuades him to go acquire and buy drugs for him, when Joe Blow has no prior history of such behavior, that is entrapment.

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: amnesiac
To those confused about the concept of "Entrapment":

It is only applicable if an individual is coerced into participating in an illegal activity through pressure by the officer. This should be an activity that the individual is not already prone to engaging in. For example, if an undercover cop goes to any Joe Blow on the street and persuades him to go acquire and buy drugs for him, when Joe Blow has no prior history of such behavior, that is entrapment.

Interesting. I did not know that.

 

[MrDingleDangle]

Originally posted by: amnesiac
To those confused about the concept of "Entrapment":

It is only applicable if an individual is coerced into participating in an illegal activity through pressure by the officer. This should be an activity that the individual is not already prone to engaging in. For example, if an undercover cop goes to any Joe Blow on the street and persuades him to go acquire and buy drugs for him, when Joe Blow has no prior history of such behavior, that is entrapment.

yep...