Quote:
Originally Posted by Philadelphia
I'm just about the first guy to give the police a break, but I'm really starting to think more strongly that if you're in the business of arresting people for violating criminal laws, you better know what the law is when you make that pinch.
It's not all that hard to become a subject matter expert in a narrow slice of the law, criminal law, especially when the standard you are judged by is just probable cause. Sure, lawyers, DAs and judges are members of a learned profession that takes many years to master, but the stakes are higher and the standards harder once it gets to that level.
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Well said, and I agree.
I will add that many times a valid arrest is made, and the case is lost in court for a variety of reasons. The suspect has surely suffered some harm by being arrested and thrown into the system, but that isn't the arresting officers fault or problem.
For example, a police officer observes two people stealing items from a store. He and another officer arrest the bad guys as they flee the store. The bad guys have records; the stolen property is recovered; the bad guys hit the books. Good job, right? Bread and butter, as you say.
It is until the court listing when the store manager doesn't show up to press charges.
I throw that out to highlight that an arrest that doesn't result in a conviction doesn't mean the arresting officer was wrong.