Anyone Ever on "Cops"?

**IcyMist** · 01-01-06, 02:30 PM

Okay, okay, I know. Somebody get rid of the lady. I was curious if anyone has appeared on Cops? Also do you think the show is a good thing for cops or bad?

**Terminator** · 01-01-06, 02:41 PM

I have never been on cops. I think the show ("Cops") is a good AND a bad thing.

**IcyMist** · 01-01-06, 02:43 PM

What do you think it bad? I personally like the show because people can actually see what idiots some people who get arrested are.

**IcyMist** · 01-01-06, 03:10 PM

Do you feel that way because it could cause a problem for those officers who may be distracted by the cameras?

**seltzer** · 01-01-06, 03:14 PM

I am not even a true blue LEO yet, and I can usually pick out a couple things each show that I personally would probably do different. But still, I am addicted to that show! I have seen every episode (DVR is a wonderfull thing). The first true reality show!

**Terminator** · 01-01-06, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by IcyMist

What do you think it bad? I personally like the show because people can actually see what idiots some people who get arrested are.

The show is heavily edited, and usually not very indicitive of our job. Remember, anything on TV is not real....even reality shows.

**Southwest47** · 01-01-06, 03:30 PM

I agree with Terminator....the show is good and bad. The show only depicts the exciting parts of that particular officers shift. Most of our shift is going from one routine call to the next, with a bit of pro-activity in between.

On the other hand, the show does give viewers a taste of what we do, or may have to do...good or bad. I've had several co-workers on the show ,and virtually all of them say it's a pain in the ass having that camera following you around, and stuck in your face all night. I guess it's kinda like being on training with your FTO watching your every move.

**chris2001** · 01-01-06, 04:19 PM

Yes more correct. The show takes a complution of several days out on the street with a few officers and then breaks them down into a thirty minutes show. It makes it seem as though the officers are always on these high intensity type calls. What they fail to show you is that there is down time, there are times where your going to a BS call and you don't arrest anyone you HBO (Handled By Officer) the call.

Also they fail to show you a lot of what actually goes on in a department. Other than that its good because a lot of the weapons that are seen on the show and ways that people are hiding contraband just allow us as the LEO's to further our knowledge on other areas and where they are hiding stuff. It also allows us to see what we shouldn't do on a daily basis.

I sure hope they do not come to my department and film. After about the first two hours they would be like we are gone nothing to see here. Because i do not handle a lot of calls. I do the traffic side of it.

Hope I and the others answered your question.

**IcyMist** · 01-01-06, 04:34 PM

Hope I and the others answered your question.

Yes you did, thank you very much. You know before you mentioned it, I didn't really think about all the "down time" that you probably have. Now I understand something that I saw on the way to work one time. I typically go to work about 4:00 a.m., don't have to be at work until 6:00 a.m., but I like to surf, do personal stuff, etc before I get busy.

I drove right by a cop car and saw that the door was open and a police officer's legs were hanging out of the car. I was afraid that he was hurt or sick and so I turned around and went back there. I will admit to being very scared because I didn't know what I would find. I was walking very slowly toward the car and I called out to the officer and asked him if he was okay. It took a few seconds before he moved, but he sat up. Afraid that I woke him up.

He may even have been on his break or not feeling well but as soon as I saw that he was okay, I started to leave. Another police car pulled up as I was walking back to my car. I am hoping that I didn't get him in trouble.

**jmur5074** · 01-01-06, 10:12 PM

It IS good tv, I like waetching it.

But as everyone has already said, it's heavily edited. All people want to see is a shirtless goon throwing a cell phone at a bunch of cops as they walk through his door, a fight, and then the guy being mirandized.

That ain't real life.

**Curt581** · 01-02-06, 12:40 AM

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet, especially since it's 90% of what a cop's job REALLY is, and what you never see on COPS:

WRITING REPORTS

Signal_W · 01-02-06, 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by Curt581

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet, especially since it's 90% of what a cop's job REALLY is, and what you never see on COPS:

WRITING REPORTS

You should be banned for those two words

**IcyMist** · 01-02-06, 12:47 AM

Actually I remember one segment where one of the officers was saying something about 30 minutes of excitement and 4 hours of writing the reports....or something like that. Can't really remember the specifics. I don't know how you can keep up with the paperwork. It sounds like if you have a busy night, then you are overwhelmed with the paperwork.

I have always wondered why police officers can't use a tape recorder to do their reports (like accident interviews) and get them transcribed afterward. Seems to me that that could work if you have a form to follow.

**jmur5074** · 01-02-06, 02:21 AM

Anything I need transcribed goes to our secretary and she does it. Normally, if I need something off of my tape recorder (like a quote) i just get it myself, then lock the tape up in evidence.

**chris2001** · 01-02-06, 02:34 AM

Originally Posted by IcyMist

Actually I remember one segment where one of the officers was saying something about 30 minutes of excitement and 4 hours of writing the reports....or something like that. Can't really remember the specifics. I don't know how you can keep up with the paperwork. It sounds like if you have a busy night, then you are overwhelmed with the paperwork.

I have always wondered why police officers can't use a tape recorder to do their reports (like accident interviews) and get them transcribed afterward. Seems to me that that could work if you have a form to follow.

Because believe it or not that is a big pain in the ass. Its far easier to type it up and do it yourself. It also helps with the memory that way when the scumbag wants to fight it in court you can remember every detail and four letter word he called you.

**danninator** · 01-02-06, 01:27 PM

Wait you guys don't think COPS reflects the job? Pfft I don't know where you work, but I get into about 18miles a day in foot chases, routinley go through about a fifty count box of ammo every three days, and don't get me started on how many times i've taken my cruiser at 70mph through an overgrown field(THREE TIMES LAST WEEK!) seriously all I had to do was write one little posted note to the patrol LT. about some "shooting" I was in, he said it was cool no biggie, kid shouldn't have pointer his super soaker at me , but that I should lay off the slugs and just go for 00buck.