Cite and release a felon????

[fed_cop911]

Our VA assoc. director ordered our Officers 2 days ago to cite and release a Felon.......Been in law enforcement for 13 years and have never heard of this one......How can a civilian interfer in a Law enforcement matter. I am so very confused, a Mayor surely would not order you to let a felon go with a citation, would they..............what would the DOJ say about this :confused: ?

[michiganstud]

Our VA assoc. director ordered our Officers 2 days ago to cite and release a Felon.......Been in law enforcement for 13 years and have never heard of this one......How can a civilian interfer in a Law enforcement matter. I am so very confused, a Mayor surely would not order you to let a felon go with a citation, would they..............what would the DOJ say about this :confused: ?

Their the boss. Its their liabillity.


*EDIT* Assoc director of your PD? Or of the VA hospital?

[Piggy]

We do it all the time because our jail is full. We can't send someone to jail unless it's a serious felony, or they are violent / dangerous.

Just last week I issued a citation for dealing narcotics. 30 year felony, and I gave the guy a ticket.

The VA really doesn't care about law enforcement. They are just concerned about "looking good" to the public.

One thing to keep in mind though, this kind of order should come for your Chief. I wouldn't suggest this unless you are off probation, but if your assoc director has a habit of interfering, get a good relationship going with your federal magistrate and US Attorney. I've heard of VA Directors in the past that will get a nice letter from judge or US Attorney about interfering in criminal cases and the consequences....it does wonders.

Which duty station are you at?

[Denny]

FedCop911 you do not have the big picture here and have not read and fully understood 0730. Did you not attend the VALETC basic course ? Maybe you missed something during the lecture on jurisdiction and such. The VA does as it pleases.

[fed_cop911]

confused in Kentucky :mad:

[MUSCLEHEAD]

THAT IS CRAP WHAT KIND OF DEPARTMENT DID WE JOIN :confused: NEED TO LEAVE NOW WHILE WE STILL CAN, EVEN IF MEANS A PAY CUT :mad:

[fed_cop911]

THAT IS CRAP WHAT KIND OF DEPARTMENT DID WE JOIN :confused: NEED TO LEAVE NOW WHILE WE STILL CAN, EVEN IF MEANS A PAY CUT :mad:

What other jobs, only if you uproot your family and go somewhere else.

[Denny]

The VA has always had a high turn over rate and it will not chnage till the VA decides wheter it wants police officers or security guards. The way it looks they want security guards.

[jvale00]

Actually - in many states you are not OBLIGATED to arrest a felon! Typically its mandatory on things like: DUI, Domestic Battery, Violation of a Restraining Order etc. The state law specifically enumerates when you have to make an arrest. In federal court they really dont seem to have a process to hear petty crimes. Unlike state courts. So we often CFR cite and release. Its pretty embarrassing when you tell another agency that you CANT make an arrest for a felony, I agree. But the VA simply doesnt want us getting involved, look at the FFP program. I used to run NCIC on them and call the local agency to see if they wanted the person extradited....now I just say "your services have been suspended Mr. Patient, go home and wait for your letter." I dont want to know that I have just released a dealer, rapist or murderer.

[chewy]

I was just going to say it depends what the violation is. We've let felons go on violations before as long as it's not a big one. Of course we also let warrants go from time to time also if it'll take to long to come pick them up from us so... :rolleyes:

[Rad Diver]

We have he jessica lunsford act. We now have felony warrants which are served notice to appear (ROR). They have to be transported to the county jail for pics/prints and then are given a court date.

My last one was for VOP tampering with a witness, and given a notice to appear....:(

[Big Sexy]

I was just going to say it depends what the violation is. We've let felons go on violations before as long as it's not a big one. Of course we also let warrants go from time to time also if it'll take to long to come pick them up from us so... :rolleyes:

The only time I've let a felon go, was off of a state warrant. We'd run the checks, comes back with a hit, we get the info, verify the warrant and notify the issuing jurisdiction. If they were unwilling to extradite and or come for the body, if there was no federal reason to hold, we'd then release. Only had to do it once or twice, for the most part we'd have our own charges to hit them with, so an extradition was irrelevant.

[BigP]

Border Patrol lets felons go all the time, often without even a future court date. Alien smuggling is a felony. Our AUSA requires several prior apprehensions before prosecution is allowed. I let somebody go last week who was transporting SIXTEEN aliens... that's quite a few felonies....

[Bearcat06]

Border Patrol lets felons go all the time, often without even a future court date. Alien smuggling is a felony. Our AUSA requires several prior apprehensions before prosecution is allowed. I let somebody go last week who was transporting SIXTEEN aliens... that's quite a few felonies....

Great statment but it would be taken better if you get with myself, DC Law, or Joey6d and get yourself verified as a LEO......real simple process and it's free......