3 ms·

True in most cases, but I think there might be exceptions like when dealing with an emergency like a hostage situation.

by nebula 17y ago

trafficlight 17y ago
That's the kind of logic that got us into this mess. At no point, regardless of the situation, should a police officer be above the law.
- ismarc 17y ago
  And the reason why police officers have badges that uniquely identify themselves worn on their uniform.
  - proee 17y ago
    Sounds like a good idea for an iPhone app. You could look up a cop by ID and get any tips on dealing with him/her.
- Confusion 17y ago
  Don't be ridiculous: of course there are circumstances under which a police officer is above the law that dictates he should identify himself. If he's in a firefight and forcefully shoves you out of the way when you walk up asking for his identification, he has no obligation whatsoever to show you his ID. If he is in hot pursuit, you have no business stopping him to ask for his ID. If he has just broken his leg, you can't honestly expect him to identify himself. How many more examples do you want? I understand the parent is being irrelevantly pedantic, but your comment isn't making it any better.
- BigO 17y ago
  Just trying to point out situations where this can not be followed to the letter. If someone is speeding away from a robbery the police should not be allowed to speed after them? If someone is currently robbing a store should the police not be allowed to trespass to stop them? I do agree that they should be held to a higher standard. I also think if malicious intent is evident in their actions they should be given harsher sentences because they are given so much public trust. But they must be allowed to break some laws or they wont be able to do their jobs at all.
  - fnid2 17y ago
    There are countless tragedies caused by police officers speeding after criminals. So I would say no, they shouldn't go speeding off after the criminals. As the cops often say, "You can't outrun radio waves!" In the robbing store case, there is probable cause to enter the premises.
- timwiseman 17y ago
  Be above the law? No, never. But (and in practice this is very similar in effect) there are situations where the law should and does have exceptions for law enforcement officers acting in an official capacity. The obvious one is their privelege to ignore many normal traffic regulations under appropriate circumstances. Similarly, many law enforcement agents are authorized and required to be armed in places where it would be forbidden for anormal citizen.
deleted 17y ago
[deleted]

True in most cases, but I think there might be exceptions like when dealing with an emergency like a hostage situation.

by nebula 17y ago

True in most cases, but I think there might be exceptions like when dealing with an emergency like a hostage situation.

That's the kind of logic that got us into this mess. At no point, regardless of the situation, should a police officer be above the law.

ismarc 17y ago
And the reason why police officers have badges that uniquely identify themselves worn on their uniform.
- proee 17y ago
  Sounds like a good idea for an iPhone app. You could look up a cop by ID and get any tips on dealing with him/her.
Confusion 17y ago
Don't be ridiculous: of course there are circumstances under which a police officer is above the law that dictates he should identify himself. If he's in a firefight and forcefully shoves you out of the way when you walk up asking for his identification, he has no obligation whatsoever to show you his ID. If he is in hot pursuit, you have no business stopping him to ask for his ID. If he has just broken his leg, you can't honestly expect him to identify himself. How many more examples do you want? I understand the parent is being irrelevantly pedantic, but your comment isn't making it any better.
BigO 17y ago
Just trying to point out situations where this can not be followed to the letter. If someone is speeding away from a robbery the police should not be allowed to speed after them? If someone is currently robbing a store should the police not be allowed to trespass to stop them? I do agree that they should be held to a higher standard. I also think if malicious intent is evident in their actions they should be given harsher sentences because they are given so much public trust. But they must be allowed to break some laws or they wont be able to do their jobs at all.
- fnid2 17y ago
  There are countless tragedies caused by police officers speeding after criminals. So I would say no, they shouldn't go speeding off after the criminals. As the cops often say, "You can't outrun radio waves!" In the robbing store case, there is probable cause to enter the premises.
timwiseman 17y ago
Be above the law? No, never. But (and in practice this is very similar in effect) there are situations where the law should and does have exceptions for law enforcement officers acting in an official capacity. The obvious one is their privelege to ignore many normal traffic regulations under appropriate circumstances. Similarly, many law enforcement agents are authorized and required to be armed in places where it would be forbidden for anormal citizen.

deleted 17y ago

[deleted]