To Clarify A Few Things - I Am Not Anti-Peace Officers

I believe most of them are fine human beings doing a very hard profession, which if done properly does serve the community. It is not their fault they have been diverted from being public servants to revenue collectors for the most part. It is also not their fault that the hiring standards have been so dramatically lowered in most departments as to allow more "bad" or "rouge" officers into the system. I do believe a good officer not turning in a rouge officer then turns said good officer into a bad one, but that is a deeply entrenched unwritten policy / code that they as well had no hand in creating...it is hard to cross that thin blue line / line of silence (which, full disclosure I have benefited from in my past even though I am was never an officer) when it is drilled in for decades...so yes, even though for me it would be an easy decision it does make it harder to do so.

99.9% of my personal interactions with peace officers in my life have been very routine, I have typically been in the wrong and acknowledged as such (I know that made many lawyers cringe) and been very respectful, honest and pleasant with all but one in my days....the one rouge / bad one I have come across who among many other things, handcuffed me and put me in the back of his car for.......speeding...wow what a serious offence, gotta be careful of those dangerous people who happen to enjoy driving fast. Anyways, he was a prick, I was nice...it didn't matter.

I have had several amazing interactions with peace officers cutting me or my friends / relatives breaks (you know being a nice human being). A few of my favorites, all 100% factual (names changed where applicable):

1. I was pulled over with a passenger after being tailed by an undercover unit from the liquor store I had purchased alcohol from when I was 18-20 (it is all kind of a blur during those years, lol). My friend also had a switchblade on him and was my biggest skeptic about my numerous positive interactions with LAPD would one day pay off (my first job was at Arby's, which at the time gave free food to police and fire (smart move, free security, though I was robbed at gunpoint once there, lol). Anyways, after noticing I was being tailed an making several unusual turns to confirm such I was pulled over less than a block from the house I grew up in. Being young and one of the first times being pulled over, I did not know to turn off my car so the events played out as follows: Officer on loudspeaker all with blaring light in my face - "Driver, turn off your vehicle"; Driver, exit your vehicle"; "Driver, walk towards me";....I walk towards him..."Driver, what is your name?"; me in a girly scared voice - "Ja.ja.ja.jason"; next thing out of his mouth shocked me, "Driver, I get back into your vehicle, I know you". I got in and drove away.

2. Same friend, we were in different cars, he was pulled over and we had had a few beers (still 18-20 year old range). Officer to friend after the initial routine discussion(s) and providing required information: "I notice that you smell like beer, have you been drinking this evening?". Friend, yes officer I have had a couple to be completely honest. Officer - you know I used to be your age and I loved to drink. You seem fine to drive to me, but be careful and have a great evening".

3. Yesterday I was pulled over for expired registration. They politely waited until we were in an area with less congestion to pull me over, which was an awesome display of conscious thoughts / actions to inconvenience the public as little as possible (but did disappoint me because I thought I was in the clear by then, lol). Officer #1 on passenger side window - "Good afternoon sir, we pulled you over because your registration is expired". My reply was - " Hi, I figured as much" (in a proper tone to convey sorrow / acknowledge I was in the wrong). O#1 - "Okay thank you, my partner will be right with you". Officer #2 on drivers side - "Good afternoon sir, we pulled you over because your registration is expired". My response was the same. O#2 - "Okay sir, could I please have your license, registration and proof of insurance"..."by the way may I ask why you have not taken care of it yet?". My honest reply was "I just do not have the money for it right now". O#2 - "Okay, I will be back with you shortly". After a short wait he returned with my information and handed it back to me and said "thank you sir, you need to take care of that right away or you will just keep getting pulled over, have a good rest of your day and be safe". Solid advice, no tickets or written warnings, a solid positive interaction with two fine officers.

I think you get my point by now. - Burgs

7 Rules For Recording Police

Follow these and you should be okay. You never know when a rouge cop may go rouge, but you cannot do anything about that but document said rouge actions.