Cops Seize Driver's License From Crime Scene Witnesses

Heritage Sunday ^ | June 23, 2002 | Jason Alley

[Free Fire Zone]

Have a friend who is a mechanic. He had his shop burglarized. When the local Gestapo arrived they took his drivers licence and ran a check, including NCIC before they'd make the report.

Free Fire Zone

[krb]

"If I don't get my license back in 30 seconds, then I saw the cops start gunning down the apparently unarmed suspect and throw down the suspect's gun after he was dead"

[Fred Mertz]

Then why are those applicants who score high on tests (intelligent people) rejected for law enforcement positions?

[Larry Lucido]

Then why are those applicants who score high on tests (intelligent people) rejected for law enforcement positions?

That happened once, in a story that was widely commented upon last year on FR. As a rule, police departments don't turn away intelligent applicants.

I agree that police departments do accept a lot of less-than-intelligent applicants for a variety of reasons. To suggest that cops are generally "mindless," though, is off the mark. Try talking to some cops at your local NRA chapters or shooting ranges (or to some of the ones who post regularly to FR).

[Fred Mertz]

Okay, "mindless" probably wasn't the proper term to use. I'll stick with "foot soldiers", which implies certain things.

[Wurlitzer]

"I agree that police departments do accept a lot of less-than-intelligent applicants for a variety of reasons. To suggest that cops are generally "mindless," though, is off the mark. "

The New York State Police fall into the former category. They are either affirmative action types or were bullies in school that found a job were they could continue be bullies. The only thing missing is the SS arm band.

[monkey]

"An officer acts on the scene of a crime in a manner he sees fit," Zelenak said.

Gee, once they explain the officer's limits and responsibilities it sounds so reasonable.

[Mr. Bird]

First off, I see zero reason why cops would EVER need to see the license of a witness. Just ask the witness for his/her information. It's a DRIVER'S license. It allows you to drive. Unless the cop needs to validate your privelige to do so, tell him to bugger off.

However: "Zelenak said that Butka appeared "wishy-washy" with his statement at the crime scene "and appeared to be inebriated" and that’s why police took his license. Butka called the claim "a crock," saying he told police exactly what he saw. He also denied being drunk while doing so. "Plus, if they thought I was drunk, why would they not arrest me there. Instead they let me drive home," he said.

Ten bucks says the guy was wasted, and they didn't tell him to drive home. They may have even been explicitly telling him he couldn't drive. How many other witnesses at this busy crime scene had their licenses confiscated? Oh...

[FreedomFarmer]

Name the freakin names. The Internet remembers forever. Then when it comes time to promote this jackasses or if they come to your town for a job, you'll know what to do.

I search the net daily so that these problem children don't move onwards and upwards in their careers. Thank you for repeating this.

[PatrioticAmerican]

First and Fifth amendment extortion?

[Doug Fiedor]

"An officer acts on the scene of a crime in a manner he sees fit,"

This guy is a complete idiot!

No police officer has any right to "take" anything from anyone unless it is clearly stolen or illegal goods. Proper procedure is to write down personal information and contact information of witnesses so they may be contacted during normal business hours. Following that, the officer should write down the outline of the statement the citizen wants to make.

Quite obviously, these police have a problem justifying what they did. Could be that they overreacted with deadly force and were having second thoughts. It is common for them to be in an agitated state afterwards. What is not acceptable is that they use the power of the badge to intimidate and harass witnesses.

Officers like this need to spend a little time in the cooler to think over their transgressions. Then, they should be fired and never again put in a position of honor or allowed to carry a badge or weapon.

Generally speaking, many police officers in this area can be thought of as "walking point in an urban gorilla war." That can be a nasty job that gets a little hectic sometimes. Which means, we should cut them a little slack from time to time.

But, allowing them to intimidate witnesses should never be the type of slack they deserve. And, especially not when it is they who are involved in an incident.

[rdavis84]

"An officer acts on the scene of a crime in a manner he sees fit," Zelenak said."

He'll make up what he Needs To later.

And embedded chips in licenses are the answer to this, right?

[niki]

bttt

[rdavis84]

"What happened out there was wrong. Nevertheless, I know a lot of cops, and I wouldn't be surprised if most of them could run circles around you intellectually."

I doubt that. There's one basic problem that most cops have, not all of them, but most. That what I and others have called the "Cop Mentality". It is exhibited by calling all non-cops "civilians" in a derogatory tone, and also tending to demonstrate a Superiority Attitude. Kinda like your retort to Fred.

Cops aren't all Good Guys, no matter how much we want them to be, or how much they tout that they are. Don't forget, the FBI is in effect an Agency of Cops.

And my brother was a cop.

[Hoosier Patriot]

After some time passed, Butka said, police told him that he could not have his license back until he came down to the police station the next day to file a report of what he saw.

Vee haff vays of makingk you talk.

[Dan from Michigan]

Sounds like something out of the East Lansing PD.......

[Dan from Michigan]

Name the freakin names.

Like Officer Q. Martin(ELPD) who things the person rear-ended in a car wreck is at fault(I "backed into him") and Judge David Jordon for believing him....

[flamefront]

Right. A very 'practical' mistake. It was the criminals who have been known to be the ones intimidationg witnesses, no need for the police to join them in the act.

I almost was in favor of strong measures until I read that the officer later the next day lied about the the witness appearing inebriated. No amount of shock during a shootout can justify that. These cops are out of control and need to know it, else they encourage even more abuse in the future.