Cops and snitching

[SPUTTER]

First off I'd like to say that this thread is not intended to bash cops but I need a bit of clarification.
In my experience in the past, when I lived in a rougher part of town I called the police regarding some juveniles who were vandalizing the area. The police came out and detained the youths but let them go. The cops then told them that I called them. Needless to say it cause me enough problems that I had to move. This was the LAPD.
My question is: Whats the policy regarding snitching out citizens who report crime?

[retired]

I would be surprised that any officer would do something like that due to liability issues, if nothing else. I was trained years ago that my dept. did not do that. One, for liability issues, but primarily so the people who were the subject of the call, do not retaliate against the caller (which leads back to liability issues).

[fullrearview]

Anytime I get a situation like that, they know who made the call.

[retired]

Anytime I get a situation like that, they know who made the call.

I am curious; is that your dept. policy or is it left up to the individual officer's discretion to either inform or not.

In either instance, are you or the dept. not worried about not only what could happen to the informant (acts of vandalism, informant attacked or even killed) as a result of the now suspect being told by an officer who the informant was, but also the liability that may ensue from providing that info in a civil trial.

Thanks.

[Ron-Solo]

Anytime I get a situation like that, they know who made the call.

Based on other posts, I believe he works in a small community, hence the badguys knowing who called.

Having worked with Retired, I followed the same procedures as he did. Informant confidentiality is important.

[ocspeedracer]

I am curious; is that your dept. policy or is it left up to the individual officer's discretion to either inform or not.

In either instance, are you or the dept. not worried about not only what could happen to the informant (acts of vandalism, informant attacked or even killed) as a result of the now suspect being told by an officer who the informant was, but also the liability that may ensue from providing that info in a civil trial.

Thanks.

I was hoping he meant that they were already aware of who called when he arrived.

I had Costa Mesa cops do that to me, had my audi and another car keyed because of it, and right after they (cops) left, the dude came right to my door. What I called about had nothing to do with me FYI. The dude came pounding on my door trying to start something... would I have called the cops again, nope, if he broke into my place I was prepared to handle it, but thankfully it never came to that.

[negolien]

fud

[Kodemonkey]

Who told you the cops snitched on you? Sounds like the people you snitched on had a suspicion, confronted you, and verified it by your own response to the confrontation.

I can't see any good reason why a cop would do that to a reporting person. I just can't see the benefit. It just doesn't make sense to me. Too many downsides and little to no upsides.

[ocspeedracer]

Who told you the cops snitched on you? Sounds like the people you snitched on had a suspicion, confronted you, and verified it by your own response to the confrontation.

I can't see any good reason why a cop would do that to a reporting person. I just can't see the benefit. There are a-holes everywhere and yes some of them wear badges, but it just doesn't make sense to me. Too many downsides and little to no upsides.

I'm not sure if you're referring to me or not. My response to the guy was nill, the lights were off in my place and said scumbag as far as I knew never even saw me come home. I didn't answer the door and had no contact with scumbag before or after the cops. I seriously thought he was going to break down my door down the way he was pounding on it and yelling etc, he even went into my back yard and started yelling there but didn't pound on my sliding glass door, as I said he got no response from me, I didn't want to escalate it into anything it didn't have to be.

[NytWolf]

Whenever I call the cops and it's for a domestic disturbance, dispatch always asked me if I wanted to remain anonymous to the people. However, they do ask me my info and I'm happy to give it to them.

[American Insurgent]

First off I'd like to say that this thread is not intended to bash cops but I need a bit of clarification.
In my experience in the past, when I lived in a rougher part of town I called the police regarding some juveniles who were vandalizing the area. The police came out and detained the youths but let them go. The cops then told them that I called them. Needless to say it cause me enough problems that I had to move. This was the LAPD.
My question is: Whats the policy regarding snitching out citizens who report crime?

That is illegal for the officer to do..... Knowing the juveniles may come back with intent to harm or vandalize your property the officer made a huge mistake

[Kodemonkey]

I'm not sure if you're referring to me or not. My response to the guy was nill, the lights were off in my place and said scumbag as far as I knew never even saw me come home. I didn't answer the door and had no contact with scumbag before or after the cops. I seriously thought he was going to break down my door down the way he was pounding on it and yelling etc, he even went into my back yard and started yelling there but didn't pound on my sliding glass door, as I said he got no response from me, I didn't want to escalate it into anything it didn't have to be.

Not directed at you - it was to the OP. Should have made that clear.

And sounded like you did the prudent thing. Although I might have videotaped it and shown it to the cops later. Restraining order if possible...

[BigDogatPlay]

In small town law enforcement it's usually pretty easy to figure out who called. And I've found, in larger towns that it's often fairly easy to figure out as well. Criminals are dumb, sure, but they aren't universally stupid.

I'm with others above... informant confidentiality is paramount with me. The subject of the call has no need to know who called, and I've told them so in exactly those words more than a few times. If the subject wants me to go away, then he needs to stop the behavior that caused the call, not worry about who dropped the dime.

[nobody33]

I go out of my way to make sure the suspects don't know who called... or who their victim is if they don't know. But as other people stated often the crooks can figure it out... or just guess. My best (and easiest) cases come from people in the community giving me information. If I don't protect those sources they won't help me any more... and make my job that much harder.

That being said one time I called parking enforcement (from my own agency) for a car parked in a red zone blocking half my driveway. The knucklehead meter maid put "citizen complaint" right on the ticket. It was completely unnecessary and cause me some grief.

[SPUTTER]

So is there a specific policy regarding this matter or is it pretty much up to officers?

And in reponse to some of the comments. I tend to believe that most cops wouldn't rat out a citizen but it does happen. I've happen to be on the other side of the coin when the cops knocked on my door in regards to the volume of my stereo. They pointed out right away, who made the call. I didnt even ask. Again, this was LAPD.