I have a question is it illegal to watch cops bust a driver in a parking lot. The reason why i am asking is because i just watched someone my friend knows get busted for something. The cop then came over and asked if we need help or something was wrong. He did not give us a ticket or anything but i just couldnt really tell if i was doing something wron. So my question is. Is it wrong to watch from accross the street at a cop bust?

 

no, however the cops can ask you to get lost. its generally a bad idea to watch since you never know what can happen. my dad watched a bust years ago in l.a. and the suspect started shooting at the cops (he was a little ways behind the cops). however, i do find myself drawn to watch from time to time. just safer to watch on t.v.

 

It makes cops REALLY nervous when crowds of freinds and/or family of their suspect being detained start to gather.....


As far as it being illegal, I think it depends on how close you are.....


You said that he was getting busted in a parking lot on the other side of the street???? I personally see no problem with that???

Of course, It doesnt really sound like he said that you did any thing wrong? He just asked if you needed some thing?

 

No, it's not illegal- but it does cause one problem... We like to keep our eyes on everyone- you never know whos watching. If they were arresting a suspect -they have to keep their attention on the situation at hand...if the suspects brother is in that crowd watching, and he all of a sudden decides he gonna jump in and help.... I personally dont care if someone watches me arrest someone- just stay outside of 30 to 40 feet. and if I'm losing, give me a hand!

 

That's the one thing with your job...
I get to choose my fights and run if the situaiton is not going my way, you don't have that option. It don't matter how big they are or how wound on crack they are, you have to find a way to take them down.

 

I always would. Dont want to seem like I'm stepping on toes but if I saw a cop with his hands full I would hope he didnt object to some help

 

Put yourselves in the cop's shoes.

Think about anytime that you are really wrapped up in something intense that you are doing, and you're trying to concentrate, and the last thing you want is a distraction. When a cop is making an arrest, he/she is trying to stay aware of their total surroundings. They have to watch every move the suspect is doing, and that's multiplied by the number of suspects that they are dealing with. The last thing that a cop needs is to have multiple "potential" suspects to distract them from what they need to be focusing on the most. PLUS, they have to consider the safety of those around the area also.

In bigger towns, it's hard for a cop to know who is stopping to help the cop or the suspect. In smaller towns, like where I'm at now, most cops will know the person and what to expect. Where I live, if I pass a cop that needs help, I'll stop and do it. They know me and that I'm there to assist them.

When a man goes on a ride-along with a Denver Cop, you are told to ALWAYS stay in the car no matter what happens until the situation is under control, and the cop gives you the ok to get out at the scene.

In the last town I went for a ride along in, which I won't name for obvious reasons, the cop I rode with told showed me the release mechanism for his shotgun, and told me "If I'm in a fight, and there are three or more guys, you had better be with me trying to help. At the very least, grab the shotgun, fire the first round in the air, and then start blasting knees until I'm safe again. If you don't help, I'll personally kick the $%@# out of you when I heal up."

The unfortunate thing is that there are some bad cops, and the entire force is stereotyped as bad because of them. Those cops make life hard for the ones that are good at what they do.

 

That is why they have a gun.

 

Yea but they can't use it just becasue they are losing.

 

I watch from a distance all the time.........with a zoom lens on the end of my 8mm. You never know, it could be worth something to you, the cop or the other guy.

 

Obviously there have been times when a citizen has been able to expose illegal behavior by police because they watched or even video taped something and that's a good thing since it doesn't really seem like law enforcement does a very good job of policing themselves half the time.

Without citizen witnesses in California, chances are a rogue sherrifs deputy would have gotten away with shooting an unarmed man without cause. As it stands, because someone was watching and even taping, the deputy will be prosecuted for his crime, although he wasn't charged with attempted murder as he should have.

 

If you are on public property, you can watch all you want - even with binoculars. Just make sure you're not watching from private property that ISN'T YOUR private property, and definitely make sure you're not causing obstruction of justice. If you're in their way, they will ticket you for obstruction of justice and not think twice about it, and the judge will NOT be nice to you.

If you're on public property and not obstructing justice, the most they can do is ask you to leave, but they cannot make you leave if you are not doing anything illegal.

For that matter, hell, you can even FOLLOW a cop around. There is no crime committed in following someone. You can FOLLOW someone all you want, you just can't follow them too closely. That applies to law enforcement agents as well.

 

There are bad apples that always seem to spoil the whole bunch. It's the same way with priests or Baptist preachers or mayors or anyone in high power. There are far too many people in these positions who are good people compared to those who are corrupt. The good ones always seem to have to bear the burden of the bad, and surely hear from it from those who can't trust anybody.

 

The problem is, even when a bad one is found, their peers either defend them or at the very least remain silent. So it's not surprising when people start to indict the entire group.

The California incident is particularly disturbing, the deputy told his superiors one story and then changed it when he found out there was a video tape that would refute his original story, and even though the evidence supports a charge of attempted murder, he only gets charged with voluntary manslaughter, and then instead of being arrested and thrown in jail like any citizien would have been, he gets to remain free and on paid leave.

I'm supposed to have respect for these people when crap like that happens?

 

The last thing I would do is follow a cop around with my vehicle, even at a safe distance. I am willing to bet it would **** him/her off and they would get you to follow them to a not so public place, stop and then get behind you and pull you over for a broken tail light or something…

ME: Officer, I don’t have a broken tail light.

OFFICER: You do now, SMASH!!!