Longest time doing nothing

[xanth]

The last ride-along I did we met some homicide detectives at a flea-bag motel and waited around for a good hour or so doing nothing. I asked the officers why they even had to be there and they said that sometimes detectives just like having the presence of the uniform there to deter anyone from thinking about doing something unlawful.

What is the longest stretch of time any of you have just had to sit in your patrol car or walk around doing nothing at all other than look pretty?

Thanks.

[acreature]

What is the longest stretch of time any of you have just had to sit in your patrol car or walk around doing nothing at all other than look pretty?

It could be hours, even days while a scene is processed.

[Lawson]

I rode on an 8 hour shift where all we did was go to one noise complaint where nothing really happened and I sat in the car.

[xanth]

It could be hours, even days while a scene is processed.

I hope if it's day they let you go home to eat, shower and maybe get 2-3hrs of sleep before going back to the scene? You don't really stay out there for days do you?

Other than sitting for about 2hrs doing nothing the rest of the shift was pretty exciting. I rode for a full 10hrs. My first two ride-alongs were pretty non-eventful, but after the motel it seemed like every hour something was going down. I even got to watch the cops I was riding with taze and mace a guy who was resisting.

[Lawson]

non-eventful

Welcome to Law Enforcement. :D ;)

As far as scene security goes. Out here once incident command is set up, schedules are determined on who is doing what. Who is still working patrol, who will staff the command post, who will be on perimeter security, etc... Our dept. typically works 10 hr shifts, but contingent upon the scene, I would not be suprised to see some officers get bumped to 12 on 12 off 12 on 12 off.

[Mike Romeo]

I asked the officers why they even had to be there and they said that sometimes detectives just like having the presence of the uniform there to deter anyone from thinking about doing something unlawful.

Ours like to have a marked unit or two with them because it eliminates any doubt that it's a police matter.

[Switchback]

Ours like to have a marked unit or two with them because it eliminates any doubt that it's a police matter.

Yeah, we sometimes call on locals for just this reason. While we have local/state on our task forces, they are plain-clothed and we sometimes like to have a uniform presence to take any doubt out of people's minds.

[Creeker]

At my former Agency, it was part of procedure for a marked Unit to be on scene as long as Crime Scene was working it. The purpose was three-fold:

1. As already mentioned, so there was no boubt that it was LEO who was doing it.

2. Security on the evidence that was being collected and placed into Crime Scene vehicle's... locked doors mean nothing when you have windows... primarily on SUV's.

3. To cover the Crime Scene Techs back while he was concentrating on doing the job he was assigned to do.

He also got to handle the Crime Scene Log, documenting the people who entered into the Crime Scene. Nothing keeps a Boss out of your scene better than the fact that they may have to testify about why they were there when they had no business being there.

[xanth]

Is it very interesting providing support for CSI during an investigation? Do you get to poke around and have them talk to you about stuff they are doing or do you just maintain a perimeter? I know some of these can probably last awhile. What is the longest time any of you have personal had to sit around and keep guard on a scene?

[Creeker]

Is it very interesting providing support for CSI during an investigation? Do you get to poke around and have them talk to you about stuff they are doing or do you just maintain a perimeter? I know some of these can probably last awhile. What is the longest time any of you have personal had to sit around and keep guard on a scene?

"CSI" is a tv show. I did the real thing.... and the tv show ain't it.

The longest I remember being at a scene was for about 17 hours, which spanned 3 shifts, which involved 3 different uniform guys. They don't usually pay OT to a uniform to just sit, unless maybe he was the Primary on the call. We were looking for body parts in a backyard area where a cadaver dog had alerted.

If we had left the scene due to darkness, we would have had to obtain a new or amended search warrant, so we had a mobile light stand (like you see on the highways) as well as several worklights set up thruout. We left the scene at about 0100.

Many agencies spend days at scene's, though.. depending on what they are looking for and what evidence they are able/trying to collect.

In that 17 hour case, we weren't able to locate any evidence of what the cadaver dog had alerted to, despite 6 Crime Scene and Evidence Techs from 2 different agencies, as well as 5 new hires in a recruit class sifting on a grid pattern down to 2 1/2 feet to the water table ... and 6 detectives, 2 Lt.'s, 3 Sgt.'s, a Captain, a Sheriff, and 1 FBI agent, all in suits, supervising... on an FBI case... :rolleyes: The cadaver dog had been brung in from NC by the FBI, but it wasn't an FBI dog, either.

The FBI Agent left the scene when the Mosquitoes got too bad, since they were drawn to the lights.

The Sheriff bought the Pizza.

After that, I was trying to get a nifty Polo shirt that read "FBI Evidence Recovery Team" on it, but the Feds just turned up their nose... :rolleyes:

BTW, a tip that you want to learn NOW... Always bring your own cooler with you when you go to work. The people who have the time to go get the refreshments on a Crime Scene usually forget to get them for the guys in the trenches... unless you want to be sucking on a suspects garden hose to keep from getting dizzy.

[WellAdvised]

Is it very interesting providing support for CSI during an investigation? Do you get to poke around and have them talk to you about stuff they are doing or do you just maintain a perimeter? I know some of these can probably last awhile. What is the longest time any of you have personal had to sit around and keep guard on a scene?

I have spent 10 hours in an alley where the dimembered bodies of 2 women were in bags. In summer.

In the UK it depends on your role whether you enter a crime scene. If you do enter, you must have the fact recorded, along with your reason for entering. I have learnt stuff talking to forensic scientists, but local CSI's are often handling lots of volume crime, and don't do the more important scenes.

[mrbelvetron]

I have spent 10 hours in an alley where the dimembered bodies of 2 women were in bags. In summer.

In the UK it depends on your role whether you enter a crime scene. If you do enter, you must have the fact recorded, along with your reason for entering. I have learnt stuff talking to forensic scientists, but local CSI's are often handling lots of volume crime, and don't do the more important scenes.

So it was only about 75 degrees? And cloudy?:D

The longest I've spent on scene was about 6 hours while some arson investigator did their thing and waiting for the FD to finish as well.

An eight unit apartment building went up after a guy stabbed himself several times and then torched his ex's clothes. Responding officers went in and got him out in time....to charge him!

[Super Six 5]

Law enforcement is 90% boredom and 10% sheer terror.

[WellAdvised]

So it was only about 75 degrees? And cloudy?:D

Like I said, summer :D is there any other type?

[BP348]

Law enforcement is 90% boredom and 10% sheer terror.

+1

I've had days were you beat the brush and can't find a thing. I've had other days where you have to quite down the aliens because more aliens are walking up the same trail.

I've had days at the checkpont where nothing happened except 8 hours of "are you a United States citizen"?

And other days where you pull 100+ aliens out the back of a 18-wheeler and 3/4 are from Brazil or china or someplace else that needs a special interperter to speak with. (this just happened to the guys who work at the next checkpoint over from me., ha ha 2 drivers and 60 aliens :eek: That's A LOT!!!!!! of paperwork.) Those day's you're so busy you can't see straight.

Everyday is different I think of it as a plus.