Cop pulls gun on Motorcyclist

[Jeff Higgins]

First rule of defensive use of a firearm: do not display it unless you fully intend to use it.
Second rule: do not display it unless your life, or another's life, is in immediate danger.

These basic rules are meant to keep hot headed tough guys from threatening others with their defensive sidearms. This cop broke both of them. On top of that, he is taking advantage of his position as an LEO, very much assuming that in that position he is immune from prosecution for this.

I bet he didn't even consider the fact that his actions were being caught on a helmet cam. Too bad the biker didn't file a complaint, so the state police could deny he ever drew the gun, with corraborating testimony from the other officer to boot. Wait for all of their denials to be firmly established in the media, then drop the hammer on them with the video.

Court after court has ruled that the police, when being filmed during the routine performance of their duties, out in public for all to see, have no "reasonable expectation of privacy". As such, there is no consent required to film them. The legal precedent has been pretty firmly established on this one.

I just love this modern proliferation of small, cheap recording devices. It is truly stunning (and maddening) to see just how much of this kind of behavior has been captured on video in just the last few years. Even worse, though, is just how many continue to get away with it. Far too many "internal affairs" departments review these and, as a result, they go no further than that. It's high time for citizens' review committees; ones with real authority to impart discipline.

At a minimum, this guy needs to be removed from the force and never allowed to work in law enforcement again.

[m21sniper]

I still like my idea of cops that ONLY cite and arrest other cops. A 2nd, totally independent police force in every state whose sole purpose is to police the police.

They can be as heavy handed as they want, because they'll have no interaction at all with regular citizens. Just cops.

"You ran that red light because you didn't feel like waiting, and you want a donut? Well sorry officer, i'm going to have to cite you for a moving violation."

[BGCarrera32]

Wow that guy got pulled over by a Chevy Malibu. How lame.

[dhoward]

No big deal. It's only a matter of time before he crashes and kills himself anyway.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Too bad the biker didn't file a complaint, so the state police could deny he ever drew the gun, with corraborating testimony from the other officer to boot. Wait for all of their denials to be firmly established in the media, then drop the hammer on them with the video.

That would have been good enough to take a road trip to watch the lawsuit play out in court!

How this cop thinks he can step out of an unmarked car with a drawn gun and have any expectation that he won't be shot is beyond me. And that would've sucked for everyone involved regardless of fault.

His wife probably refused him a bj the night before or something.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by berettafan

And that would've sucked for everyone involved regardless of fault.

You could bet your bottom dollar that the video from the mandatory dash cam would have been "lost", that the officer arriving in that car would have very distinctly heard the off duty guy identify himself before drawing the gun, that the biker drew first (and only after hearing the plain clothes identify himself), and that the surviving officer would have either shot the biker or that there would have been a massive man-hunt for this "cold-blooded cop killer".

[speeder]

There are far too many of these cases where off-duty, out of uniform cops pull guns on people just for the purpose of establishing domination in some perceived hostile situation. Or just to have fun scaring the schit out of someone, who knows...

At the same time, there are plenty of dangerous people out there and cops need to be ready to draw and blast someone w/o warning but if they can't reasonably ascertain these situations, they should not be allowed to carry a gun and a badge.

[lane912]

Originally Posted by speeder

There are far too many of these cases where off-duty, out of uniform cops pull guns on people just for the purpose of establishing domination in some perceived hostile situation. Or just to have fun scaring the schit out of someone, who knows...

At the same time, there are plenty of dangerous people out there and cops need to be ready to draw and blast someone w/o warning but if they can't reasonably ascertain these situations, they should not be allowed to carry a gun and a badge.

just had one here last week or so. leo is being investigated for inproper use-

[m21sniper]

The cop will get off. The cop almost always gets off.

[Rick Lee]

I don't think the cop would have gotten off in VA, but probably will in MD. VA had a serial killer (can't remember if they caught him) who operated by pulling women over and impersonating a cop.

I've come across two accident scenes in VA where plain clothes cops seemed to appear out of thin air. It was amazing how fast they appeared. But they were all clearly wearing their badges on their belts at about one o'clock. One of them got out of his car in front of me and I saw the butt of his sidearm from behind. As soon as he turned toward me, I saw the badge. That's how it's supposed to be done.

[matthew-s]

Is this really true?

. . .Turns out there's a law against audibly recording someone without their consent. It's a felony.

I think there are some places, like out in public, where there is no protection stating that you won't be recorded / photographed.

For example, what if some 3rd party video-taped the incident? Furthermore, when you are pulled over, it's not like you are told that you are being recorded.

He could claim he is part of an "investigative journalism" team. I guess that is how 60 minutes gets away with it/.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I don't think the cop would have gotten off in VA, but probably will in MD. VA had a serial killer (can't remember if they caught him) who operated by pulling women over and impersonating a cop.

There was a rash of incidents on LI parkways back in the 90's. One woman was getting pulled over by a legit unmarked Trooper and did not stop till she got someplace public and I believe she was arrested for evading.

NY State Troopers changed their policy afterwards. Unmarked vehicles would no longer be used at night and they publicly announced if you had any doubt when being pulled over by an unmarked and continued at a reasonable pace to a public place then no charges would be filled. You also had the right to wait for a marked vehicle to arrive before stepping from the vehicle or handing over ID.

[Rick Lee]

I got behind a tricked out Suburban last week, all black, black windows, lots of anntenae on the roof, LED lights around the license plate, which was AZ and non-gov't. When I pulled up next to him, I could see a laptop open by the dash. I call these "jack-booted thug-mobiles." But I was pretty sure he wasn't an AZ cop and my detector wasn't chirping. After about 20 miles doing around 75-80 around each other, out of nowhere, he lit up a tractor trailer several lanes over, crossed over all the lanes and pulled the guy over on the shoulder. I was pretty surprised by that one. Never seen a car like that make a traffic stop.

[LSA]

If only Ca drivers drove as safely as him, checking his mirrors and looking in his blind-spot constantly...

[johnnywishbone]

No big deal. It's only a matter of time before he crashes and kills himself anyway.

biker boy or retarded cop?

[berettafan]

I think heavy trucks are policed by an add'l force of officers. have seen several pulled over by strange vehicles. they have a host of regs to follow.

Johnny he's demonstrating his misinterpretation of the issue in a different thread.

[m21sniper]

Commercial truck fines represent a whole 'nother stratosphere of fleecing.

The fines are (by US standards), astronomical.

[RWebb]

an amazing abuse if we've seen all the facts here

anybody have more info on this incident?

[dhoward]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Johnny he's demonstrating his misinterpretation of the issue in a different thread.

[ODDJOB UNO]

Originally Posted by Gogar

At the end of the video, you can clearly see that there was already another trooper in a marked vehicle right behind the motorcyclist. I'm pretty sure this guy knew what was up right away.

i know enough cops and general cop procedures, that ANYTHING construed as A FELONY witnessed by an officer is radioed in, and a BACKUP is dispatched before the FELONY STOP is made. obviously that doesnt happen all the time, but if ya have ever noticed (1) bike cop, there IS ALWAYS A SECOND bike cop in the area.


in rural counties or rural roads, backups are usually within in a short distance for exactly that reason..............BACKUP! and if ya have ever noticed if ya see one highway patrol...................theres always another or ICE or any agency.


thats how they ROLL and i dont blame them and i would want my backup to have a belt fed M-60 or a MA DEUCE thank you.


anyway as GOGAR mentioned this clown pulled his stunts, was obviously seen by the cop, cop radioed in, got his backup asap and since he was undercover, his backup turned on his lights.



this wasnt a simple going 58mph in a 55 mph zone traffic stop.



after 85MPH here it is a FELONY and you can EXPECT that kind of greetings from the LEOS!



DO ARIZONA DO TIME!



seriously how much fun can ya have hauling ass with dumbass traffic all around you!