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[RDT72]

I'm not sure why so many "LEO"s are discouraging a concerned citizen from calling the police on a matter the caller might view as questionable. I am aware of a thing I have called "officer's discretion" That means that anyone can call the dispatcher about anything they want. The dispatcher can then determine whether or not an officer should be dispatched. If an officer is dispatched then the officer can determine how to handle the call. I won't ever discourage someone form calling the police if they think something is dangerous or questionable. If dispatched I would check it out (if nothing more pressing is at hand) even if at most I drive by see the guy holding the child and clear the call as "checks ok" without even contacting the subject. No violation, no victims, no further cause for me to even speak to the subject. That's called using my (our) discretion.

[yzErnie]

I'm not sure why so many "LEO"s are discouraging a concerned citizen from calling the police on a matter the caller might view as questionable.

I'm pretty sure the vast majority of the replies to the OP are not from LEOs.

[Pryde]

Only in California...

[RDT72]

I'm pretty sure the vast majority of the replies to the OP are not from LEOs.

I agree, hence my "quotes"

[Che762x39]

i used the non-emergency line to call the cops on a guy walking his baby down the street.

the baby wasn't old enough to walk or talk. the baby was being held in his left arm and held about face level with the man. in the other hand he had a cigarette and smoking it. i don't have kids or anything but i was just concerned for the baby's health.

who should i have called?

NOBODY ..

[34marine]

118948 H&S

There's a VC section too, haven't written/stopped it yet, we have to have another violation to stop and issue a cite for the smoking.

[tjbeck]

If this was a good call due to the health of the child etc. Then one should probably call the cops when they see a parent feeding their overweight child ice cream...right? Smoking around your kids could cause asthma, cancer etc...feeding empty sugary calories, can lead to heart disease, diabetes. Does anybody hang out around the Ice Cream truck calling the police?

Would I smoke around my kid...no. Do I think he is acting poorly...yes. Would I call the cops/CPS...no. Just my .02

[tjbeck]

oops double post...