Random question

[JustDontDie]

How often are you asked for directions from civilians? Is it real important to thoroughly know your way around the city you work for?

[Delta784]

How often are you asked for directions from civilians? Is it real important to thoroughly know your way around the city you work for?

1) Usually a few times per shift.

2) YES! I know my area & sector like the back of my hand, but sometimes I'm sent to other areas of the city that I haven't worked in years. You need to be aware of where you are, at all times.

[JustDontDie]

What if some guy comes up to your car as your parked at a gas station and wants to know how to get to some back road clear across the city (in a big city)?? Do you say "I dunno, try asking someone else." Or can you look it up on your computer?

[airbrne74]

It seems like every time I stop to eat, use my cell, or catch up on paperwork; someone will pull up and ask for directions. Yes you need to know your way around your jurisdiction very well but not necessarily to give directions but for your own personal safety, for calls, and for those wonderful times when you have to give radio your location. Hope that helps.

[NJladyGlock21]

I get asked directions all the time and even how to get to places in different states. You would be shocked at how many people leave the house not knowing how to get to their destination.
Officer Safety. Yes, it is extremeley important to know the city you work for inside out. IMO it is also important to know your surrounding cities. The last thing you want is to hear a brother in trouble and have to waste time looking at a map. Or needing assistance and not knowing where you are. You can't freeze everything to go looking for a street sign.
You have to know where you are, where they are, what street backs up to what...etc.

[lazycop]

Reason for Editing.

[JustDontDie]

Uh computer...not in my car. My map book has almost every street though.

No computer in your car? Or no efficient GPS thing for that sort of thing?

[1sgkelly]

All the time; I tell them they need a city cop and point to my patch.

Gets me off the hook every time.

[Delta784]

What if some guy comes up to your car as your parked at a gas station and wants to know how to get to some back road clear across the city (in a big city)??

You break-out your handy-dandy street directory and look it up.

Most directions requests aren't that hard, they're usually looking for Wal-Mart of some other equally obvious landmark. Very rarely is someone looking for an obscure sidestreet on the other side of the city.

[JustDontDie]

All the time; I tell them they need a city cop and point to my patch.

Gets me off the hook every time.

Are you a sheriff?

[richx528]

I know I'm not a cop, I'm just adding to the question. How long did it take you guys to know your way around your jurisdiction, and do you have any tips to learning jurisdictions faster? (I'm sure you get to know roads when you spend 40 - 50 plus hours a week driving them.)

[Delta784]

I know I'm not a cop, I'm just adding to the question. How long did it take you guys to know your way around your jurisdiction, and do you have any tips to learning jurisdictions faster? (I'm sure you get to know roads when you spend 40 - 50 plus hours a week driving them.)

In-between calls, drive the streets endlessly. When you hear another unit dispatched to a street you don't know, look it up.

[1sgkelly]

Are you a sheriff?

Naw, just a Fed.

[BS_CJ]

Naw, just a Fed.

Federal Protective Services?

[AirWind23]

Another question...If you get assigned to a call or in need of help to getting to a destination..for officers with in car computers, do the computers give you live GPS or anything like that to help you with directions?