Good morning Troopers,
Congratulations to Joe for handling this situation maturely and professionally. Kudos to the P.O. for doing likewise. Critical meetings like these are a tango, it takes two to dance, you can fall on your face or take home first prize.
I can’t speak for MTA PD, but I imagine their operating procedure is similar to Suffolk County and my local departments, Southold/Shelter Island.
Whenever a police officer interacts on the part of his/her agency with anyone/anything, a CC (Central Complaint) number is generated by the dispatcher, (we used to use a mechanical stamp and a time card machine – today, we use a computer), and the P.O. fills out a form describing the particulars of the event. That form, be it a flimsy, an 8 ½” x 11” carbonless three up or a computer screen, is kept on file at the agency, in many cases - forever.
Some or all of the data on that form may be shared with other agencies or posted on the New York State Police Information System if the originating agency believes the data is cogent to other investigations, they want a response back from another agency regarding the incident or they want the data disseminated to other agencies in general.
Today, with our high capacity computers and the ability to cross reference data quickly, more and more bits of information are getting stored on each of us. When I was on the job, I had to get up from my desk, go into another room with long vertical files and physically search for corresponding data by alphabetical or numerical sorting. The “active” files in those cabinets went back five years, every call, every CC#, every incident was there for reference – in hard copy. Secretaries kept the files current and up to date on the day tour. Today, the computer does it so much easier, and with terminals in the police cars, the dispatcher no longer has to go look it up. Joe, as well as most of us are in there – forever!
We don’t think of it, we usually just gripe and complain about the “system,” but every piece of information written or documented is available to you just for the asking. 90% of the data is “public information” and can be accessed by anyone willing to go to the agency, fill out a form, and pay a small cost for a photocopy. That way you can see what was written about your encounter and if you don’t like it, you can write a letter, talk to a superior officer, get a lawyer, call your congressman – what ever.
Bottom line, the men and women sworn to serve and protect are just trying to do their job. As intrusive and annoying as our culture is becoming, it’s not their fault. Give ‘em a break, use your head, as Pogo once said, “We have met the enemy and it is us!”
de Don, n2qhvRMLI
