Question after watching COPS episode

**trekgirl** · 08-25-07, 07:33 AM

They were showing Minneapolis PD. One of the officers got a call about a confused woman. When he got there she was mumbling about not having enough taxi money to get home...and that the social security check wasn't due for a week. She said she called so she could get a ride home. If you were called for a confused person, and they told you they called you because they couldn't afford a taxi, what would you do? Would you give that person a ride home? Would you explain that its not appropriate to call for a ride...(or maybe it is, I don't know). Anyhoo, your thoughts?

**conalabu** · 08-25-07, 07:46 AM

Bring her to the hospital for mental evaluation in this case.

Generally however, I am not a taxi service.

**kjlaw** · 08-25-07, 08:19 AM

My car says Sheriff not taxi. Not enough cab fare walk.

**cashton** · 08-25-07, 09:33 AM

I tell people that I give one trips to the hotel on the hill (Regional Jail), if they want a ride hop in back.

**jmur5074** · 08-25-07, 10:34 AM

I don't give rides, typically. Exigent circumstances only.

She can walk. Or I'll put her on a psychological eval hold at the hospital, if I felt it was necessary.

**Jks9199** · 08-25-07, 11:01 AM

Yep, cruiser says "POLICE". It's not even close to "TAXI".

I've given a few rides to people in bad situations, like after they were involved in a crash, but the basic rule is that I don't pick up passengers.

In the case described (confused person, no money), I'd have called for medics to assess her unless it was clear she was simply drunk. If she was just drunk or high, or medics cleared her, and I felt she was likely to get hurt... I'd hook her for drunk in public. And I'd probably inform her of the laws against falsely summoning the police...

**Coloradocop** · 08-28-07, 01:14 PM

It isn't appropriate to call the police for a ride home, and I would explain it to the person, depending on the situation.

I also agree with the others... I am NOT a taxi. Exigent circumstances are the only times when I'll give a ride. Honestly, most "confused" people asking for rides in my district are drunks or crackheads.

Depending on how they presented themselves to me, they could easily find themselves in DETOX or at the hospital on a mental health hold.

Generally, in a situation like that I'd offer to call a family member. But, I'm not going to be roped into being the city's free taxi service.

I have had this happen before when the person was an elderly female suffering from dementia. Obviously this entails a different line of thinking, and I went a few extra steps on that one.

Still, like I said, 99% of the time around here it is just a drunk, crackhead, or someone else who is in that situation completely through their own choices (ie: not our problem).

**phantasm** · 08-31-07, 08:02 AM

I'll sometimes escort someone onto the subway, but I don't have to. Or they'll get a ride to the hospital in an ambulance if they've got mental issues. Its a rare case when I'll put someone in my police car. Sometimes for a complainant from the station house. Once some borderline homeless/EDP, just to handle the job, and to get rid of her.

**mike01** · 08-31-07, 09:35 AM

i work in a rural area that has no lighting nor any buisnesses after dark. our county is broken into 4 sections and mine(the south area) is extremely
isolated.this sector is about 300 square miles or so (entire county 888 square miles) so every now and then i will pick up a strande motorist and take them into nearest town. anyone walking around time is normally drunk or high and they get a ride anyway. i have never gotten a call for a ride,but i have gotten a stranded motorist call,which is fairly common in my area.during the summer months,the snakes,skunks,and bugs and hundreds of other critters can scare the hell out of the city slickers.

**gozling** · 08-31-07, 10:51 AM

i would ask her a series of questions to find out if she meets a baker act criteria... I would also call the alzheimers organization...they have people on lists who are most likely to walk off etc... its a program down here that care facilities register with....

if she doesnt meet any of the criteria... i would have dispatch call a cab for me and stand by till they show up.

a lot of times cab companies will transport if not too far away upon PO requests... I have only used it once.

no one like this gets put in my car unless they meet a baker act criteria (mental illness)

**JLK** · 08-31-07, 12:03 PM

if she was not intoxicated or a mental consumer that meets the proper criteria, I would either laugh at her and drive away or issue a city ordinance, laugh at her and drive away. also it needs to be taken into account how she looks.

**gopherpuckfan** · 08-31-07, 03:11 PM

I think everyone should know two things about that COPS episode.

1. The lady in question was elderly.
2. The officer was a rookie on FTO. I think he went above and beyond to help this woman out and I tip my hat to him.

**lewisipso** · 08-31-07, 04:16 PM

^^^True. She was elderly and seriously confused. Hat tipped also. Being a rookie it was probably his first. He just wanted to provide the best public service he could. Calls on a regular basis from her would probably change his mind.
Our agency would request you take the person home within reason if no other arrangement could be made. It's the Mayberry complex.

**gopherpuckfan** · 08-31-07, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by lewisipso

He just wanted to provide the best public service he could.

I assisted a traveler last night with a lost wallet. I escorted her back and forth to the plane, airline baggage office, then to a quiet area of the airport where she and her little dog could crash for the night. I normally don't escort people all over for a lost wallet, but she was really cute, traveling alone, and had no ring on the left hand

**gozling** · 08-31-07, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by gopherpuckfan

I assisted a traveler last night with a lost wallet. I escorted her back and forth to the plane, airline baggage office, then to a quiet area of the airport where she and her little dog could crash for the night. I normally don't escort people all over for a lost wallet, but she was really cute, traveling alone, and had no ring on the left hand

umm.... so.. that whole thing was moot if you didnt get a number....

so?
did you?

**gopherpuckfan** · 08-31-07, 05:29 PM

She was crying, so I couldn't bring myself to ask her. I wanted to, but I felt like I'd be taking advantage of her.

She lives in DC, so I did at least get a laugh out of her when I pointed out the nearest restroom and told her she should be safe because I didn't think we had any senators in town tonight.

**Ducky** · 08-31-07, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by gopherpuckfan

She was crying, so I couldn't bring myself to ask her. I wanted to, but I felt like I'd be taking advantage of her.

She lives in DC, so I did at least get a laugh out of her when I pointed out the nearest restroom and told her she should be safe because I didn't think we had any senators in town tonight.

You should have given her your card with your private cell number on it, and told her to call you if she thought she saw one.

**Buttercup** · 09-01-07, 07:24 AM

Originally Posted by gopherpuckfan

I think everyone should know two things about that COPS episode.

1. The lady in question was elderly.
2. The officer was a rookie on FTO. I think he went above and beyond to help this woman out and I tip my hat to him.

That's completely different from the impression I had after reading the original post, and taking that into consideration I think that he did (as lewisipso said) go above and beyond to help her.

**trekgirl** · 09-01-07, 07:11 PM

Sorry about the confusion guys- I wasn't sure if it was still on the rookie part, but I should have mentioned that she was elderly. Thanks for all of your replies!!

**Lazy Fed** · 09-01-07, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by gopherpuckfan

I think everyone should know two things about that COPS episode.

1. The lady in question was elderly.
2. The officer was a rookie on FTO. I think he went above and beyond to help this woman out and I tip my hat to him.