As a retired Federal Law Enforcement Officer, I love my brothers and sisters in blue. When I heard of a television show dedicated to law enforcement, in real time, I was pretty excited and intrigued. I really enjoyed the show during the first season, but unfortunately for me, I couldn’t watch the show without my biases and opinions as a law enforcement officer.
I found myself yelling at the television set every time I saw something that, in my professional opinion, thought it was unsafe, irrational, or lacking good training. Even my wife told me to quit watching because I was acting like a trainer and not a fan. I can’t help it!
I had the privilege throughout my career to work hand in hand with state and county law enforcement officers and they were great people to work with. But it also opened my eyes to an unfortunate reality, they just don’t train as they should. This is not their fault, this is the fault of city councils and state governments who refuse to properly fund these agencies. I knew officers that only qualified with their service firearm once a year, had little Active Shooter training, if any, and were very complacent. Again, not their fault, leadership starts at the top.
This brings me back to Live PD. I think the concept is pretty good, but it does police officers no justice. You may wonder why I say this? Well, I’m going to touch on some issues I have observed in the time I have been watching Live PD.
I’m going to start with my most important pet peeve in law enforcement, Officer Safety. On many occasions I have noticed police officers losing visual contact of the subject. What do I mean by this? If I’m the contact officer and I need to talk to my partner, I don’t need to look at him while I have my weapon pointed at a subject. Once I take my eyes from my subject, I’m exposing myself to be harmed. I actually saw an officer in one of the episodes communicating with the camera person while his weapon was drawn. He kept looking at the camera person while trying to give instructions to the subject. I call this the “I’m on television” effect.
Police presence and authority are very important when dealing with the community and with subjects. Talking to a subject like he’s your “friend” creates an atmosphere of disrespect. I understand this a television show, but police officers are still police officers and they should conduct their business accordingly. A police officer officer doesn’t have to be a “hard ass”, but at the same time a police officer is a symbol of authority. Calling subjects “my man” “brother” “homie” is not what I expect from an authority figure. I sometimes wonder if this happens by design.
Why are police officers on LivePD constantly apologizing for doing their jobs? In a three hour show, I can say that at least 75% of the time, police officers are apologizing to a subject for handcuffing them, searching them, detaining them and even arresting them. I have seen instances in which police departments have apologized to a subject after conducting a hi-speed chase. Again, I’m wondering if this has been created by design and by A&E producers.
Why are officers asking a subject’s permission to their jobs? I had to laugh at that one. I have never understood why police officers on LivePD ask a subject permission to search once they have established probable cause. Once you have established probable cause that a crime has been committed, you don’t need the subject’s permission to conduct a search. Moving on!
As a former Federal Law Enforcement Training Center certified Firearms instructor and current NRA Pistol Instructor, weapon’s handing is a topic close to my heart. I don’t know if this is the way they actually train, but I have never taught law enforcement officers to aim their weapons on what we call a“gangster style” fashion. Target acquisition under stress is very hard, your adrenaline is going, your vision turns blurry, and when you have your weapon at a 45 degree angle, with one hand grip, acquiring your sights are going to be even harder. If you are going to have your fireman at a “high ready” position, you need to have a two handed grip and those sights should be ready to be acquired immediately. Your life and that of others may depend on it. I know it looks cool on television, but it is bad weapon’s handling skills.
I have also noticed that on many instances officers are responding to situations that are already under control and handled by other police departments, be the State Police or another law enforcement agency. In my opinion all this does is disturb a possible crime scene for the sake of television. I think an officer going at high speeds from one place to another just to place a camera on the scene is dangerous to the community, and frankly, a waste of resources. If the officer been taped is conducting the stop or attending the call, by all means, but to look for it is not good policing. My opinion of course.
On many instances officers are responding to situations that are already under control and handled by other police departments, be the State Police or another law enforcement agency. In my opinion all this does is disturb a possible crime scene for the sake of television. I think an officer going at high speeds from one place to another just to place a camera on the scene is dangerous to the community, and frankly, a waste of resources. If the officer been taped is conducting the stop or attending the call, by all means, but to look for it is not good policing. My opinion of course.
My favorite things about the show are the hosts, Sean Larkin and Tom Morris, they are excellent and very genuine. They bring tons of experience to the show and I respect both of them a lot. Abrams is just Abrams, he needs to work on his “Abramsisms”. Another area where I think Live PD is a great tool is with their Missing Person and Wanted segments. These are two areas that are of great benefit to the public.
These are just a few of the things I have noticed on the show that I think could be detrimental to officer’s safety and the reputation of law enforcement as a whole. I have many others, but I have to contact the Public Information Officers of these departments to corroborate certain things, mostly with driving under the influence of drugs and driver’s license policies. I have seen some things in these two areas that are kind of weird to me, but I also understand police officers are enforcing the laws enacted by their respective governments, be at the state or county level.
The show is very entertaining as long as you don’t watch it as a law enforcement officer, in which case you will be cringing.
To my brothers and sisters in blue, stay safe!