Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

I am not sure if what happened is really a booking, and I would like to find out.

I was at the subway station, when all of a sudden 5 police cars came down the road. The police walked out, went downstairs into the underground of the station and then came back up. They came over too me and basically told me they were looking for a 17 year old male black, (even thought I am white). Apparently someone had just gotten their IPod stolen. So asked me for some ID and then the officer took out this pad of paper and begain writing my phone number, address, (the pad looked like a report or something.) He then searched me and asked me to wait a bit. They brought the kid out and I think they asked if it was me or not, obviously I had nothing tooo do with it so they let me go.

My question is about that pad of paper, Will that come up in a background check? My worry is that during the background investigation that will come up and the BI will assume I was involved or something. Can you please just explain what happens to that report?

Thanks alot

I'm not an LEO but from what I've witnessed LEOs take down every bit of info they can get. It's nothing that's going to affect you. From what it sounds like you were asked to identify a suspect because you were there and nothing else. If it worries you then just tell your BI about it. It shouldn't be anything of concern.

It will not appear in a BI. You were just questioned as a potential involved person and witness. This is quite common and does not in any way "pop up" in a background investigation.

I am not sure if what happened is really a booking, and I would like to find out...

I was at the subway station, when all of a sudden 5 police cars came down the road. The police walked out, went downstairs into the underground of the station and then came back up. They came over too me and basically told me they were looking for a 17 year old male black, (even thought I am white). Apparently someone had just gotten their IPod stolen. ...
Was this in Brooklyn,NY? I caught a story on the news about an Ipod being stolen off a 15 year old boy. The 15 year old ran, then died after being stabbed.

no this was in toronto canada.

Ok. I guess those ipods are a big target for thieves everywhere.

"My question is about that pad of paper, Will that come up in a background check? My worry is that during the background investigation that will come up and the BI will assume I was involved or something. Can you please just explain what happens to that report?"

You will have to indicate the incident on the Pre-Background Questionnaire in regards to the incident when you apply as it will be in their system that you've been interviewed/questioned and the reason for it. Obviously you weren't the subject or involved, so you have nothing to worry about as long you're honest on what exactly transpired.

So yes, it will come up in your background check, but no it will not implicate your involvement in the crime.

From my understanding of the card that they filled out it will be in their system, so whenever you get questioned again, you information will come up with the reason why your information was taken down previously. I "believe" one purpuse it serves is to allow officers to make "connetions." Let's just say, you were questioned 10 more times in the future for similar situations and information was taken down onto the card each time, the officer will then develop an increase interest in you. They might even start an investigation on you because you keep being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or connect you to an IPOD theft ring, WHO KNOWS.

I'm not a police officer myself, but i work with enough of them (Toronto Police Officers) to have basic understanding of it.

thanks for your responses, by the way Zippo are you applying for the Toronto Police soon?

This is what is known as an FI, or Field Interrogation card. We have them, but only use them for gang contacts, etc, so we have a uniform card that can be filed. They are little 3x5 cards that ask for name, address, birthday, etc. You were FI'd in the investigation of a crime. Chances are, if the cops figured out it wasn't you, later on down the line the cards going into the trash. If I saved the contact info or entered into the computer every FI I ever performed, you are dtalking dozens a day, and would be a waste of time.

I'm not going to apply to any police services anytime soon Brendanhm, I need to wait a couple of years until my driving record is in good standing order again. I have been through the hiring process a couple of times though with several regional police services around Toronto but without success.

Traffic121 may be right about the card, i'm NOT an Toronto Police Officer so i cannot comment on what is the exact procedure when one of them is filled out. So it may be in their system or may not be, but either way you will have to indicate the encounter that you've experienced on the Pre-Background Questionnaire as one of the many questions specifically ask you to list all your police encounters. In the situation you've described, you have nothing to lose by indicating it, but lots to lose by not.

Good luck