TexasCHLforum.com

03Lightningrocks wrote:

PeteCamp wrote:Guys I have considered situations like this for some time and I have a thought for you. This is how situations like this can be resolved without an expensive lawsuit:

A clear case of wrongdoing by the Police Department results in a citizen complaint made both to Internal Affairs and the chief.

If there is no satisfactory response from the PD, it then becomes a public issue brought to the attention of the city council and mayor. All the dirty laundry is brought to the table with the elected officials of the city involved. The local news media is involved. Preferably this happens in an election year. Pressure is brought to bear on the elected officials to make things right. The elected folks cannot (usually) fire or discipline the officers involved, but they can make such incidents points of discussion when the police chief is offered an extension of his/her contract. The council can also terminate the chief.

I would suggest that attitudes such as we have heard described in this discussion cannot exist in a police department without the tacit approval of the command structure. If you have a department that has lost respect for the citizens they serve, the best way to kill the snake, so to speak, is to start at the head. The chief is the most vulnerable person in the department. He can be subjected to political pressure. He can avoid it by doing the right thing.

Now this is in no way dirty fighting. I am a police chaplain and carry a badge. I am thankful that the command structure in our department would never tolerate the kind of comments made by officers in this incident. I would resign immediately if I ever discovered such behaviour - I'm just a little fish. I happen to think LEO's should be held to the same standards of courtesy and respect as anyone else. Anything less is a violation of public trust. I know this kind of stuff makes us really angry. It makes me angry at the black eye it places upon everyone who wears a badge.

The problem I see you having in Round Rock is that many of the citizens are Kalifornia immigrants. They very well may applaud the officers for violating your rights.

rm9792 wrote:

C-dub wrote:

chabouk wrote:

Keith B wrote:Government offices are not off limits unless they have a court, are holding a meeting and have posted a 30.06, or are the secured area of a police station (don't think I missed any.)

Even the secured area of the police station isn't statutorily off limits, it's just one area where they have the authority to disarm you. It's not required, but they have the authority to do so if they wish.

I don't understand. What makes the "secure" area of a police station different? It's still government property, isn't it? Wouldn't there have to be a government meeting in progress and a 30.06 sign posted to make it off limits?

As someone who runs around loose in the back areas of a police station I assume they mean areas where prisoners are likely to be. That would include the jail, officers offices, interview rooms, etc. Non LEO might be likely to pay less attention to their surroundings and possibly have their gun snatched by a quick BG.