Careers: Police/people

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Expert: - 1/21/2010


Question
1)Let's say you saw a person drinking from a beer bottle as he drove his car. You stop the person, but he tells you that he's actually drinking water out of a washed-out beer bottle. You dump out the liquid and see that the man is telling the truth.

Could you do anything to this person?

2) If you find a person who is bleeding badly, and needs immediate help, but the person refuses help, and tells you "I'll take care of my wounds myself," what would you do?

(The person is not a felon, and this occurred because of an accident at his house.)

Answer
Hi John,

In answer to your questions.
#1 I personally would not, but the law permits for just the container. Most of the offices I know would not do anything, but I would think the person is not very smart using that type of container, they are just asking for trouble.

#2, We would call EMS and when they arrive decide if the person is mentally capable of taking care of themselves. How do we know its not some kind of suicide attempt? We can force medical care on someone that is not mentally compentent.. Otherwise if the person is mentally OK, no we would leave them alone and they are on their own.

Most of the time we try to leave people alone, but have to step in sometime when they are unable to take care of themselves.

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Chris Wagoner

Expertise

I have been a police officer for 30+ years! I am the Police Academy Commander at the Santa Fe College, Institute of Public Safety in Gainesville Florida It is a full service Law Enforcement and Corrections training facility. I can answer most questions concerning law enforcement procedures, law enforcement training and general questions about law enforcment. I can also answer questions about becoming a law enfocement officer. I have a booklet and web page I have written that answers many questions about how to become a police officer called "So you want to be a cop (police Officer) in Florida?", which is free, Google it.. All you have to do is ask. I teach the following subjects: RADAR/LASER, Law Enforcement Driving, Law Enforcement Firearms and Patrol Techniques, Officer Safety, WMD's for Patrol Officers, Application of Law, Communications skills, Dealing with the Mentally and physically handicapped, and many more subjects. I have worked as a subject matter expert for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and helped to write the police curriculum for the State of Florida. I like answering questions about how to become a police officer, and questions about why did an officer do this or that type questions. I also like answering any questions you may have about police work in general. I do not mind helping with homework questions or trying to answer your questions about legal subjects that I have knowledge of. You will never know the answer until you ask! If you do ask a question, PLEASE take the time to at least rate the answer. I do not get paid to answer these questions and do it on my own time. If you ask, please rate it when I answer. Thanks!!! If its a question about becoming a police officer, it may be answered here: http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/ My "hobby" website - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487 Military Videos on YouTube and Facebook!!

Experience

I am a 30+ year veteran police officer, I am currently the Police Academy Commander of an Academy in North FLorida. I have been training police officers since 1993 and have trained them in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearms, Driving and legal subjects including patrol techniques and others and training all over the world. I have trained over 5000 officers worldwide in the last 16 years of training.

Publications
I am a published author in Accident Investigation from the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. Also have written and published on the Internet, "So You Want to be a Cop (Police Officer) in Florida?" you can Google it..

Education/Credentials
I have 2 degrees, in Criminal Justice.

Awards and Honors
Phi Theta Kappa, plus 50+ Departmental Awards over the years. FBI Directors award for assisting in a Nationwide investigation into Child pornography.

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