Ask A Cop *The Video Series*

Here is your chance folks, your chance to ask a real, live, honest to goodness, 100%, lifelong, career Police Officer anything you want to.

Plus you will get your answer on a video.

This is how it will work.

Post your question or questions in this thread, or if you prefer, U2U them to me. I will read your questions on video and answer them to the best of my ability.

Who am I?

I am Semperfortis

I have well over 20 years in Law Enforcement, in 3 different states. I have been a Road Officer, Squad Leader, Sector Supervisor and every rank up to Captain. I have attended 3 Police Academies in 3 different states.

I have served as and I am certified in the following:

Basic Law Enforcement
SWAT
SWAT Team Leader
Sniper
DUI Enforcement
Traffic Enforcement
Highway Narcotic Interdiction
Uniform Narcotics
Detective I and II
DEA Drug Investigator School
FBI Firearms Instructor School
Firearms Instructor School in 3 other states
Police Mountain Bike Certified
Radar and Laser Certified
Basic and Advanced Investigators School
Forensics School
Computer Forensics Specialist
Reid Interrogation Techniques Advanced
Community Policing School
Internal Investigations

Ask anything you want to, no matter how controversial, but remember; ATS Terms and Conditions apply at all times. So be professional and I will as well.


**Disclaimer:

*I will NOT give legal advice. If you think you need an Attorney, you do. Nothing I say should ever be construed as Legal Advice. Nothing I may say is endorsed by ATS or The Above Network and is simply my opinion and is not necessarily the opinion of ATS, it’s Affiliates or TheAboveNetwork as a whole.

I can not be expected to know every law in every state. If I say I don’t know, I don’t. I will research your questions for the best possible answer, but remember, this is my opinion. If you act on my opinion, you do so completely of your own volition and myself or TheAboveNetwork can not be held responsible for your actions.

I also will not discuss my particular current position or department.*

So….

Want to know why Cops eat Donuts or why we search someone and let them go?

Just ask.

Want to tell me off? Go ahead, I can take it.

Just want to know more than you do about the Police? Now is your time.

Thank you
Semper

From one officer to another I wanna say GOOD LUCK! Here on ATS you are going to have your hands full, but hey we have our hands full everytime we put on that uniform, so why not huh?

Watch your Six brother...these ATS members will come from all angles..lol

I'm sure you've followed some of the threads on police abuse that seem to pop up from time to time. My question is this; Why don't police organizations ever speak out against officers who were clearly in the wrong? It seems that the Unions and fellow officers will go to any lenghts to defend even the most egrariouos behavior.

Also, Are officers worried about the tendency of government, grabbing more power all the time, leading to a repressive police state, or do they see the new powers as a good thing?

Edit to add: I don't want just your opinion, being an ATSer, you have a much greater knowledge of conspiracies in the govt, I want to know what the average joe cop on the street thinks.



[edit on 18-12-2009 by FortAnthem]

Just remember people all cops are not bad so don't come in thinking that way. True there any many that fall to the side of bad but it's like that in any groups.

Thanks for your time semperfortis. Do you believe the money spent on the "war on drugs" would be of better use to society if it were spent on something else? Another related question: do you believe, if the war on drugs did end, that it would hinder the efforts of violent gangs? If so, how much of a dent would it would it cause?

reply to post by FortAnthem


You will definitely get "My Opinion".. That of Joe Cop

Excellent questions and they will be answered

reply to post by heyo


Your questions will be addressed. Thank you

I will have a video up sometime this weekend as the response has been good.

If anyone else wants their questions addressed, get them in ASAP

Thank you

Semper

So with your long career as a policeman and the experience gained working with other LEOs, in your opinion do you feel that when police come into contact with a normal law abiding citizen who is not braking any laws but that is way more heavily armed than you and your fellow officers, does that make you guys feel intimidated or threatened in any way? even though the person is not directly a threat to you, how do you feel about regular citizens possessing lots of firearms? And if the Federal Government decided one day to collect those firearms from everyday citizens, where would you stand? would you just follow orders or stand up for the rights of your 2nd amendment? where do you feel the loyalty lies in most LEOs?

Are you part of Oath Keepers? If no why not and would you consider it?

ive always wondered if its legal for police officers to blow through lights and speed through traffic without their lights on. and by lights i dont mean headlights i mean the red and blue ones. i have seen alot of this where i live and i think its dangerous.

reply to post by semperfortis


No questions from me. Just an expression of heartfelt respect and thanks for the jobs you guys do. I don't know how it must feel to be a law enforcement officer on a site which naturally attracts strong anti-government sentiment, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who appreciates the stress and danger which goes along with job. I cannot see the morality or logic of begrudging the officer for enforcing a law I was caught violating. Especially when I honestly consider the innumerable unseen times I have had my health, my family, and my possessions protected against harm by the same officers and system of enforcement.

I do not advocate the suffering of obedience to a truly unjust law (within all due reason and consideration, of course. Plenty of just laws are unpopular, while popular unjust laws are not unheard of. And getting your feelings hurt is not the same as tyranny and oppression... just to be clear). However, that said - it is by no means free license for the venom-laced slander and childish temper-tantrums often directed at police officers for doing their jobs when we're called to task for the repercussions of our choices. Better to show some dignity and save the energy and vitriol for opposing the law on the level of the law where it will be useful. In the courts, and in government.

You guys have enough crap to deal with as it is. And there's much to be said for Civility, even if engaged in acts of disobedience.

Stay safe out there guys. And thank you.

[edit on 19-12-2009 by Lasheic]

reply to post by semperfortis

Firstly, Thank you for offering yourself and your experience to ATS members inquisition.

It seems to me that many citizens and societies are becoming increasingly hostile towards their very own Police Forces. Do you feel this way at all.

ATS threads abound with videos and sources of Police brutality, violence and corruption. The level of vitriol and abuse that is then plastered on ALL POLICE seems to be accepted as justified by many, many posters on these threads. The levels of respect and trust shown towards Police Officers and Forces seems to be fading.

Do you think or even feel that there is a divide between Citizens and Police forces where the general population perceive that the Police force is just an extension of a corrupt Governmental establishment, rather than a group of state employed citizens that are employed to serve and protect its fellow citizens and enforce its laws.
An example of this divide that I notice revolves around the Police being put in some extremely difficult situations with protests in my country being Policed more heavily with increasing levels of intolerance towards citizens expressing their rights. This trend also appears to be occurring in most western countries.
IMHO this pits the Police against the very citizens it is hired to protect and citizens themselves now relegate policing of these events an authoritarian abuse, when the real issues are political.

Thanks again for your time.


[edit on 19/12/09 by atlasastro]

OK Folks here is the very first video in this series.

Excuse the poor lighting and background, all of these things will improve as we go along. I really wanted to get this one out.



Keep posting your questions, and I will keep answering them.

I will also address any question that may arise out of the video as well.

**Oh yeah, I meant to say.. Informal**

Thank you

Semper

[edit on 12/19/2009 by semperfortis]

is it true Policemen in America live on a diet of donunts and coffee or is that just a streotype we have been led to believe in Europe?

reply to post by semperfortis


Its funny that you mentioned that you believe that we are loosing the war on drugs. I had this same exact conversation with one of our K9 Officers yesterday. With the interduction of pep spic, and salvia into our military community its becoming a HUGE issue.

Prior to these in our community the numbers were low. But now that there are drugs that arnt illegal yet soldiers that can't drink are turning to this. THAT BEING SAID The military is a reflection of our society so I can only imagin that young adults in the civilian community are turning to these drugs as well as a legal way to get high.

Personaly I think that we would have alot less issues as a community if we were to just legalize the use of certain drugs, and put restraints simular to alcohol.

That all leads me to my question for you. Do you feel if the states start legalizing Marijuana for recreational use. We will have more or less violent drug related crimes? Also do you think that there will be a hint of rezentment from police to people they stop that are using drugs legally?

I personally feel that the issues will be with people attempting to flaunt it in the face of the police, Taunting them. Though we know people will taunt them, I think it will be a true testoment to the men and women of our local police when they DO NOT lash out and they continue to do their jobs quietly and proffesionaly.

Thank you for speaking out FOR the police of the United States. It's a welcome change of pace!

I have a question.

What would you do, if you would be enforced by the law to do something, that your individual conscience conflicts?

-v

Thanks for investing time for the benefit of us ATSers. The Internet features a lot of sofa-experts so its good to have someone who knows what he's talking about from real-life experience.

I have no questions. Good luck and may this thread last long.

reply to post by semperfortis



Thanks dude.

***hello SemperFortis, you are Offering a unique opportunity,
whether Sponsored by the dept - or by your Own concepts
of helpfulness to the Average joe, it may not matter.

we are Philosophers in oxford UK, and see America from the
outside, probably a lot different to you guys behind the govt.
Pretence of "terrorists everywhere" with which 911 was blownup
hoping to raise public support for attack on Iran - at that time.

a colleague in Colorado was in vietnam, and excessively Patriotic,
to extent of stupidly planning to vote Mc.cain in to follow /worsen
bush juniors ravings and Constitution Destroying legislations -
walker himself being your biggest citizen-threatening terrorist ever.

***our question is, IF you were expected to perform some "duty"
which Seriously conflicted with your own Perceptions of "right",
would you backoff from Obeying ?
or just go ahead and kill everyone - like Mei Lai massacre ?

In local cop situations, OR military attacks on other countries, IF
you felt the "commander in chief" / colonel /boss was a Maniac,
and you therefore might get court martialled ?

Mohammed Ali - champion of the world, had the guts to say
"the vietnamese are not MY enemies, i aint got no cause to go killing
them". would you SemperFortis agree with Ali ?

***its time more Americans began thinking for themselves, and Not
blindly Rushing into every conflict that war-mongering presidents
dream "necessary". What for example are WE (including britain)
doing in Afghanistan - pretending to help them ? or just protecting
american oil pipelines ? half the western world dont even know
where afghanistan is. "al-quaida" and "the taliban" are NOT an
army, just a Scattering of irate Farmers pissed off with being
invaded, just like YOU would get pissed off if Argentinians
went round shootingup farmers in California.

***look forward to hear from you Semper - half the UK !
"bin laden" died years ago - forget him, your biggest enemy is WITHIN.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

reply to post by MasterKaman


I suggest you watch his earlier response to a simular question. He said it isnt somthing every officer thinks about and that it would be based on each person at that time.

I wish people would have a diffrent question for this guy then that repeatedly. This is a great opertunity for the community to ask about things that they don't fully understand, and all people want to do is speculate about the future. Theres alot of what ifs. How many American civilians would just hand over there guns and support the government if they started to distroy the constitution? Probly alot more then there are police thats for sure.

Point being this is a great Idea for a thread but I wish people would stay on track with it. This guy dosn't seem like somone that wants to waste his time with ignorance.

Hello my good friend...
I love this positive contribution to ATS and I thank you.
For starters, let me say that my experience with police officers has always been a bad one in my life, with you being the exception.
There are many that allow the badge to go to their head and make themselves feel a level above the rest of us.
Perhaps it goes with your job, that you need to feel emotionless or detached...and there are very few that are not that way.
Thank you for showing me different.
My question to you, is simply this...
In your experience, from everything you have seen and done-
If you could change, or create a new law that you feel would be better than the current ones you enforce..What would it be?