Hand Shake

[catalyst895]

Just wondering how many of you shake hands with people while on duty. Do you shake a person's hand, tell them you don't shake hands, or just flat out ignore them?

I watched an episode of Cops in which an officer came upon a couple in the back seat of a car. The man had his pants down. Anyway, after giving the man a ticket the two shook hands. I thought this was disgusting and made me wonder the above question.

Thanks!

[chaser]

I don't shake hands and to be polite I have told people that I haven't had a chance to wash my hands since dealing with a bad guy a few minutes earlier and I would prefer not to shake.

[slayer5811]

Sometimes the situation dictates wether or not I will shake someone's hand. I think it may be a bad habbit but if I think that the person is generally sincere and offers a handshake Ill shake his / her hand. Like I said the situiation dictates....if it's like the episode of "Cops" or as we call it "How not too be a cop" I wouldn't because as catalyst895 said it's pretty disgusting.

[LA5150]

It depends on the situation.

Last night I shook hands with a sweet older lady from whom we had just taken a report. At other times, I have glared at asshats holding their hands out towards me until they recoil in embarrassment. :cool:

In the situation above, definitely not! :eek:

[catalyst895]

or as we call it "How not too be a cop"

Yeah I've heard that a few times.

[TX-LEO]

. Do you shake a person's hand, Thanks!

Not usually no.

[TPDHellhound]

Depends on the situation... but usually no. Most bad guys lack moral and personal hygiene!

[acreature]

It depends on the situation.

+1 ^

[corporal716]

It depends on why I'm dealing with them. If I'm taking a Burglary report from a 75 year old man, yes I'll shake his hand. If I stop a 25 year old because he is the suspect in a Burglary case, no I wont be shaking his hand.

[ispcapt]

Think about it. Most people are right handed and you shake hands with your right hand. Where's your gun? It is not tactically sound to have your gun hand grabbed onto and effectively disabled.

[catalyst895]

That's one thing that came to mind when I thought of reasons why you wouldn't. The other one was how easy it would be to catch a skin rash or something.

Thanks for the replies!

[cntryboy0531]

depends on the situation.

[Creeker]

I usually had latex gloves on and a lot of fingerprint powder on them, so it didn't bother me much when people wanted to shake my hand... but then I was usually dealing with the victims, too...

I particularly liked it when the news reporters would show up to do their live stand-ups... I'd purposely shake their hands, 'cause a lot of times fingerprint powder isn't real visible until it gets smeared a little... :D

[mcsap]

It depends on the situation.

Last night I shook hands with a sweet older lady from whom we had just taken a report. At other times, I have glared at asshats holding their hands out towards me until they recoil in embarrassment. :cool:

In the situation above, definitely not! :eek:

+ 1

[k9dan]

I keep a pump bottle of hand sanatizer in my car at all times, just in case the handshake happens.