Police Officers and the 'Do You Know Who I Am' Moment: A Humorous and Professional Perspective

Have you ever faced a situation where a suspect tried to persuade you to let them off the hook with the line, 'Do you know who I am?' This article explores one police officer's humorous yet professional experience, which highlights the importance of maintaining a high standard of conduct no matter who the suspect may be.

The Incident and Its Humor

In one incident, a police officer was cruising the streets when she encountered a woman who kept dropping the name Major Lee. The officer, recognizing Major Lee from prior encounters, explained she knew about him and proceeded to issue a ticket. The officer then said, “I’ll be sharing this with Major Lee.” Interestingly, it was revealed that another officer had requested she drop the ticket. This led the lieutenant to call her into the office for further investigation. The officer recounted, “It was all I could do to not say 'Tell him I said Hi.'”

A couple of days later, her lieutenant informed her that a fellow officer had asked him to intervene and drop the ticket. Surprised, the officer responded, “As long as I get credit for the case, I’m fine with it.” The lieutenant hadn’t specified which officer made the request, and the officer had forgotten about it until a colleague reminded her that there had been some radio chatter linking the requests and the initial interaction.

The Importance of Professional Conduct

"A police officer must leave a diplomat alone once the diplomat's identity has been established." This line is a humorous segue into another story where the term 'diplomat' could take on a broader meaning.

The officer shared another story from their time at the agency. They were stationed in an area where they regularly received complaints of speeding from residents. During routine enforcement, they were instructed to clock any vehicles exceeding the speed limit. As the officer recalls, 'We clocked a vehicle going 40 in a 25 MPH zone, and it was my turn to approach and handle the situation.'

Recognizing the driver as the Mayor of the city, the officer followed their usual protocol of a stop. The driver, while compliant, never mentioned their identity or expected special treatment. The officer explained, ‘She never once mentioned who she was or anything I honestly expected out of her. I walked back to my vehicle and showed her license to Kevin who in true Kevin form smiled and told me “oh you gotta write her.”'

Interestingly, the officer adhered to the standard procedure and issued the citation, maintaining professionalism throughout. When explaining the situation to their sergeant, the officer made it clear they followed the standard procedure and treated the mayor no differently than any other driver.

The Impact of Upholding Standards

The sergeant expressed appreciation for the officer's approach, noting that the staff was concerned the officer didn't know who the driver was. The officer admitted they knew exactly who she was but decided to handle the situation like any other stop, maintaining a polite and efficient approach. The officer was praised for their adherence to professional behavior and their willingness to treat everyone equally.

Ultimately, the officer gained a new appreciation for the mayor. She didn't try to exert her influence or pull ranks, which demonstrated integrity. The command staff also saw that the officer didn't play favorites and that they were legally and by policy covered. The officer concluded, ‘The few I’ve had who pulled the “do you know who I am” bullshit don’t matter and I don’t even remember who they were or claimed to be. Once that came out of someone’s mouth, I switched off and you were getting a citation. I don’t recall ever getting any flak about those few so apparently they really weren’t as important as they thought they were.’

Conclusion

These stories highlight the importance of a police officer's responsibility to uphold professional standards, regardless of the suspect's identity. Maintaining a level of professionalism and efficiency ensures trust and respect for the law, even in seemingly challenging situations. Remember, professional conduct is key to maintaining integrity and upholding the law effectively.