American Cops: True stories from the front line (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you tell a police officer I don't answer questions? ›

You cannot be punished for refusing to answer a question. It is a good idea to talk to a lawyer before agreeing to answer questions. In general, only a judge can order you to answer questions.

But Cops wasn't really portraying reality. It was propaganda, crystallized and edited into addictive portions, served up without any of the local context or personal information or historical detail that might slow down the rush of seeing so-called criminals taken off the streets.

You have the right to remain silent. For example, you do not have to answer any questions about where you are going, where you are traveling from, what you are doing, or where you live.

Do not tell the police anything except your name. Anything else you say can and will be used against you.

“5-0” (pronounced five-oh) became a popular nickname after the television show Hawaii Five-O which aired from 1968 to 1980. “Five-o” referred to the Hawaiian police force in the show, based on Hawaii being the fiftieth state to join the union.

You generally do not have to answer a police officer's questions if they stop you on the street. Unless the police officer threatens legal consequences, you generally have the right not to answer or to walk away. Most jurisdictions, however, require an individual to give their legal name if requested.

Farina was a real-life cop in the Windy City for 18 years, but then a run-in with a director changed his life forever.

Television crime shows like CSI: Las Vegas (Crime Scene Investigation or Investigators) and its spinoffs CSI: Miami and CSI: New York may portray some true-life crime scene analysis, but according to most police detectives, forensic scientists, and other law enforcement officials, these shows are more fiction than fact ...

Police undercover work involves the use of deception by a police agent that may result in the obtaining of information and evidence used to build a criminal case against those targeted by the undercover activity.

When a police officer asks where you are coming from, they are looking for evidence to support the possibility that you have or are committing a crime or whether or not you are a threat to public safety. This creates a baseline that they will later write down in a police report.

What to say if a cop says do you know why I pulled you over? ›

If your plan is to fight the ticket, do not admit to doing anything wrong and keep your answers short. Everything you tell the officer is admissible in court. If asked, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” simply reply, “No.”

"I think the most common reason is the officer wants you to admit guilt to some extent." "They're probably looking to get you to self-incriminate," added driver Justin Gehring of Woodbury. "If he's asking me a question, I'll answer him," added driver Deb Metzger from Wisconsin.

Legality. Freedom of speech is protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, so non-threatening verbal abuse of a police officer is not in itself criminal behavior, though some courts have disagreed on what constitutes protected speech in this regard.

Because of the Amendment, police officers generally cannot arrest people, nor can the government prosecute them, simply for what they've said. There are, of course, exceptions to the prohibition against punishing speech. Statutes that outlaw speech that's likely to incite violence constitute an example.

Short answer, no. The belief that such is true is a common misconception. Do undercover cops have to identify themselves if asked by someone who suspects them of being a cop?

The term "failure to investigate properly" covers several issues related to the police force's inadequate handling of a case. This can include any of the following: Failure to secure a crime scene. Failure to properly collect evidence related to the case.

One of the first signs that you may be under criminal investigation is experiencing unusual or unexpected contact with law enforcement. This could include being pulled over for minor traffic violations more frequently than usual or receiving unsolicited visits from police officers at your residence or workplace.

Miranda rights (also known as Miranda warnings) outline the following rights: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.