My Story - and it's a long one

buzzbass · #1 08-28-2008, 02:04 PM

So I'm driving my son to soccer practice last week, late of course. Anyway I get to a section of road that is closed due to construction, no detour sign or anything. Cop in a squad car, sitting there behind the barricade. I throw my hand up in the air, and sit there for a minute. Mainly because I didn't know which road to take for a detour. Ah.... there's a side road to my left where most of the traffic is turning off, with a huge grass fiield on one side. Because of the closure there's a bunch of traffic on this side road. So I hang a left, go about 200 yards down the road, and pull a quick U-turn in the grass field(there were no curbs). I did kick up some dust, but I did not, repeat DID NOT, ever break traction or swing the back end of the truck around (aka doing donuts). As I'm pulling back to the corner where I turned, the cop comes screaming out of his car, in the middle of the road, waving, yelling, and pulls me over. He runs up to my window yelling @ me....what are you doing driving in my town like that you *******, that was reckless...blah blah blah. I replied that there was nothing reckless about what I did, I made a u-turn while staying out of the way of traffic. Hey replies with, "gimmie your paperwork a-hole" "C'mon hurry up up, give it to me now" " I ought to run you in"......plus a bunch of other stuff I cannot remember. As I'm looking for my papers, which I had and they're all valid, I glance in the back seat. I see my 8yr old daughter in tears, trembling. I look over @ my 12 yr old son, and he looks to be welling up too. They were scared s^#tless. I asked him if he didn't have anything else better to do, bad move, but what the heck.

I handed him my papers and said, "here, now calm the f%^k down, you f&*king @sshole". With that, I was told I was under arrest for verbal assault and disorderly persons offenses. He told me to get out of the truck. I told him again to go f#@k himself. He then threatened to, "fill my truck with pepper spray". I told him he was all badge and no balls. I told him I would not get out of the truck(mainly because I figured he was trying to get me to take a poke @ him). I told him that I would gladly drive directly to police headquarters, and he could follow me. Or, he could call a superior officer to the scene, but I was not getting out of the truck when it was just him and I there. He called for backup(s). Backups arrived, 2 of them. Both older officers. They took my side of the story, while he was in the car checking my papers. I asked the other cops if this was a new guy. They didn't answer, but they both rolled their eyes and gave me a look that told me I was right. The older guys diffused the situation and I was let go with a 5 point reckless driving summons.

I go to the police station the next day, after calling the county prosecutor's office and reporting the incident. I went there to file an internal affairs complaint. I was told to talk to the patrol supervisor. It turns out that the patrol supervisor is a guy that I've known since he was 17 (I'm coming up on 47). He worked on my house as it was being built in 1992, and I slipped him some $$$ and a couple cases of beer to do some "extra" work for me. Suffice to say that we've been at least aquaintances for years. He calls me into his office and asks what the f@%k happened. I gave him my story. He told me he was shocked that I wasn't in jail, and would've been if that had happened to him. He "lectured" me about all the things I could have been charged with yada yada. When he was done, he told me off the record, that the guy was an ass and that he had already tore the cop a new *******. Knowing me for so long, he took it for granted that I was acting out of character, no matter how the report was written. We exchanged peasantries, how's the family, how's your workout going, I see that you're (me) still jacked (he used to train @ my gym too) blah blah blah. He told me not to worry about things, he'd take care of the newbie cop. He also told me to talk to the prosecutor, and plead the thing down. I thanked him, did NOT fill out a complaint, and I was on my way. I could see an illegal U-turn ticket (2 points), but not 5 points.

Fast forward to court last night. I took a lawyer with me, just in case. He speaks to the prosecutor. We go before the judge. The judge opens with Mr. xxxxxx, I've been waiting to meet you. My 1st thought was, Oh **** here it comes. The judge calls the officer into the court and proceeds to read him the riot act, in front of everyone. Holy Crap ! I was in shock. The judge went on to say that while my U-turn was wrong, the cop made the situation what it was, because of his attitude. I was asked if I would plead guilty to "unsafe operation of a motor vehicle", no points/$400 fine. I figured, considering insurance increases and DMV surchrages, that I was ahead of the game. I said yes. The judge said to me that becuase of my prior involvement with the department (I was the lone eye witness to a fatal hit & run accident years ago, and helped wth the investigation) that I was considered an excellent citizen by the department. And, that this was to be considered my "get out of jail free card". I thanked the judge again, and paid my fine. So to recap, $600 retainer fee for lawyer, $400 fine, 0 insurance increases or DMV surcharges or points.....priceless.

I was wrong for mouthing off, I know that. But when I saw the way he scared the crap outta my kids, I saw red. Luckily the judge & superior officers saw it that way too. I mean c'mon, kids are supposed to see the "police man" as a friend. Not be scared to death of them. It cost me some money, which I consider a long term investment, but it all worked out in the end. I will find the offending cop and apologize to him, face to face. I've been living in this town for 15 yrs, the last thing I need is a young cop with a hard-on looking to bust my balls. At one point in the exchange, I told the cop that I was old enough to be his father and that I deserved to be shown more respect than that. That being said I will try and smooth this with that cop. I'm not asking you guys to tell me that I was right or wrong, we were both wrong. I DO NOT think that I "got away" with anything, nor am I proud of myself. just sharing..............

Lorenzini · #2 08-28-2008, 02:15 PM

That's great man.

Showed some serious balls and stupidity at the same time for mouthing off at him, but hey. You obviously had SOME grounds for doing it or you would be worse off right now.

There is something to be said about standing up for yourself and holding your own even in the face of intimidating "authority".

I once called in a bomb threat, which was a legitimate call-in, and they were convinced in more ways than 1, even had me "on video" placing the package where I found it (which was a total crock) . I was facing major major major federal charges and was assured this would go to court. By the end of the day by sticking it out was found to be completely innocent and was apologized to.

Congrats to you!

gonzorob · #3 08-28-2008, 02:17 PM

Sounds like your run of the mill police officer to me. I've had my share of run ins with a-hole cops. You say you were wrong for mouthing off, but I disagree. Granted it will always make the situation worse, but I feel a bit of satisfaction when I mouth off to a cop and he realizes that he is going to have to put in some effort if he wants to retain control of the situation. Which is what they always want. Control of the situation.

Glad the judge owned him. Cops get a little too much respect in my opinion. They always whine about what a hard job they have, but they signed up for it. It is generally assumed that a police officer will always try to make the right decision, when in my personal experience cops like that are few and far between.

Bottom line is you dont owe him $***, and if he didn't like being spoken to that way he should have treated you the same.

**bassybill** · #4 08-28-2008, 02:17 PM

Wow, just wow - I'm glad everything turned out okay from your point of view in the end. Could have been a lot worse, I guess.

Take care, see you next year. Even if I have to visit you in jail.

Bill

lunarpollen · #5 08-28-2008, 02:17 PM

Wow what an ordeal you had to go through over almost nothing!!

**bassybill** · #6 08-28-2008, 02:20 PM

Please, let's remember we're talking about just one guy here and not turn this into a cop-bashing thread. That way lies madness.

steve21 · #7 08-28-2008, 02:20 PM

Offer him donuts as a peace treaty?

Long story, glad to hear it came to the most positive end possible. I can honestly say that most "problem cops" (I'm 18 years old, most of the stuff me and my friends do is reason enough not to like most cops in general, but for the most part the good ones don't care about us and we don't care about them... it works) are those young guys, and it usually ends up that the ******* cops don't end up staying there 'til they're old, unless they get a serious attitude adjustment.

The only thing that really bothers me is that a fair share of cops (******* cops and otherwise) feel it's perfectly fine to talk very derogatorily to US Citizens who are NOT being charges with anything (AKA the cop is JUST talking to them, no charge has been made, no probable cause found, etc) and these citizens can't do ANYTHING about it or back or else they get charged with verbal assault.

jon118 · #8 08-28-2008, 02:33 PM

Honestly I don't see much of a problem with being mad at the officer so long as you weren't threatening him. You should use whatever words you like. That said police don't see it that way since they know they're in a position of power and can make you pay for those words, since no one honestly likes hearing them. I don't see what you did as wrong, just not wise. Also, I do have the utmost respect for police officers and what they do, but some of them have some serious egos that they should keep in check.

*I see the post above has a similar sentiment with the "verbal assault" part, glad to see I'm not alone on this one.

XtreO · #9 08-28-2008, 02:36 PM

Wall of text. Does it come in a summed up version?

steve21 · #10 08-28-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XtreO

Wall of text. Does it come in a summed up version?

tl;dr: Running late busts legal (but in presence of cop possibly unwise) u-turn, cop throws fit, OP stands for himself gets big ticket, works it out with local PD and gets cop verbally assaulted way worse by a judge than what the OP had done. OP is nice guy, wants to make good with cop.

Lorenzini · #11 08-28-2008, 02:41 PM

one last ammendment to the previous:

OP pays $1,000, takes no points

kesslari · #12 08-28-2008, 02:45 PM

Wow. What an enormous pain in the deck.
I'm glad you took it up the chain, and that you had a reasonably good resolution.

hbarcat · #13 08-28-2008, 07:16 PM

Very rarely will cops use vulgar language aimed at a person they are stopping under any provocation and if he did so numerous times while asking you for your ID then he was totally out of control and has no business being a police officer. I know many cops and I respect the professionalism of most of them but even the few whom I personally consider to be jerks would never act in public as you describe.

MakiSupaStar · #14 08-28-2008, 11:47 PM

Did you talk to your kids about it afterwards?

Snarf · #15 08-29-2008, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzbass

the last thing I need is a young cop with a hard-on looking to bust my balls.

Quoted for Tobias moment.

buzzbass · #16 08-29-2008, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

Wow, just wow - I'm glad everything turned out okay from your point of view in the end. Could have been a lot worse, I guess.

Take care, see you next year. Even if I have to visit you in jail.

Bill

LOL, wise aZZ. I'll be there. @ the GTG, not jail

buzzbass · #17 08-29-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

one last ammendment to the previous:

OP pays $1,000, takes no points

In the end, that 1k was an investment, compared to the 5 point, insurance rate hikes and NJ DMV surcharges. Sure it sucks, but it's better and cheaper than the alternatives. I'm not proud of myself, nor to I think "got away" with anything. I'm just glad it didn't escalate any further. I did get the distinct impression that he was trying to get me to take a poke at him. Which would've been a huge mess. It's over, I'm still in good standing with the local PD. I hope this is the last I ever hear of it.

buzzbass · #18 08-29-2008, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Did you talk to your kids about it afterwards?

yes, several times. And I told them that no matter what, I was still wrong for mouthing off. If I can get hold of the guy to aopologize to him, I'd like to do it with my kids present. I have a tremendous respect for the frofession, as I want them to have. I don't mind eating a little crow here. technically i was right, but I was wrong in my reaction. I told the kids that 2 wrongs don't make a right. I always tell my kids that you don't have to STAND OUT in life, but you do have to STAND UP (to bullies etc.). I guess it was me practicing what I preah, but I sure picked the wrong time to do it. My son now says, "wow Dad's not afraid of anything or anyone". I'm not sure how I feel about that.

BillyRay · #19 08-29-2008, 08:56 AM

The vast majority of policemen are good people, too bad guys like this are there for the badge, the gun and the ego-trip.

gold_member_321 · #20 08-29-2008, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyRay

The vast majority of policemen are good people, too bad guys like this are there for the badge, the gun and the ego-trip.

+1, we had one local cop on the town PD, that would try and get you for possession, battery, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and a slue of other charges just for sitting on the bank steps at 11 at night minding your own business. Ultimately he got fired, thanks to me.

I recorded him freaking out on me while I was completely calm and doing everything he told me to He even threw me on the ground and drove his knee into my back while cuffing me for no reason! The second I got to the police station I handed it over to his commanding officer. Needless to say he got told to pack his things up out of his office the next day and hes not serving a 6 month jail sentence for disorderly conduct on an officer. I love the irony.