Quite a disturbing encounter with an officer of the law...

[dysondiver]

i was once stopped by a cop who was so daft , that even the other cops noticed ..........

[Demosthene]

If a police officer ever asked me what my race was the only answer I would give is that its none of their business.

[xjeeunitx]

What a dick. Thank you for your service.

By the way, how old were you when you joined? 17?

[Kneelbeforerobb]

Originally Posted by xjeeunitx

What a dick. Thank you for your service.

By the way, how old were you when you joined? 17?

Yes sir.

[masterserg]

While upsetting, at the end of the day you played it cool, got home safe and have a story to tell. I wouldn't sweat it.

Thanks for your service! And as said, beautiful watch!

[FTX I]

Apart from his question about your ethnicity, that was stupid and unecessary, the approach was kind of normal IMHO. You are a young guy, big and strong by looking at your pic, with a gold watch that is usually seen on mature guys wearing formal clothes and etc. Of course everyone has the right to get what they want with their money, but in my opinion the officer was just doing his job by asking you about your gold Rolex. Once you get older you will not see this happening to you anymore and, trust me, it kinda sucks cause you will realize you got old You are blessed so let it go and enjoy your great watch and your life, buddy.

[s14roller]

Wasn't the watch that got you pulled initially, and we'll never know the exact reason why. I would have asked politely.

Second - you didnt use the best thing going for you...that during the questioning, you didn't tell him you just came back from deployment...cops are very generous to those who have served.

[ocabj]

Originally Posted by superdog

But then I thought, how does a guy just out of the military afford such an expensive watch.

Combat pay. Seriously.

These guys will go to The Sandbox, earn more for being downrange, and depending on what their home life is like (single, no kids, live in barracks), they probably have literally no expenses (and nothing to spend money on while deployed).

Then when they come home they have a fat stack in their bank accounts. I've seen some young enlisted guys go nuts when they get back (e.g. new cars, etc).

So yes, it's quite possible for a young person in the military to financially attain a Rolex.

[AzPaul]

Nobody likes being picked on but as the old saying goes, if that's the worst thing that happens to you this week, you're having a pretty good week.

Life is full of little inequities and indignities, the trick is in not giving over the power to those behind them. Most times, simply smiling, forgetting about it and moving on is the best revenge.

[cop414]

I'm sorry to hear that this has happened to you. I spent 26 years as a police officer, almost half of that as a supervisor. I've met and worked with hundreds of officers and 99% of them are very professional. You ran into the 1%. I've delt with them and usually would keep my distance unless they were under my supervision, although over the decades there were a couple who I filed complaints against who weren't in my department due to unacceptable antics on the street. You handled the situation well and I respect you for that. It would seem that this douche was attempting to get a rise out of you and you didn't fall for it.
Unfortunately if you were to file any kind of a complaint more likely than not this guy would just deny that it even happened.
Thank you for your service to our country and sweet watch!

[wy2l]

2L's rules of the road:

0) Don't do anything stupid in the first place.
1) Don't ever have any contraband in the car.
2) Tell the truth to the officer.
3) Answer their questions as short as possible ("yes" and "no" are good answers).
4) Do not volunteer information. Far more people have talked themselves into jail that out.
5) No jokes. Not ever.
6) When dealing with a badge heavy or racist officer at 3:00 am in a deserted part of town, remember that it's better to fight this in court than have the officer administer a severe beating or plant drugs.
7) Always: Yes Sir, No Sir, Thank You Sir.

[SUBversive]

I don't think there was no real investigation going on here. Do people who steal gold watches wear them? No they fence them.

[doubleinfive]

First of all, if you're going to wear a Rolex, you should be prepared to take the heat that comes with it. Secondly, the sheriff should have known that a 21-year old driver with tattoos and wearing a Rolex, who is stopped for a supposed traffic violation is not unusual these days...just think Justin Bieber...

[Wllnv19]

Originally Posted by doubleinfive

First of all, if you're going to wear a Rolex, you should be prepared to take the heat that comes with it. Secondly, the sheriff should have known that a 21-year old driver with tattoos and wearing a Rolex, who is stopped for a supposed traffic violation is not unusual these days...just think Justin Bieber...

what do you mean by this....

[HL65]

Originally Posted by doubleinfive

First of all, if you're going to wear a Rolex, you should be prepared to take the heat that comes with it. Secondly, the sheriff should have known that a 21-year old driver with tattoos and wearing a Rolex, who is stopped for a supposed traffic violation is not unusual these days...just think Justin Bieber...

Sorry have worn Rolex for 27 years and have never taken any heat for it.

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by Rags

As a retired NYC Police Officer I am appalled when I hear stories like this. It gives every man & woman who wears a shield a bad name. There are asshol*s in every profession. Please don't judge all officers based on the action of the one you had contact with. Most cops are out there doing a tough job with no appreciation from the public or their superiors.

Retired police officer here. I also did 4 years and 2 months in the Army. Military Police. I enlisted with the signature of my Dad and left for basic right around my 18th birthday. Extended 14 months to fulfill a mission requirement and ETS-ed just past my 22nd birthday. I was a civilian police officer by age 23.

I have seen people profiled. I am white by the way. And seeing it and sometimes the bantor sickened me. Good cops police their own. I would not associate or work with if I could anyone who I thought was stopping someone just based upon race and a slight suspicion.

A lawful stop requires reasonable suspicion to detain someone. If you don't have that you are violating a person's civil rights. Probable cause ( a higher standard of proof) to arrest. Reasonable suspicion to stop and detain. Fishing expeditions though they still happen ( so called knock and talks/or stops of pedestrians or stopping someone because they did not signal a turn 150 feet or some other minor traffic infraction combined with the race of the person involved nauseates me.

I am glad I got out in one piece and got my retirement. The overwhelming majority of officers I worked with were good people. There were a few who were just plain bullies.


You handled it well and thank you for your service.

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by wy2l

2L's rules of the road:

0) Don't do anything stupid in the first place.
1) Don't ever have any contraband in the car.
2) Tell the truth to the officer.
3) Answer their questions as short as possible ("yes" and "no" are good answers).
4) Do not volunteer information. Far more people have talked themselves into jail that out.
5) No jokes. Not ever.
6) When dealing with a badge heavy or racist officer at 3:00 am in a deserted part of town, remember that it's better to fight this in court than have the officer administer a severe beating or plant drugs.
7) Always: Yes Sir, No Sir, Thank You Sir.

I have never seen an officer plant drugs on anyone. Period. Or a weapon. Lame ass Hollywood creepy cop movie bullshit. stereotyping.

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by cop414

I'm sorry to hear that this has happened to you. I spent 26 years as a police officer, almost half of that as a supervisor. I've met and worked with hundreds of officers and 99% of them are very professional. You ran into the 1%. I've delt with them and usually would keep my distance unless they were under my supervision, although over the decades there were a couple who I filed complaints against who weren't in my department due to unacceptable antics on the street. You handled the situation well and I respect you for that. It would seem that this douche was attempting to get a rise out of you and you didn't fall for it.
Unfortunately if you were to file any kind of a complaint more likely than not this guy would just deny that it even happened.
Thank you for your service to our country and sweet watch!

Agreed Sir, but I would file a complaint.

This guy... if he did this to you he is doing it to others. If enough people file a complaint a pattern will emerge that his denials to IA or to his Sergeant will not ring believable anymore.

[Wllnv19]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

I have never seen an officer plant drugs on anyone. Period. Or a weapon. Lame ass Hollywood creepy cop movie bullshit. stereotyping.

Look up Leonardo Mercado and City of Miami Police. In the 80's and early 90's during the Cocaine Wars in the City, there was some roque officers who would do just that, sorry it did happen. I know it was a small minority but it did happen.

[mfer]

I had a similar experience. I was moving out of college and I had a large white van I was borrowing from someone to move. I was returning the van and took a light that was green and turned to yellow. No way it was red at all. Got pulled over. Did the same thing. Had my license and proof of ins ready. Handed them over and then got barraged by inappropriate questions because of my last name. One that comes to mind is "what are you some kind of Mexican, you don't look Mexican?" The question list was very long and some were quite inappropriate. I was calm and just explained how I was moving out of college, returning van, etc. they wanted to search the van for drugs, and I said I guess I have 30 secs to waste (van was completely empty, not even seats). Wait, there was a moving blanket. I got the same pissed offed look and they said to stop running red lights and left me be. If I ran a red light, why didn't I get a ticket?

[HL65]

Sorry to hear it happened but sounds like you handled yourself well. Cheers,

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by Wllnv19

Look up Leonardo Mercado and City of Miami Police. In the 80's and early 90's during the Cocaine Wars in the City, there was some roque officers who would do just that, sorry it did happen. I know it was a small minority but it did happen.

I am not saying that it has never happened. I am saying that I (and I worked in a big city police department with lots of drugs and guns) have never seen it in 23 years. Nor have I seen overt racism. Like what you saw in the movie "Crash" In Matt Dillon's character an LAPD Sergeant.

Using race as a step in the continuum of getting a reason to stop someone combined with some minor infraction. That I have seen.

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by mfer

I had a similar experience. I was moving out of college and I had a large white van I was borrowing from someone to move. I was returning the van and took a light that was green and turned to yellow. No way it was red at all. Got pulled over. Did the same thing. Had my license and proof of ins ready. Handed them over and then got barraged by inappropriate questions because of my last name. One that comes to mind is "what are you some kind of Mexican, you don't look Mexican?" The question list was very long and some were quite inappropriate. I was calm and just explained how I was moving out of college, returning van, etc. they wanted to search the van for drugs, and I said I guess I have 30 secs to waste (van was completely empty, not even seats). Wait, there was a moving blanket. I got the same pissed offed look and they said to stop running red lights and left me be. If I ran a red light, why didn't I get a ticket?

Exactly. It was a stop based upon an infraction that they are not required by law or their SOPs to cite you on. That is all officer discretion. A pretense stop.

They stopped you on that pretense to dig deeper and try to find something. Cops do that. It is part of the job.

You have the right to say "No, you cannot search me or my van." Not without a warrant. Also you have the right to ask if you are free to go. You are probably going to get the ticket then. Your playing ball with them, them finding nothing and feeling a bit foolish/bad for wasting your time made them not want to write you a ticket in my professional opinion.

[cop414]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

Agreed Sir, but I would file a complaint.

This guy... if he did this to you he is doing it to others. If enough people file a complaint a pattern will emerge that his denials to IA or to his Sergeant will not ring believable anymore.

Good point Tom, very good point. Back in the day you and I could have worked shoulder to shoulder... we would have had a good time!

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by cop414

Good point Tom, very good point. Back in the day you and I could have worked shoulder to shoulder... we would have had a good time!

Totally agree Sarge. We would have rolled hard pushing a radiator!

[MP5]

Interesting I know some guys in the Amarillo Sheriffs. I will ask them what the policy is on asking about ethnicity. I do have to say though, while tattoos are popular one cannot go about life thinking there arent any drawbacks to them whether professionally, socially or personally. Just the way it is.

I was grilled by a policeman as to why I had "so much money in my wallet" (~$1800) while wearing a SD, in a nice car, wearing golf attire, being waspy, turing out of the cc. They are just doing their job 99% of the time.

[bayerische]

Never had a problem with the police, wether US, Finnish or other.

I would think it's inappropriate to ask what your ethnicity is off the bat... OK, well maybe he was looking for someone else and you fit that profile somewhat.

Some people are power hungry... What ever their job is.

[SUBversive]

I think the ethnicity question is the most telling. It truly doesn't matter. If he was looking for a wanted man he would go by a picture, description etc. why not ask what religion next? Yes power corrupts and many officers I see these days forget the old forgotten motto of protect and serve. Serve the public. Many today take the emotional separation from the job too far and separate themselves from the public at large. Us against them. But we're not "them" we pay their salary.
The other unrelated question I always have is why can the police, in a non-emergency drive faster than the speed limit?

[cop414]

Originally Posted by SUBversive

I think the ethnicity question is the most telling. It truly doesn't matter. If he was looking for a wanted man he would go by a picture, description etc. why not ask what religion next? Yes power corrupts and many officers I see these days forget the old forgotten motto of protect and serve. Serve the public. Many today take the emotional separation from the job too far and separate themselves from the public at large. Us against them. But we're not "them" we pay their salary.
The other unrelated question I always have is why can the police, in a non-emergency drive faster than the speed limit?

Answer to your last question... they can't. Although like almost everyone they do. When I was working I did my best to always be at or below the limit but like everyone else out there on the road they speed. BTW I have received tickets while I was an officer, not when I was on duty but off duty. I had them coming I guess and didn't ask for any special treatment. Paid my fine(s) and life goes on!

[Brushpup]

A really lousy excuse for a cop. A terrible one who gives any good an decent ones a bad name.