Awful Police Encounter (Very Long)

[cwilk]

This is part of my notes regarding an incident I had this morning. The whole thing is a lot longer. I was fully prepared to leave when asked right after the guy produced ID. He never did. I cut it where I did becuase the rest is editorializing on my part and also contains some names. Read if you want. Comments welcome but not required. I am usure how I am going to pursue it. As far as I have been told by 4 people in the town office detecting is not prohibited in the park.




I was detecting by the town police office at around 9:15 when I heard somebody shout

 

[cwilk]

34 coins for $4.06. Two wheats 1953 and 1937. Plus all the trash I cleaned up.

Chris

Have another site in the county pencilled in for tomorrow. Should I?

 

[WolfdogIa.]

Yes you should!!!

 

[Uncle Willy]

This sadistic, overbearing, bully, needs to be accountable for his actions. He violated your civil rights and that's a Federal Crime - far above his little station of alleged and perceived self - importance. I'd nail his butt. HIs title and position doesn't give him the right to treat you like he did. I'd be having a conversation with my attorney. I hate twerps like that who are so full of themselves they are bursting at the seams.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yes, after you get this geek straightened out and in his proper place. I would first file a formal complaint with his superiors and voice your intention of legal action.

Bill

 

[GOLD&OLDIES]

GO FOR IT!!! and like Bill said he should be held accountable for his BULL@#!$ actions,nail that little clowns @#!%#$! to the wall with a BIG smile on your face!!!! and when you go back,have someone stashed somewhere with a video cam getting it all on tape,then let the tape speak for itself, these clowns with badges and guns go way too far Good Luck H.H. Kevin

 

[cwilk]

Thanks for your words. They mean more to me than you will ever know. Several of the folks I spoke with afterward were also reluctantly on my side. Even a few of the cops. I fully understand the whole thin blue line thing. I like and respect almost all cops. When I told my story today many officers said that sure doesn't sound like S......... That's what I'll be dealing with if I file a complaint.

I tried to be very objective in that narrative and give as little of my opinion as possible. That followed in my notes and I left that out of my post here. Nobody has called me yet. I'll give it until Monday. Suffice it to say I do not feel very good right now. It was an awful feeling thinking that this guy could do whatever he wanted at any moment and I might never know his name or position. I eyed my 2500 sitting on the pavement and my wide open truck when he threatened me with arrest. If I could have guaranteed their safety I would have taken the hit and I would have had him for not identifying himself as an officer prior to questioning and then arresting me and a few other things.

If the Lieutenant I spoke with calls me or better yet the Investigator and merely apologizes I'd drop the whole thing. The second part will never happen. I suspect I will have to get written permission prior to going back to that park which I am pretty sure I can get. The park is a good producer and I have lots of places there I haven't even touched yet. It is hunted by a lot of other THers too. That said, I can live without it for now and go back next year or later. The real problem is that the Town Police building is right in the middle of the park so I have to have them on my side at least.

Finally as I left the Lieutenant I asked if I would get in trouble for hunting the LL park on my way out of town. He said go ahead and detect. He asked why I was going that way and I said because I wanted to stop at Walmart. He answered isn't there a Walmart in your county. He laughed and so did I. He really gets it and that's why I said nice things about him in my notes and here. When I got to the park I didn't feel like detecting , though. Does that even sound like me?

Chris

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

Sorry to hear of what happen to you.I,m sure it leaves a bad taste in your mouth...
Sounds like he was on a power trip. Must have had a bad encounter from someone else and decided to take it out on you.
Try not too let it bother you.

 

[sasquache]

wow this is really a sad story maybe the un named officer has a metal detector and wants it all for himself but with that said there are good cops and bad cops.

 

[cwilk]

Easier said than done. I don't like to associate anything bad with detecting. Maybe after I get out and hunt tomorrow I'll feel better. I'm going back to "his" county to another site where I have permission to hunt. Long ways from today's site, though. If I can manage 3-4 hours I'm cured. First hour I'll be looking over my shoulder.

Chris

 

[cwilk]

I thought that too but doubt it. I agree you have to take the good with the bad. I have to wonder why a stranger goes so far above and beyond harassing a stranger, though. We'll never know. Just like we'll never know why we find a clad quarter at 8 inches and a foot away a Merc at 2 inches.

Sad story of our times is right!

Chris

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

He sounds like he is drunk on power Chris. The unfortunate downside for some who have been given power. Unless direct action is directed against him, then he'll continue to be a bad egg. An official complaint alone, may have a minor accumulative effect against him, from his bosses prospective, but will be water off a duck's back to him. It would be nice if there was if direct action could b taken against him, but that is much easier said than done. Perhaps some discreet enquiries might be the way to go.
Good luck with it.
Mick Evans.

 

[coin seeker]

You have to report him to upper level management. If you do nothing he will keep on bothering other detectorists. Get all your facts about what, when and where you can detect. Stay within the law. Good Luck and don't let one butt-head get you down.

 

[cwilk]

I WAS within the law and I HAD police permission to detect that park. This guy bullied the local policeman too. The poor kid was scared shitless of him. I am waiting until Monday to make my decision. I'll let y'all know.

Chris

Thanks for the encouragement. Last time I got booted from a site it drove me to my favorite site of all time! Tomorrow I'm going to my Labor Day site. Found tons of great stuff that day.

 

[John-Edmonton]

I think you behaved in a very appropriate manner. Requesting some sort of ID is also common. He was way out of line, and obviously tried to intimidate you. Why? That's the question. There is something missing to this story....not from you cwik, but from the deputy. It almost sounds like he thought you were someone else who he had a run in at some previous altercation, and when he realized he was wrong, he turned into a coward and and hid behind his badge, position or whatever you might want to call it. He wasn't man enough to let it go and at least apologize. I guess you could send unbiased report to the city of what happened. Where it would go from there is unknown. Lets just hope that there isn't somebody who has previously actually dug holes, mouthed off to people and set the stage for you to get the blame. Simply amazing the types of situations we can get ourselves in simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It would be nice to get a second response from someone in authority, either from the town or police.

I hope this story has a happy ending. And considering that so many things that can happen to us or our families that cause physical issues or financial .....just remember, that what happened to you is still small stuff.

 

[trueblue]

I feel for ya cwilk what a disheartening expierience that woulda been , well that represents the American Hard liners as they are portraiyed here in Australia

 

[cwilk]

To add a piece to the pie. This guy is a special investigator. He does not go around looking for criminals. I asked the Lieutenant the last time this officer made an arrest not related to a case he was investigating and he replied as far as he can remember he hasn't recently. There is definitelty more to the story. I am expecting a call back from the Lieutenant after he speaks with the SI. If he doesn't call by around 3pm Monday I will call him. This sheriff's department has had some recent ethics and public relations problems and they're working to fix them. It is not my intent to add to their trouble. A sufficient answer will be that the SI overstepped his authority and treated you improperly. You may metal detect on any public land in our county where it is not prohibited by law. We're sorry it happened and SI R....... will not be bothering you again. Then I can go and mend fences with the Town Police and Parks guys who witnessed some or all of my humiliation. They are good people and will understand. By then, hopefully someone from the town offices will tell me there are no ordinances that prohibit detecting on town land and I can go back. It won't be easy and I'll probably wait until 2009.

Thanks for your response as well, John. Please know you are one of my MD mentors!

Chris

 

[cwilk]

Strangely, I consider myself one of those American Hard Liners. I am also objective enough to know that the hard line is not always the only line. I am also extremely pro law enforcement. This guy made a mistake, a big one in my opinion, and I have to think long and hard on how far I will go with it. I strongly prefer to end situations like this face to face with a handshake but I don't believe that would be in the officer's character to do so.

Chris

 

[trueblue]

think long and hard indeed , goodluck with wathever way you choose to pursue it cwilk I wish you the best in the matter

trueblue

 

[Treasure Nut]

That's a horrible experience you had there and glad that you came out of it somewhat OK. Personally I will not give out personal information to some guy in a white car, plain clothes, and not showing any ID. Who am I to know that he is a cop? Whether they like it or not, I would walk away and not deal with an @hole like that and procede directly to the nearest police station. JMHO