"Do not talk to a cop"

[j91184]

I ran across this video which got me really thinking on the subject of citizens rights. I am not a LEO yet so I would really like to hear from any officers out there on what you think about this video. I understand it's important to respect everyone's rights (the right to remain silence), but to make my question more specific....Does citizens not talking to a LEO when asked a question make the job harder and/or have a negative affect on keeping the public safe? Is this an issue that officers have to deal with constantly?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik

[barkalot]

I have had cases out on the streets where a possible suspect agreeing to talk to me ended up with him not going to jail because I was able to determine that he was in fact innocent because of something he told me. In these cases, I had other evidence against him and if he had chosen not to talk to me, he would have gone to jail because he would not have provided the missing pieces that exonerated him.

For instance, say a victim accuses a suspect of assaulting them in a bar at 11:00 p.m. The victim has injuries and they also have a witness who verifies the story. They are both adamant about the time, because the news had just started on television inside the bar.

I contact the suspect and he agrees to talk to me. He then tells me that he didn't do it because he was at the local Stop & Rob several blocks away at 11:00 p.m. I go to the Stop & Rob, explain the situation, and ask to see their security video. Sure enough I see the suspect in the store at 11:00 p.m.

If the suspect had elected not to talk to me, he would have gone to jail until this evidence was discovered. Fine, ultimately he would not have been convicted of the crime, but in some people's world going to jail for the night cost them hard earned money and sometimes can result in things like loss of employment, etc.

[Kieth M.]

I, shall we say, "ask away," on the small stuff. If it's a big-time felony, I'll only ask after Miranda if they want to talk. It makes no never mind to me.

But there are situations, like when Shrek tells Donkey, "You have the right to remain silent, what you lack is the capacity!" Once in my 30 years, after Miranda, the suspect refused to talk. As we were headed to the jail, downtown, he started talking all kinds of smack about the victim and what he did to him - I was really getting annoyed with the suspect and wished he'd shut up. I went on to included the remarks in the report.

At the pre-lim the D/A asked me what he said. The public defender objected. I ended up telling the court that had even told the guy, "look, you said you want to remain silent, you had better shut your yap!" The court got a good laugh over that and the judge ruled I could tell the court what the bonehead had said.

[Feb2nd1979]

For the most part he is right. I have more people talk their way into the back seat of car just by self incriminating statments. Then I get them back to the jail and give them their miranda advisement and once agian they start talking and make a solid case agianst themselfs. Either way once I have PC to arrest them, I could careless if they talk or not. My job is done, the DA can now do his.
I tell my friends all the time 1. never let a cop into your house(unless he has the rigth to come in without your permission, then of course let him). 2. always use the 5th amendment.

[Kieth M.]

I tell my friends all the time 1. never let a cop into your house(unless he has the rigth to come in without your permission, then of course let him). 2. always use the 5th amendment.

Sounds like some interesting friends you have there.;)