Home     Links     Contact Us     Bookmark  
 
   Homepage      News      Legal Forum      Dictionary  
Home : Legal Forum : Law Enforcement & Police

Is it worth filing a complaint against a police officer?
Find answers to your legal question.





Is it worth filing a complaint against a police officer?

I was startled to get pulled over in Pasadena, Maryland and then the officer accused me of swerving. He brought another officer and yelled a lot and wanted me to take tests for drunks. I looked at his name badge and he said to back off so I did and he continued by yelling in a threatening manner about if I come close to him again and yelled to consider myself warned, but he didn't cite any law or say how close I wasn't allowed to come. He also didn't give me his name but I remember it a little from the name tag read. Then he made the other officer give me a Breathalyzer test that of course yielded a 0.0 result.

It's quite scary for them to be allowed to threaten about anything they want, especially since in this same city an officer walked up to my face to make sure his screaming was as loud toward me as possible.

Should I just accept that they can abuse at will and leave us terrified without any avenue to take? I don't want my family to be harrassed.
Additional Details
Thanks everyone. I want to file a complaint but I don't know where to file it. The police department seems to be the wrong place. Also I don't know his exact name for sure and I don't know how to get it.

Lisa M, it was county police and I'm not a minority.

I've been feeling terrified about the incident since it occurred Monday evening, but the answers here have given me much hope in eventual reform, as well as the integrity of non-police officers in this nation.


    




Sara287
Rating
if it was that bad, go for it, but i warn you that they'll use sovereign immunity and harass you more. by filing a complaint, you're just encouraging the system...you could show up in person, write a newspaper editorial ( use a fake name) or file, but filing will most likely do nothing.


worxsigns
Rating
If it was done in front of the car, it should be on the dash camera's video.. the longer you wait the less chance its going to be kept...


jake072004
Rating
go for it. just because they have power they shouldn't treat the people that way. if u didn't break ne laws than he shouldn't be yelling at you.


extex_cop
I was a cop and from the way this story sounds he was a bit out of line. There was no need for him to yell...unless you were yelling at him. If you kept calm and did nothing to provoke his actions...yes...I would file a complaint. Even if you don't have the officer's name...you can make the complaint by listing the time, date, and street location you were stopped. All stopped are recorded by dispatcher...plus some departments have dash-cams, which record everything in front of their car. If this shows him being an a**...and you doing nothing...he is in big time trouble.


Victorio B
Rating
LISTEN GOOD--

YOU HAVE THE RITE TO FILE A CHARGE AGAINST AN OFFICER IF YOU THINK YOU WERE TREATED UNAPROPRIATELY,,,,BUT----IN DOING SO YOU WILL ENDURE ALOT OF HARRASSMENT FROM THE CITY POLICE----YOU WILL PUT YOUR SELF ON A SPECIFIC LIST IN THE DEPARTMENT WHICH BASICLY MARKS YOU THE HUNTTE--NOW THIS DEPENDS ON THE POLICE THERE SELVES---ARE THEY DECENT HUMAN BEINGS OR JUST HUMAN?????CHOICE IS YOURS I HAD TO DEAL WITH SEVERE HARRASSMENT WHEN I FILED A LAW SUIT AGAINST THE COPS----STILL DO A LITTLE AND THIS IS 15 YEARS LATER------IT IS ILLEAGAL FO THEM TO ACT IN THAT MANNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1


hopper13
you should defo make a complaint, this guy acted way out of line and the relevant authorities need to know, they might not do anything about it but its worth putting it in writing


Lisa M
Quite frankly they can get by with alot. It is scary and it is wrong. I have a question. Was this state, county or city police? Have you contacted a lawyer? Are you a minority?


karen d
Well im not sure if filing a complaint will give you the result your looking for but if your complaint adds on to a list of numerous complaints this cop has or will have it eventually will get noticed. Im from New York and cops over here get away with murder. Literally.


rachie
you must have somewhere to go to for advice?. this of course is bullying and is unacceptable. see about advice, in the uk we have citizens advice and they are great.
they will carry on and someone will get hurt if they can get away with it. good luck


takemebackintimeagain
Rating
yes..there are alot of bad cops out there, just watch the news...I bet other people have gone through the same thing but did not have the courage to do something about it. Look I read alot of true crime books and several "offenders" are law enforcement, attorneys, doctors, my point is poeple of high standing. They should e held accountable as well. Just remember that the police usually have a video of all transactions that take place in the cameras view. If you think you may have said or did anything to provoke him or anything else that may not be in your favor, reconsider. good luck!


Emo_Gurl
police are here to protect us not make us feel unsafe or threatened in anyway. i say report him.


jas
Rating
i really hate to tell u this but they can really do whatever they want i mean whos someone gonna believe a normal civilian or a cop they should not be able to do this but they r power-hungry aholes i absolutely hate cops im sorry u had to put up with them tho


CODY & PRINNY'S MAMA
I would try to let it go. I been harassed by police for doing nothing. I was simply driving (not speeding) with my mom and bro in the car and a trooper pulled me over to tell me he thought my seat belt wasn't on when it was. I drive a school bus so I ALWAYS have my seatbelt on. Then he told me I looked "too young" to have a CDL. I was like what? Another time I was pulled over for "a dirty license plate". Another time I was supposedly "swerving" also and got stopped. I hadn't had a single drink in a month and the officer wanted to know where I was coming from, where i was going and why I was taking the route home that I was. Ridiculous!

My dad was pulling in his own driveway a few months ago and questioned him about having his cars registered. Which they all were. Then he accused my dad of having a warrant in another town-only to retract that when he looked at his screen again!

It happens here in NJ too and it makes me sick.


truthfairy04
Rating
Police Abuse.Org has a complaint form you can download.it has a list of questions and you can also give a detailed description of your encounter


Whoops, is this your spleeen?
Rating
Yes, you should file a complaint. Your complaint alone may not do anything, but it will stay in the officer's file and when enough people complain something will happen. Or maybe others have already complained and yours will be the one that forces some action to occur.

Anyway, it's important that it be documented.


Tony M
Yes, I think that you should, because he has probably done the same thing to other people, and if enough people speak up, his department may take action against him.


j_m_camilleri
If you are sure of being right and that Thier behavior towards you was unwarranted it would be wrong not to file a complaint.


don c
Rating
Until we change this gestapo philosophy of the Bush Administration and vote out all the republicans, cops will think its fine and dandy to do as the president does with his detainees.


Fred F
Rating
If you really feel strongly about the incident for all means report it.

If you feel that you will not be treated fairly--report to the county authorities.

Police work for the public. They are paid to enforce the laws.

Now if you were giving them a bad time- be glad they did not arrest you.


magnetic_azimuth
Rating
if you want to pursue this, do it in commisioners court,

if you take it to the police station, they will ask you in to make a statement, WRONG OH, you will be treated like enemy number one, FBI's most wanted.

i know a lot of people who have tried to work through various police agencies without success, having worked for the civil defense office for about 9 years, I had a lot of contact with police administration, and I could have walked a complaint right to the chief,(but I had no respect for him). The guys I did trust, always told me to take it to commisioners court so that it would come to the PD and make them investigate the officer and not harrass you for finding a bad apple in their employment.


buff j
it's a extremely stressfull job and i'm sure he didn't pull you over so he could just pick on only you, so try to cut him a little slack if he seemed a bit rude.


jesse P
Rating
The cops are always right. This is America.


mikesluv
I am curious as to why at two different times you had different officers "yelling in your face" I would definitely step back and try to look at it from their side first ,calmly and with an open mind to both sides.If you still feel that they were in the wrong then you could definitely fill out a complaint ,even if you don't remember his name the time and location and date should be able to determine which officer was in that sector.


butterflyprincess
Nope, cops always back one another, sometimes I think it's a game to them just to screw with people. Most people that are cops have a control issue, so it's pointless to fight it. You won't win!


diskohousefunk
Rating
IT's rare that a cop will harass your family for making a complaint about him. If you were issues a breath test, there has to be a report, in which case he should have given you his card. If there is no report made out, then you are on to something. I hate cops, so I say file the report, but don't expect and results. Cops are usually 2 year tech degree bullies who think they are better than the "general population" and most of them have some sort of mental illness or complex.


melanie p
Rating
why bother, u will never win, they will stick up for each other so u wudnt stand a chance mate
if u do good luck xxx





 Enter Your Message or Comment


User Name:  
User Email:   
Post a comment:




Legal Discussion Forum

 Can police come into a house without knocking first?
the police come to my home last night to arest my nephew that lives with me. for a minor assult.that we didnt know anything about.thay just come in opend my kitchen door then souted hello. didnt have ...


 I was pulled over by the police, asked to step out of the car, and instead I drove away. what willl happen?
I was pulled over for no turn signal, but wasn't written a ticket. I was in a known drug area, and the police wanted to search my car which I refused. This happened 2 counties away from where I ...


 I have used someones credit card details, and they want to press charges.?
what is the procedure of the investigation? when will the police come for me? what is the likely punishment?...


 Do you agree with all these people who claim quotas and revenue generation as the only reason for tickets?
Seems like someone is always claiming the police have quotas, and the reason for tickets is to generate revenue. Of course, I know both are false, but am I the only one that knows this?

H...


 If my dad hit me can he go 2 jail?

Additional Details
my dad has an angermanegment problem and he gets mad easily but we have had our problems lately with my boyfirend and stuff b/c my parents dont like him and told me ...


 Is this appropriate behavior for a police officer?
I was pulled over by a state trooper for speeding in Wisconsin just between Madison and Milwaukee around 1:00am last night. Unfortunately, I'm guilty as charged. But when the cop approached my ...


 Is it legal for a minor child to be arrested at home without informing a parent first?
police came into our home and got my son out of bed and told him they wanted to talk outside once outside he asked to talk to his dad and they(police) told him no. We found out 3 hours later where he ...


 Are police officers above the law???
Yesterday i seen a cop take a red light & the camera flashed but his exempt license plate wont be getting a ticket. He wasent in no emergency as on the next light i waved hi to him & he ...


 Hi I'm really scared I gave a report to the police of 5 years of domestic violence?
Now what im scared what will happen to him he`s been told keep away for a week. I want him back home they say its allso out off myhzands and a domestic violence police officer will be calling and a ...


 If I'm naked in my own house and someone outside sees in, can I be arrested for indecent exposure?
I should add that I'm only curious....


 Statutory rape questions?
Is it Legal to have a girl pregnant at 16 and your 18? no comments just facts please
Additional Details
New Jersey my ...


 Do you feel guilty if you see a police officer, even if you've done nothing wrong?
If so, why?...


 Can I be taken to jail if I?
take my dad's car out for a joyride and get pulled over because i don't have a ...


 Will i get caught?
i stole a candy bar from brooks today and almost got caught, im only 14 and stealing is the only crime i prabably ever committe, but they asked me to empty my pockets and i had concealed the candy ...


 Do you own a firearm?
and if you do what kind of firearm do own and was it hard to get one and can you use it ...


 A police officer is coming into my class tomorrow, I need 5 questions, any ideas?
I'm in law class and can't think of any......


 Can police enter a home without consent if they believe underage drinking is occuring?
I had like 50 people at my house this weekend and the cops showed up at 5am cause the neighbors complained (those *******, thats the 4th time they've called on us, the other 3 for having fires......


 Some kids deliberately squirted water in my eyes as I drove past the garden they were in?
They are aged between 11 and 13 and should know better. I had my 15 week old son in the car and feel that they could have caused an accident. I spoke to the mother of the lad who's garden they ...


 Have you ever dialled 999?
If so why? Was it a real life and death emergency or could it have been dealt with on a general line?
Additional Details
Sorry guys i am in the uk.. we dial 999 for police , ambulance ...


 If there's more than 6 gunman outside my house, what should I do?
I need to know ASAP!...




Copyright (c) 2009-2011 Wiki Law 3k Monday, May 28, 2012 - Trusted legal information for you.
Archive: Forum  |  Forum  |  Forum  |  Links
0.024