Police

The Art of Report Writing

Cops hate paperwork. Hell, everybody hates paperwork. But policing has more of it on a day-to-day basis than most occupations. And there’s an art to writing a good police report. I like to think my writing skills made me a better police officer. And it’s why as a professor I stress the importance of writing style and basic grammar. Most…

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Police

Seattle Police Union to Cops: Lay Low

Seattle Timescolumnist Danny Westneat has a worrisome article in the paper: “You are paid to use your discretion and there are many ways to do police work. Recent events should show us that many in the city really don’t want aggressive officers who generate on-view incidents. They want officers who avoid controversy and simply respond when summoned by 911.” ……

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Police

Username and Password, please

I got this over the transom: A police “accreditation manager” (whatever that means) is revising his “social networking policy” so that potential applicants, as part of their background investigation, must sign an affidavit listing any social networking sites (Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, LinkedIn) they belong to and give their passwords to these sites so the department can snoop. Is this becoming…

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Police

Police Officers and Free Speech

Deputy Probation Officer Joe Miller signed a letter in support of California’s Proposition 19 (marijuana legalization). A disclaimer made it clear that he did not represent the viewpoint of the Mohave County Probation Department. Officer Miller was fired. Maybe you think a police officer should never have an opinion on anything. I can understand saying a police officer should not…

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Police

“If police have to come and get you…”

“…they’re bringing an ass-kicking with them.” — Chris Rock Here’s videoof Houston police beating a 15-year-old burglar. He was convictedback in October. But the video of the arrest was just now released. Did he “deserve it”? I’m not going to go there. But police should take note: seven officers no longer have jobs. And for what? To give some 15-year-old…

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Police

1871: Two classes of police officer

This is from an 1871 newspaper article. It seems as if times never change. The average police officer may be divided into two classes, the honest and untiring patrolman, constantly on post when duty calls, alert in performing his rounds, and courageous when confronted by sudden peril or danger, and the one who shirks his duty and skulks at every…

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Police

Lakewood Coffee-Shop Ambush

The good people at policeone.com have posted a, in-depth video about last year’s Lakewood Four coffee-shop ambush. The video tells the story from the perspective of the responding officers. BLUtube is powered by PoliceOne.com [I’m on vacation; life is good. While I’m gone, I’ve pre-scheduled a few posts.]

Police

Breakfast in Bangkok

So off the main road you make a right at the train track next to the highway and walk down the tracks a short distance to the first food stand and get a papaya salad. There’s a bunch of cops sitting at one table eating and drinking. I befriend them and ask for a picture with them. They happily agree…

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