What happens when you try to file a complaint against a police officer? Video inside.

[Juddog]

I didn't watch the whole thing, but the video is massively edited. I'm sure there are legitimate incidents along the lines of what the video portrays, but I'm also pretty sure that it was selectively edited.

It matters who/where the complaint was because people may go to the local PD to complain about the sheriff's office, etc, and they're not going to be able to do anything with it.

Oh btw, if any of you want to complain about a police department and you can't get a form, just write a letter. You should be able to figure that out...c'mon now.

Yes of course the video is edited and shows only the bad cops. That being said, the cops in question from the video weren't performing their duties as they should have. Even if the people in the video only represented 1% of the police force, they should still be held accountable for their actions.

 

[alent1234]

yes you have to fill out paperwork and give exact details to ruin someone's life. you can't pinky swear on it

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

yes you have to fill out paperwork and give exact details to ruin someone's life. you can't pinky swear on it

That's what internal affairs is for. It's not the job of the officer to harass a citizen or arrest them for filing a complaint. They should simply give the form over or tell them where they can get the form. End of story. It is then the internal affairs, or whoever handles that, job to interview the complainant and what not.

 

[ViviTheMage]

weird, in Minneapolis the sup's get these, and generally talk to the cop about it, and log it in their file....depending on how harsh the complaint is, depends on the repercussions. If there really is a bad apple out there, complaints do go a long way in getting them off the road and out of position.

 

[Zedtom]

I have posted on these forums before about this very thing and some of our members are knee jerk apologists for law enforcement while some think that this is an isolated thing.

For the doubters out there, just ask around or see for yourself. When you go to a local police headquarters and request information about a legal action, accident report or background information you must fill out forms, sometimes pay fees, but almost always you must show picture ID. Your personal ID, (driver's license, usually), is sometimes photocopied but in other jurisdictions is actually confiscated and held till you leave the premises.

Is doesn't matter if you are inquiring about a personal matter or someone else. You are treated as guilty until proven innocent. Oh, prepare yourself for a wait because it is, after all, a government agency.

Law enforcement says they do this to make sure that there are no outstanding warrants on individuals who come in. I think that it's an intrusion of your personal privacy when you access government records.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I have posted on these forums before about this very thing and some of our members are knee jerk apologists for law enforcement while some think that this is an isolated thing.

For the doubters out there, just ask around or see for yourself. When you go to a local police headquarters and request information about a legal action, accident report or background information you must fill out forms, sometimes pay fees, but almost always you must show picture ID. Your personal ID, (driver's license, usually), is sometimes photocopied but in other jurisdictions is actually confiscated and held till you leave the premises.

Is doesn't matter if you are inquiring about a personal matter or someone else. You are treated as guilty until proven innocent. Oh, prepare yourself for a wait because it is, after all, a government agency.

Law enforcement says they do this to make sure that there are no outstanding warrants on individuals who come in. I think that it's an intrusion of your personal privacy when you access government records.

None of that happened in my experience.

 

[lxskllr]

Why would anyone file complaint against cops? It's not like anything will be done about it. It's gonna go in the circular file along with the nail salon ads they got in the mail that day.

 

[Zedtom]

None of that happened in my experience.

You have never had to present ID?

I have been into many government agencies and walked in and received documents, registered complaints and filled out forms with no major hurdles. But the cops always want ID.

 

[swanysto]

On one hand I want to side with cops cause day in and day out they deal with the scum of the earth till they become so cynical of life, but on the other hand, I know there are many who started that way cause they couldn't amount to anything else. However, there are a percentage of cops who are really good people and truly wish to make this a safer place.

Obviously the treatment in the video should not have happened, but I also have an understanding of why some cops get so jaded and protective of others.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Why would anyone file complaint against cops? It's not like anything will be done about it. It's gonna go in the circular file along with the nail salon ads they got in the mail that day.

When I went on my ride-alongs, they told me cops have gotten fired for too many complaints, or certain complaints...it does happen.

 

[Thebobo]

Show me your papers!

 

[Cuda1447]

On one hand I want to side with cops cause day in and day out they deal with the scum of the earth till they become so cynical of life, but on the other hand, I know there are many who started that way cause they couldn't amount to anything else. However, there are a percentage of cops who are really good people and truly wish to make this a safer place.

Obviously the treatment in the video should not have happened, but I also have an understanding of why some cops get so jaded and protective of others.

I get what you're saying, but the cops have to be held to higher standards. They are supposed to be enforcing the law and following the law. Purposely breaking the law and harassing people whom they are tasked with serving and protecting is bullshit.

Tons of people deal with assholes on a daily basis, that doesn't give them the right to go around harassing others and breaking the law, so why should the cops be allowed to?

 

[Capt Caveman]

You have never had to present ID?

I have been into many government agencies and walked in and received documents, registered complaints and filled out forms with no major hurdles. But the cops always want ID.

Nope. See my post above. An internals affair detective was standing near the front desk and heard my conversation. The front desk officer was going to give me the forms without any request for identification.

Instead, I went into a room with the detective and went over my incidence. She gave me several options - filing a complaint with her, filing a complaint with the citizen watchdog/review board or speak to my city councilor for additional guidance. She gave me her card and asked me to contact on how I wanted to proceed.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

When I got arrested I announced I had a pound of coke in my ass and was disappointed that they didn't cavity search me.
I still didn't give a cavity search.

Can I file a complaint about not getting a cavity search upon request?

 

[rh71]

Why do they ask for ID? Do they just use it to look up stuff against you or make up things against you? Why would you not provide it? That's gotta be SOP if there's a "suspicious" person not giving answers to questions (unsolicited or not).

 

[911paramedic]

That's just sad.

It's none of the desk officers business what the guy wants to complain about, give him the form and let him fill it out. If it's BS it gets tossed, by their attitude I'm pretty sure it will anyways.

These all must have gone to court because he has the officers videos and I'm sure they didn't just hand them over.

 

[swanysto]

I get what you're saying, but the cops have to be held to higher standards. They are supposed to be enforcing the law and following the law. Purposely breaking the law and harassing people whom they are tasked with serving and protecting is bullshit.

Tons of people deal with assholes on a daily basis, that doesn't give them the right to go around harassing others and breaking the law, so why should the cops be allowed to?

I am in no way condoning this behavior, and I agree about the fact they need to be better than the people who are breaking the laws. I was just stating that I understand why some of them behave this way. When you are subject to druggies, murderers, rapists, and have pretty much everyone lie to you about everything, you tend to gain a closeness with other officers who have to deal with the same stuff. So I can understand them getting protective.

 

[alent1234]

Why do they ask for ID? Do they just use it to look up stuff against you or make up things against you? Why would you not provide it? That's gotta be SOP if there's a "suspicious" person not giving answers to questions (unsolicited or not).

its your right to know who is accusing you of something

 

[RedString]

I have posted on these forums before about this very thing and some of our members are knee jerk apologists for law enforcement while some think that this is an isolated thing.

For the doubters out there, just ask around or see for yourself. When you go to a local police headquarters and request information about a legal action, accident report or background information you must fill out forms, sometimes pay fees, but almost always you must show picture ID. Your personal ID, (driver's license, usually), is sometimes photocopied but in other jurisdictions is actually confiscated and held till you leave the premises.

Is doesn't matter if you are inquiring about a personal matter or someone else. You are treated as guilty until proven innocent. Oh, prepare yourself for a wait because it is, after all, a government agency.

Law enforcement says they do this to make sure that there are no outstanding warrants on individuals who come in. I think that it's an intrusion of your personal privacy when you access government records.

Same thing happened to me, took ID, held it and photo copied it. Then I had to come back later on to get the forms I had requested.

edit: Just to clarify on the type of station I have to work with - few years ago a cop shot a man in the head while he was fleeing in a car. He used his personal AR-16 assault rifle he pulled out of the trunk - he got a suspension and had to transfer, but only because of a fear of retaliation.

Small Texas town cops are full of assholes on power trips. Corrupt stuff happens on a daily basis around here.

 

[BoberFett]

Watch some videos of cops doing routine traffic stops and then they're being shot to death on video while screaming for their lives. Realize what kind of scum they have to deal with everyday and why they can't be pussyfooting with everyone they come across. Why are they hardasses? Because they need to be. I'm sure they're not like that when they're at the family barbecue.

How many cops have been killed in the line of duty? How many innocent people have been killed by cops? Who is more dangerous?

 

[BladeVenom]

Why would anyone file complaint against cops? It's not like anything will be done about it. It's gonna go in the circular file along with the nail salon ads they got in the mail that day.

Unless you get it on video, it's your word against there's, and nothing is going to happen. Except you might get harassed or have false charges filed against you.

That's why so many police don't want to be videotaped.

 

[sdifox]

its your right to know who is accusing you of something

asking for a form is not the same thing as making a complaint. Once filled out and submitted, then it is reasonable to check I'd to verify you are who you say you are.

 

[Bacstar]

Friends took their kids down to Fur Rondy this weekend and as they were unloading the car, an unmarked police car kind of recklessly drove into the parking lot, pulled up next to another police cruiser and started chatting. It was bad enough where a store owner came out and my friend's husband had a few words with the cop.

The cop's response: "You didn't see what you thought you saw!"

He was like wtf. Not sure if he's going to file a complaint and after hearing about this, it may not be worth the trouble.

 

[MotionMan]

The forms should just be on the outside of the building and refreshed when empty (and, obviously, online, but not everyone has access to the Internet or a printer).

Access to such documents should not require having to deal with the police again - Who thought that was a good idea?

This is one thread where SandEagle and I would agree.

MotionMan

 

[3chordcharlie]

nvm