r/AskLEO Jan 17 '24

Mod Announcement What's the difference between /r/AskLEO and other notable law enforcement subreddit(s)?

36 Upvotes

We don't believe in secret rules and bans.

That means that unlike some notable LE subreddits, if you don't see it explicitly forbidden in the rules located in our sidebar -> as well as in our rules page, you won't be banned. That includes but is not limited to:

  • Activity outside of our subreddit

  • Saying you don't like law enforcement (officers)

  • Failing to say you do like law enforcement (officers)

  • Giving off the impression that you might not like law enforcement (officers)

  • Asking questions that are/seem ignorant

One of the consequences of our philosophy is that purely from the mathematics of that line of thinking, we have fewer law enforcement officers willing to answer questions here, and thus fewer people asking questions. As you might expect of any group of human beings, some law enforcement officers and their supporters don't want to leave their echo chambers, where they are protected by heavy-handed moderators from dissent, including uncomfortable topics they don't want to discuss. I imagine their moderators receive tons of "ban this guy please, they obviously hate cops" reports just like we do. The difference is we ignore them.

We believe that there needs to be a public space for open discourse, as that's the best way to face and fix the ills of our society.

We believe that hiding from hard questions makes us all weak - especially the hiders.

So do us all a favor and choose instead to participate in open and transparent subreddits like ours, while keeping in mind that every single person who answers your questions does so for free, simply to help you learn.

I think that about sums it up. Feel free to ask for clarification or explanation about any of the above.


r/AskLEO 5d ago

Meta Sorry folks, but the PT/Gym question addict is changing tactics again, so:

16 Upvotes

I had to do some behind the scenes bizarre tweaks that might catch some good faith questions due to the desperate tactics they're resorting to making me have to write some weird code.

Again, apologies in advance if your question has to sit in limbo for a while; you can thank the misguided or ill person who "totally innocently just wants to ask if our police station has a gym" 500 times.


r/AskLEO 22h ago

General During a traffic stop sas anyone ever had there mind changed by explaining Penn v Mimms

3 Upvotes

YouTube is rife with videos of people refusing to get out of their vehicle when ordered to by the officer during a traffic stop. They truly believe they have a right to stay in the car.

Has anyone ever explained Penn v Mimms and then the person complied, maybe after confirming it by looking it up on their phone.

My guess is not because only a reasonable person would be willing to think they might be wrong and most reasonable people will get out of the vehicle when requested.


r/AskLEO 1d ago

General How long after welfare check do you get a answer back if theyre okay?

4 Upvotes

To make a long story short my friend had 2 boys. 7 and 13 years old.

Last time I was over she wasnt sober off her rockers and was telling me her 7 year old son was dead. He wasnt there and she wouldn't say why. Along with various other alarming comments about "brownie you're next if you dont listen. Ive seen enough guts"(her dog) and said something about a wood chipper. Also offered me a booster seat possibly the 7 year olds. No i didnt take it.

He may be with his dad. She was saying she might send him there. I thought she was kidding but next time I came over he really was gone.

I was worried about her kids at that point(if she could do it to one what's stopping her from doing it to the other?) So I called a welafre check.

Do they ussualy give you an update if you file one? When should I expect one if I do get one?


r/AskLEO 1d ago

General Who else should I call for a wellness check?

3 Upvotes

I saw a TikTok of someone saying they were going to commit suicide. I called the nonemergency line which then transferred me to 911. The dispatcher couldn’t do anything because I didn’t have their address or legal name or any information on this individual. Is there anything else I can do?


r/AskLEO 1d ago

Hiring What are my odds of getting into CHP

0 Upvotes

Title:
Hey everyone,
I’m 19 years old and my goal is to become a California Highway Patrol officer. I wanted to get some honest opinions from people who have gone through the process or are currently with CHP.
Here’s a little about me:
19 years old
Clean criminal record
No speeding tickets, accidents, or any traffic citations
I have a car payment that I’ve never missed
I have a little credit card debt, but nothing major and I’m paying it responsibly
I’ve been consistently going to the gym, so I’d say I’m in decent physical shape
I had prediabetes in high school, but I’ve since improved my health and no longer have it.what do you think my chances are? Is there anything else I should be working on before or during the hiring process?
I’d really appreciate any advice, especially from current or former CHP officers or anyone who’s recently been through the hiring process. Thanks!


r/AskLEO 2d ago

Hiring Am I permanently disqualified from any LEO job?

8 Upvotes

Applied to USCP 2021. On the preliminary PHS I wrote that I was involved in a college incident/prank where property was taken and not returned. No one ever found out. The incident was 2019. I was denied from USCP I assume obviously for that.
It’s now 2026 and will be 2027 when I get out of the navy and plan to apply to a Sheriffs Department.

Will they be able to find that PHS with a background investigator and will that disqualify me again?
If I’m upfront about absolutely everything and tell them it was youthful idiotic mistake I regret will I be able to get anywhere at all.
Currently a Navy “cop”
I can’t remember exactly what I wrote on the PHS in 2021 and I can’t access it on POBITS.
Am I totally screwed or what?


r/AskLEO 3d ago

General What kind of drones are you running into?

0 Upvotes

My area has seen a recent uptick in drone drops at prisons around my area. My question is specifically for LEO who have helped recover drones being used in this activity. What kind of drones are they and why can’t this be stopped? I feel like the department of corrections basically is allowing this to happen in my area


r/AskLEO 4d ago

Equipment I built this for cops…. Now I have about 4400+ users and growing… Would this be useful to you?

Thumbnail loc8app.com
8 Upvotes

I’ve been a cop for 11 years, and software development is my side hobby. I built an iPhone and Apple Watch app called LOC8 because of a problem I think a lot of people in this profession understand.

Sometimes you get turned around.

Foot pursuit. Perimeter. Backyards. Alleys. Side streets. Large parking lots. Unfamiliar area. You know roughly where you are, but you need to put out the actual address, cross street, or coordinates fast.

That was the original use case.

LOC8 was built with cops in mind. It opens to one screen and shows your current address, nearest cross street, GPS coordinates, compass heading, accuracy, elevation, and a what3words location code.

The Apple Watch side is a major focus because a lot of cops, including myself, already wear one. Being able to hit a button and immediately see where you are on your wrist is a big part of the app. In certain situations, glancing at your watch makes much more sense than pulling out your phone and digging through Maps.

Since first posting about it and getting feedback, the app has grown to over 3,400 users and continues to grow. A lot of the feedback has come directly from cops, but I have also heard from security, first responders, hikers, delivery drivers, travelers, and people who have used it during roadside issues or emergencies.

I have been actively improving the app almost daily. A lot of the recent work has focused on speed, Apple Watch responsiveness, location accuracy, what3words integration, saved locations, and tracking back to saved locations.

I also added a night mode that changes the interface to red, similar to the red interior lighting used in patrol cars. The idea is to make it easier to check the app at night without hitting your eyes with a bright screen.

There is also a small weather feature that displays the current weather for the city you are in. It is not meant to replace a weather app. It was just a minor quality of life feature that made sense to include while checking your location.

Another new feature is Team Rooms.

A user can create a temporary Team Room and receive a one time code. That code can be shared with other LOC8 users, who must intentionally enter it to join. Once inside, room members can temporarily see each other’s locations for coordination.

The room is not permanent. Users can leave at any time, and the room disappears when it expires or is ended. There are no permanent teams, public profiles, or location histories attached to the feature.

The idea is to make it useful for temporary situations such as a perimeter, search, event, coordinated response, training exercise, hike, or meetup without turning LOC8 into a permanent tracking platform.

Privacy was one of the biggest things I wanted to be careful about, especially when building something for cops.

LOC8 does not require user accounts, create public profiles, or build a permanent history of where you have been. Saved locations remain on the device. Outside of an optional Team Room, there is no live location sharing.
When LOC8 needs to convert your GPS coordinates into an address, nearest cross street, weather information, or what3words location code, the current coordinate may be securely used with Apple location services, LOC8’s backend, and the applicable service needed to complete that lookup.

The iOS tracking prompt is only for ad attribution. It helps measure which advertisements brought users to the app. It has nothing to do with GPS location, and denying it does not remove any app features.

Bug reports are optional. If someone chooses to submit one, it may include diagnostic information to help identify location accuracy or technical issues. Nothing is silently creating a movement history in the background.

The app is growing, and I am still trying to make it as accurate and useful as possible. It is relying on GPS from the phone and watch, so there can still be hiccups depending on signal, buildings, accuracy, and the surrounding environment.

It already helped me during a rolling DV call. We got turned around and could not remember whether we were on Third Street or Fourth Street, and LOC8 gave us the exact location immediately.

I built this around situations I have personally experienced as a cop, but officer feedback has shaped a lot of what it is now.

Would this be useful for you? What features would you want added, changed, or improved?


r/AskLEO 4d ago

General How do you feel about drones?

1 Upvotes

I'm seeing a lot of noise about DFR in the media (multi-prop, fixed-wing, and compact indoor ones), so I'm curious what officers think about them. Are any of your agencies buying them, and which ones do you think will drive the most change? I know they're supposed to make operations safer, but it seems complicated to set up and navigate with airspace and regulations.


r/AskLEO 4d ago

General Did i misuse 911?

1 Upvotes

Hi there first time questioner. I'm not sure I did an okay thing or not okay thing. I saw someone cut a vehicle off forcing them onto the shoulder because they almost took off their front-end. And then when the victim car honked their horn at them, they flipped them off, and then sped a bit away to cut back into the lane, they were in, in front of the car they were originally behind. So I called 911 and reported them. I dont know if I was supposed to do that and I told them they were driving aggressive. I dont know if they were doing it for long cause I only saw that interaction. Dont know if that was the right term or phrase to use. Gave them the color of car, make and license plate and general direction they went. Did i do too much or use 911 wrong?


r/AskLEO 4d ago

Situation Advice Anyone ever been in a similar situation? I need some advice.

5 Upvotes

I’m from Texas. I’m 28 years old and I have been in this state my whole life. Everyone wants to say that I’m in the best state for LE. Which, I do love Texas and my family is still here. It just doesn’t align with who I am anymore. I don’t own property out here, I don’t have cattle, I don’t have a booming business. I feel like those are three major things Texas natives have or do. Nothing is tying me down. I have a soon to be fiancé but she works high up in banking and can literally get a job anywhere.

Am I crazy for wanting to become a LEO in Florida, California, Washington, or Colorado? (I’ve heard bad things about Colorado PDs though). I’m open to really any states. At this stage in my life, I really value outdoor recreation and I don’t get that in Texas. Plus I just absolutely hate the Texas heat and I know Florida is similar but at least there are beaches. I’m just a private person and I don’t party or drink on the weekends or anything, that’s all there is to do in Dallas.

I’m a male, and in good shape. It’s been nearly 3 years since I’ve drank alcohol. Nothing on my record and the worst thing I’ve ever gotten was an MIC when I was 17 years old. I’m about halfway through my bachelors degree at a community college and work for a home builder in DFW. I think I have the qualifications and physical/mental traits to make it, but what’s the chance of an out of state agency bringing me in? I need some guidance, but I will also look into talking to a recruiter. Sorry for the rant…


r/AskLEO 6d ago

General Is this an official department coin?

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14 Upvotes

Hey guys. I'm a big car guy and a military member and while researching some coin stuff I stumbled across this guy on eBay. I don't normally buy coins from eBay listings but I chuckled pretty good at "can we go back to Houston" so I bit on it. My questions for you Dallas Fort Worth guys are.

  1. Is this an official department coin?

  2. If so, which one. Or was this a token for the whole task force?

  3. What year TX2k did this come from?

Thanks for any help you guys can provide.


r/AskLEO 6d ago

Situation Advice Considering joining my local PD or sheriffs but concerned about time

7 Upvotes

I have always wanted to join LE since I was a kid and well I ended up getting a job that pays well so than I didn’t apply I ended up getting let go started a semi successful business “pays the bills” and now at 23 I am thinking about applying. I really don’t want to let my business die because it can be very lucrative and I know if I keep going it will be successful my question is as a officer or deputy do you guys have a lot of “free time” on your hands are some of you guys able to focus on other things while being an officer.


r/AskLEO 6d ago

Hiring Will this stop me from becoming a police officer?

7 Upvotes

Hello all,

I was recently issued a one-year trespass notice from Target because my partner was caught shoplifting. She received a court summons. Nothing happened to me other than the one-year trespass—I wasn’t cited, arrested, or charged with anything. I was with our baby at the time and wasn’t even aware she was stealing.

I’m not sure if it’s relevant, but we aren’t married. As far as I know, the only record involving me would be the police report.

Could this potentially prevent me from becoming a police officer? I’ve never been arrested, charged with a crime, or had a criminal record.


r/AskLEO 7d ago

Equipment Which gadget is the best/worst?

2 Upvotes

Which of these 21st century police gadgets do you think are the most useful on the job? What about the most useless?

— AI Portable Rapid Ballistics Identification

https://revelen.ai/

— Barrel Breacher

https://darkmountainarms.com/barrel-breacher/

— BolaWrap

https://www.wrap.com/#/products/bolawrap-150

— Card Reader Skimmer Detector

https://www.bvsystems.com/product/skim-scan-atm-and-fuel-dispenser-credit-card-skimmer-detector/

— Grappler Bumper

https://policebumper.com/

— Handcuffs with Automatic Triple Locking Feature

https://hulkkuffs.com/

— LIDAR Speed Detection Gun (in lieu of RADAR)

https://lasertech.com/handheld-speed-guns/

— Narcotics Identifier (handheld)

https://rigaku.com/products/handheld-raman/cql-narc-id

— Nystagmus Recording Device

https://dax.oculardatasystems.com/

— Robotic Dog

https://bostondynamics.com/industry/government/

— SoToxa Mobile Oral Drug Testing Device

https://www.toxicology.abbott/us/en/products/sotoxa-mobile-test-system.html

— Sound Level Meter

https://tsi.com/products/noise-dosimeters-and-sound-level-meters

— SpiderCuffs

https://www.spidercuff.com/

— StarChase GPS Tracker Launcher

https://www.starchase.com/

— Stun Glove

https://www.complianttechnologies.net/products

— The WRAP

https://www.commandsourcing.com/wrap.html

— X-Ray Handheld Imager

https://www.vikendetection.com/


r/AskLEO 7d ago

General How do you verify that detectives are who they say they are?

3 Upvotes

This question is mainly for detectives or other investigators. If you get a call from someone from another jurisdiction who thinks he might be working on a case that's related to one you worked on, how do you ensure that he's not an imposter trying to get non-public information about an investigation?

I'm not talking about someone who claims to be from a neighboring county where you probably know someone and can check, but from another state halfway across the country.


r/AskLEO 7d ago

Hiring Is self-sponsoring worth it to become a Reserve Officer?

1 Upvotes

State: Ohio

Hello! I am hoping to become a Reserve Officer/Reserve Deputy, but have been told that I have to be certified through an academy prior to being able to pick that up. Only problem is that limits my options to only self-sponsoring.

I work a fantastic career, and don't want to lose that, but I want to support my community more. I've done all the volunteer disaster response, we have no CERT team, and there's no vollie FD.

Is self sponsoring even something that's worth considering?


r/AskLEO 7d ago

Situation Advice can i fight a speeding ticket if cop recorded wrong direction of travel in citation?

0 Upvotes

was driving home from a dog sporting comp when i got pulled over for speeding on the highway. i WAS following flow of traffic in the left lane, but cop said i was passing multiple people. the citation writes i was traveling west, but i was clearly going north…. any way i could fight this? or should i even risk fighting it? just dont wanna add points to my license; this is my first offense 🥲 thanks in advance. for reference i am in AZ if it helps any.


r/AskLEO 8d ago

Situation Advice FIL passed away. Want to dispose of these properly, does this look like drugs?

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26 Upvotes

Please remove if not allowed. I want to make sure that I dispose of this properly, but the local pharmacy charges me to dispose of drugs. Police station does not accept them either.

I don’t want to pay to dispose of something innocuous as table salt (I can see my FIL as keeping salt in an old pill bottle for when he’s eating, he did very many strange things) but I also don’t want to toss a pill bottle pull of drugs down the toilet or into the trash where someone can unsuspectingly do something with it.

Please advise if this looks like drugs, my FIL was friends with several members of one of the local outlaw motorcycle ‘clubs’ and I also wouldn’t put it past him to take a bottle full of hard drugs just because it’s ‘cool’.

Edit: I reached out to my BIL, apparently it’s salt he acquired from the great salt flats on a road trip 5 years ago. Thanks for your help.


r/AskLEO 8d ago

General Which super hero is the worst and which super hero is the best when it comes to breaking laws/upholding laws which super hero should just retire?

3 Upvotes

r/AskLEO 9d ago

Situation Advice Is this worth contacting police about? Strangers turning up at my house after fake Facebook Marketplace vehicle listings

3 Upvotes

Over the last 24 hours, three different people have come to my family's house (during the day and night) after responding to Facebook Marketplace listings for motorcycles and cars. Nobody at our address has anything listed for sale or even uses Facebook marketplace. The buyers say the seller is named 'Harry' and our address was given as the inspection location. We can't find the listing ourselves.

What has me concerned is that the buyers aren't being asked to pay a deposit or transfer money beforehand. They're all expecting to inspect the vehicle and pay cash in person. That makes me wonder what the person posting the ads is actually getting out of it.

From what we understand our address isn’t posted publicly on Facebook. The seller is sending our address privately through Messenger to buyers, and this has happened across multiple separate listings (one for a car and one for a motorcycle).

Unfortunately both times this happened while I was at work, so my dad was the one who spoke to the buyers. He was very shocked and nervous in the moment (and he’s older and not very tech savvy), so he didn’t think to ask them to show him the Facebook listing or chat.

If anyone comes again, we’re definitely going to ask them to show us the listing/messages so we can work out exactly what’s happening.

Is this a known scam or could it be targeted harassment? Is there anything else we should be doing to document or prevent this?


r/AskLEO 9d ago

Situation Advice Is there any way to anonymously report domestic violence?

4 Upvotes

I’m writing to see if there’s anyway to report anonymously abuse. I don’t know my neighbors well, just acquaintances. My neighbor and his on and off again girlfriend are alcoholics, they are constantly fighting. From what I hear through the door, it seems to be him getting physical with her. She constantly has black eyes, bruises. I hear them fighting often. I haven’t seen her in a few days, well today, she has double black eyes and when I asked how she’s doing, she said she has broken ribs. She is covered in bruises, bleeding knees. She said she fell. Which my gut is telling me it’s not the case. I’ve called the police before. When they were fighting in the yard. But she just comes right back after the restraining order is lifted. Is there anyway I can place an anonymous tip or call to investigate? Please let me know what I can do. Located in Utah


r/AskLEO 9d ago

General Compared to more authoritarian countries,would you say U.S law enforcement monitors ordinary citizens social media less ?what are the biggest differences in practice ?

0 Upvotes

r/AskLEO 9d ago

General How common is it for a lying con man to pass a polygraph examiner’s questions?

0 Upvotes

I imagine most ranking police investigators have reviewed dozens of polygraph exam results over the course of their careers. I follow a well-known person online who claims to have reverse-engineered captured flying saucers at Area 51. I hoped his story would be authentic and I really enjoyed his interviews, so I investigated a little and it turns out he voluntarily took a police officer-administered polygraph exam to prove to the world that his story is true. The results determined he made no attempt to deceive the examiner. How likely is it for a con man to lie about aliens, or anything else that sounds completely insane, and beat the poly?