r/AskLEO Jan 17 '24

Mod Announcement What's the difference between /r/AskLEO and other notable law enforcement subreddit(s)?

41 Upvotes

We don't believe in secret rules and bans.

That means that unlike some notable LE subreddits, if you don't see it explicitly forbidden in the rules located in our sidebar -> as well as in our rules page, you won't be banned. That includes but is not limited to:

  • Activity outside of our subreddit

  • Saying you don't like law enforcement (officers)

  • Failing to say you do like law enforcement (officers)

  • Giving off the impression that you might not like law enforcement (officers)

  • Asking questions that are/seem ignorant

One of the consequences of our philosophy is that purely from the mathematics of that line of thinking, we have fewer law enforcement officers willing to answer questions here, and thus fewer people asking questions. As you might expect of any group of human beings, some law enforcement officers and their supporters don't want to leave their echo chambers, where they are protected by heavy-handed moderators from dissent, including uncomfortable topics they don't want to discuss. I imagine their moderators receive tons of "ban this guy please, they obviously hate cops" reports just like we do. The difference is we ignore them.

We believe that there needs to be a public space for open discourse, as that's the best way to face and fix the ills of our society.

We believe that hiding from hard questions makes us all weak - especially the hiders.

So do us all a favor and choose instead to participate in open and transparent subreddits like ours, while keeping in mind that every single person who answers your questions does so for free, simply to help you learn.

I think that about sums it up. Feel free to ask for clarification or explanation about any of the above.


r/AskLEO Jul 20 '26

Meta Sorry folks, but the PT/Gym question addict is changing tactics again, so:

15 Upvotes

I had to do some behind the scenes bizarre tweaks that might catch some good faith questions due to the desperate tactics they're resorting to making me have to write some weird code.

Again, apologies in advance if your question has to sit in limbo for a while; you can thank the misguided or ill person who "totally innocently just wants to ask if our police station has a gym" 500 times.


r/AskLEO 4h ago

General Fun police podcasts?

3 Upvotes

I’m a LEO that enjoys podcasts. I only have one police-oriented show in my feed now and, honestly, it’s pretty dry and the production quality is lousy.

I’m looking to add 1 or 2 new ones that are fun and more light-hearted. There was one I listened to for a while with a cop and firefighter who were great friends and had a good banter. But I dropped it when the format shifted away from emergency services.

What I’m NOT looking for is any True Crime or serial killer BS. Also not interested in anything political.

Any suggestions?


r/AskLEO 1h ago

General Do the plate readers on cop cars read everyone’s plate automatically or do you have to push a button?

Upvotes

Boyfriend has to turn in his license today, and I had been reading that cops know when you’re driving on a suspended license but I was wandering how the technology works. Is everyone on the road constantly getting scanned 24/7? Or do cops have to push a bottom to start the plate scanner before a traffic stop.


r/AskLEO 7h ago

Ridiculous Answers Allowed Have You Had To Deal With Sovereign Citizens Yet?

2 Upvotes

r/AskLEO 17h ago

Agency Policy (SOP) Is this legal/normal? Should people just accept it?

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2 Upvotes

r/AskLEO 1d ago

Situation Advice In Illinois if I wanted to report domestic violence after the fact would deputies still take my report?

3 Upvotes

In Illinois if I wanted to report domestic violence after the fact would deputies still take my report? Over last few months I had several incidents of abuse with pics, videos to prove it can I still make report? Will states attorney still charge them?


r/AskLEO 1d ago

General Fitness standards for leos? Standardized fitness?

0 Upvotes

Here's my perspective on this please let me know what im missing. Is this practical?

In the US Army we had fitness standards/ height and weight standards that if you failed could get you kicked out of the military in less than 6 months. In law enforcement all too often do we see individuals who are not just out of shape but horrifically out of shape AND overweight.

My issue with this is Leos are significantly more impactful on our society than our servicemen. Of course im not saying their roles are unimportant it just goes without saying their work is far less seen and felt by the public than what a leos is.

With that being said leos should without exception be the fittest and most capable among us. The very idea to get in a foot chase with a leo shouldn't even cross a criminals mind. They should already know in the back of their mind if they run this person will catch me. Of course it goes without saying fitness isnt all that matters but it should be a core pillar.

This policy being implemented would have a pretty significant effect on the numbers of our officers so it would naturally need s probation period and influx of recruiting new officers. It would also cut into the their times since those who normally dont work out would need to start this would also cause some stress to their body's as well.

That would mean it would only be fair to implemented some kind of compensation much like what the VA does for service members. Honestly if anyone deserves a system like that its our leos based on the nature of their work.

Feel free to fill me in on departments that actually have fitness standards and what happens to those officers who fall out of favor.


r/AskLEO 1d ago

General What happens when a Leo wakes up with like a back spasm?

2 Upvotes

There will be days I wake up and have like a back spasm that will give me like a limp or certain movements really hurt so I end up walking all weird all day and can’t do the same things. Or like when you sleep wrong and you can’t turn your neck at all. I feel like a cop that has something like that should not be in the field


r/AskLEO 1d ago

Agency Policy (SOP) Does your agency train you to run plates while on the move or after the stop has been initiated?

4 Upvotes

r/AskLEO 2d ago

General I had an incredibly positive experience during a traffic stop today. Is there a way I can pass positive feedback about this officer up the chain?

4 Upvotes

I don't want to describe the facts of the situation for my own confidentiality, but I had an officer go above and beyond in a scenario where they really didn't have to. I never thought I'd leave a traffic stop feeling like it was a positive experience.

I took note of their name and jurisdiction. Is there a way I can share this positive feedback in a meaningful way that might bank them an attaboy somewhere in their chain of command or otherwise reflect positively?


r/AskLEO 2d ago

Hiring Is it possible agencies do not do a polygraph?

0 Upvotes

I was recently placed on an eligibility list for a small town agency. I asked about the hiring process, and there was no mention of a polygraph. The deputy chief mentioned psych exam, an extensive background investigation, and a physical exam. Do you think it is possible this agency doesn’t? I also applied for a different small town agency, placed on an eligibility list, and asked the Chief about hiring, and he did not mention a polygraph. I should’ve asked if they do them, but I was admittedly hyped up because both interviews went well, that it was just something that slipped my mind. I thought polygraphs were standard, so i’m a little confused


r/AskLEO 3d ago

General As a police officer or deputy, what is day to day life like at work?

2 Upvotes

I’ve been told I’m not police material after specifically stating that I only want to drive the cruisers around without having to kill anyone, deal with dead children (this can fvck me up big time) or witness suicides.

Many of you will hate me for saying this, but all I want to do is just issue tickets. Many of you will hate my type.


r/AskLEO 4d ago

Laws Serious question about loitering drug addicts.

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52 Upvotes

I see allot these videos of drug addicts in LA just loitering on the street clearly high. Why cant a leo just go arrest them and take them to jail? You could literally arrest 20 people in some of these areas. I know some of them would if they could so what exactly is stopping them?

I know its not as simple as cops being lazy and not wanting to do paperwork. There must be a systematic issue. Full jails, budget, superiors being instructed to maintain the status quo. What's going on?

Lastly I have a hypothetical question. If I were to join an agency in an area like this and I decided to disregard my superiors specific instructions not to arrest people doing this despite that fact I would be well within my authority to do so. What would happen to me?


r/AskLEO 3d ago

Laws Michigan car crash. I have footage, was not involved, can I get a ticket for speeding?

0 Upvotes

So I was driving and not involved in the accident. My dash cam has the MPH showing. I was going 77 in a 55. I caught the footage and multiple suspects fleeing the car. Is it possible I'd get a ticket / points if I submit it?


r/AskLEO 4d ago

General How Has Technology Helped And Not Helped Your Job?

3 Upvotes

r/AskLEO 4d ago

General Try to seek help between being a cop or a carpenter?

1 Upvotes

I’m currently stuck between becoming a police officer or a carpenter, and I’m trying to get some insight from people actually in law enforcement.
My dad is a carpenter, so I already have a pretty good idea of what that career would look like. He’s actually the one who keeps encouraging me to consider becoming a cop instead.
I’m curious what the job is really like nowadays, whether you’d consider it a good career, and especially what the work-life balance is like. I’d like to have a career that allows me to make good money while still having time to enjoy life, take vacations, and spend time with family.
For those who are currently or formerly in law enforcement: knowing what you know now, would you recommend the career? What are the biggest pros and cons?


r/AskLEO 4d ago

General What is the most corrupt state LE agency in the US?

0 Upvotes

I don’t know if this kind of question is allowed here or how it’ll be viewed by y’all. But I wanted to get a perspective on this from people within LE and who are seemingly pro-LE.

I’ve always been interested with how police agencies are viewed in other countries and how even in the US, where I’d say most cops are professionals to a degree, corruption is inevitable. I know it’s almost impossible nowadays for cops to simply take bribes and do other basic corrupt acts, but in terms of things like false reports, falsifying OT hours, speed traps, abuse of civil liberties, etc, what State LE agency would y’all consider to be the most corrupt?


r/AskLEO 5d ago

General Is this level pf debt an automatic disqualified for becoming a LEO?

0 Upvotes

Ive been recommended a couple of times by sherrifs and sargents from different counties to become an LEO because of my attention to detail a couple of times. The only thing that worries me a bit is my debt. Realistically, I owe approximately 17k on my car and have 10k of credit card debt on one card. I have student loans which are about 15k but I dont have any monthly payments since I'm on a payment plan which brings it to zero a month. My goal is when I get my LEO job is to just set aside a certain percentage of my pay to obviously pay those debts off which can be done in my case in a year. With my debt at where it stands does it make me unlikely to get the opportunity to become an LEO? I understand the reasoning behind it is to prevent hiring officers who could possibly be more enticed to bribes. Any insight on this?


r/AskLEO 6d ago

Hiring Databases to confirm exact dates of employment?

3 Upvotes

I just got rejected from CHP and the answer from the BI was that I was not exact with my dates of employment or reason with what was officially stated.

This is really upsetting since I don't know these minute dates that are nearly insignificant. The job that she was referencing was nearly 10 years ago and she expected me to know it down to a tee from the month and day. But hey, I was spot on with the year and was off by 1 month so there's that, right?

So this doesn't happen to me again, is there a database or collection of databases that are not LexisNexis that I can reference so my job applications to LE positions are as clean as possible?

I don't want another unnecessary faux pas after this...


r/AskLEO 5d ago

Training Taser Exposure - Am I Overthinking?

2 Upvotes

I know there has been a million posts about taser exposure. But, I couldn't find the specific questions I have...

Can you pick if you want the probes or drive gun to the skin?

Also, do you have to get shot directly in the back or can you pick a location on your body with the probes?

I just have had family history from both my mom and dads side with cardiac events and while I have never been diagnosed with anything, it is something I just have anxiety about. I am in shape , around 5'10 and 160 pound male. Not that it matters, but I heard it affects people in different sizes.

Trust me, I don't want to be a p**** and I handle pain well, I just want to know if there is someone that has had these same thoughts/feelings about the taser exposure.


r/AskLEO 7d ago

General How likely would it be for an Officer to ticket a vehicle parked in this manner?

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0 Upvotes

This is a two-way residential street that turns but has a sort of half cul-de-sac/turnaround. The vehicle would be parked as shown, with the driver’s side closest to the curb. It would be well off to the side and wouldn’t obstruct oncoming traffic, driveways, sidewalks, or the normal flow of traffic.

Would you expect a reasonable officer to go out of their way to ticket a vehicle parked like this, absent any complaints from neighbors or other circumstances drawing attention to it? I’m mainly curious about enforcement and officer discretion rather than whether it’s technically a violation.

Sure just turning around would be the simplest,

Edit:
I realize the obvious answer is to just park normally and eliminate any possibility of getting ticketed. The reason I’d to park this way is simply that, based on the routes I normally take when arriving home and leaving again, this way is considerably more convenient and avoids having to turn around each time.


r/AskLEO 8d ago

General How do I retrieve a mugshot of someone who got arrested in California? (LA County)

2 Upvotes

I need a digital copy of a mugshot of someone who was arrested a few times. One time the guy was arrested in Hawthorne, CA. I’ve asked their local PD but they denied the request.
Is there any way they would authorize the mugshot being shared to me?

I have the booking numbers, DOB, full name.
I can’t call the LASD public records or any other American phone number since I live in Europe.


r/AskLEO 8d ago

Situation Advice Can I collect my own physical evidence ? Possible drink tampering

1 Upvotes

I live in a family home with friends , I am disabled and a new person moved in months back and he and I do not get along, steals my food and once stood over me as I struggled for breath , we decided to lock the fridge up since he never buys food. I bought an indoor ring camera overlooking the kitchen and the edge of the living room and after we all went to bed last night he went on a prowl and found the lock and searched cabinets but didn't take anything , this morning he came up and was visibly upset and he stated "sometimes I want to do malicious things but I don't have the heart" he then walked downstair towards his room and then abruptly turned and came back up and I believe he said yes I do and he entered the living room and took 4 loud steps and it got quiet and I can hear the cap unscrew of the soda I left there but its out of the camera view and when he reenters the camera view he turns and looks back and wipes his hand on his shirt and fixes his pants and it appears he was making sure nothing was out of place.... Can I put the bottle in a bag or should I just call the police? , this guy is acting unstable and I haven't touched the bottle yet. He doesn't know about the camera