In real life

[ahugecat]

Does it annoy you guys if you are on like a break or even on duty and someone asks you tips on how to become a cop? Thanks.

[Samuel]

If I wasn't busy, I didn't mind shooting the breeze with people. If I was busy, I would let that person know that I had to run. If I was on a break, or catching up with paperwork, or doing something else other than answering calls or hunting, you most likely wouldn't have found me and I rarely eat in public.

[cntryboy0531]

If I wasn't busy, I didn't mind shooting the breeze with people. If I was busy, I would let that person know that I had to run. If I was on a break, or catching up with paperwork, or doing something else other than answering calls or hunting, you most likely wouldn't have found me and I rarely eat in public.

Same here.

[G35 Mass]

Same. I'm not visible if I don't want to be bothered.

Note: There is NEVER a good time to say any of the following:

S/he did it!
I didn't do it!
Don't shoot!

[BJJVad]

If I wasn't busy, I didn't mind shooting the breeze with people. If I was busy, I would let that person know that I had to run. If I was on a break, or catching up with paperwork, or doing something else other than answering calls or hunting, you most likely wouldn't have found me and I rarely eat in public.

I would have.. I know ALL of your hiding spots! All of them! MUUUAHAHAHAHHA

[marinepilot]

Count me in with Samuel and the rest above.

Same. I'm not visible if I don't want to be bothered.

Note: There is NEVER a good time to say any of the following:

S/he did it!
I didn't do it!
Don't shoot!

All of the above smart comments are usually met with disdain from me, and a short, irritated "Did you write that?" or "Gee, I haven't heard that one 50 times today."

[Samuel]

I would have.. I know ALL of your hiding spots! All of them! MUUUAHAHAHAHHA

lmao THAT'S why I never liked the MDC cars...

[icu650]

It would only annoy me if I was supposed to be undercover.

[Legoate]

Does it annoy you guys if you are on like a break or even on duty and someone asks you tips on how to become a cop? Thanks.

If I'm sitting out in public in uniform I consider myself to be working and am willing to answer whatever you want.

If I need privacy or need to write reports, I'll hide somewhere.

[mcsap]

If I'm sitting out in public in uniform I consider myself to be working and am willing to answer whatever you want.

If I need privacy or need to write reports, I'll hide somewhere.

Agree 100%. If you can see me AND I AM NOT BUSY ...I will try to help you.

[Kimble]

Doesn't bother me. In my last job (I spent 4 years as a federal agent) I had a couple times where a suspect, after doing an interrogation and even getting a confession, would ask how they could get my job. I had to hold back a laugh and not reply with, "Well, first off, you probably shouldn't have done what you did..."

The folks that are sincere and have a decent shot I have no problem giving advice to as long as I'm not in the middle of handling a call.

[Aussie George]

Things that do annoy me are:

1. I didn't do it. (Said jokingly when I walk in the room). I usually reply with, "I'll be the judge of that". That usually takes the smug look off their face.

2. That police officer will lock you up if you don't behave (usually said by a lazy parent to a very young child)....I usually reply with, "No I won't. You are under ten years old, which means you are not criminally responsible and therefore it is your parents responsibility to raise you, not mine." The kids don't usually get it, but the parent always do.

3. Anything said to me by a passerby while I am obviously on a job of some sorts. I'm sure we have all been there. Recently I had a guy up against a wall, placing cuffs on him, in his front yard. My partner was picking up his infant child so she didn't fall over. I was literally wrestling with the guy when this woman walking down the footpath stops to tell us about the kids that hang out down the park and swear and carry on. I looked at her and told her I was a little busy right now. IDIOT!!! She then recognised the guy I was arresting and said, "oh, hi BILLY, how are you?"

(name changed to protect the guilty SOB)

[retdetsgt]

I always appreciated it if someone asked me if I was busy before they started just chatting with me.

I do have to admit it annoyed me when people came up to me when I was eating in a restaurant and started talking to me. That was the only time in my shift I really had to relax and think my own thoughts, but I tried not to be nasty with people anyway unless the person was a jerk. A lot of people get their life long impression of police from only one or two encounters and I didn't want to make an unnecessarily b

Back in the mid 70's, some rocket scientist came up with the idea of giving up cards with pictures, etc. of each of the Trail Blazers to hand out to kids. Terrible idea, kids would run up to us in the middle of felony stops and ask if we had Blazer cards. That lasted about two months before the chief's office finally got the idea that this was not working out as intended.

[ET109]

I always appreciated it if someone asked me if I was busy before they started just chatting with me.

Yup. I've only had it happen a couple of times, unfortunately...

I would think someone would be able to tell if it was a good time to come up and chat. I would think wrong, but I like to be surprised. If I'm standing around just deterring crime with my presence (I do that), sure. Just don't be too surprised when I don't know every single thing about the employment process (or about where the best pizza place is, etc).

If I'm walking/riding/driving with a purpose, it probably means I'm going somewhere or following someone. I once had some girl flag me down while I was driving by as if she was being murdered, and I sounded like a dolt on the radio when I had to say she just wanted to say hello. If I'm tucked away in a corner because there's no good places to hide and do reports (or eat) it is not a great time either.

As to the parents using me to threaten their kids, I've found a solution. Whenever someone does that, I look at the kid and say "do you know what I'm going to do if you don't listen to your mom? I'm going to take you to the arcade and give you lots of quarters." Then I leave quickly.