Posted on 01/09/2006 8:57:21 PM PST by Philistone
See #16.
Do cops actually go to hospitals, then, and ask questions in the waiting room? (BTW, I'm trying to write some fiction, that's why I'm asking such a specific, and odd, question.)
The statement gets taken at the hospital, unless the officer has some reason to arrest the dad, or thinks he's going to flee . The deposition gets taken by the kid's lawyer sometime later.
Oops... no, I'm not trying to be tricky, I actually just don't know squat about police procedure. Okay, statement. What I'm really trying to find out is would a cop be in a hospital waiting room asking a parent questions while their child was in surgery (if necessary).
Yes. (I have very close friends who are police officers: city, sheriffs, and college).
None will be baited... Move on.
And why don't we allow some REAL police officers to respond in this thread. If I wanted the party line I could read the PR pronouncements of whatever city I happen to live in...
Though I'm not one, the answer is "sure, happens all the time." That's how injury traffic accidents get investigated.
Because you're questions are baiting....I doubt many will take you up on it.
In the scenario there'd be no reason to arrest the dad, I just wanted to know, if I write a scene in my fiction where the father is explaining what happened to a cop while in the waiting room of the hospital, would any cop reading it think "What??? We never do that!"
Possible ozone?
I'm sure that if there are any REAL police officers on this board they will take your word as gospel.
My best friend is a cop in SanDiego. I recall a ride-along about 20 yrs. ago where he questioned the family of an overdose victim while she was in emergency. He needed to finish his report before his shift was over. I don't see why this wouldn't apply under your scenario.
Officers are first and foremost human beings, and deal with the struggle between their personal hopes and desires and the constraints of their jobs every day.
Many many years ago I was a police officer. I once chased a suspect in a car and after he ditched his car ran after him...through woods, through a creek, and caught him on an embankment on the other side. I was soaking wet and he was too. Once I caught him he begged me to shoot him. The thought of shooting him never crossed my mind.
I seriously doubt many police officers ever think they will have to shoot anyone...and most pray they never have to.
In my reporting days, I spent a considerable amount of time in the waiting areas of Emergency Rooms. Cops getting statements were a regular feature. For most cops, life saving comes first, paperwork comes second.
Do you want to hear about the time that Joey Finkle and Tommy Klinger walked into my hallway without a pass after lunch period?
In my experience, most officers do NOT want to shoot people, but sometimes they must be awfully tempted...
Did you bust 'em and take 'em down?
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