Excuse me, officer!

While I was in a major train station not long ago, a situation unfolded which resulted in two transit police officers approaching and questioning someone. Although it took place literally a few feet away from me, even if I'd been sitting across the room I would have been able to determine that the officers were not simply having a friendly chat.

In the midst of this a woman approached one of the officers, waved her Amtrak ticket at him and asked him about her train. Mind you, this took place perhaps a dozen feet away from the Amtrak counter and even closer to the station's information desk. I don't know if the woman was oblivious to what was happening or if she was just stupid, but I couldn't believe that she would interrupt a police officer like that. Even if he hadn't been in the middle of something, why she would ask him about the train schedule in the first place is beyond me.

Do people often approach you like that, when you're in the middle of questioning someone, etc.? What do you say or do?

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Originally Posted by Buttercup

While I was in a major train station not long ago, a situation unfolded which resulted in two transit police officers approaching and questioning someone. Although it took place literally a few feet away from me, even if I'd been sitting across the room I would have been able to determine that the officers were not simply having a friendly chat.

In the midst of this a woman approached one of the officers, waved her Amtrak ticket at him and asked him about her train. Mind you, this took place perhaps a dozen feet away from the Amtrak counter and even closer to the station's information desk. I don't know if the woman was oblivious to what was happening or if she was just stupid, but I couldn't believe that she would interrupt a police officer like that. Even if he hadn't been in the middle of something, why she would ask him about the train schedule in the first place is beyond me.

Do people often approach you like that, when you're in the middle of questioning someone, etc.? What do you say or do?

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Doesn't suprise me a bit. Stopping in the middle of traffic being directed at a busy intersection, pulling up at a crash scene, walking up while handling a call, or yelling a question while you're dealing with a high risk stop with weapon unholstered, I've seen it happen.


How they are handled depends on what I'm dealing with at the time.

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Originally Posted by Pudge

Doesn't suprise me a bit. Stopping in the middle of traffic being directed at a busy intersection, pulling up at a crash scene, walking up while handling a call, or yelling a question while you're dealing with a high risk stop with weapon unholstered, I've seen it happen.


How they are handled depends on what I'm dealing with at the time.

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All of the above.

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Originally Posted by Pudge

How they are handled depends on what I'm dealing with at the time.

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This. You can tell that the type of person that does this has such an important question that they would never think to ask a cop unless they see one. I'm all for small talk and the like when grabbing a cup of coffee at the shop and rob, but on a traffic stop ect it is a safety hazard for them and me. The absolute worst was being outside a bank during "a situation", hunkered down WITH MY AR15 OUT, and then asked if the bank was open. (all while standing in front of the main door) :brick:


Bottom line is I've been on the phone with members here. When one of us has to go we have to go. It is understood. It is rude to interrupt an ongoing conversation, it is down right dangerous to insert yourself when any first responder is working.

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Originally Posted by Five-0

Bottom line is I've been on the phone with members here. When one of us has to go we have to go. It is understood. It is rude to interrupt an ongoing conversation, it is down right dangerous to insert yourself when any first responder is working.

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Yep. Hearing, "Hey man...gotta go" and a click is pretty much universal. It's also nothing for the phone to ring 3 hours later and hear "Anyhow...I was saying" as soon as you answer.

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Originally Posted by Five-0

The absolute worst was being outside a bank during "a situation", hunkered down WITH MY AR15 OUT, and then asked if the bank was open. (all while standing in front of the main door) :brick:

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:eek: :laser: :doh:

What did you answer? :D

Not surprising at all. I actually had a woman approach me from behind while I was on a felony traffic stop with the suspects in the vehicle ( who were wanted in an armed robbery by the way) being held at gunpoint by myself and another officer awaiting more LEOs to get to the scene. She wanted to know how much longer we were going to have the road blocked because she had to get to work. Keep in mind there were about five intersections she could have turned at in the direction she came from and gone around where we were on this particular street. Never under estimate the stupidity of the public.

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Originally Posted by Captain America

She wanted to know how much longer we were going to have the road blocked because she had to get to work.

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You could have told her to ask the suspects, since the outcome of the stop would depend on what they did.... :eek: :doh: ;)

I have always taken pride in my calm behavior no matter what the situation. The only complaint I ever had filed against me was during a hostage situation at a hotel lobby/restaurant. Several officers including myself were the first responders and we had the scene secured and I was the senior first arrival. I began talking to the suspects and as I was listening to them when a couple came up and before any other officer could approach them the woman shouted that she needed to get to the lobby to get her room key. I turned and ask if she was mentally challenged, because if she wasn't she was going to be arrested. That no one could be that stupid deliberately. Her husband wisely chose the MC card.

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Originally Posted by Jenna

You could have told her to ask the suspects, since the outcome of the stop would depend on what they did.... :eek: :doh: ;)

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She was very upset because I didn't take the time to give her directions around the scene. I did tell her how she could get to the jail quick , fast and in a hurry. :)

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Originally Posted by Buttercup

While I was in a major train station not long ago, a situation unfolded which resulted in two transit police officers approaching and questioning someone. Although it took place literally a few feet away from me, even if I'd been sitting across the room I would have been able to determine that the officers were not simply having a friendly chat.

In the midst of this a woman approached one of the officers, waved her Amtrak ticket at him and asked him about her train. Mind you, this took place perhaps a dozen feet away from the Amtrak counter and even closer to the station's information desk. I don't know if the woman was oblivious to what was happening or if she was just stupid, but I couldn't believe that she would interrupt a police officer like that. Even if he hadn't been in the middle of something, why she would ask him about the train schedule in the first place is beyond me.

Do people often approach you like that, when you're in the middle of questioning someone, etc.? What do you say or do?

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Yes.

Depending on the situation, anything from a fairly polite "I'll be with you in a minute" through "GET THE FUCK OUT MY WAY!" to arrest for obstruction.

People are stupid. I know a guy who was on a felony stop, crouched behind a cruiser, gun out -- and had some lost dumbass walk up and ask for directions. I've had people literally drive through traffic stops. (It's only dumb luck that they haven't driven through a felony stop.) People simply don't realize that their little situation sin't the only thing going on. It's really no different from the guy who walks past everyone waiting in line to demand service...

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Originally Posted by Pudge

Yep. Hearing, "Hey man...gotta go" and a click is pretty much universal. It's also nothing for the phone to ring 3 hours later and hear "Anyhow...I was saying" as soon as you answer.

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Or to be sitting, talking with someone and suddenly see their gaze kind of go a little off for a beat, answer up the radio as they stand up and head out 'cause they just got a call.

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Originally Posted by Jks9199

Or to be sitting, talking with someone and suddenly see their gaze kind of go a little off for a beat, answer up the radio as they stand up and head out 'cause they just got a call.

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Yep. My family has even picked up on the look and realizes when my earpiece has taken over the conversation. My youngest will cut off her older siblings with "daddy has a call, tell him later".

Multiple police cars, cops out with guns drawn, yelling at robbery suspects in a vehicle in front of a stop and rob store. An entire parking lot, empty behind us. Guy pulls up next to me and says, "So is this not a good place to park?"

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Originally Posted by Jenna

:eek: :laser: :doh:

What did you answer? :D

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http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/..._merovech1.gif

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Originally Posted by Five-0

http://randomgifs.com/images/atomic.gif

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:eek: :boom: :fear: :D

All the frickin' time. Of course, I think this is universal, and not just to LEO's. I've seen it happen with firemen, medics, and the gas station attendant. I think they're just rude people who don't have any manners and their parents never taught them not to interrupt when someone is talking.

I've been known to tell some of these jerks to "Don't interrupt while the grownups are talking."

Surprised I haven't gotten nasty-grams a couple of times.


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I don't think courtesy or professionalism are relevant when something like this happens, AND someone's personal safety (mine, co-workers, witnesses, etc) are of concern.

When that happens, I normally drop some four letter words and yell. It gets the point across and makes me feel a little better, complaints be damned.

I never cease to be amazed at the stupidity of some people, and the restraint that you guys must use in those situations is admirable.

In this situation, the officer just said, "Information is over there," and the woman wandered off.