In a just world that guy's career as a cop would come to an abrupt and irredeemable end. If he honestly *believes* that he could just order her out of her house and she'd have to comply, he's certainly not competent to wear a badge. Not even a fake one you get out of a cereal box.

I'd *love* to see a nice fat civil rights lawsuit over this, but I'd love even more to see such cops waiting in unemployment lines or in prison.

User enderfem referenced to your post from Signal Boost saying: [...] Originally posted by at post [...]

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I'm going to go against the prevailing grain and say that this *doesn't* happen a lot up near me. All the run-ins I've had with the police (either town cops, county sherriff, or state police) have been quite nice. Once was right after I moved, because I had gotten NY plates but not a NY inspection (not needed until your old one expires). I told the officer this and he said "oh, sorry. Have a nice day". Didn't even run my license or check my insurance or anything.

The second time I had failed to notice my inspection had elapsed, so he wrote me a citation, which was dismissed because I got the inspection the next day.

Maybe this is a regional or police branch cultural difference? Country cops vs. city cops?

I think it's more of a "some number of any group of people will be jerks" -- we have some very nice, hardworking and polite cops here. and, apparently, we have some jerks.

The police tend to start off interactions differently depending on the appearance and demeanor of the people they're dealing with. (So do most people, although exactly what floats their boats differs.) The guy in your userpic gets policeman-points for being white, clean-shaven, conventionally-dressed, and laid-back. Prejudices and first impressions can be overcome, in either direction, of course.

I was going to say pretty much what spinrabbit said. Also profession matters - even as a student (not necessarily a cop's favorite profession, for often deserved reasons) I might get treated with a lot more respect than a stripper.

User susanjacobson referenced to your post from My Friend Alexine's Brush with "The Law" saying: [...] Originally posted by at post [...]

Reading the details of this event just made me heartsick.

User schpydurx referenced to your post from Advice, The Law and You saying: [...] we should all think about, even if we shouldn't all go comment on it: Originally posted by at post [...]

your friend was arrested and should talk to a lawyer. it's likely a misdemeanor and may not even go on her record (if no charges were filed), but know that recording police officers is a felony, punishable by MANY years in prison, in some states. she will absolutely have to show up in court again, because failure to show is a crime, too, and they'll put a warrant out for her arrest.

upon pickup by the police, your friend should have shut the fuck up and only said "I wish to speak to my lawyer."

your friend should also research handcuff neuropathy (nerve damage caused by handcuffs that are too tight). she probably does not have enough of a case to sue them, however.

if a police officer tells you to leave, do it (or at the very least, move further back). as she has shown, police officers do not always know the law, but arguing your rights on the street gets you nowhere good fast- she is lucky she wasn't tased or "forced to comply" with that billy club. most cops are good people, but they deal with the worst the planet has to offer regularly, and this affects their mindset (at minimum, it creates an us vs. them tribalistic dichotomy).