Questions for LEOs

[Rob454]

Hey guys

i was watching cops with my wife and the stories cops get from people. one was a hooker and she was getting in a car. pulled the car over and to make a long story short it went from the guy is a family friend to i don't know who he is he was just giving me a ride. And just so happen to park behind these silos to get directions. Right?

Anyway my question is

When a LEO pulls someone over do you guys automatically think this guy is gonna lie to me or give me a sob story. Do cops automatically turn cynical when pulling somebody over? or is it Im a professional until the guy becomes a butthead?
Did you ever have a person you pull over and they become completely different than you first assumed?

Im forwarding this to my wife. Any replies will be appreciated.

Thanx
Rob

[yzErnie]

Hey guys

i was watching cops with my wife and the stories cops get from people. one was a hooker and she was getting in a car. pulled the car over and to make a long story short it went from the guy is a family friend to i don't know who he is he was just giving me a ride. And just so happen to park behind these silos to get directions. Right?

Anyway my question is

When a LEO pulls someone over do you guys automatically think this guy is gonna lie to me or give me a sob story. Do cops automatically turn cynical when pulling somebody over? or is it Im a professional until the guy becomes a butthead?
Did you ever have a person you pull over and they become completely different than you first assumed?

Im forwarding this to my wife. Any replies will be appreciated.

Thanx
Rob

The above bolded area is the way I am. Not everyone we have contact with is a dab person and the course of action that gets played out is up to them.

Some people are like light switches. They will be off one minute and then something happens that flips their switch that turns them into an uncooperative individual. Many times folks will be nice until they realize they are getting a ticket or getting arrested for their actions and then they fly off. What I try to instill in the newer deputies is that we have to keep our guard up but not every person we contact is against us.

[Jonathan Doe]

I don't assume anything.

[Uhhlexxxis]

I've had just a handful of people tell me the truth, what they did, why I pulled them over.. they knew.. Everyone else just lies because they fail at being an adult and taking responsibility for their own actions.

[9mmepiphany]

it is dangerous to assume that someone will be cooperative or uncooperative...it is safer for aa new officer to assume the later until they develop a better tuned sense for people. i always expect people to be cooperative, because to do less is to invite confrontation, be i am prepared for them not to be, because to not be prepared is to invite disaster

one of my strengths was the ability to ask questions and get answers because they could tell that i expected an answer but that i wouldn't judge them based on it...this would be more of an investigation thing than a traffic stop. people don't always lie at traffic stops, but they almost always rationalize

[RDT72]

I would say honesty is the best policy if/ when your pulled over. My caution level is always elevated on vehicle stops. The public doesn't always realize that car stops are one of the most risky things LEO do. Driver's that are stopped for moving violations seldom have a good excuse as to why they committed the infraction but that doesn't mean understandable reasons don't exist (they usually require immediate medical attention) . Ultimately it is the Officer's discretion as to whether or not a citation is issued. Personally I am greatly relieved when a driver can tell me why I stopped them (Because I ask) If you don't know you may need a hard copy reminder, If you do know it's still the Officer's discretion that will decide

[Rob454]

So basically being truthful will probably get you a further along than lying/butthead mode.
Thanx guys

[LA Copper]

For me, attitude goes a long way in my decision of whether or not you get a ticket.

[BigDogatPlay]

I always expected to be lied to. It's part of the job and it's just business.

That expectation, however, doesn't equate to a mindset that everyone is lying 100% of the time. Each situation has to be evaluated on it's specific circumstances.

Having said that, while I understand that getting lied to is just business, it also goes to disrespect... particularly when the lie is so blatantly stupid that it insults my intelligence. I respect honesty, especially when the person involved is caught, knows it and is willing to be honest about. A person who does that, even if they are a skell, is going to get a better shake from me than a lying piece of crap.

[9mmepiphany]

I always expected to be lied to. It's part of the job and it's just business.

That expectation, however, doesn't equate to a mindset that everyone is lying 100% of the time. Each situation has to be evaluated on it's specific circumstances

i've likely had as many victims lie to me as suspects