Another interesting vid regarding talking to the cops. Not sure I could have held out this long:
-
If you are having trouble changng your password please click here for help.
Talking to Police after a Self Defense Incident
- Thread starter RexProcer
- Start date
/\/\
I couldn't have lasted that long, nor would I have wanted as much trouble. I'm all for exercising your rights, but it also sounds like he may have been causing trouble at the "antique mall". Either way I have been the DD for friends and refused a breathalyzer and field sobriety test in the most polite ways but was compliant with the officers. I know my rights and will exercise them. But never will I take it to a level of trying to annoy the police.
I couldn't have lasted that long, nor would I have wanted as much trouble. I'm all for exercising your rights, but it also sounds like he may have been causing trouble at the "antique mall". Either way I have been the DD for friends and refused a breathalyzer and field sobriety test in the most polite ways but was compliant with the officers. I know my rights and will exercise them. But never will I take it to a level of trying to annoy the police.
Remember everything is recorded. From your 911 call asking for help. Think about it, do you want to be on the phone saying "I just shot someone". Or would it be better to say "I was the victim of a crime and there has been a shooting, send the police and an ambulance to this location."
In a shooting you need to notify the authorities. You don't want to say anything without the advice of a lawyer. You need to tell them how many shooting victims there are and if the situation is under control. Dispatchers will flip to a chart and start asking a series of questions. Questions you may not want recorded.
Hang up the phone and turn your phone off. Get your thoughts together. If you stay on the phone they will continue to ask questions. Remember these are questions you may not want your recorded answers played out in court. Remember George Zimmerman? His phone call to the dispatcher was used to try and establish motive and discrimination.
To the first officer on scene. "I was in fear for my life and I'm pretty shook up now, want my attorney present before I answer any questions."
Mentally prepare to be arrested and spending the next couple days in jail before a public defender can be arranged.
When I went through LEO training more than 30 years ago in California. The Sergeant giving the training had been involved in several (to the best of my recollection it was 7) on the job shootings. The Sergeant's advice to the police recruits was when asked what happened, to assert your 5th amendment against self incrimination and refuse to answer any questions.
Yes, an on duty police officer involved in an on duty shooting advised to invoke the 5th.
He went on to say that as an officer they would acknowledge his invoking his rights, and then say OK, now tell us what happened.
As a civilian, the only safe thing to do is lawyer up and chill out in a cell. Because anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
The police will try to make you talk. They will harass and play all kinds of games to try to make you respond. At that point the only response should be "What part of "I want my attorney present before I answer any questions," don't you understand? If they continue to harass you be sure to get their name and badge number.
In a shooting you need to notify the authorities. You don't want to say anything without the advice of a lawyer. You need to tell them how many shooting victims there are and if the situation is under control. Dispatchers will flip to a chart and start asking a series of questions. Questions you may not want recorded.
Hang up the phone and turn your phone off. Get your thoughts together. If you stay on the phone they will continue to ask questions. Remember these are questions you may not want your recorded answers played out in court. Remember George Zimmerman? His phone call to the dispatcher was used to try and establish motive and discrimination.
To the first officer on scene. "I was in fear for my life and I'm pretty shook up now, want my attorney present before I answer any questions."
Mentally prepare to be arrested and spending the next couple days in jail before a public defender can be arranged.
When I went through LEO training more than 30 years ago in California. The Sergeant giving the training had been involved in several (to the best of my recollection it was 7) on the job shootings. The Sergeant's advice to the police recruits was when asked what happened, to assert your 5th amendment against self incrimination and refuse to answer any questions.
Yes, an on duty police officer involved in an on duty shooting advised to invoke the 5th.
He went on to say that as an officer they would acknowledge his invoking his rights, and then say OK, now tell us what happened.
As a civilian, the only safe thing to do is lawyer up and chill out in a cell. Because anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
The police will try to make you talk. They will harass and play all kinds of games to try to make you respond. At that point the only response should be "What part of "I want my attorney present before I answer any questions," don't you understand? If they continue to harass you be sure to get their name and badge number.
Why does your plan only include you and not take into account loved ones that may have been seriously injured during the incident? I don't want to sit in a jail cell for several days while someone I care about is in the hospital after a clear case of self defense.
I also wouldn't want to hear from my attorney after I bond out that the police already got a statement from the dead perps cooperative girlfriend/boo and the police and D.A. don't need mine, they know what happened from witnesses and evidence from the scene. There is no requirement to obtain a statement from you at all, it's just more paperwork.
Why would the police try to make you talk when it's easier to obtain statements from all those cooperative "witnesses"? If the first words you say to a responding officer are "I want an attorney" they will simply ignore you while you sit in the back of a dirty patrol vehicle and you become a spectator to your future.
I'm damn near certain that the occifer is required by statue to identify both himself and the agency for which he works and then must state the violation or reason for his stopping you.
I have to agree. Lawyers make more money two ways. From clients that say too much, and from clients that don't say enough. After the initial call be sure you don't speak until you compose your thoughts. Then telL the investigating officer the basics, who what when and how. No long explanations, no excuses, and no apologies.
Brother with 25 years experience on the street then up through the ranks to command says, "Never, ever talk to the police. They aren't your friends and they aren't there to help you."
Maybe not in GA. SC they must.
This will be my course of action, I have a card from the USCCA to remind me
