Arresting Friends or Family

[TeachMe]

Have any of you had to arrest a friend or a family member? Did you get any grief from other family members for doing your job? If it is a family member, can LE pass off the arrest to another officer so s/he doesn't have to be involved?

Thanks!

[LPD003]

Officers can pass off an arrest to another officer, so long as you give them the probable cause to do it.

[PtlCop]

Have any of you had to arrest a friend or a family member? Did you get any grief from other family members for doing your job? If it is a family member, can LE pass off the arrest to another officer so s/he doesn't have to be involved?

Thanks!

I've had instances where i've arrested former classmates, or people I'd met before. If it were a good friend of mine, or family, I wouldn't make the arrest. There are too many issues that can arise. I separate my personal and professional life. If I am dispatched to a run and it's a friend's house, or a family member's house, I'll pass it along to another officer. Likewise, those other officers will do the same.

The bigger issues is, my friends and family aren't inclined to break the law. I wouldn't be in this job too long if my friends and family were all criminals.

[PhilipCal]

I've had instances where i've arrested former classmates, or people I'd met before. If it were a good friend of mine, or family, I wouldn't make the arrest. There are too many issues that can arise. I separate my personal and professional life. If I am dispatched to a run and it's a friend's house, or a family member's house, I'll pass it along to another officer. Likewise, those other officers will do the same.

The bigger issues is, my friends and family aren't inclined to break the law. I wouldn't be in this job too long if my friends and family were all criminals.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Duty may sometimes be unpleasant, but it's duty regardless.

[mac266]

Three words: Conflict of interest.

NEVER arrest family or friends as it creates a conflict of interest of the most severe kind. When you get asked this question in your interview, the proper response is: "I would contact a supervisor, notify him/her of my conflict of interest, and ask that another officer handle the case."

This has happened to me. When I was in the DUI Enforcement unit I recall three separate incidents in which I was sent to handle a DUI. When I arrived I recognized a soldier I had served with in Iraq. Nope, I'm not doing it...CONFLICT OF INTEREST!

[crass cop]

yep...disp to hook bro-in-law for traffic warrant, (ex-gfriend called and "turned him in")
called him and had him come outside to sign a piece of paper advising he will be in court and I told him that some chica is obviously watching him and knows where he is.
I didnt hook him for his warrant in another county that would require him to go directly to jail, (very old child support warrant)

There was no hard feelings, especially since I advised him about his warrant from another county

I told my boss prior to going to the call and he said to not hook him if it would cause distress to the family.

[Bearcat357]

Some of us use to patrol/play Investigator in small rural counties in MO....plus have family trees that go straight up.....and little or no back-up if you are out in the county.......

I've arrested folks that I went to HS/College with along with several of my cousins..... A couple I didn't even know we were related till after the fact...... One is freaking nuts and is giving the Sheriff fits right now. VA keeps kicking him loose after they have "healed" his head.... He's going to end up being in the paper....and not in a good way.......

[pujolsfan146]

I have arrested both family and friends. Only in one case did a family member get ticked. They thought they would get a free ride since we are related. WRONG.

[HI629]

I had to arrest a cousin once. Used my "discretion" several times to warn him that his behavior would get him arrested. There was a complaint filed when one of the complaining witnesses found out it was my cousin. An internal investigation was conducted and I was found to have done nothing wrong, as I do my best to treat everyone equally, regardless of who they are. There were documented cases that were similar in nature where I issued multiple warnings to an offender before they were arrested.

Not one of the high points of LE, but you do what you gotta do to execute your duties to the best of your ability.

[Smurfette_76]

I've been put in a severe enough situation that I had to be the arresting Officer at the moment; then promptly call another Officer over and excused myself. It was based on my PC, but I don't arrest people...they arrest themselves.

I've been assigned cases that I had a conflict of interest in and asked the Sarge to reassign them. Not a problem.

[nyc7011]

Officers can pass off an arrest to another officer, so long as you give them the probable cause to do it.

This is what I would do if that situation ever arose. My family and friends don't make a habit of being arrested though.

[LawFowl]

Got two for you:

At my old dept. I get dispatched to a hit and run at 0530 in the morning where a vehicle struck a pedestrian out walking his dog with her side mirror. Luckily the victim was paying attention to the vehicle and called immediately. We found her and she led us right back to the scene, LOL.

Well I go talk to her and wouldn't you know I recognize her. She used to date one of my cousin's best friends. We've all hung out before and we knew each other on a first name basis. It was REALLY weird but I told her before I began the SFSTs; "Look, if it isn't me doing it, another officer will have to do it. So bare with me." Hooked her for DWI but another officer transported for me. I don't let anyone work my DWIs. I'd arrest the Governon for DWI (Trooper actually told me that one time lol).


After this last Superbowl that the Packers won I was dispatched to a possible DWI driver. As soon as I find him he's swerving all over the place. Well, we get him stopped (had an officer riding shotgun because his car had just overheated and I was giving him a ride to the PD) and of course I recognize him. My mom used to work with his wife. I was quite a bit younger but my mom was good friends with her and they used to take me to do stuff when I was young (12ish). He wound up blowing a .170 something and he never recognized me. When he got out of jail the next morning I guarantee you he recognized my last name on his temporary license paperwork. I hope it doesn't go to court.

[BigW]

Where I work you are constantly hooking people you grew up with, etc. It's a small town and I basically know everyone anyway. Really it's rare that I don't know the person in the back seat.

Also, I hooked my uncle for DUI. It wasn't pleasant but he knew what he'd done.

[Irishluck31]

Not much family anymore and I hate everyone equally so, friends are a non problem...

[Iowa #1603]

My mother refused to drive in the county I worked as a deputy sheriff..
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Does that tell you anything?