How to thank a policeman?

[Sa Calobra]

A letter of thank you for fairness and polite, yet professional is fine. You don't have to go into details. Day in day out dealing with aggro then a little thank you can go a long way. Send it FOA the duty Inspector. Just word it stopped, spoken to and offered advice, and was etc without saying the detail. You'll have his collar number?

Any detail- yes a can of worms however vofficers still have discretion and each officer can interprate each situation differently?

[bilhound]

A few more bits of info might help you narrow it down - the car type is important. If it was an expensive 'traffic' car (marked or unmarked) then that'll help, along with times and places etc. The force can likely find out exactly who the officer was as they'll have a record of him running the number plate through (which is 99% standard procedure).

As for whether you should or shouldn't then I guess I have similar experience. I was once able to track down the officer + paramedics who dealt with me after a motorcycle accident. I wasn't in any condition to get names and contact details at the time, but wanted to say thank you for how they treated me and handled me in the few weeks after the accident. Lets just say I wasn't 100% blame free but as a result of how he dealt with me, I ended up with just my pride, a few broken bones and a written off ninja as punishment.

I simply phoned 101, gave my details etc and just told them I wanted to give them an update as to how I was getting on. The officer then got in touch with me. As for the paramedics, that was a little easier as I used a family friend to help me get in touch. As for the gift of thanks, a box of chocolates to the respective 'team' rather than the individual officer is a safer bet.

Hope that helps.

[PAULJ5555]

roofer said:

Foliage said:

I think it would be enough of a thank you for the officer, if your father was to correct his attitude to driving in the manner the officer suggested during the stop. Do you not think?

Always one.

I does kind of make sense.

All this bottle of whisky does sound very dodgy, a letter to his boss would be better saying how well he dealt with you as it puts him in a good position with the boss and could help counteract any complaints he may get doing his job.

[SpeckledJim]

PAULJ5555 said:

roofer said:

Foliage said:

I think it would be enough of a thank you for the officer, if your father was to correct his attitude to driving in the manner the officer suggested during the stop. Do you not think?

Always one.

I does kind of make sense.

All this bottle of whisky does sound very dodgy, a letter to his boss would be better saying how well he dealt with you as it puts him in a good position with the boss and could help counteract any complaints he may get doing his job.

But a policeman's boss isn't necessarily delighted to hear how lenient his man is. Especially if he already thinks he's too lenient.

'High Performance' for a police officer isn't measured in how happy your miscreants are, once you've let them off.

Let the matter drop is my suggestion, or you risk doing more harm than good.

[ED209]

SpeckledJim said:

PAULJ5555 said:

roofer said:

Foliage said:

I think it would be enough of a thank you for the officer, if your father was to correct his attitude to driving in the manner the officer suggested during the stop. Do you not think?

Always one.

I does kind of make sense.

All this bottle of whisky does sound very dodgy, a letter to his boss would be better saying how well he dealt with you as it puts him in a good position with the boss and could help counteract any complaints he may get doing his job.

But a policeman's boss isn't necessarily delighted to hear how lenient his man is. Especially if he already thinks he's too lenient.

'High Performance' for a police officer isn't measured in how happy your miscreants are, once you've let them off.

Let the matter drop is my suggestion, or you risk doing more harm than good.

Might not be strictly correct, certainly in my force performance indicators in terms of arrests/summons/tickets are a thing of the past. Its more about victim satisfaction now.

[Greendubber]

Personally, as a bobby I'd say its a nice gesture and I'm glad your dads wanting to do something but its really not required.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

R8Steve said:

2Btoo said:

R8Steve, that's a good question. I'm not sure how it could but thanks for raising it.

I was more thinking of if the message had to be relayed through a third party.

For example saying to the front reception to leave a message for PC X thanks for letting me off with X offence and the way you handled it. This then gets picked up by Chief inspector X for whatever reason who then asks PC X the meaning of it potentially opening a can of worms.

Unlikely that it would happen granted but you never know.

Valid, but I'm sure something along the lines of 'I'd like to express my appreciation for the way you dealt with my father (in law?) when you spoke with him on the Awhatever on the date of X, mid afternoon' wouldn't raise any suspicion

[Riley Blue]

Whenever I want to express my gratitude for exceptional service I leave a tip or make a donation to an appropriate charity; that's what I'd do in this case. Right now there's a murdered copper's family who might appreciate it.

[2Btoo]

Slightly over due reply to close this one off; A donation was made to the Keith Palmer collection and a suitably circumspect letter was hand-delivered to Southampton police station, addressed to the 'Head of Traffic Division' with a brief description of the offer involved and the date and time, thanking him for his professional approach and assuring him that the issue has been dealt with.

Thanks for your help everyone.

[Gemmot]

2Btoo said:

Slightly over due reply to close this one off; A donation was made to the Keith Palmer collection and a suitably circumspect letter was hand-delivered to Southampton police station, addressed to the 'Head of Traffic Division' with a brief description of the offer involved and the date and time, thanking him for his professional approach and assuring him that the issue has been dealt with.

Thanks for your help everyone.

Sounds like a very good way to express your gratitude and goodwill

[Glosphil]

Quite a few years ago I wrote to the Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire to bring to his notice the assistance I had received from a particularly police office following a road traffic incident (not my fault). The officer had given me his card so I was able to name him in my letter. I received a reply from the CC thanking me for my comments and assuring me that they had been passed on to the officer and noted on his record.

[Glasgowrob]

must be something in the water,

had 3 dealings with the police this year one traffic stop in which words of advice were given and 2 unrelated matters with family and have to say each and every one has been nothing but professional and polite in the extreme. never had a bad experience with any of the officers I've dealt with over the years but the last few interactions seem to be taking the professionalism up a notch.

[wack]

Glasgowrob said:

must be something in the water,

had 3 dealings with the police this year one traffic stop in which words of advice were given and 2 unrelated matters with family and have to say each and every one has been nothing but professional and polite in the extreme. never had a bad experience with any of the officers I've dealt with over the years but the last few interactions seem to be taking the professionalism up a notch.

I've only ever had good dealings with the motorway police when they've pulled me to check tachographs, always polite and professional

I've met a few tits from vosa though like the 2 that followed me on the way to chesterfield , pulled me over in a big layby , one quite casual , one clearly loved the power, he told me I was overloaded , each pallet had a weight written on which was well under the payload

He wanted to take me to a weighbridge so I pointed out the weights

Right I'll check your bump stops , he climbs under the truck and starts rolling about on the road

The other guy leans over and says , he likes rolling about in p**s (urine)