Monthly Archive for October, 2008

IT’S MURDER OUT THERE

Published on October 31, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

written by PC COPPERFIELD from The Policeman's Blog

Below is a picture of our rather pathetic Halloween decoration. We've had lots of children round trick or treating, with none of the usual disorder that seems to accompany similar occasions in the UK. That said, I'm not at work, so it could be that the city itself is aflame and disguised rioters dressed as zombies, or even actual zombies are, as we speak, laying waste to large parts of it. Whatever.

This time of year is celebrated by lots of people, (is it an equinox or something?) so we've also been to the Gurudwara and the Mandir to celebrate Diwali, the Hindhu festival of sweets, or is it light? Next week it's bonfire night, the English festival of burning Catholics.

When I haven't been putting up shelves or insulating my garage in preparation for the coming winter, I have actually been working. In fact, I've had walk-on parts in the following dramas:

1. Murder #1

2. Murder #2

3. Murder #3

By anyone's standards (unless you happen to work in South Central LA) that's quite a few murders in a relatively short time. Apart from that, we've been doing the usual round of traffic stops and suchlike.

Here are a couple of people having their evening interrupted by the local fuzz.

The original post can be found http://coppersblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/its-murder-out-there.html

Fifty Thousand Volts

Published on October 31, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

written by Disgruntled from Disgruntled

Funny thing red laser dots... suspect compliance is almost immediate especially when the dot is crawling over their chest.

The usual response to a tin of pepper was "Go on then!" and resulted in me emptying it on them. Snot and spit bailed out of every face cavity and meant that by the time we reached custody they were a sodden mess I had to pat down and usually strip off. Not pleasant.

I can only assume barbs piercing your skin and shocking you into a convulsive state is that more obviously less appealing....

The original post can be found http://disgruntledcop.blogspot.com/2008/10/fifty-thousand-volts.html

Big Hair and A Short Attention Span

Published on October 31, 2008 in 1. Closed

written by inspectorgadget from POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG

When the Chief Inspector in charge of Coming Up With Stupid Ideas called to see me, he was obviously confused. He wants me to write a paper on the lack of qualified Sergeants in Ruralshire Constabulary.

“Gadget, I want you to write a paper on the lack of qualified Sergeants in Ruralshire Constabulary, and submit it to me by December” he said.

“Sorry Chief, you must be confused. I’m Inspector Gadget, Police Inspector Gadget. I’m a policeman. I think you must have me mistaken for one of those people from the “Writing Endless Reports That Nobody Reads Department” at Constabulary Headquarters…. perhaps I could get you their phone number?”

“Well Gadget, that’s all very funny but on a serious note, you will have to speak to personnel, duty planners, the Training Department……………. scope it all for me…………… initial proposal………….. training plan…………….”

These days I hear Dusty Springfield.

It was funny but after a while I couldn’t hear him any more. His lips were moving but all I could hear was Dusty telling me that I don’t have to say I love her just because she’s there.

Suddenly he was thanking me and the next person was being ushered in.

I have such a short attention span.

The is only one solution. I have to go and visit the “Old Sweat On The Second Floor”.

He advised me to speak to a Sergeant in A Division who has produced a paper with the same title, which no one has read. It’s not copying, says The Old Sweat, it’s called “Sharing Best Practice”.

I managed to get hold of the 24 page document.

The conclusions are startling: There is a lack of qualified Sergeants in Ruralshire Constabulary.

I eventually arrived home and sat with my eyes closed for a while. Dusty was there again. I watched an old recording of the South Bank Show about her the other day and now she won’t go away. I need some sleep. I need some proper policing. Roll on Saturday night!

The original post can be found http://inspectorgadget.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/big-hair-and-a-short-attention-span/

Say it with chocolates

Published on October 31, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

written by whichendbites from WHICHENDBITES

A young woman who punched a policeman was spared jail because she had bought him a box of chocolates to apologise.

Kylie Fisk, 20, lashed out as officers tried to break up a brawl she was involved in outside her home. She screamed abuse, kicked a police car and punched Sergeant Alistair Livingstone in the mouth, leaving him with five deep scratch marks.

But she was shown mercy by District Judge David Copper after he was told she bought the officer a £3.10 box of Nestle chocolates in an attempt to say sorry.

The judge, sitting at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court, told Fisk: ‘That is a very sweet gesture. I have never heard of that happening before.

‘I have to consider compensation. You bought the police officer a box of chocolates, that is nice. You just go and give him that.’

But he added: ‘You have committed a very serious offence. It must never happen again or you will go to prison.’

I can only imagine that the sentencing guidelines recommend a list of chocolates to relate to the nature of the offence.

Lets see…………….

Milk Tray for assault.

Black Magic for burglary.

What could a luxury Belgian brand get you off with ?

You’d have thought the officer was worth at least a bottle of 12 year old single malt.

I wonder what she would have got if she had assaulted a Judge or a Magistrate ?

The original post can be found http://whichendbites.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/say-it-with-chocolates/

Back on the 10th November

Published on October 31, 2008 in pcso blog. Closed

written by PC Plastic Fuzz from The Plastic Fuzz

I'm going away for a bit, will be back on the 10th November 2008 - with lots of new material, a new look to the blog and a reshufle of links AND have some more from top blog contributers.

Watch this space...

This space .......right here [ ]

:)

The original post can be found http://policecommunitysupportofficer.blogspot.com/2008/10/back-on-10th-november.html

The ghosts of Christmas past.

Published on October 30, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

written by Max from Fighting the good fight

I really cannot believe how quickly 2008 has come and gone. Only a few weeks left until Xmas. Ive just been reading an historical post from AREA TRACE NO SEARCH (if I knew how to link I would :))regarding the job affecting our personal lives and relationships so I thought id regail you with my own "christmas carol"

If you are an eager new probie (or student as I keep getting told to call you ) then take heed lest you follow me down my dark path.

One Xmas eve several years ago, My girlfriend and I signed for our first house.I was on night turn that day hoping to bag santa for a PBT.My area then was residential and hoped that the locals would be showing goodwill towards men for one night of the year.The control room had all bought in some finger food for us and we were hoping for a relatively "Q" night.It was a bitterly cold night and I was hoping for a heavy frost to at least give the impression of a white chrimbo.

I had just wrapped some tinsel around the VHF radio ariel on the car when the first panic alarm went off.

What followed for the next few hours was the very antithesis of human beings showing each other good will. I had never seen the sort of violence outside of a major disorder that erupted on the streets.Our shift ran out of CS at one point. Vehicles were trashed and officers assaulted.

Me and my oppo were dispatched to a domestic in quite a nice area. We were already informed that there was no back up avaliable and no cell space left in our city which would mean at least a 20 mile drive to find an empty cell.We arrive to find a gay couple having the verbal argument of the decade in the front room of their house. Once we had calmed them down so we could actually talk in a normal voice, we ascertained that there were no criminal offences disclosed, but one party would have to leave to prevent a further breach of the peace. As it was, we decided it was the non resident (and more lippy one) that would have to go.

"IM NOT GOING ANYWHERE YOU WILL HAVE TO ARREST ME."
MAX; "I DONT WANT TO ARREST YOU, I DONT WANT YOU TO SPEND XMAS IN A CELL BECAUSE YOUR BEING A PISSED UP IDIOT."

This went on for about 30 seconds until it went pear shaped.

"IM GOING TO SLASH MY WRISTS.IVE HAD ENOUGH.."

Chummy then makes a dash for the kitchen.

Kitchen=knives=oh shit.

I grabbed chummy by the arm and puts him down on the floor in an arm lock.

Next thing I know, his man mountain of a boyfriend has me around the neck choking the life out of me and I go crashing through the coffee table. As I struggle to breathe I catch the familiar scent of pear drops and marzipan as my oppo drops him with a blast of CS.

2 in custody.

I got home about 07:30hrs and walked into our new house. I looked at the tatty xmas tree Id liberated from my mums loft from about 1984 and put my girlfriends presents under the tree which I had been keeping in my locker away from her prying eyes.I woke her up and we had our first christmas together.When she hugged me in suprise as she opened a parcel and found the coat I said she couldn't have I tried not to wince as she pressed my bruises. What followed was a truly magical day, surrounded by people I loved and who loved me back. No arguments, No drunken stupidity. None of us glassed each other or assaulted the neighbors. I really realised what the day was meant to be about, commercialism aside.

This year however, when I come back in from work there will be noone waiting for me and the house will be empty.This year I have become a police statistic, just another failed relationship that I can attribute to my job for various reasons.

For those not in the emergency services/armed forces, please take a moment this year in between your turkey or christmas pud to think about the men and women who are away from their families trying to keep you safe so you and your family can enjoy your day.

The original post can be found http://fightingthegdfight.blogspot.com/2008/10/ghosts-of-christmas-past.html

Need a Drink

Published on October 30, 2008 in Death, LAS, baby, children, hospital and night duty. Closed

written by Area Trace No Search from Area Trace No Search

Many officers, on blogs, in books, and even face to face admit to being affected by their job in many different ways.
The side that is usually only touched upon as briefly as possible is the emotional side.

Although, as with all emergency services, we 'toughen up' and the vast majority of things become day to day, there will always be things that effect us.

Sometimes these are things that you wouldn't expect to have that effect; something or someone you've dealt with many times before. These take you aback as much as they upset you. I think personally that part of that is because as coppers we have to accept that there is a chink in our armour, that sometimes, something does get through.

Not too often luckily, else we'd never be ready to go to the next call.

One of the things guaranteed to be difficult for blue light responders is dealing with children; especially sexual abuse cases, or anything at all to do with babies.

In the incidents I've been in which have involved young children, every officer has done the job proud. Training kicks in obviously, as does experience. But humanity is the most important trait at times like that and it is one of the times it is important to use it rather than keep it out of the equation.

Seeing the parents is always the bit that gets me; I've never teared up yet at work, but I've definitely felt washed out completely afterwards.
At one incident, I was sent halfway through a night duty to what was described as a "six month old baby not breathing, LAS on route."

Not a nice thing to happen, and not a nice thing to hear over the airwaves.

I arrived on scene to be greated by a hysterical couple, clutching a baby that was turning purple as I watched.
Suffice to say that whatever you think you know about CPR, doing it on a baby of that age takes a lot more concentration than on an adult.

Once again, thank you thank you thank you to the LAS for arriving promptly, and actually taking over.

The baby girl was pronounced dead after nearly an hour of an entire resus department at A&E working on her, and I stupidly volunteered to tell the parents - they knew anyway, but it needed to be said.
They reacted as any loving parents would.

I walked away to give them a few minutes, and to get some air myself. To be honest, this is when I started feeling it, and frankly what I wanted was a bed and a few shots of whisky - not necessarily in that order.

What I actually had to do though, was pick up the baby and take her to an observation room, tear the parents away for a while and then inspect the body for signs of abuse.
Praying all the time that I wouldn't find any, and luckily my prayers were answered on this occasion.
During all of this, recording my actions in an IRB (Incident Report Book), and then taking details from the parents, getting an initial account of what happened from both, whilst trying to console them.

I'd about reached breaking point myself, but everytime the I felt like taking a break I looked at the parents and reminded myself that they couldn't "take five."
A subtle knock on the door interrupted the quiet sobbing, and a nurse poked her head around the door. "Sorry to intrude, but your son, Jason, he's just turned up"
Cue panicked looks from the parents. The Mum spoke; "He's only fifteen - how am I going to tell him?"
After a long and uncomfortable silence, I sighed soundlessly to myself. There wasn't much else I could say: "Do you want me to tell him? I don't mind."
Not pleasant.

In the wonderful way of the job of course, after I had handed the parents over to the specialists after a couple of hours, it was back to the nick for a statement and then back on the streets again.
To be fair, if I'd asked I probably would have been allowed home. But what would be the point? I wouldn't be sleeping anyway, so being out on patrol made more sense than sitting by myself in a darkened flat trying to keep quiet.

I don't mind admitting that the nightmares took a little while to stop afterwards though. Seeing a father cradle his baby daughter in his arms for the last time is not something that is easily imagined, and even harder to forget.

The original post can be found http://areatracenosearch.blogspot.com/2008/10/need-drink.html

We Knew Things Were Bad, But…

Published on October 30, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

written by The Coppersblog Team from The Policeman's Blog

...this bad?
"Criminals being supervised by the Probation Service have committed more than 120 murders in two years," says tomorrow's Daily Telegraph.
"Between April 2006 and April this year, offenders serving community sentences and suspended sentences were convicted of a total of 121 murders."
In total, "1,004 serious crimes (were) committed by offenders being supervised by the Probation Service, including 22 attempted murders, 103 rapes and 682 other serious violent or sexual offences."
How many of these criminals should have been in jail if the government had built enough cells and was prepared to use them?
How many other serious offences - these are just the convictions, remember - have been committed? The Telegraph talks about a further 374 cases yet to come to court... but these are just where someone has been nicked.
Does anyone now have any faith in the system of community sentencing for seriously nasty, violent people?
In the past, Ministers have resigned over affairs with secretaries, passport mix-ups and mortgage-related misunderstandings.
Will anyone go over 121 murders, 22 attempt murders, 103 rapes and 682 serious violent or sexual offences?

TCT

The original post can be found http://coppersblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/we-knew-things-were-bad-but.html

The CPS – Criminal Protection Service??

Published on October 30, 2008 in Uncategorized. Closed

written by The Blue Light Run from The Blue Light Run

I received a court update yesterday. Someone who I had arrested for an assault was found guilty at court and received a suspended sentence. Actually, it was an extension to an existing suspended sentence. Yes, you read correctly....AN EXTENSION. Now, correct me if I'm wrong but if someone goes to court and they receive a suspended sentence then this should be a warning / deterrent to them - 'if you screw up again for any reason you will be back before the court and you will go to prison to serve the term that was suspended'. This disposal method is supposed to be a deterrent, giving leniency to the defendant - a second chance of you like. However the guy i arrested committed a serious assault, knocked three teeth out of an unsuspecting night clubber who had the audacity to bump into him on a busy, dark dance floor. The victim received extensive dental rework, a fractured eye socket, multiple bruising and now a life long fear of going out to nightclubs. To his credit, the defendant put his hands up to it in the dock and pleaded guilty. He was already 'serving' a suspended sentence, so the correct disposal method should have been straight to jail, do not pass go, do not collect £200 etc. But he received a six month suspended sentence for 18 months, a massive increase on the original 3 month / one year sentence he received not 6 months ago. An appeal is out of the question now, the crown prosecution service did not seem at all bothered about the result and from appearances didn't even question it. I have sent a strongly worded email to the CPS management but I fear all I will get is a flowery worded reply using big words and case law that I will not understand. Perhaps there was some plea bargaining going on, but I wasn't there (wasn't called) so I have no idea. IMO, there are two main issues here (1) what does this tell the victim in this instance about how much the CPS / police support him? (2) the message to the defendant is that the Criminal Justice System is weak, there is no room in our prisons and therefore you can carry on assaulting complete strangers without any real fear of repercussions. I don't normally get worked up over things like this, my job is to get the suspects into the dock, the court have their job to do once i have achieved that. However, in my opinion on this occasion the criminal justice system has let everybody down, with the exception of the defendant who was probably quite happy to get home and unpack the overnight bag he no doubt had packed before going to court.

The original post can be found http://thebluelightrun.blogspot.com/2008/10/cps-criminal-protection-service.html

Thanks for a great evening!

Published on October 29, 2008 in 1. Closed

written by inspectorgadget from POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG

There were six or seven of them. I was outnumbered.

Late at night, in an unfamiliar part of Metrocity and no ‘officer safety’ equipment.

Despite all the training and experience of the most hardened front-line police officer, what can you do against odds like that? The only option was to be nice and hope that they didn’t give me too much of a hard time. If I made it through, I could maybe learn some lessons.

The ladies form the South West Metro Book Club are not to be trifled with.

They gave me Class A Doughnuts and gin.

When I heard that my book had been chosen by this team, I immediately felt the need to attend in person.

It was so odd to meet members of the public who didn’t want to hit me with a bottle or puke on my boots. I don’t think I have spent so long with people who are…. well…. alive in years. I had the best time and the meal was great.

It was interesting to hear about the priorities up in the Metro City Control Centre. One of the ladies had been accosted by some maniac on the Common and ended up wasting her time looking at endless mugshots of people who all looked the same, another had suffered a ’shed break’ and Metrocity Police sent patrols, CSI’s and Detectives!

I had to explain to the hostess that whilst she could refer to herself as a ‘dumb blonde’ the phrase ‘dumb blonde woman’ was unacceptable, ‘woman’ being a gender comment and thus cutting one of the seven strands of diversity. They stared at me for a few seconds. Don’t the public know that this is all done in their name?

It was wonderful to meet half a dozen people mad enough to read my book, even if they had to because it was on their club list!

Top Questions Of The Night:

1. How much can I drink before I am over the limit?

2. Is that your real Christian name? *

3. Why do the police drive BMW cars?

4. Where is Ruralshire?

5. Is it true that you are not allowed ‘Christmas’ in the police?

* Clearly an Internal Affairs Department trap - I quickly explained that as a modern policeman, I don’t have a ‘Christian name’, I have a ‘first name’.