Police Harassment

[gjh001]

What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania

Okay so here's the situation. A couple of months ago the police in the town where I go to college broke up a party at my house. I did not cooperate with them, meaning I did not give them consent to go into the house and have free reign to tear it apart without a warrant. Because of this, they decided to slap me with as serious a charge as they could. Not only did I get an underage, but I also got six misdemeanor counts of distribution to minors(not a good thing). However, this is the first time I've ever been in trouble before, so I'm pretty much going to get a slap on the wrist.

This, however, is not my problem. My problem is that the police know I'm only going to get a slap on the wrist, and this is not good enough for them. My attorney promised me that he could help me with the case as long as I am able to stay out of trouble until the court date, so that is what I have been doing: walking the straight and narrow. Unfortunately every time I walk down the street at night I am harassed in some way by the local police. There have been several times in which a police car has pulled up along side me and simply rolled with me waiting for me to slip on some ice or anything so they have the opportunity to hassle me about whether or not I have been drinking that night. If it's not this, they will drive past me several consecutive times on the same street even sometimes waving obnoxiously to me.

I know I'm not completely innocent in so far as the fact that I did throw a party, but I do not feel that I deserve this harassment. I'm a good kid who's just trying to go to school. I have a good GPA, and I plan on going to grad school in the next year to get my PhD in music therapy. I've organized several cancer and HIV/AIDS benefits around the school as well. I'm trying to put this whole ordeal behind me and move on with my life. My attorney promised this could be a blip in the road that I can laugh about one day if I stay out of trouble, but I feel like the police do not want this to be a blip in the road. They legitimately want to screw up my life. I've tried to imagine this from the perspective of the police however as it does not do any good to dwell on the fact that I do not deserve this treatment. I've come up with some possible reasons why they do this.
1) They must have some sort of skewed image of me. Because they broke up a party at my house, I feel like they think I am running some sort of opium den with loose women lying all over the place.
2)They're bored. It's a small town, and I have seen in the paper examples of the citations and arrests they deal with on a daily basis. Littering, Not curbing dogs, etc. I suppose that they have to look at these things in terms of quantity and not quality in a town this small. After all, they do want to keep their jobs. If the state actually saw how dull this town was, they would probably just have the state troopers handle the policing of it.
3) I feel this reason is probably the most likely one. There has always been tension between the college and the town as is often the case, and unfortunately, in the last few years the only outlet for this tension has been the police enacting Gestapo-like tactics. Blatant disregard for civil rights is not uncommon. It seems as though the idea of protecting and serving has been thrown out the window. These are students at a private institution that are going to be productive members of society one day. These students are going to be doctors, teachers, physical therapists, etc. By messing with their lives, you are not helping society. These police are only perpetuating the sad existence of closed-minded, backward-thinking townies.

However, I understand that they have their values, and I have mine. Underage drinking does lead to many problems in today's world. I'm not denying that, but I am questioning the fact that this is the motivation for these police. If I felt that they legitimately cared about the welfare of college students and wanted to protect them, I might be okay with it, but I have not seen any evidence to support that. When I am followed down the street by a police car, I don't feel like they are protecting and serving the community. I am not a threat to homeland security.

I do not like living in a place where I have to feel threatened by the police. Even if I am doing nothing wrong, these police have a history of lying both on the street and in the courtroom. How can I protect myself against them not telling the truth. Am I supposed to stay in my house at all times and never walk the streets? This harassment has put me in a state of mental uneasiness, and I want to know if there is anything I can do about it.

Thanks
Greg

 

[CdwJava]

This harassment has put me in a state of mental uneasiness, and I want to know if there is anything I can do about it.

Absolutely!

Follow the law, be polite to the officers and others, and do not host any more keggers!

As was previously said, it is NOT hard to stay clear of trouble.

As for this harmless underage partying ... want me to show you our recent autopsy photos out here? Underage kids leaving a party, rolled the car, died ... good stuff . Person hosting the party facing crimianl charges ... lost life there, too.

- Carl

 

[gjh001]

Alright, while I appreciate this ever so constructive chastising, it's not exactly the well thought out advice I was looking for. As for these autopsy reports, I don't think I can be held responsible for these underagers, and I know I never referred to underage drinking as harmless, so this point seems mute. I completely and fully understand the consequences of drinking and driving as I have lost several friends as the result of it, so sorry if the shock value of this comment fell a little short on me. All 8 of the people at the house that night(4 of whom lived there) were spending the night, and I personally collected their keys.

I was hoping not to discuss this matter as I had previously said that I'm trying to move on and put it behind me, so as for staying out of trouble, it is not easy to do when two bored police officers in a small town have a personal vendetta against you. I understand this sounds a little brash, but the reality is that I cannot walk to Turkey Hill without my own little police escort rolling along side me waiting for a reason. What makes this a sticky situation is that in this case the idea of "a reason" is quite relative. I recently witnessed a stop made for the reason that the officer got the feeling that the student was THINKING TO HIMSELF "look at these pigs". I must have missed the introduction of Orwellian thought police technology into our police forces.

 

[Silverplum]

You gave alcohol to underaged children. Accept your disobedience of the law and accept your punishment.

Alright, while I appreciate this ever so constructive chastising, it's not exactly the well thought out advice I was looking for. As for these autopsy reports, I don't think I can be held responsible for these underagers, and I know I never referred to underage drinking as harmless, so this point seems mute. I completely and fully understand the consequences of drinking and driving as I have lost several friends as the result of it, so sorry if the shock value of this comment fell a little short on me. All 8 of the people at the house that night(4 of whom lived there) were spending the night, and I personally collected their keys.

I was hoping not to discuss this matter as I had previously said that I'm trying to move on and put it behind me, so as for staying out of trouble, it is not easy to do when two bored police officers in a small town have a personal vendetta against you. I understand this sounds a little brash, but the reality is that I cannot walk to Turkey Hill without my own little police escort rolling along side me waiting for a reason. What makes this a sticky situation is that in this case the idea of "a reason" is quite relative. I recently witnessed a stop made for the reason that the officer got the feeling that the student was THINKING TO HIMSELF "look at these pigs". I must have missed the introduction of Orwellian thought police technology into our police forces.

 

[gjh001]

Well maybe your dog can read my original thread fully then, and learn that I have accepted my punishment and am trying to move on. The judge never really declared harassment as part of the punishment, but really thanks again for the insight.

 

[CdwJava]

I don't think I can be held responsible for these underagers,

Had they come from YOUR house, yeah, you could have.

and I know I never referred to underage drinking as harmless, so this point seems mute.

Actually, the word is "moot". And it is NOT moot since you acknowledge it is not harmless, yet you seem to dismiss the activity as being okay - perhaps, even a normal and responsible thing to do.

All 8 of the people at the house that night(4 of whom lived there) were spending the night, and I personally collected their keys.

Good for you. Dollars to donuts that is NOT the usual way about it. And was this decision made before or AFTER the cops had arrived?

I understand this sounds a little brash, but the reality is that I cannot walk to Turkey Hill without my own little police escort rolling along side me waiting for a reason.

Ya know, I live and work in a small town (after working in BIG cities), and we don't spend a lot of time focused on any one in particular. Because of the size of the town some people THINK we do because we see them a lot ... just so happens they tend to be where we're going, or they are out and about on the same main drags we traverse.

Maybe they're bored ... maybe it's just coincidence. But, if the paranoia is keeping you on the straight and narrow, great!

I recently witnessed a stop made for the reason that the officer got the feeling that the student was THINKING TO HIMSELF "look at these pigs". I must have missed the introduction of Orwellian thought police technology into our police forces.

Okay, and that's what the officer said was the reason for his stop? I doubt that.

We can make consensual contact for ANY reason ... heck, we can contact people for NO reason. We cannot DETAIN someone for no reason, but making contact with someone - even if they are glaring at us - is not a problem unless the officer exceeds the bounds of the contact and professionalism.



- Carl

 

[gjh001]

Well thank you for proofreading my grammar. I'd like to make it clear that I do not by any stretch of the imagination find underage drinking or even drinking at the legal age to be harmless. I do not really see how drinking itself can be viewed as responsible, but I do believe it is possible to drink responsibly just so we are clear on that too. For me drinking responsibly does not involve driving regardless of whether or not the police show up at my house.

I do see the possibility of the run-ins being coincidental, but I feel it goes beyond coincidence when they obnoxiously wave to me out the window or drive past me several times in different directions slowing down as they pass each time. The fact that they can stop me for simply glaring is a new one to me, and maybe that is why they slow down every time they pass me. If they want a reaction, they certainly are not going to get one from me. As for departments not focusing in on one person, this has been happening to all of my house mates.

Thank you for raising the possibility of consensual contact as this was one of the points I was hoping to get some insight on in the first place(as nice as it was to be judged and have my morals questioned by complete strangers). What constitutes consensual contact? If I am not doing anything wrong, and an officer calls me over from across the street, do I have the right to not consent to this contact? If I do not want to consent to this contact, can I keep walking(making the original request for me to come over to the officer "moot" )?

I also want it to be clear that this is not the entire police department that I am having a problem with. This is one officer and his partner. I have never had any problems with police officers before this, and I have respect for them and what they do. I'm close, personal friends with several officers in my home town, and I understand that when the uniform goes on, officers do not become robots. They are still people with their values and beliefs, and these values and beliefs to some degree are going to be reflected in their actions and the decisions they make. That being said I understand that perhaps this officer and his partner may have radically different perspectives than myself, and I have about as little right to question those as they have to question mine. I'm not trying to say that these officers are wrong to any extent to uphold the laws that they believe in, but with the authority comes a degree of responsibility not to abuse it, and a certain amount of professionalism is expected. If I were ever in any sort of real trouble at school, I don't really know if I would even call the police at this point.

 

[Zigner]

Ok, since when does "waving" at someone constitute "harassment"? Since when does driving slowly by someone constitute "harassment".
Why don't you just go on with your life. They are, per your own words, NOT just keeping a close eye on YOU alone...

 

[FoXyLaDy223]

Thank you for raising the possibility of consensual contact as this was one of the points I was hoping to get some insight on in the first place(as nice as it was to be judged and have my morals questioned by complete strangers).

This is a FREE advice forum.. and these "complete strangers" (who have jobs as lawyers, police officers, and court officals) that take the time to come on here and read (sometimes ridiculous) "problems" people have and give them advice. Sometimes the advice does have to do with your morals. If you don't want people judging your morals, maybe you should post them on the internet. These people are here to help you, I know being told you are wrong hurts sometimes, but when asking for advice, it's what you get.

I'm sure the police are not harassing you (of course, we aren't there to actually see what is happening). Since we only get one side of the story, it's hard to judge what is really happening here. But from your side of the story.. it doesn't seem like harrassment to me (or anyone else.) I agree, move on, take your charges with a grain of salt or get a lawyer to cry harrassment to.

 

[roomservice]

sorry about your situation

Seems as if you are getting a cold shoulder to your question, this is a very coommon tacic used by small town police. Deal with the police the same way you deal with beggars in third world countries. Completly ignore them. Neithor like nor dislike them, they are simply feeding off your fear. If you are not doing anything, dont worry about it. Dont in anyway provoke them. Someone will come along and do something stupid, you will be yesterdays news. Relax

 

[roomservice]

oh by the way thats not considered harrassement

Even if it was, you would not have the money to fight it. Proving harrassment is very difficult.

 

[Zigner]

Seems as if you are getting a cold shoulder to your question, this is a very coommon tacic used by small town police. Deal with the police the same way you deal with beggars in third world countries. Completly ignore them. Neithor like nor dislike them, they are simply feeding off your fear. If you are not doing anything, dont worry about it. Dont in anyway provoke them. Someone will come along and do something stupid, you will be yesterdays news. Relax

Funny - that's the advice everyone else gave

 

[mr.blue]

Ok, since when does "waving" at someone constitute "harassment"? Since when does driving slowly by someone constitute "harassment".
Why don't you just go on with your life. They are, per your own words, NOT just keeping a close eye on YOU alone...

It has been stated in this forum in several threads that harassment is defined by the perceived threat of the person being harassed. There is a thread here somewhere that specifically states the definition of harassment. If you feel threatened by a direct or deliberorate action of another (even if that action was ment helpful) that is harassment under the law.

BUT remember I dont know nothing about nothing. I am just regurjitating what i've seen posted here by senior members.

 

[>Charlotte<]

It has been stated in this forum in several threads that harassment is defined by the perceived threat of the person being harassed.

Within the context of the actions that caused the perception. That's what half a thought will get you. You really need to follow through to its logical conclusion.

For instance, if I'm a paranoid schizophrenic I might think the mailman is stalking me, but regardless of that honest perception the mailman is not going to be arrested. The police are doing their jobs. In this case, what they are doing is not harrassment, regardless of how the OP feels.

BUT remember I dont know nothing about nothing. I am just regurjitating what i've seen posted here by senior members

You're just what??

 

[Zigner]

BUT remember I dont know nothing about nothing.

Agreed......