Excuse me, officer!

[APB]

I've learned that it's critical to tell people as calmly but firmly as possible why their being where they are, or asking things, is not a good idea. Some people just have a disconnect with danger, helps to reorient them in a way that breaks them out of that bubble instead of just getting them ticked off within their bubble and calling in a complaint. I figure it'll make them safer in the long run.

[Sarge405]

I have heard many other officers lose their "professional demeanor" when confronted by these situations. Using profanity to forcibly removing the clueless civilians from the situation. Unfortunately, it only leads to complaints and more distrust from the public as they will never see that they are at fault.

[Xiphos]

I have heard many other officers lose their "professional demeanor" when confronted by these situations. Using profanity to forcibly removing the clueless civilians from the situation. Unfortunately, it only leads to complaints and more distrust from the public as they will never see that they are at fault.

They might not like it but they get the message pretty quick. Put a letter in my file, fine.

[Captain America]

If they get their dumbasses killed , their family will be wanting to sue. If they get me killed they could care less. They won't even come to the funeral. I just want them gone. If I tell them to scram and if they do , fine. If not , I will make it clear to them in stronger verbage that I'm displeased with their presence. Call it Escalation of Force for the mentally challenged.

[Jks9199]

I have heard many other officers lose their "professional demeanor" when confronted by these situations. Using profanity to forcibly removing the clueless civilians from the situation. Unfortunately, it only leads to complaints and more distrust from the public as they will never see that they are at fault.

There's a time and a place. A lot of the time, the best approach is a softer one; "Sir/Maam, we're a little busy, and you're in the way. Of our guns." Or the classic "Yes, the road really is closed, and no, you can't get there from here. Unless you can do so through 3 feet of electrified running water."

Other times... "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY!"

It's a combination of where you are, who you're dealing with, what's going on and how fast you need what response. The blunt and obscene often cuts through the fog of "but that doesn't really effect me"

[Pudge]

There's a time and a place. A lot of the time, the best approach is a softer one; "Sir/Maam, we're a little busy, and you're in the way. Of our guns." Or the classic "Yes, the road really is closed, and no, you can't get there from here. Unless you can do so through 3 feet of electrified running water."

Other times... "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY!"

It's a combination of where you are, who you're dealing with, what's going on and how fast you need what response. The blunt and obscene often cuts through the fog of "but that doesn't really effect me"

That's generally my range.

Funny enough, the only complaint I have gotten for having to really yell at someone was when I was responding to a crash direct to scene when I was doing the FF/EMT gig on the side. It was in town and I was close, my personal car had the whacker lights, but I was smart about it and had all hide away strobes so nothing was visible. I'm pulling onto the street, with my lights and siren activated and 30 yards from the crash when this frequent whiner/career pizza delivery man pulls into my path, then stops and stares. I scream, "get the fuck out of the way" and he moves.

Fast forward a few days later, I get pulled in the office on the complaint....by my Police Chief. Told him I wasn't working for him, so the complaint would have to go to the FD, where I never heard a thing about it.

[armygrnt502]

Keeping your demeanor is cruicial, but there are times that its nigh impossible to handle the situation at hand and deal with the no common sense public sheep.

Guns are drawn, we dont wave them around to look special. A person is coming out of the car with arms raised and walking backwards, its not cause he's getting the driver of the year award. You see an accident with two cars that are mangled and you see the ambulance crew working hard on somebody, its a good guess that yes, somebody got hurt and no, you cant stay and watch.

I personally ignore them until they become persistant, at which point I turn and loudly and clearly tell them to get back, I am busy and if they want to keep asking questions, I'll be glad to share the backseat of my car with the person Im handcuffing with them.

[mavriktu]

I once had a suspect attempting to get into his car,which I had STRONG reason to beleive had a weapon(later confirmed,)apparently he wanted to kill a cop that night because his license had been suspended that day.I had him at gunpoint,waiting on back up and talking to him.For you civilians,at this point you have a type of tunnel vision in which you concentrate on your target,BUT,are aware of your surroundings,people were actually standing directly behind him watching uscouldnt have taken the shot if I had to.

Another time which had comical results,I was in Mickey Ds eating when a well dressed gentelman wearing tan Dockers type dress pants walks up,opens his map and spreads it across my food,and asks"excuse me can you tell me how to get to...",I interupted with "the jail,yeah,drag your fkin map through my fukin food",he got pissed ,folded his map and as he was walking away proceeded to put said map into the back pocket of those expensive looking slacks,along with my french fry catsup that he had placed the map down into.

[Captain America]

I once had a suspect attempting to get into his car,which I had STRONG reason to beleive had a weapon(later confirmed,)apparently he wanted to kill a cop that night because his license had been suspended that day.I had him at gunpoint,waiting on back up and talking to him.For you civilians,at this point you have a type of tunnel vision in which you concentrate on your target,BUT,are aware of your surroundings,people were actually standing directly behind him watching uscouldnt have taken the shot if I had to.

Another time which had comical results,I was in Mickey Ds eating when a well dressed gentelman wearing tan Dockers type dress pants walks up,opens his map and spreads it across my food,and asks"excuse me can you tell me how to get to...",I interupted with "the jail,yeah,drag your fkin map through my fukin food",he got pissed ,folded his map and as he was walking away proceeded to put said map into the back pocket of those expensive looking slacks,along with my french fry catsup that he had placed the map down into.

Sounds like he had a severe case of red ass.

[McCrackhd]

Can't count the number of times that I've been on a traffic stop and had someone stop and ask for directions. I just politely tell them that if they pull into a parking lot across the street, that I will be able to help them when I' done. But, given the number of people who call their kin folk when they get stopped, it is very unnerving because you don't know who is pulling up on you at the time.

[Tango Zulu 22]

My best one was whilst closing a road at a fatal rtc, I had a muppet drive around the closure in the carriageway by using the verge and approach the scene.
I stopped him only to have him start to rant at me at the inconvenience of our closing off a road he wanted to use.
I asked him if he had anything else to say and upon hearing him reply in the negative I asked him for his name and address.
He asked why I needed it to which I replied that I'm sure that the families of the deceased parties in the crash would like to perhaps send him a card thanking him for his thoughfulness at such a difficult time in their lives.
He looked bemused at this, but his wife in the passenger seat understood only too well.
I stood back whilst she gave him a marvellous piece of her mind ( an absolute joy to hear, she ripped him to shreds! ) then made him apologise to me and then turn around & go back from whence they came.

[bayern]

Direting traffic at a huge fire (could be seen two counties away). Dumb reporter bimbo comes up and asked: Officer, whats going on?" Me: I donno, asked the guy in the big red truck.

[gopherpuckfan]

You just witnessed a day in the life of an airport cop. I swear to God people at airports have no fucking clue. I can be on a traffic stop with someone in front of the terminal and people will try to squeeze their car in between the suspect car and my squad car with all the emergency lights on. I yell at them and tell them to get out of there.

[abom334]

I love when they stop behind you while your on a traffic stop to file a complaint. In the city i work in at the moment, the citizens drive around till they see a cop then follow us around flashing their brights until we stop. they never heard of using a phone I guess. they also get angry when you tell them your busy on another call and ask them to call my dispatch

[Checkman]

I never cease to be amazed at how oblivious people are to their surroundings. I remember a few years ago being on a bank robbery that was in progress. The suspects were inside the bank. There I am hunkered down behind a vehicle with my Remington 870 and I had two different vehicles drive up to me and attempt to park. The second person was angry when I told him to LEAVE! In those cases let them file a complaint. I've had complaints brought against me before. I survived.

On a less dramatic note I can't count the number of times that I've been on crashes and people try to drive around my car with all the lights going and flares set out and orange traffic cones in place. If you ask them what they're doing they usually don't have an answer for you.