Have to LOVE Florida Police.

[GeddyLee]

WoW! I can see both sides of this argument. Having been a former Police Officer for 8 years before I went into the IT field, I can guess I can I have done some less than stellar acts in my days on the force. Were they wrong in doing what they did? Yeah sure. But was it a MAJOR CRIME? Did anyone get hurt from it? NO! Back in the days when we use to bust for distribution of illegal narcotics, Almost anything was fair game to be repossessed by the Police Department and used at their discretion. That is the key word here, discretion. Obviously these Officers didnt use that. Does that make them criminals? NO! Did they truly break any laws? NO!

I guess I would be in trouble then for all the times I hung out at the Convinent Store talking to the people the inside, ignoring my routine duties of patrol and such. Should I be chastized or fired? NO! Should I maybe know better to spend less time in the store and be out on the street? SURE! But don't judge me cause you see me in the Convinent Store getting a drink and talking to the employee. At least you can you felt a bit safer in there as compared to not having a Police presense there at all.

The crap that Silver said. That is utter bull! You need to grow up and stop trolling the boards to speak of things you have no clue about.

Kawaford, I get where you are coming from, but you mentioned you they should be doing their job, I get that, but have you ever been at work and used your computer for something outside of your work related duties? Should you be fired? Reprimanded? Or given a good lecture to about using company equipment not meant for personal use? If you have? Then you are as guilty as these officers.

Hell I am sure most of us here have done something that is against company policy, just because you say they are Police Officers and they should be put on a higher plane than you is plausiable. But something everyone here has kind of forgotten, they are human just like you and me. And yes WE ALL SCREW UP! WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES!

Anyone of you who posted in here thinks they are without sin, go ahead and cast that stone. I bet all of you had to think twice about that one. So get off these Police Officer's backs. Sure they screwed up, but flaming them for something as stupid as playing a WII is a joke! Now if they were doing something more criminal like running drugs or taking kickbacks, but all means flame them. But this is a joke.

I am sure some will come back at me with some witty comment or hateful thing for my stance on this. So please go ahead, but obviously keep it relevant to the topic

[KawaFord]

WoW! I can see both sides of this argument. Having been a former Police Officer for 8 years before I went into the IT field, I can guess I can I have done some less than stellar acts in my days on the force. Were they wrong in doing what they did? Yeah sure. But was it a MAJOR CRIME? Did anyone get hurt from it? NO! Back in the days when we use to bust for distribution of illegal narcotics, Almost anything was fair game to be repossessed by the Police Department and used at their discretion. That is the key word here, discretion. Obviously these Officers didnt use that. Does that make them criminals? NO! Did they truly break any laws? NO!

I guess I would be in trouble then for all the times I hung out at the Convinent Store talking to the people the inside, ignoring my routine duties of patrol and such. Should I be chastized or fired? NO! Should I maybe know better to spend less time in the store and be out on the street? SURE! But don't judge me cause you see me in the Convinent Store getting a drink and talking to the employee. At least you can you felt a bit safer in there as compared to not having a Police presense there at all.

The crap that Silver said. That is utter bull! You need to grow up and stop trolling the boards to speak of things you have no clue about.

Kawaford, I get where you are coming from, but you mentioned you they should be doing their job, I get that, but have you ever been at work and used your computer for something outside of your work related duties? Should you be fired? Reprimanded? Or given a good lecture to about using company equipment not meant for personal use? If you have? Then you are as guilty as these officers.

Hell I am sure most of us here have done something that is against company policy, just because you say they are Police Officers and they should be put on a higher plane than you is plausiable. But something everyone here has kind of forgotten, they are human just like you and me. And yes WE ALL SCREW UP! WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES!

Anyone of you who posted in here thinks they are without sin, go ahead and cast that stone. I bet all of you had to think twice about that one. So get off these Police Officer's backs. Sure they screwed up, but flaming them for something as stupid as playing a WII is a joke! Now if they were doing something more criminal like running drugs or taking kickbacks, but all means flame them. But this is a joke.

I am sure some will come back at me with some witty comment or hateful thing for my stance on this. So please go ahead, but obviously keep it relevant to the topic

I'm not going to lie, my old job I was always on the computer when I had the chance.. if I would of been caught, it wouldn't of been fun.

But my job wasn't as important as a swat team. Not to mention the taxpayers paying $4000 for the raid, when they guy was already in jail.

It was a mistake, yes we all are only human, but when mistakes are made the best thing we can do is to try not to make them again!

Nobody is perfect, at all.

[Liquifire]

WoW! I can see both sides of this argument. Having been a former Police Officer for 8 years before I went into the IT field, I can guess I can I have done some less than stellar acts in my days on the force. Were they wrong in doing what they did? Yeah sure. But was it a MAJOR CRIME? Did anyone get hurt from it? NO! Back in the days when we use to bust for distribution of illegal narcotics, Almost anything was fair game to be repossessed by the Police Department and used at their discretion. That is the key word here, discretion. Obviously these Officers didnt use that. Does that make them criminals? NO! Did they truly break any laws? NO!

I guess I would be in trouble then for all the times I hung out at the Convinent Store talking to the people the inside, ignoring my routine duties of patrol and such. Should I be chastized or fired? NO! Should I maybe know better to spend less time in the store and be out on the street? SURE! But don't judge me cause you see me in the Convinent Store getting a drink and talking to the employee. At least you can you felt a bit safer in there as compared to not having a Police presense there at all.

The crap that Silver said. That is utter bull! You need to grow up and stop trolling the boards to speak of things you have no clue about.

Kawaford, I get where you are coming from, but you mentioned you they should be doing their job, I get that, but have you ever been at work and used your computer for something outside of your work related duties? Should you be fired? Reprimanded? Or given a good lecture to about using company equipment not meant for personal use? If you have? Then you are as guilty as these officers.

Hell I am sure most of us here have done something that is against company policy, just because you say they are Police Officers and they should be put on a higher plane than you is plausiable. But something everyone here has kind of forgotten, they are human just like you and me. And yes WE ALL SCREW UP! WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES!

Anyone of you who posted in here thinks they are without sin, go ahead and cast that stone. I bet all of you had to think twice about that one. So get off these Police Officer's backs. Sure they screwed up, but flaming them for something as stupid as playing a WII is a joke! Now if they were doing something more criminal like running drugs or taking kickbacks, but all means flame them. But this is a joke.

I am sure some will come back at me with some witty comment or hateful thing for my stance on this. So please go ahead, but obviously keep it relevant to the topic

I agree with most of what you said here but I would just like to point out a couple of things. First, I think it would have been different if they were in the house using their own phones or just talking to other people. They were using someone else's equipment and playing on it. Would you like someone in your house that you don't know using your things? I don't care who they are, I don't think that those are the principles that law enforcement should be displaying, it just is not professional for any employee going into someone else's house.
Secondly, they are civil employees, and as such are representing their community and their employer whenever they are on the job. As civil employee's, they should be aware of public scrutiny and being more professional at all times, at least while at work.
Personally my thoughts are that this action was wrong. Where was their CO? Did he have a problem with it? Was this OK with him or her? I think that they should not be fired, but maybe a short suspension to either them or their CO if the CO knew about this and did nothing to stop it. This was definitely poor judgement, but when you are paid by the people of a community be prepared to answer to people in the community. This is not private industry where certain things are or are not accepted by that ownership group. I am far from perfect and have spent some time doing what would be frowned upon from my superiors. If you get caught, be prepared to pay the price. The biggest thing that they are guilty of is poor judgement. Unfortunately, that can and does get people in trouble often.

[hacket]

I think we all agree about the fact that we all sluff on the job. Don't deny it, anyone. That's not the issue here.

The point here is that the cops were just being rude using the guys stuff in that manner. Aren't these supposed to be America's finest? Come on...

[SlowM90]

REALLY?! You guys keep saying OOO poor guy they played on his Wii boo hooo!! REALLY?!?!?! He is a drug dealer!!! You really have respect for them?! I got my tool stolen from a crack head! I have NO respect for people who do drugs or deal them! IMO he gave up the right to his property when they "busted" down his door! I just can't get over how you guys are defending this drug dealer like he was just some poor guy who cops busted down his door and started playing his Wii!!!! When a meth lab blows up near your house/school are you going to be oo bless his heart he burnt his face off?! not me!!! I would be like YES! one less crack head! So they had some downtime O FREAKIN WELL!! Cops don't work 9-5 like most people! They dont get a 15-20min brake or lunch! They eat and rest when they can!!! Most cops also work 12hrs shifts some work double due to the fact there is not enough cops out there! I just can't believe how much dis-respect you guys are showing for law enforcement and the defending of a crack head!!! If any of you guys get a chance go do a ride along with your local PD then maybe you will see what they go threw!! Ya there might be 2-3hrs they have NOTHING going on! But then there are those 2-3hrs where they could be getting shot at or going threw a house with a active meth lab knowing it could explode anytime! Or taking kids out of the home where they are beat!! Now go ahead and brake down my post and tell me how wrong I am it don't matter its my opinion maybe if you guys actually had someone close to you in law enforcement and new the things they go threw you would see this isn't a big deal! Whats so sad is you guys taking up for the drug dealer!

[nicksilvergt99]

first off i was joking everybody calm down, do you really think im that immature to think someone should get punched for playing wii?? hahaha wow your slow.
anyways, i think the officers should be suspended for a short amount of time or at least written up. and this shouldnt affect the criminal's case if drugs were found. and I understand that the cops were bored and couldnt just leave, but **** off and play a video game? really?? now thats immature.

[Warhellride]

REALLY?! You guys keep saying OOO poor guy they played on his Wii boo hooo!! REALLY?!?!?! He is a drug dealer!!! You really have respect for them?!

I addressed this in my previous post. Do you really believe that people are (or should be) guilty until proven innocent?

I got my tool stolen from a crack head! I have NO respect for people who do drugs or deal them! IMO he gave up the right to his property when they "busted" down his door!

It's a good thing that, regardless of your opinion, the law grants rights (e.g. due process) to suspects. If I were to call in a tip that you were dealing drugs, would you automatically give up all rights to your property when the police bust down your door with a warrant?

I just can't get over how you guys are defending this drug dealer like he was just some poor guy who cops busted down his door and started playing his Wii!!!! When a meth lab blows up near your house/school are you going to be oo bless his heart he burnt his face off?! not me!!! I would be like YES! one less crack head!

I'm all for getting drug dealers off the streets and into prison. If they burn their faces off, it's their own fault. However, part of the problem I have with this incident is that the cops potentially jeopardized their case against this guy (depending on how good his lawyer is) by violating his rights during the search. If he walks, it's the cops' fault.

So they had some downtime O FREAKIN WELL!! Cops don't work 9-5 like most people! They dont get a 15-20min brake or lunch! They eat and rest when they can!!! Most cops also work 12hrs shifts some work double due to the fact there is not enough cops out there!

As I (and several other posters) stated earlier: The problem isn't that they were playing games during down time, it's that they were playing games on the suspect's system.

I just can't believe how much dis-respect you guys are showing for law enforcement and the defending of a crack head!!! If any of you guys get a chance go do a ride along with your local PD then maybe you will see what they go threw!! Ya there might be 2-3hrs they have NOTHING going on! But then there are those 2-3hrs where they could be getting shot at or going threw a house with a active meth lab knowing it could explode anytime! Or taking kids out of the home where they are beat!!

I have a great deal of respect for law enforcement, as long as they are enforcing the law. When cops cross the line that separates them from the criminals, they lose my respect.

Now go ahead and brake down my post and tell me how wrong I am it don't matter its my opinion

I accept your invitation. You're entitled to your opinion, and I'm entitled to be very thankful that your opinion isn't the law in this country.

maybe if you guys actually had someone close to you in law enforcement and new the things they go threw you would see this isn't a big deal!

Definition of Objectivity
3 a : expressing or dealing with facts or conditions as perceived without distortion by personal feelings, prejudices, or interpretations

Whats so sad is you guys taking up for the drug dealer!

We're not taking up for the drug dealer (or suspect). We're taking up for the law, which protects a person's rights to property and to due process.

To sum up your argument: "Cops served a search warrant, so he must be guilty. If he's guilty of a crime, he cedes all rights to property. Cops may therefore do anything they wish to his property (which really is no longer his). Cops have a tough job, so we should look the other way when they do something wrong (although you don't believe they did anything wrong in this case)."

Remember the definition of "objectivity" I posted above. I'm asking you to distance yourself from your personal feelings for cops and criminals, and look at this objectively. Consider the implications of your reasoning if it were applied universally. What kind of society would be formed, it it were ruled by your thinking, and would you really want to live there?

[SlowM90]

I addressed this in my previous post. Do you really believe that people are (or should be) guilty until proven innocent?

It's a good thing that, regardless of your opinion, the law grants rights (e.g. due process) to suspects. If I were to call in a tip that you were dealing drugs, would you automatically give up all rights to your property when the police bust down your door with a warrant?

I'm all for getting drug dealers off the streets and into prison. If they burn their faces off, it's their own fault. However, part of the problem I have with this incident is that the cops potentially jeopardized their case against this guy (depending on how good his lawyer is) by violating his rights during the search. If he walks, it's the cops' fault.

As I (and several other posters) stated earlier: The problem isn't that they were playing games during down time, it's that they were playing games on the suspect's system.

I have a great deal of respect for law enforcement, as long as they are enforcing the law. When cops cross the line that separates them from the criminals, they lose my respect.

I accept your invitation. You're entitled to your opinion, and I'm entitled to be very thankful that your opinion isn't the law in this country.

We're not taking up for the drug dealer (or suspect). We're taking up for the law, which protects a person's rights to property and to due process.

To sum up your argument: "Cops served a search warrant, so he must be guilty. If he's guilty of a crime, he cedes all rights to property. Cops may therefore do anything they wish to his property (which really is no longer his). Cops have a tough job, so we should look the other way when they do something wrong (although you don't believe they did anything wrong in this case)."

Remember the definition of "objectivity" I posted above. I'm asking you to distance yourself from your personal feelings for cops and criminals, and look at this objectively. Consider the implications of your reasoning if it were applied universally. What kind of society would be formed, it it were ruled by your thinking, and would you really want to live there?

I really would like to think your not THAT stupid..butttt....For one a cop just does not bust down your door on a TIP! If that was the case most people wouldn't have doors! It takes some time to get a search warrent and again HE GAVE UP HIS RIGHT TO HIS **** WHEN HE BROKE THE LAW!The cops didn't hurt there case! O MY FUC*NG GOD! REALLY!??!?!?!?!?!?! If it was to hurt the case the cops would have been fired or suspended! NO THEY WASENT! BECAUSE ITS NOT A BIG DEAL LIKE YOU ARE MAKING IT TO BE! This is going no where! You have your opinion along with everyone else. LIke I said you go risk your life everyday and deal with crackheads pulling guns on you and walking around in a meth home where bombs could be planted anywhere! Not knowing if your going to come home to your family because some crackhead and then to have people like YOU crying because you had some down time and USED a crackheads Wii and played a game!!!


EDIT: I was VERY ticked off at someone else when I read this and shouldn't have wrote anything it won't let me delete it soo o well!!! Go ahead and brake this down but I still do stand by the cops not looking from a "personal" but looking from someone who has respect for the people who risk there lives for me and my daughter.

[KawaFord]

I really would like to think your not THAT stupid..butttt....For one a cop just does not bust down your door on a TIP! If that was the case most people wouldn't have doors! It takes some time to get a search warrent and again HE GAVE UP HIS RIGHT TO HIS **** WHEN HE BROKE THE LAW!The cops didn't hurt there case! O MY FUC*NG GOD! REALLY!??!?!?!?!?!?! If it was to hurt the case the cops would have been fired or suspended! NO THEY WASENT! BECAUSE ITS NOT A BIG DEAL LIKE YOU ARE MAKING IT TO BE! This is going no where! You have your opinion along with everyone else. LIke I said you go risk your life everyday and deal with crackheads pulling guns on you and walking around in a meth home where bombs could be planted anywhere! Not knowing if your going to come home to your family because some crackhead and then to have people like YOU crying because you had some down time and USED a crackheads Wii and played a game!!!


EDIT: I was VERY ticked off at someone else when I read this and shouldn't have wrote anything it won't let me delete it soo o well!!! Go ahead and brake this down but I still do stand by the cops not looking from a "personal" but looking from someone who has respect for the people who risk there lives for me and my daughter.

I broke the law, does that mean I gave up my rights and cops should come play my xbox 360 now?

You keep pointing out the dangerous parts of their jobs, I'm sure they know that, and it's nobodys choice but their own to become officers, or swat units.

I believe there still is a pending internal investigation in the process.

[GeddyLee]

I broke the law, does that mean I gave up my rights and cops should come play my xbox 360 now?

It depends if you have Halo 3 on the interwebs

[Warhellride]

I really would like to think your not THAT stupid..butttt....For one a cop just does not bust down your door on a TIP! If that was the case most people wouldn't have doors! It takes some time to get a search warrent and again HE GAVE UP HIS RIGHT TO HIS **** WHEN HE BROKE THE LAW!The cops didn't hurt there case! O MY FUC*NG GOD! REALLY!??!?!?!?!?!?! If it was to hurt the case the cops would have been fired or suspended! NO THEY WASENT! BECAUSE ITS NOT A BIG DEAL LIKE YOU ARE MAKING IT TO BE! This is going no where! You have your opinion along with everyone else. LIke I said you go risk your life everyday and deal with crackheads pulling guns on you and walking around in a meth home where bombs could be planted anywhere! Not knowing if your going to come home to your family because some crackhead and then to have people like YOU crying because you had some down time and USED a crackheads Wii and played a game!!!

EDIT: I was VERY ticked off at someone else when I read this and shouldn't have wrote anything it won't let me delete it soo o well!!! Go ahead and brake this down but I still do stand by the cops not looking from a "personal" but looking from someone who has respect for the people who risk there lives for me and my daughter.

Don't worry, I don't take it personally. We all get a little worked up every now and then.

I've stated that I do respect police officers for putting their lives on the line to uphold the law and protect our rights. Where we disagree is that I don't believe this grants them special privileges or diminish anyone else's rights. Many people have dangerous jobs, but that doesn't give them the authority to violate anyone else's rights. I don't believe cops should be treated differently in this respect.

What guarantee to your and your daughter have that you will never be on the other side? Cops make mistakes, which hopefully are revealed at trial. Do you honestly believe that you can never be accused of a crime? Do you believe that ceding your rights (e.g. due process, protection from unreasonable search and seizure) make you more secure, or less?

Many people have risked and gave their lives so that you and your daughter would have the rights you have. Have you so little respect for their sacrifice that you would argue so vehemently against those rights?