Police Officer Secrets That Everyone Should Know

They can lie to you

Police officers do not legally have to tell you the truth about everything. If you are brought in for questioning and they’re trying to get you to confess to something, officers are permitted to lie by telling you they have evidence of the perpetrator. Don’t worry too much though, they can’t just make up everything. They cannot lie about possessing a warrant for example.

You’re allowed to film them

If you are in a public space or have permission of the owner of the space, you are always allowed to film a police officer. Police officers in many regions wear body cameras because the public are permitted to be aware of their actions. A police officer is not allowed to ask you not to film them while they are on the clock. You are allowed to make others aware of the behavior of a certain officer.

Guilty until proven innocent

While the saying goes innocent until proven guilty, police in many places around the world will actually take the opposite approach. They will assume you are guilty until you are able to prove that you are innocent. That’s why it is often suggested that you speak with a lawyer before telling the police anything at all.

Officers can trick you into providing DNA samples

If you do not want the police to have your DNA on file, do not accept a cup of coffee or anything of the like from an officer. They are legally able to trick you into providing them with DNA samples for them to use as required later on. This is useful to know going into any interaction with police officers, as you should have the right to your own genetic information.

Everything is on the record

When speaking with a police officer, watch what you’re saying. Everything you say is on the record for them, and they can legally use anything you say against you later on. For people in certain jobs, if they tell you something is off the record, you can trust them. For police officers, they are allowed to say this regardless of what they will do with the information you give them later.

Your trash isn’t yours

The moment you put things out to be collected by the garbage trucks, those items no longer belong to you. The police can then go through your rubbish as much as they please to find evidence or anything else. While knowing this may not massively affect your life, it is still good to know what your own rubbish could potentially be used for.

Unless you are being detained, you can always leave

If you are in a police station, there is nothing that is legally keeping you there. That is, unless you’ve been arrested or are being detained. If you are in the station for any other reason, police officers are not permitted to keep you there against your will. Since you haven’t done anything wrong to their knowledge, they are not legally allowed to force you to stay in the building.

They can access your DNA through DNA test kit companies

Have you ever sent your DNA away to a company that tells you all about your genetic makeup and background? Well, the police are legally allowed to access those. They are allowed to approach these companies for your DNA to see if it matches evidence, all entirely without your knowledge. Keep that in mind next time you consider getting one of those kits.

They can’t look at your phone

Your phone is exclusively yours, even when it comes to the police. You need to give an officer express permission to look at your phone, even if they have you in custody. The only other way they are permitted to look at your personal device is if they have a warrant to do so. This in itself requires reason to believe you have something suspicious on your device. Remember you can probably just say no!

They can’t ask you to delete media

If you have filmed or photographed an officer in public, as you are permitted to, no officer is permitted to force you to delete the media you have taken. Again, if they have a warrant, this is different. However, if the reason for them not wanting you to have certain media on your phone is just because they want you to have not filmed them, this goes against their own protocol.

They can search any abandoned property

If you leave a bag somewhere, the police gain the right to search it. Any abandoned property can be treated as suspicious which gives the police the right to look through it. The law states that if someone leaves property unattended, they forego their privacy rights to that property. After all, if someone wanted to hide anything, they’d surely keep it close.

They don’t have to read you your rights

If you are being detained at a police station and interrogated there, the police do in fact have to read you your rights before the interrogation. If you are being questioned outside of a police station or without being formally detained, the police to not have to do this for you. This means you should be especially cautious of what you tell officers outside of a formal interrogation.

Even with a warrant, they have to knock

When a police officer has a warrant to enter and/or search your home, they are still required to knock in almost every instance. The one exception is if knocking will ruin their purpose for entering the home and may endanger them or others. If you are worried about the police bursting into your home, you legally have no reason to, though in practice this can be a different matter.

They need a reason to pull you over

The police cannot just ask you to pull your car over while driving unless there is a proper reason for them to do so. This can be a suspected reason, an evident error or a safety issue with your driving. You are allowed to ask the officer who has pulled you over what reason they had for it, and if they cannot give you an answer, they legally have to let you go.

They can use visual evidence as cause to ticket you

A police officer does not need actual proof that you were driving too quickly. They can actually tell you that they believe you were driving too fast based on what they saw. While it is sometimes very obvious that a car is going much too fast, if it’s only by a few miles per hour, it can be unclear, so this rule may seem a little unjust.

Calls on hold are still recorded

If you are on a phone call with the police in any capacity, you are being recorded. This is for a variety of reasons, and it is imperative you remain cautious throughout the phone call. Though the officer on the other end may put you on hold, the call is still being recorded and they will probably still be able to hear anything you say in the interim.

Confessing won’t make them nicer

There’s a common instance of cops claiming that things will be a lot easier and that they will relax their attitudes towards you if you just confess. This is a total ruse to try and get a confession out of you. Of course if you have information or you are guilty you should confess, but that doesn’t mean you should believe every word out of a police officer’s mouth.

“Good cop” might not be so good

The “good cop” technique is simply that: a technique. Just because they’re acting all chill and like they’re your buddy doesn’t mean that they actually are. The police are taught to behave this way in order to get information out of people. You are more likely to tell people things if you find them relatable and friendly.

You do not have to answer questions

No matter what it is an officer is asking you, you always have the option to simply not respond. This may seem wild, and may be incredibly frustrating for the police officer in question, but they cannot force you to respond. Their frustration is not your fault, and you always have the right to not respond to questions. Freedom of speech includes the freedom not to speak.

You may not have to provide ID

There are some places where you must carry identification on your person at all times because you have to provide ID if a police officer asks for it. However, many places around the world as well as several US states do not have this requirement. Do your research for your specific location, because if a police officer asks for your ID in the street, you may have no obligation to provide this on the spot.

They are trained in coercion

Coercing someone into speaking is manipulative and can often lead to false results because the person being questioned feels like they have no other option. A police officer will generally not be too worried about this as they are actually trained in how to coerce the people they are interrogating.

The uniform does some of the work

It’s all fun and games until the police turn up. That’s not even always the fault of the particular officer. In fact, a lot of police officers claim that the uniform does a significant amount of work for them. If they turn up after a call about a disruptive party, people instantly sober up and get quiet once they see an officer in uniform. Maybe not surprising, but still good to know.

They hear the same excuses over and over

You don’t need to tell a cop the first excuse that comes to mind. They’ve heard it all before. “I thought it was free!” Yeah right. “I’m not drunk!” Sure. Any basic lie is a thing an officer has heard many times before and you’re not about to fool them with that. They may not tell you so, but whatever you say will not be a shock.

They find friendship difficult

Once you become a police officer, it can be difficult to maintain the friendships you had before. This is because everyone who isn’t a cop becomes really cautious of their behaviour around you. Everyone feels like they have to suddenly be extra law-abiding and thus don’t want to do the drunken nights out or crazy adventures with you anymore.

You’re allowed to look at a warrant

If a police officer has a warrant to enter or search your home, or look at your phone, you always have the right to look at that warrant. They are not allowed to hold that information from you. Just ask the police officer saying they have a warrant if you can have a look at it. Legally they have to show you it and if they cannot prove it, they are still not allowed to do what they claim to be able to.

Ticket quotas don’t exist

There is a common misconception that people are more likely to be given tickets at the end of the month for police officers to meet their quotas. The fact of the matter is that quotas for speeding tickets are illegal in most states and still barely exist in the others, if at all. Officers generally do not enjoy giving tickets, so that’s not why you got a ticket on the 29th.

You don’t need to call the police after a collision

When anyone gets into a car crash, the first instinct is often to call the cops. If someone has been hurt, calling multiple emergency services is obviously the first thing you should do. However, if people were not hurt in the collision, you do not have to call the police. It is up to the owners of the property as to whether they’d like law enforcement to get involved.

You don’t have to do the sobriety field tests

When you are pulled over for suspected drunk driving, a police officer could ask you to do all sorts of field tests to prove that you are not drunk. You may not know this, but you do not have to subject yourself to walking along a line or standing on one leg. In fact, these field tests are widely known to be inaccurate and they can be used against you in court. However, if you do not agree to do the field tests you may have to do a blood test. It is your choice which you would rather do, but at least a blood test promises accuracy.

Most European officers can arrest you for being suspicious

In the US, it is against the law for an officer to arrest you just because you are suspicious. They need to have an actual reason to do so. If police officers in most European nations view you as suspicious, you can be arrested for that. It is largely up to the officers to judge what that means. Once again, what happened to innocent until proven guilty?

You must be a citizen to be a US officer

In order to become a police officer in the United States, it is not enough to be a resident or hold a green card. You have to actually be a fully fledged citizen of the nation. Though this is not a secret, it is something a lot of people do not realise. If you were thinking of applying but don’t have that citizenship, I’m afraid you’ll have to think again.

They don’t know that much about the law

Police officers are enforcers of the law. You’d think they have a pretty good grasp of it. While officers know the laws they have to deal with frequently, they do not have to have full legal training and aren’t actually super familiar with all the laws of the land. This is starting to change in countries where a special degree is now required to become a police officer, but in the US the limited knowledge of the law can be quite shocking.

If they damage your property, that’s on you

This may seem pretty messed up, but it is often best to not give the police permission to search your property. This is because there is a risk that they will damage it when they do so by being careless or aggressive with your things. If your property is damaged during a search, they have no obligation to pay to repair it since you consented to the search they did. It doesn’t sound quite right, but it’s still true!

A lot of their job isn’t law enforcement

Though the job title of police officers is an officer of law enforcement, there is actually so much that isn’t law enforcement that goes into the role. From peacekeeping to problem solving to bureaucracy, police officers deal with a wide spectrum of issues. In fact, only about a third of their actual work is directly related to enforcing the law.

They choose to be in danger

Part of choosing to be a police officer means choosing all the things that come with it. That includes danger as well. There aren’t many jobs that you pick knowing that your life may be put at risk in your time working there. However, it is just part of the job and if people cannot cope with that, then they probably wouldn’t make very good officers.

You may not break laws while filming them

Yes, it is absolutely permitted to film a police officer as they do their duty and they are not allowed to stop you from doing so. However, you may not break the law while you do so. One law is that you are not allowed to prevent or obstruct police activity, so if your filming is doing this, you could still be breaking the law. If the police are acting incorrectly, they should face consequences later. You getting in the way is still unfortunately considered illegal.

Video audio can be a grey area

While you are always permitted to film officers, the audio portion of videos is a grey area or sometimes even illegal in certain states. This can be considered even more severe if the officer is not aware that you’re filming. Issues with the audio of police videos can come under wiretapping and eavesdropping laws in particular states, so check your state laws.

You may ask if you’re free to leave

If you ask a police officer whether you’re free to go, they have to answer truthfully and lawfully. If you are stopped by an officer at any time, you not only have to be careful about what you say in front of them, but you should ask if you are free to leave. If yes, go on your way. If not, you are or must be officially detained and read your own rights in an official interrogation.

They’re normal people

Police officer is, like any other job, simply that! Just a job. It is a profession that people choose to go into. They are not perfect citizens when off the clock. They do things wrong, they have families, and their identity does not stop at being a police officer. If you see a police officer out of uniform going shopping, don’t act so surprised!

If you’re arrested, things you say before being read your rights still count

It is sometimes thought that only the things you say after being read your rights will count for anything in court. After all, you presumably weren’t aware of your rights until that point. However, if you’re arrested, everything you have said up until that point can still be held against you both by the police and in court.

They don’t all trust each other

In most jobs, you side with the people at your workplace simply because you all follow the same rules and go through the same things. However, when it comes to police officers this is not the case. There are all sorts of reasons that people join the police force and not all of them are good ones. A lot of officers will trust themselves to handle situations better than their co-workers.

Patting your trunk isn’t random

Police officers will often touch the tail light or trunk of your car when you are pulled over. One reason for this is to get their fingerprints on your car in a way that other officers will know to look for. That’s not the only reason officers do this, though. They tap the tail light and if the driver is hiding something, they will generally be startled by this action.

Different siren sounds have meanings

You may have noticed that not all police sirens sound the same. Sometimes there are brief squeals or the long, ongoing classic siren sound. The long wail is used on long open stretches because it is easier to hear, but in built-up areas the ongoing yelp mode is better because it bounces off the buildings, making it more audible in the noisy city setting.

They break the law sometimes

There are countless accounts of police officers breaking the law. This goes for the way they treat suspects as well as the exceedingly high domestic violence rates amongst officers. Though this is the case, the law tends not to crack down quite as hard on police officers as it does on the rest of the public, due to law enforcement often protecting their own.

Cops don’t all love donuts

The “cops love donuts” stereotype is so prevalent now that many cops actually go out of their way to avoid donut shops for fear of perpetuating the stereotype. The real reason cops became associated with donut shops is because of the coffee. Officers work late nights and in years gone by one of the few places that were open during odd hours of the night were donut shops.

They sometimes act before asking

Act first, ask questions later is something many police officers adhere to when they think they’re going into potentially dangerous situations. If they get a call saying that people could be at risk, they won’t wait around to find out if things are really as dangerous as they seem. They’ll take immediate action and often have SWAT teams go in to get everyone on the floor so they can progress and de-escalate the situation.

They have a semi-secret brotherhood

Because of the reputation of police officers in more recent years, police officers have developed a sort of brotherhood and try to identify themselves as being on the side of other officers, even when off duty. This is what the thin blue line symbol is. This symbol means that someone is in support of police officers no matter what, and the largest portion of people who wear it are off-duty officers.

They have your information already

Although you may not remember giving all your information to the police, they actually know a lot more about you than you think. Your fingerprints which you gave for your passport, your location based on your car’s number plate being read, and more. This is strange to think about and a little invasive, but good to keep in mind.

They need a warrant or permission to be in your home

You may know this one, as much as some people have tried to conceal it, but police officers actually need a warrant to enter your home. If you do not want them in your home and they don’t have a warrant, you can deny them access. Furthermore, they need a specific warrant to search your home. If this is not the warrant they present you with, you can stop them from digging through your things, or report them.

They’re pretty cynical

It is a common perception in the general public that police officers are cynical and pessimistic. This is because they have reason to be, dealing with the public every day, often in capacities where the people they’re talking to have treason to be untrustworthy. That kind of job would spark cynicism in most people.

People have no idea what their real job is

The public tend to think that police officers, particularly in certain areas, don’t actually do much. They walk around, they sit in an idling police car on the side of the road, and they just watch the world go by, calling people out for tiny misdemeanors. This perception is incorrect. They deal with violent and often scary crimes, break up fights, and do a lot of paperwork. There’s more to the job than what most people see.

They can’t guarantee anything

When police officers tell you things will be a lot easier if you confess to whatever you’re being accused of, they’re not exactly telling the truth. A confession makes their job a lot easier because it eliminates the need for an investigation or trial, but it won’t change what you’ll end up charged with. Only a prosecutor has the power to decide what charges to file against you; only a judge or jury can determine your punishment.

They don’t have to tell you why you’re being questioned

Police officers are not obligated to tell you why they’re questioning you. They also do not have to tell you that they suspect you of something. Though you can ask “What’s this all about?”, police officers don’t have to answer unless and until they arrest you. And not telling you anything is a procedural tactic designed to get you talking more than if they’d told you everything up front.

You don’t have to let them in

If the police show up at your door without a warrant, you don’t have to invite them in. You can ask them to leave and tell them that you won’t be answering any questions until they have a warrant. Criminal lawyers advise that you don’t speak with them and ask them to leave. You may think it might seem like you’re hiding something, but refusing is not evidence of anything and can’t be used against you.

Some officers form cliques

People ask why good police officers don’t report their fellow officers when they do wrong. Just like every workplace or organization, there are cultures and subcultures. There is a culture of loyalty and silence among officers who follow the rules, as well as cliques that form among those who bend or break them.

It can be boring

Being a police officer is seldom as exciting as it seems on TV. Most days are spent doing boring, routine work: monitoring events to make sure everyone behaves, attending break-ins and then waiting around for the house to be secured, and filling in forms. Some officers prefer the more dramatic or dangerous callouts: at least then there’s something to do.

They can seize your car

If there is probable cause to arrest a driver, police can impound the vehicle. Police cannot search inside the glove box or trunk without a warrant. However, they may go under the seats and in other areas that are in plain view – or reachable by someone sitting in the driver’s seat. If police impound a car, they take an inventory of all its contents. If they cannot secure the vehicle then they must secure the contents of the vehicle.

You do not have to exit the vehicle

If police ask you to step out of your vehicle, there is no law requiring you to comply. That said, it’s in your best interest to comply with the officer’s request. Being noncompliant will make things more difficult for the officers and could result in additional charges against you. If you refuse to comply, officers can use verbal threats. This sounds excessive, but it’s permissible when someone refuses to allow an officer to complete a basic traffic stop.

They cannot search your person

When you’re on the street or in a vehicle, an officer shouldn’t restrain or search you unless you’ve done something to make him or her feel unsafe. Just as you might feel uncomfortable if a cop gets too close to you on the street or in a car, an officer should back off if you seem uncomfortable. And even if it seems like there’s a good reason to search you – like if the cop knows you’ve been involved in criminal activity before – there are often less invasive ways to do it.

They can restrain you during a search

When a police officer is in your home for any reason and you are being combative, he or she will ask you to calm down. If you do not cooperate, the officer is allowed to handcuff you for everyone’s safety. They may also threaten you with restraint to get you to calm down and cooperate.

They can call a K9 unit

If you are pulled over by a cop, he or she may ask you to step out of the vehicle. The officer must always get your consent before searching any locked parts of your car. If you refuse and there is reasonable suspicion of drugs, then the officer may call for a K9 unit. This suspicion could include traces of drugs on the floor or visible drug paraphernalia. In some cases, if you are unusually nervous or can’t (or refuse to) answer certain questions, that may be enough for reasonable suspicion.

They don’t need to use a speed gun

Believe it or not, you can be convicted of speeding by a police officer’s testimony alone. The officer doesn’t need to use a speed gun to determine whether or not you’re driving above the limit, so long as the court finds that he or she is qualified to gauge speed visually.

Failing to provide ID can be a crime

In many states, police officers can detain you and ask for your name and identification if they have no reason to suspect you of criminal activity. In some states, failure to identify yourself is a crime. In all cases where drivers are stopped for infractions such as speeding or running a red light, they must provide their name and license number when asked by a law enforcement officer.

You can delay answering any questions

If you are not under arrest or otherwise detained, you have the right to refuse to answer questions. You can always delay answering questions by asking the officer to come back at another time. That may give you an opportunity to learn more about the law and your rights, weigh the consequences of your answers, or speak to an attorney.

You must consent to wear a wire

Police can’t force you to wear a wire and help them get evidence on someone else. You must agree to wear a wire on your own, and police can’t pressure or trick you into agreeing. Before you agree to any situation that requires you to wear a wire, talk to an attorney.

They cannot search your car

A routine traffic stop is a temporary detention of a driver that’s conducted by a police officer for the purpose of investigating whether the driver has violated any traffic laws. A police officer can’t search a car unless the officer has probable cause for searching or has a warrant. If an officer doesn’t have probable cause, then the officer can’t use the traffic stop as a pretext for an extensive search. However, if an officer does have probable cause, then he or she can search the car and its occupants’ possessions without obtaining a warrant first.

You must stop at police checkpoints

Police checkpoints are common on roads, especially during holiday weekends. If you see one ahead on the road, you’re required to stop if your vehicle is selected. Police officers typically only stop every other or every third vehicle that comes through a checkpoint. However, if your vehicle is selected, you’ll need to show your driver’s license, proof of car insurance and car registration.

They cannot question you without a warrant

If the police want to question you, they have to have probable cause. The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that citizens have a right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. This means that police need a valid reason before they can detain you or search your property. If they don’t have probable cause, they can’t force you to go with them or search your belongings.

Even if they let you go, you can still be charged

Even if the police release you after questioning, they may charge you with the same crime later in the investigation. This can happen if they are still investigating the case and need more evidence before filing charges and getting an arrest warrant.

They can keep your phone for months

Police can hold onto your phone for a few months while they investigate a crime. It depends on how complex the case is. For example, large-scale cases like organized crime and terrorism require more time than fraud investigations. Police may ask to look through your phone if they suspect you of dealing drugs, helping someone who has gone missing or of being involved in other crimes. Police will be looking for emails, texts, phone calls and voicemails pertaining to these activities; they might also want to know about numbers you’ve called and people you’ve contacted.

You cannot curse at an officer

Cursing at a police officer could lead to getting a misdemeanor, felony, fines and even jail time. In most states, cursing or swearing at an officer is considered disorderly conduct or assault and battery. The charge can be upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on the situation.

They spend a lot of time dealing with drunk people

Police officers spend a lot of time during their shifts dealing with drunk people. They often have to stop them from urinating in alleyways, give first aid to them when they are sick or injured, or restrain them so they don’t hurt themselves or others. When people drink alcohol, they often become very aggressive.

They’re usually working on holidays

Police officers typically work rotating shifts: early morning (starting at about 5 am), late afternoon/evening (from around noon to 9 pm), and nights (from around 9 pm to 5 am). They miss out on a lot of social activities because of work, including weekends and holidays.

When an officer says “You’re free to go” you’re no longer required to answer any questions

When an officer tells you “You’re free to go,” you can consider your interaction with them finished and no longer have to listen to them or answer any questions they might ask. If an officer tells you that you are free to go, but continues to ask questions, a good response is: “Have a nice day, officer.” You can then remove yourself from the situation.

Never plead guilty

Even if you are guilty of the crime, never plead guilty. This will give the judge more freedom to determine a fair sentence. If you are being charged with a crime, it’s best to plead “not guilty” or “no contest.” If you plead “not guilty,” you can present your side of the story in court and let the judge make a decision.

In some states, refusing a breathalyzer means an automatic DUI

Many drivers mistakenly believe that they can refuse a breathalyzer test and then wait until they are taken to the station to be tested by an automatic device. However, in some states – including California – refusing a breathalyzer is considered evidence of guilt in itself and will result in an automatic DUI conviction.

PTSD is very common

Cops are human, too. They experience all the same emotions as anyone else and may have nightmares or trouble sleeping after a traumatic incident – just like any other person would after a bad car crash or fight. However, some police chiefs think that officers who seek mental health treatment are probably not fit for duty.

They can follow you for miles

If a police officer sees you doing something dangerous while driving or if they suspect that you were involved in a crime, they can follow you for miles until either they see enough evidence to stop you or they decide that there was no reason to stop you.

There are no monthly quotas

The idea that police officers are pressured to meet monthly quotas for writing tickets is a myth. Instead, many departments are funded by other means such as a share of state taxes or fees from the state DMV. While there might be some areas where you are more likely to get a ticket, it does not have anything to do with the department trying to meet a quota.

They cannot lie about certain things

Police officers are allowed to deceive you, but they aren’t allowed to lie about how the legal system works or give you false information about your rights. Police officers are also not allowed to claim they have a search warrant when they do not.

Your complaints may be destroyed

Some police officers will go out of their way to protect fellow officers whose actions have been called into question. In an investigation by British newspaper The Guardian, it was found that many police contracts allow departments to destroy records of civilian complaints, departmental investigations, or disciplinary actions after a negotiated period of time.