Make sure you get a good picture of me so you know exactly what I look like
July 30, 2011 5:47 AM Subscribe
We've all seen videos of dick cops; how about one of a really good cop? Scratch that, this cop is awesome.
I looked for this on YouTube, couldn't find it. The video had been removed by the user.
In other words, I think "Jeremy" was trying to make a video about how cops are dicks and got owned by a great cop.
I looked for this on YouTube, couldn't find it. The video had been removed by the user.
In other words, I think "Jeremy" was trying to make a video about how cops are dicks and got owned by a great cop.
This post was deleted for the following reason: There's like zero context here, and, yes, you should keep your "and this is how I feel about it" stuff out of the post and ideally not put it in an immediate more-inside comment either as far as that goes. -- cortex
What was so great about this interaction again?
I saw one guy who was trying to pretend he lives in a bubble like he doesn't live around other people and another guy who was asserting his intimidating power and mobbing capability (ability to quickly access backup) by interrogating someone who, according to this interaction, was not putting anyone at harm.
posted by AndrewKemendo at 5:57 AM on July 30, 2011
I saw one guy who was trying to pretend he lives in a bubble like he doesn't live around other people and another guy who was asserting his intimidating power and mobbing capability (ability to quickly access backup) by interrogating someone who, according to this interaction, was not putting anyone at harm.
posted by AndrewKemendo at 5:57 AM on July 30, 2011
First, I get that vibe from his behaviour in the video; he seems to be angling for confrontation, although to be fair he is mostly polite.
Second, you'll note that my comment is in the "More" section of the post, where it ought to be. I could have just as easily made a subsequent comment to make that same point, conjecture or otherwise.
Regardless, I think the cop did a great job handling the situation.
posted by bwg at 5:57 AM on July 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
Second, you'll note that my comment is in the "More" section of the post, where it ought to be. I could have just as easily made a subsequent comment to make that same point, conjecture or otherwise.
Regardless, I think the cop did a great job handling the situation.
posted by bwg at 5:57 AM on July 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'm confused, was Jeremy driving? He was by a highway, but the cop didn't ask for a driver's license, only identification. And, um, is it SOP to ask for identification of everyone you meet? That's the only reason I can think of for asking, and I don't think that's a good SOP.
posted by LogicalDash at 5:57 AM on July 30, 2011
posted by LogicalDash at 5:57 AM on July 30, 2011
This is a confusing and altogether iffy post.
posted by jeffehobbs at 6:01 AM on July 30, 2011
posted by jeffehobbs at 6:01 AM on July 30, 2011
not sure what's so impressive about a cop just wanting to make sure he looks good on You Tube.
posted by serena15221 at 6:06 AM on July 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by serena15221 at 6:06 AM on July 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
LogicalDash: "I'm confused, was Jeremy driving? He was by a highway, but the cop didn't ask for a driver's license, only identification. And, um, is it SOP to ask for identification of everyone you meet? That's the only reason I can think of for asking, and I don't think that's a good SOP."
That's unclear, unfortunately. What I was wondering was why Jeremy was walking around with a gun. Maybe it was a traffic stop and he just happened to have it on his hip.
posted by bwg at 6:07 AM on July 30, 2011
That's unclear, unfortunately. What I was wondering was why Jeremy was walking around with a gun. Maybe it was a traffic stop and he just happened to have it on his hip.
posted by bwg at 6:07 AM on July 30, 2011
If that cop actually acts like that when the cameras are off, then I agree, he is pretty awesome.
As far as asking for ID, I'm sure he was fishing for warrants.
"Jeremy" was trying to make a video about how cops are dicks
If he was doing that, while carrying a gun (legally or not)? Holy crap that would take brass balls.
posted by ian1977 at 6:09 AM on July 30, 2011
As far as asking for ID, I'm sure he was fishing for warrants.
"Jeremy" was trying to make a video about how cops are dicks
If he was doing that, while carrying a gun (legally or not)? Holy crap that would take brass balls.
posted by ian1977 at 6:09 AM on July 30, 2011
Wait. The guy has a gun. But he is not required by law to show any license for it? And he is beside a roadway, which made me think that he was driving a car, but... well, maybe not. I guess not, because it's my understanding that if you are driving a car, you must present a valid driver's license if a cop asks for it.
So, let's assume he's just walking alongside the road. A guy walking alongside the road, with a gun, isn't required by law to provide any sort of license or registration for the gun, and isn't required to show any ID to a police officer? He can just go on about his merry way with his 44 or whatever that was?
This is one of the reasons I'm glad I don't live in the United States. That shit's crazy.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:10 AM on July 30, 2011 [5 favorites]
So, let's assume he's just walking alongside the road. A guy walking alongside the road, with a gun, isn't required by law to provide any sort of license or registration for the gun, and isn't required to show any ID to a police officer? He can just go on about his merry way with his 44 or whatever that was?
This is one of the reasons I'm glad I don't live in the United States. That shit's crazy.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:10 AM on July 30, 2011 [5 favorites]
That was awesome.
It sounds as if "Jeremy" is standing on a sidewalk with a pistol holstered on his hip. Apparently people in the neighborhood had been callling ("Umm, there's a young man, just kinda standing around, with a pistol...?"). That's gonna get some attention, especially if you're in a neighborhood with enough money to have, well, a police force. Oceanside, by the way, has it's own website. This isn't Mayberry.
I wish I could have been there after this stop to thank this cop for doing it right. So right! I want to believe he would have done the same even if there weren't an obvious camera there during their interaction.
He even tells his backup that he doesn't need him! I compare that to the routine traffic stops in my neighborhood that involve four police cars and eight officers just standing around shooting the breeze, and it's like two different countries.
God, Officer Lyons even explains why he stopped him. He almost sounded apologetic.
Dude, he shakes his freaking hand at the end. Class explosion.
posted by Poppa Bear at 6:10 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
It sounds as if "Jeremy" is standing on a sidewalk with a pistol holstered on his hip. Apparently people in the neighborhood had been callling ("Umm, there's a young man, just kinda standing around, with a pistol...?"). That's gonna get some attention, especially if you're in a neighborhood with enough money to have, well, a police force. Oceanside, by the way, has it's own website. This isn't Mayberry.
I wish I could have been there after this stop to thank this cop for doing it right. So right! I want to believe he would have done the same even if there weren't an obvious camera there during their interaction.
He even tells his backup that he doesn't need him! I compare that to the routine traffic stops in my neighborhood that involve four police cars and eight officers just standing around shooting the breeze, and it's like two different countries.
God, Officer Lyons even explains why he stopped him. He almost sounded apologetic.
Dude, he shakes his freaking hand at the end. Class explosion.
posted by Poppa Bear at 6:10 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
serena15221: "not sure what's so impressive about a cop just wanting to make sure he looks good on You Tube."
You don't find it refreshing over all the videos of cops freaking out about being video recorded? Dude made me laugh.
posted by bwg at 6:13 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
You don't find it refreshing over all the videos of cops freaking out about being video recorded? Dude made me laugh.
posted by bwg at 6:13 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
More "refreshing" and perhaps "enlightening" than "amazing," but worthy of an FPP, I think.
Flapjax, he's engaging in what's called Open Carry, which allows a person on foot to carry a holstered firearm with (and sometimes without) a permit, depending on the state.
posted by ShutterBun at 6:21 AM on July 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
Flapjax, he's engaging in what's called Open Carry, which allows a person on foot to carry a holstered firearm with (and sometimes without) a permit, depending on the state.
posted by ShutterBun at 6:21 AM on July 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
I think the guy was strolling down the highway. with a holstered gun on his hip. Or maybe he was holding it. That's not New York City.
One of my brothers is an ex-marine, owns an impressive arsenal of semi-automatic hand guns and assault weapons. He also has something of a chip on his shoulder about exercising his legal rights.
He lives in Central Pennsylvania. I'm not sure if he was doing this just to tweak authority, but one time he took to target shooting at a hay bale from one side of Interstate Route 80, targeting a bale on the other side of I-80. (It was up on a small bluff, not in the direct line of fire at car height.)
State police arrived, and a discussion ensued. My brother and the officer ended up sitting on the trunk of the patrol car, thumbing through the book of laws and regulations that the officer carried. My brother located the page and paragraph were it said that he was indeed allowed to shoot guns over interstate highways. The officer thanked him for pointing that out and went on his way.
My brother was much comforted by this interaction, he seems to have a need to test his rightful place in the world sometimes.
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:25 AM on July 30, 2011 [5 favorites]
One of my brothers is an ex-marine, owns an impressive arsenal of semi-automatic hand guns and assault weapons. He also has something of a chip on his shoulder about exercising his legal rights.
He lives in Central Pennsylvania. I'm not sure if he was doing this just to tweak authority, but one time he took to target shooting at a hay bale from one side of Interstate Route 80, targeting a bale on the other side of I-80. (It was up on a small bluff, not in the direct line of fire at car height.)
State police arrived, and a discussion ensued. My brother and the officer ended up sitting on the trunk of the patrol car, thumbing through the book of laws and regulations that the officer carried. My brother located the page and paragraph were it said that he was indeed allowed to shoot guns over interstate highways. The officer thanked him for pointing that out and went on his way.
My brother was much comforted by this interaction, he seems to have a need to test his rightful place in the world sometimes.
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:25 AM on July 30, 2011 [5 favorites]
Is this where we can start arguing about the use of the term "awesome" again? Because this is a pretty egregious violation.
Are we now giving out gold stars to any officer who treats a citizen with respect & decency, who abides by the law? Are we now supposed to offer them gratitude and compliments because they *didn't* abuse their authority?
posted by jammy at 6:27 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Are we now giving out gold stars to any officer who treats a citizen with respect & decency, who abides by the law? Are we now supposed to offer them gratitude and compliments because they *didn't* abuse their authority?
posted by jammy at 6:27 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Wow, some of the comments here ...
Exercising your rights peacefully, not getting harassed, and successfully navigating an encounter with law enforcement is "getting owned"? How about exercising your rights because they are your rights, because you want to exercise them and you are allowed to. That's worth something, tricking or not tricking a cop has fuck all to do with it.
Where does this obsession come from that says every encounter needs to have a winner and a loser? That if a cop does his job well and no one gets hurt then the cop wins and you lose?
posted by cotterpin at 6:29 AM on July 30, 2011
Exercising your rights peacefully, not getting harassed, and successfully navigating an encounter with law enforcement is "getting owned"? How about exercising your rights because they are your rights, because you want to exercise them and you are allowed to. That's worth something, tricking or not tricking a cop has fuck all to do with it.
Where does this obsession come from that says every encounter needs to have a winner and a loser? That if a cop does his job well and no one gets hurt then the cop wins and you lose?
posted by cotterpin at 6:29 AM on July 30, 2011
We've all seen videos of dick cops...
Actually, I've seen very few. They all get deleted here.
Sorry, mods!
but it's true
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:39 AM on July 30, 2011
Actually, I've seen very few. They all get deleted here.
Sorry, mods!
but it's true
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:39 AM on July 30, 2011
@dhdrum : I want to live there.
You want to live in a place where it's considered noteworthy that a policeman doesn't behave in a confrontational manner, and where people are so insular and afraid that they walk around with guns strapped to their hips and won't give out their names to people?
posted by silence at 6:43 AM on July 30, 2011
You want to live in a place where it's considered noteworthy that a policeman doesn't behave in a confrontational manner, and where people are so insular and afraid that they walk around with guns strapped to their hips and won't give out their names to people?
posted by silence at 6:43 AM on July 30, 2011
If Jeremy really wanted to test his rights he should've gone and shot a bunch of white folk straight after this encounter. Then we could see if the ensuing media shitstorm "cops failed to arrest evil Jezzer" led to a change of law.
I've kind of said this before but Guns and Media are where the rest of the world looks at America like you guys look at Bachmann (well not the Americans who voted for her obviously, fuck knows what shit those freaks find bemusing)
Disclaimer : I am not actually advocating the killing of humans for political reasons.
posted by fullerine at 6:47 AM on July 30, 2011
I've kind of said this before but Guns and Media are where the rest of the world looks at America like you guys look at Bachmann (well not the Americans who voted for her obviously, fuck knows what shit those freaks find bemusing)
Disclaimer : I am not actually advocating the killing of humans for political reasons.
posted by fullerine at 6:47 AM on July 30, 2011
Actually, I've seen very few. They all get deleted here.
flapjax: try here.
posted by Ritchie at 6:48 AM on July 30, 2011
flapjax: try here.
posted by Ritchie at 6:48 AM on July 30, 2011
flapjax: try here.
Nah, I mostly just do Mefi. I'm not the Reddit type, I guess.
I love mefi
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:50 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Nah, I mostly just do Mefi. I'm not the Reddit type, I guess.
I love mefi
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:50 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
you also seem to love small text.
so do I.
posted by Ritchie at 6:52 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
so do I.
posted by Ritchie at 6:52 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
really?
cause I can get pretty small
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:53 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
cause I can get pretty small
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:53 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Been watching this video go around the webs and the only interesting thing I find is seeing various communities' & individuals' reactions reactions to it.
posted by BeerFilter at 6:54 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by BeerFilter at 6:54 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm just bewildered by the fact that this person feels the need to carry an open firearm down a busy street. Or any street, really. It seems like a recipe for disaster on about 9 million levels, whether it is his right or not. And how does that work when you go into a shop to buy milk or something? I bet that's a real comfortable interaction for all involved.
posted by lesbiassparrow at 6:59 AM on July 30, 2011
posted by lesbiassparrow at 6:59 AM on July 30, 2011
Just want to point out that for those of us in no-issue states (just IL and WI as far as I know), the thought of a guy walking around the neighborhood with a gun is completely bizarre. As a newspaper-reading politically engaged Illinois citizen who doesn't particularly follow 2nd Amendment issues, we are not often reminded of our outlier status. The Chicago handgun ban makes its perennial appearance as a battleground, but outside the city limits it is not on the radar of most people.
I love the Constitution and on my frequent work trips to DC I make sure to visit it in the Archives at least once a year. But to be honest, as a parent, it freaks me out that when I am visiting my parents in St Louis the kids are greeted with signs at library and school entrances that you have to leave your guns outside. I'll take the bubble.
posted by cgk at 6:59 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
I love the Constitution and on my frequent work trips to DC I make sure to visit it in the Archives at least once a year. But to be honest, as a parent, it freaks me out that when I am visiting my parents in St Louis the kids are greeted with signs at library and school entrances that you have to leave your guns outside. I'll take the bubble.
posted by cgk at 6:59 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
that is a good cop, yes, but not a really good cop. this is a really good cop.
posted by spindle at 7:03 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by spindle at 7:03 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Officer Lyons may or may not be as "awesome" as he appears here--what he is is shrewd . He assessed the situation in light of being recorded and he was fully aware of the negative light that such personal videos can shine on police. That's what we need more of folks--police who operate with the self-conscious knowledge that they are here to serve the law and the public. And if personal video cameras can facilitate this behavior on the part of police, then perhaps more of us should begin carrying them.
posted by DavidandConquer at 7:03 AM on July 30, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by DavidandConquer at 7:03 AM on July 30, 2011 [3 favorites]
In NYC, at least, when a cop stops and questions or frisks someone, they are required to fill out a form called a UF-250, which documents their reasons for doing so. As part of the process of filling that out, they are supposed to ask for ID and, failing that, for the person's name. It's possible that is why this officer asked Jeremy his name.
I think this cop did a good job. I think that, at least in the NYPD (which to be fair is probably in the upper echelon of U.S. police forces in terms of training, professionalism, and not-being-power-tripping jerks), this kind of positive interaction is more typical than most people might think.
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 7:07 AM on July 30, 2011
I think this cop did a good job. I think that, at least in the NYPD (which to be fair is probably in the upper echelon of U.S. police forces in terms of training, professionalism, and not-being-power-tripping jerks), this kind of positive interaction is more typical than most people might think.
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 7:07 AM on July 30, 2011
The source of this video is LackeyJack's Youtube channel. He's done this a few other times.
I think the videos are beneficial in getting people to know about the existence open carry laws, as well as citizen rights. There are some interesting interactions in the videos.
I also think police officers would benefit a great deal if everyone knew standard law enforcement procedures: What are my rights? What are yours? What am I required to do when "x" happens?
If everyone knows how law enforcement works, people are less inclined to feel every police officer is out to abuse their rights and somehow screw them over.
posted by lemuring at 7:07 AM on July 30, 2011
I think the videos are beneficial in getting people to know about the existence open carry laws, as well as citizen rights. There are some interesting interactions in the videos.
I also think police officers would benefit a great deal if everyone knew standard law enforcement procedures: What are my rights? What are yours? What am I required to do when "x" happens?
If everyone knows how law enforcement works, people are less inclined to feel every police officer is out to abuse their rights and somehow screw them over.
posted by lemuring at 7:07 AM on July 30, 2011
meh. We care about the power tripping assholes because they could get fired, taser & firearm regulations could get changed, etc.
Amen to DavidandConquer and spindle!
posted by jeffburdges at 7:07 AM on July 30, 2011
Amen to DavidandConquer and spindle!
posted by jeffburdges at 7:07 AM on July 30, 2011
What was so great about this interaction again?
You've never had a negative interaction with the police, have you? That must be nice.
If this encounter were repeated with random combinations of officers and citizens from around this country, with all other circumstances exactly the same, it would often play out very differently quite often. Cops' guns would be drawn. The instigator would be manhandled, forced to the ground. Cops would get aggressive about demanding identification, even though there is a legal right not to present ID.
Davidandconquer: what he is is shrewd
Yes, it is shrewd, but also awesome. As we have seen in many places around the country, in some places it is common practice to demand recording be stopped, confiscate the camera, and maybe arrest the instigator for violating state-specific videotaping or wiretap laws.
Officer Lyons defends the recording of police officers as if it were an established right --- which it is not, yet, but should be --- and he deserves kudos for that.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 7:14 AM on July 30, 2011
You've never had a negative interaction with the police, have you? That must be nice.
If this encounter were repeated with random combinations of officers and citizens from around this country, with all other circumstances exactly the same, it would often play out very differently quite often. Cops' guns would be drawn. The instigator would be manhandled, forced to the ground. Cops would get aggressive about demanding identification, even though there is a legal right not to present ID.
Davidandconquer: what he is is shrewd
Yes, it is shrewd, but also awesome. As we have seen in many places around the country, in some places it is common practice to demand recording be stopped, confiscate the camera, and maybe arrest the instigator for violating state-specific videotaping or wiretap laws.
Officer Lyons defends the recording of police officers as if it were an established right --- which it is not, yet, but should be --- and he deserves kudos for that.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 7:14 AM on July 30, 2011
Well, I think it's a cool video.
It seems as if 'Jeremy' was walking down a suburban street, hoping to get attention with a gun on his hip. I don't understand the urge to do that, I kinda wish people didn't have the urge to do that, but oh well.
And it seems as if he was certain the cop was going react to him aggressively, and he might've been a little excited about exercising his rights.
And the cop read the situation correctly, and wasn't a dick.
And sadly, the cop's non-dickishness IS surprising and novel to me, and renews my hope a little. Because my interactions with cops (speeding tickets or reporting car break-ins, trying to buy a car from a retired one) have always involved the cop being gruff and cold, with a look on their face as if they've smelled a turd. When my son was an infant, I was hormonal and cried thinking about cops being out in the world to protect MY BABY (!!!!) but subsequent interactions have left me feeling like that just an example of some whacked hormones, and not at all an insight into what police are about.
But maybe I'm wrong to expect the cop giving me a ticket on the highway to be a warm, satisfying interaction?
posted by MeiraV at 7:20 AM on July 30, 2011
It seems as if 'Jeremy' was walking down a suburban street, hoping to get attention with a gun on his hip. I don't understand the urge to do that, I kinda wish people didn't have the urge to do that, but oh well.
And it seems as if he was certain the cop was going react to him aggressively, and he might've been a little excited about exercising his rights.
And the cop read the situation correctly, and wasn't a dick.
And sadly, the cop's non-dickishness IS surprising and novel to me, and renews my hope a little. Because my interactions with cops (speeding tickets or reporting car break-ins, trying to buy a car from a retired one) have always involved the cop being gruff and cold, with a look on their face as if they've smelled a turd. When my son was an infant, I was hormonal and cried thinking about cops being out in the world to protect MY BABY (!!!!) but subsequent interactions have left me feeling like that just an example of some whacked hormones, and not at all an insight into what police are about.
But maybe I'm wrong to expect the cop giving me a ticket on the highway to be a warm, satisfying interaction?
posted by MeiraV at 7:20 AM on July 30, 2011
qxntpqbbbqxl: never had a negative interaction with the police, have you?
That was fighty of me and needlessly personal. I apologize.
My point should have been just that yes, we should expect this level of courtesy from law officers, but in reality a lot of folks have much lower expectations.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 7:22 AM on July 30, 2011
That was fighty of me and needlessly personal. I apologize.
My point should have been just that yes, we should expect this level of courtesy from law officers, but in reality a lot of folks have much lower expectations.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 7:22 AM on July 30, 2011
Want a really good cop video? Check out this one. The cops aren't still the end, but they are totally awesome bike cops that end up not only letting the slack-lining guy off with no repercussions, but actually just ask him to walk it for them cause they are curious.
posted by lazaruslong at 7:24 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by lazaruslong at 7:24 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
aren't until* the end
posted by lazaruslong at 7:24 AM on July 30, 2011
posted by lazaruslong at 7:24 AM on July 30, 2011
I want to know why a cop in Oceanside, California has that accent. Why did he go west? Is he a former Providence cop kicked off the force for refusing a bribe or something?
posted by Mayor Curley at 7:28 AM on July 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Mayor Curley at 7:28 AM on July 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
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The video shows a cop who does his job well and who has really good people handling skills. Your post shows unnecessary editorial content which isn't necessary for this FPP.
posted by hippybear at 5:52 AM on July 30, 2011