police (off duty) harassement - what would you do?

[kingjason]

Don't get me wrong, I understand the "well, what if he thought he was hit" side of it.


There are still more responsible ways of handling this. We were hit in traffic one day around Christmas time (slow speed merging) and the other driver completely knew that she rear ended us and refused to pull over. It was an obvious hit.

Did we follow her to her destination? Did we threaten her?

No, we took a picture of her plate, drove to the PD down the road to make a report, and let our insurance company handle it.

There's a right way and a wrong way to handle things... IMO what he did was completely wrong.

Why not follow the suspect vehicle? Do you know how hard it is to get conviction on a FLID with out actually apprehending the person. Photo line ups, people saying not their car, forty seven people in the household using the same car, if it is even investigated. If she had tapped his car he would have had to make a claim and pay the deductible.

[jluv]

Seems to me if he were on the phone with 911, then he wouldn't have taken off so quickly. It's kind of sketchy that he left when she said she was a CHL holder.

Made me uncomfortable just reading it. I'd file a complaint because there's a number of ways he could have handled it differently. Aren't cops trained to think clearly with adrenaline going?

What did he do that was so bad?

[Machx2]

Why not follow the suspect vehicle? Do you know how hard it is to get conviction on a FLID with out actually apprehending the person. Photo line ups, people saying not their car, forty seven people in the household using the same car, if it is even investigated. If she had tapped his car he would have had to make a claim and pay the deductible.

Exactly. If anything he knew how the system worked and knew he had to follow if he was hit, otherwise he would be paying. I don't carry full coverage, so I for sure would be following if I thought I was hit. May have waited to approach till uniformed officers arrived, but who knows.

[Chili]

Seems to me if he were on the phone with 911, then he wouldn't have taken off so quickly. It's kind of sketchy that he left when she said she was a CHL holder.

Made me uncomfortable just reading it. I'd file a complaint because there's a number of ways he could have handled it differently. Aren't cops trained to think clearly with adrenaline going?

Or maybe the fact that she said she felt threatened caused him to leave since that was not his intent.

[Strychnine]

When he realized there was no damage, he left, right?

Just texted her to clarify:

"He got out and was on the phone. He looked at his bumper and then started yelling at me and requesting I tell him who I was talking to then he identified himself and I did the same."


Saw no damage.
Escalated the situation.
Met with resistance.
Backed off and left.




But I get it... no one's a winner here.

[mikec]

While I agree it was pretty much a non incident, it does need to be reported. If this guy routinely goes off over such trivial encounters, who is to say he doesn't go too far next time? It needs to be documented, just in case. Hell, it could mean the difference between paid time off and and actually being held accountable...

[bluecollar]

You can get a copy of the 911 call under FOIA, assuming that is who he was on the phone with. Which if he was, then it makes sense that he might have thought she hit him. I may have been over zealous with my initial post, I'm having a bad day and looking to take it out on someone. lol

This.

Request a transcript from the alleged 911 call. If there is one, it is highly plausible that he thought she hit his (expensive) car. If there is NOT a record of a call, then have that documentation with you and immediately file a complaint with proof that he was lying to her about calling it in. That alone will add much more credibility to her story and have much more impact on how thorough the situation will be investigated.

[jluv]

Or maybe the fact that she said she felt threatened caused him to leave since that was not his intent.

That, and once he realized there was no damage, and maybe then realized thy wasn't even contact, he probably felt a little embarrassed and exited the situation. No harm, no foul.

[Chili]

That, and once he realized there was no damage, and maybe then realized thy wasn't even contact, he probably felt a little embarrassed and exited the situation. No harm, no foul.

I do agree with Matt that he should have apologized for the misunderstanding at that point. I just don't think the lack of apology warrants a complaint.

[Machx2]

That, and once he realized there was no damage, and maybe then realized thy wasn't even contact, he probably felt a little embarrassed and exited the situation. No harm, no foul.

Well, his wife now gave a different story on when the events all took place. He is now saying he looked at the car before he approached her, not after the chl comment......

[jluv]

I do agree with Matt that he should have apologized for the misunderstanding at that point. I just don't think the lack of apology warrants a complaint.

I agree 100%.

Damn, just think - what if she had assumed he was about to attack her, just as he assumed she did a hit and run, and she shot him? What a pickle that would be.

[Strychnine]

That, and once he realized there was no damage, and maybe then realized thy wasn't even contact, he probably felt a little embarrassed and exited the situation. No harm, no foul.

I'm bordering on beating a dead horse and I'll leave it after this: I suppose I can understand the following part, but what about the fact that he escalated after looking at his bumper?
(I never asked her exactly when he looked at the bumper until just now b/c it didnt matter to me, I had already painted him as an ass)



Anyway, I'll let it die.

[Chili]

I agree 100%.

Damn, just think - what if she had assumed he was about to attack her, just as he assumed she did a hit and run, and she shot him? What a pickle that would be.

Well, it sounds like she handled herself well, and based on that I don't think she would have fired on him without a justified reason.

[Chili]

I'm bordering on beating a dead horse and I'll leave it after this: I suppose I can understand the following part, but what about the fact that he escalated after looking at his bumper?
(I never asked her exactly when he looked at the bumper until just now b/c it didnt matter to me, I had already painted him as an ass)



Anyway, I'll let it die.

Personality flaw I guess. I know I fall in that trap sometimes. Where even though I realize I may have been wrong, I am still worked up and act like a dick. I'm sure Leah will confirm this flaw in me.

[talisman]

Well, it sounds like she handled herself well, and based on that I don't think she would have fired on him without a justified reason.

x2.