Reply #22: Abuse of Power [View All]

[pmorlan1]

I was arrested once for talking to a police officer too. He charged me with disorderly conduct for talking with him. There had been a fight (I wasn't involved in the fight) and he was just angry because someone had punched him and he took it out on me. I took it to a jury trial and was found not guilty. He actually lied on the stand (I was raised to believe that the police are there to help you). When he lied it was a rude awakening for a 21 year old to find out that not all police officers are honest. It was a scary experience because if I had been found guilty I would have been locked up. Despite that I couldn't just pay a fine for something that I didn't do. It was just wrong on principle. After the trial I made a complaint to the police department and they advised me not to file a formal complaint because I would be harassed by him and his friends (picked up for traffic violations right and left, etc.). I kid you not, they actually told me that. Talk about having your faith in the police shattered. I'm sorry to say that I didn't file the formal charges because I was scared. Looking back on it, it's my one regret that I didn't file the formal complaint. If it happened today there is no doubt in my mind that I would file the complaint.