Phone apps

[Glock619]

Being the gear queer that I am, I always share insight of gear with co-workers. Recently, a co-worker showed me a few apps he had bought for his cell phone.
One that caught my eye was US COP, simply for the pill identifier and the like. I haven't gotten it since it seems a bit of a waste, but cool to have.

Anyone use apps on their personal phones?

[Gnome]

Nope. Personal phone and police work are a No Go for me. Phone is discoverable if Defense can prove you used for investigation. No matter how minor.

Defense: Deputy Doe can you please exain to the ladies and gentlemen of the jury what this picture is?

Deputy Doe: Ummm, my junk I think?

[Glock619]

Nope. Personal phone and police work are a No Go for me. Phone is discoverable if Defense can prove you used for investigation. No matter how minor.

Defense: Deputy Doe can you please exain to the ladies and gentlemen of the jury what this picture is?

Deputy Doe: Ummm, my junk I think?

That's why there's snapchat. lol

But in all seriousness, that's what I thought about first after thinking that it was neat. I've used the web to search newest codes for concealed weapons but that's it. I don't think I'd utilize the "on scene" notepad and the like, but some other features do get my attention.

[Ron-Solo]

My son in law has a seperate pre-paid phone for using on duty, and he only uses it for work. It is a tax deduction that way, and who cares if it is discoverable.

[CaptMike]

Even snap chat doesnt work to completely discard your stuff. Remember that if they use a cellebrite machine they can also dowload everything thats in your phone on ncludung stuff that you thought you threw away. Understand that when you delete info on your phone or your computer, when you hit delete, only the file name is being prevented from being seen. The file is still in there

[Heiko]

This app is pretty damn good. It's excellent for quick reference for PC/H&S and many other codes. It provides the statute, elements, punishment triads, details like whether it wobbles, 1170(h) eligibility, strike qualification, and on and on.

It is just a reference so it does not store information as far as potential discovery is concerned. The only downside is the cost of it. It's only $20 a year but it was free for a long time.

[DaveMorton]

Personal phones in LE

I agree with the previous statements about a phone being discoverable to a certain extent. In a high profile case, total no go, that goes without saying but in a simple dope hook or 10851 etc, I constantly use my phone, especially the drugs.com pill identifer amongst court websites and other beneficial apps like facial recognizers & so on. Some dpts don't have the coin or personnel to allow us easy access to these great resources in any other way than using our own phones. And I don't have the money to have a work dedicated phone. In my reports instead of referring to it as my personal cellular telephone, I say "Using a mobile device, I identified the tablets and confirmed them as being..... On www.Drugs.com" Or something similar to that depending on the circs. I spoke to a local DA regarding the manner and his take on it was similar as I previously mentioned. He said there's no way a judge would allow ur phone to be discovered in a simple dope hook & in the rare instance it did come down to that they would just dismiss the case. I have used my phone in many cases weather it's for the internet an app or photos and never once had the manner even come up in court. Bottom line IMO, if you can avoid using ur phone definitely do so but if you don't have any other option use the resource you have.

[kermit315]

I like Dlaw, and have it on both my phone and tablet for casual research of the FSS. Much thinner than the statute book and easier to search, though I still love my paper copy as well. I have US Cop too, but the chat app goes crazy from time to time and I had to delete it. I will mess with it again another time.

[HP911]

I have an app called LE Codes which is simply a digital searchable library of PC, VC, B&P, H&S etc codes.

For pill id I use the epocrates app. Just enter shape, color, and markings and you have your results.