Everyone seems to claim they know their rights. Yet for some reason, many of the folks riding in the back of my squad car seem to forget that whole ‘remain silent’ thing.
All too often when transporting a suspect to jail, they will strike up a conversation:
1. I was going to be a cop but...
It feels like some people think if they build a rapport with an officer, that officer will somehow let them off easy. There is no better rapport builder than having a common interest. These conversations always seem to be some convoluted story about a desire to be an LEO but parents or school counselors convincing them to try a different path in life.
2. The crying sob story.
These suspects feel that committing a crime was not actually their fault. This arrest is all a mistake. Heck, some think it is a bad dream, and they will wake up soon. All too often there is also the added explanation of how this arrest will destroy their life. And don’t forget, as a police officer, I am the one responsible for destroying their life, not them for deciding to break the law.
3. Threats, threats and more threats.
I love hearing someone tell me “Take these handcuffs off and fight me like a man.” Yeah... guess what? You had a chance to fight back before the cuffs were on. You likely remember it because at the time you were pissing your pants and crying about being arrested.
4. Oblivious to being arrested.
We’re riding down the street heading to jail and the guy behind me starts talking about the movie he watched the night before. I have to look down at my uniform to make sure I am still a police officer. It feels more like small talk with an Uber driver than an arrestee sitting behind me.
5. Random confessions.
It seems like a quiet ride. The suspect says they don’t want to talk. You put on the radio and enjoy not listening to sobs or threats. Then out of the blue, they start babbling about random crimes they committed but never were arrested for. Seriously, I had a lady I arrested for DUI confess to stabbing her ex-husband. At the time of the stabbing, he went to the ER claiming a kitchen accident.
