Cringe thread - how to praise a police officer?
Discussion
Had a situation yesterday where the police could easily have locked me up. Grandfather died, went to see mum only for some drunken idiot to start being abusive to her in town carpark. She burst into tears which prompted me to tell him to wind his neck in. Ended up with the guy throwing a punch at me. Me a little upset ended up having a small stupid scrap in a car park. No one was hurt seriously but the idiot decided to call the police.
Me not wanting to end up getting picked up at a later date waited around. They could easily have arrested me for affray and/or assault/abh. I was in the wrong for scrapping in public and rising to it. With my record it would have been an easy catch for the police. I was bang to rights. However they went out of their way to be kind to my mother and treated me very well. And didn't arrest me. Got a call today to say it won't be going any further.
I'm only posting this as me and others (eclassy I'm looking at you) have been quite happy to knock the police and point out some of their failings. That's fair to do as they are a public body - however I was really shocked at how kind and decent they were. It's improved mine and friends opinions of the police.
No need to tell me I'm scum or a thug. I'm already ashamed enough of how I responded especially in front of my mum who has enough to worry about.
So is there a way to write and explain how good the PC was. I'm not talking about him not locking me up - but how great he was with my mum. She isn't a criminal type like me, but rather a teacher for kids with special needs. I think great "service" should be thanked in the same way as bad treatment should be complimented about. However a quick google doesn't throw up how to do this.
Me not wanting to end up getting picked up at a later date waited around. They could easily have arrested me for affray and/or assault/abh. I was in the wrong for scrapping in public and rising to it. With my record it would have been an easy catch for the police. I was bang to rights. However they went out of their way to be kind to my mother and treated me very well. And didn't arrest me. Got a call today to say it won't be going any further.
I'm only posting this as me and others (eclassy I'm looking at you) have been quite happy to knock the police and point out some of their failings. That's fair to do as they are a public body - however I was really shocked at how kind and decent they were. It's improved mine and friends opinions of the police.
No need to tell me I'm scum or a thug. I'm already ashamed enough of how I responded especially in front of my mum who has enough to worry about.
So is there a way to write and explain how good the PC was. I'm not talking about him not locking me up - but how great he was with my mum. She isn't a criminal type like me, but rather a teacher for kids with special needs. I think great "service" should be thanked in the same way as bad treatment should be complimented about. However a quick google doesn't throw up how to do this.
It's always received well when someone writes in to thank an officer. If you still wish to do so you can find the contact address on the force's website and address it to the Chief Constable, or call 101 and say you'd like to thank the officer. A letter is preferred as it will be copied onto the officer's file and help in future assessments/promotions.
Either way I'm sure they'd be very grateful to hear your feedback.
(Conversely anyone with a negative experience can use the same process)
Either way I'm sure they'd be very grateful to hear your feedback.
(Conversely anyone with a negative experience can use the same process)
photosnob said:
I was really shocked at how kind and decent they were. It's improved mine and friends opinions of the police.
It's nice to hear a positive story.photosnob said:
No need to tell me I'm scum or a thug. I'm already ashamed enough of how I responded especially in front of my mum who has enough to worry about.
I doubt anyone would give you grief over it- you can stop doing it to yourself as well.
Well done to the copper for using discretion. He/she would be well within his rights to arrest both of you.
The police responded within 3/5 minutes when we were threatned with a knife in a park and even I understood why they didnt arrest the knifeman's accomplice who we had detained.
The policewoman who investigated a case where my identity theft had been used fraudulently was excellent. Regular updates by email and phone and it also helped that she was very pretty. I was always excited every time she asked me to come the station.
The most selfless experience was when a police van happened to be driving past as my sisters bag was snatched. Van comes to a halt, officer jumps out, gives chase, retrieves bag and returned it to my sister who was still in shock. They check to see she is okay and without as much as leaving a name, they carry on in their van to probably the job they were originally on.
Without a doubt, the majority of officers are good and as with any walk of life, there would be bad apples. My hatred of the police is not because they have bad apples, it is because (in my experience) there is a gang mentality which means the police always protect officers that have done wrong.
The police responded within 3/5 minutes when we were threatned with a knife in a park and even I understood why they didnt arrest the knifeman's accomplice who we had detained.
The policewoman who investigated a case where my identity theft had been used fraudulently was excellent. Regular updates by email and phone and it also helped that she was very pretty. I was always excited every time she asked me to come the station.
The most selfless experience was when a police van happened to be driving past as my sisters bag was snatched. Van comes to a halt, officer jumps out, gives chase, retrieves bag and returned it to my sister who was still in shock. They check to see she is okay and without as much as leaving a name, they carry on in their van to probably the job they were originally on.
Without a doubt, the majority of officers are good and as with any walk of life, there would be bad apples. My hatred of the police is not because they have bad apples, it is because (in my experience) there is a gang mentality which means the police always protect officers that have done wrong.
Greendubber said:
Eclassy,
The police officer who gave your sisters bag back didn't take any details or lock up the offender with the bag and just returned it to her and went on his way?
That's not the way to do it.
Nope. The thief dropped the bag and legged it because the officer gave chase. I belive he told her to report it at a station but she never bothered.The police officer who gave your sisters bag back didn't take any details or lock up the offender with the bag and just returned it to her and went on his way?
That's not the way to do it.
Edit: just spoke to her. They did take her details and she received a letter.
Edited by Eclassy on Sunday 30th November 16:42
photosnob said:
Had a situation yesterday where the police could easily have locked me up. Grandfather died, went to see mum only for some drunken idiot to start being abusive to her in town carpark. She burst into tears which prompted me to tell him to wind his neck in. Ended up with the guy throwing a punch at me. Me a little upset ended up having a small stupid scrap in a car park. No one was hurt seriously but the idiot decided to call the police.
Me not wanting to end up getting picked up at a later date waited around. They could easily have arrested me for affray and/or assault/abh. I was in the wrong for scrapping in public and rising to it. With my record it would have been an easy catch for the police. I was bang to rights. However they went out of their way to be kind to my mother and treated me very well. And didn't arrest me. Got a call today to say it won't be going any further.
I'm only posting this as me and others (eclassy I'm looking at you) have been quite happy to knock the police and point out some of their failings. That's fair to do as they are a public body - however I was really shocked at how kind and decent they were. It's improved mine and friends opinions of the police.
No need to tell me I'm scum or a thug. I'm already ashamed enough of how I responded especially in front of my mum who has enough to worry about.
So is there a way to write and explain how good the PC was. I'm not talking about him not locking me up - but how great he was with my mum. She isn't a criminal type like me, but rather a teacher for kids with special needs. I think great "service" should be thanked in the same way as bad treatment should be complimented about. However a quick google doesn't throw up how to do this.
The Cop who attended would still be obliged to record the assault alleged by the bloke you had a row with, though he would have been right in letting all parties go as long as the caller wanted no further action. So..if theyve recorded the assault - all will be fine. If they didnt record the assault they could find themselves in trouble.Me not wanting to end up getting picked up at a later date waited around. They could easily have arrested me for affray and/or assault/abh. I was in the wrong for scrapping in public and rising to it. With my record it would have been an easy catch for the police. I was bang to rights. However they went out of their way to be kind to my mother and treated me very well. And didn't arrest me. Got a call today to say it won't be going any further.
I'm only posting this as me and others (eclassy I'm looking at you) have been quite happy to knock the police and point out some of their failings. That's fair to do as they are a public body - however I was really shocked at how kind and decent they were. It's improved mine and friends opinions of the police.
No need to tell me I'm scum or a thug. I'm already ashamed enough of how I responded especially in front of my mum who has enough to worry about.
So is there a way to write and explain how good the PC was. I'm not talking about him not locking me up - but how great he was with my mum. She isn't a criminal type like me, but rather a teacher for kids with special needs. I think great "service" should be thanked in the same way as bad treatment should be complimented about. However a quick google doesn't throw up how to do this.
When a traffic policeman gave me help, which I thought went well beyond the minimum necessary following a collision (not my fault), I wrote to the Chief Constable expressing my thanks. The policeman had given me his card and told me to contact him if he could be of any further assistance so I knew his name and number. The CC wrote back to me thanking me for taking the time to write thanking and praising the officer.
I'll write a letter today at work then. Bigends it was all done by the book - so I won't be dropping anyone in hot water. Thanks for the advice chaps.
And to the people who think it was okay me giving him a slap in that situation - morally that could possibly be true. But getting arrested whilst I'm meant to be making sure my mother is okay is hardly ideal, and would have been truly humiliating for both of us. And generally having a scrap in a car park is something that I thought was cool when I was 14 - these days I'd rather watch rugby and read books. I feel old.
And to the people who think it was okay me giving him a slap in that situation - morally that could possibly be true. But getting arrested whilst I'm meant to be making sure my mother is okay is hardly ideal, and would have been truly humiliating for both of us. And generally having a scrap in a car park is something that I thought was cool when I was 14 - these days I'd rather watch rugby and read books. I feel old.
Rovinghawk said:
photosnob said:
I was really shocked at how kind and decent they were. It's improved mine and friends opinions of the police.
It's nice to hear a positive story.photosnob said:
No need to tell me I'm scum or a thug. I'm already ashamed enough of how I responded especially in front of my mum who has enough to worry about.
I doubt anyone would give you grief over it- you can stop doing it to yourself as well.You're man enough to admit that you were wrong and that you, unnecessarily, upset your mother further; furthermore, you're happy to take the time to praise an officer, when too many people are happy to moan about bad 'service' but don't take the time to write to praise the opposite.
I'm sure he will be proud to receive your letter because lord knows they get more than their share of abuse, deserved or not.
Sorry for the loss of your Grandfather.
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