As a police officer, I try not to second guess the actions of other officers, especially when I wasn't there. My advice would be to contact the court clerk in person with all your paperwork, and see if she will possibly rectify the money situation.

I hope this experrience doesn't ruin your opinion of all those in the law enforcement profession.

Some COPS think they can do any damn thing they want!

Sounds like a bunch of cops with badge syndrome the power went to their head and they shouldn't being wearing those badge because with action like this they don't deserve them. You might try going to the police chief but don't know how much good it'll do he might be as bad as the others. You might also try going to the municipal authority who is charge of the police dept (mayor, township supervisor, ect). Last resort and I hate saying these things because I too am a supporter of law enforcement and work in conjunction with law enforcement but you seem to have very good grounds for a civil law suit against the dept.

I do repect police on what they do. I was a volunteer fire fighter for 10 years plan on joining again. Anyways I worked with them years, but there is a few bad apples that can spoil a bunch just like anything else. I agree with Clay, round up as much media you can and tell your story. I surely think the public will be on your side. You have the evidence so take it to court.

There's good cops and bad cops. Unfortunately, you've got yourself some bad ones. Personally, I'd raise holy hell w/the Mayor. I'd do everything in my power to get the media involved, and I would call an attorney. The bad thing with bad cops is that usually they can get away with bad behavior. In this instance, I think you can put a stop to these cops' bad behavior, or at least prove it in a court of law. It's a pain in the ass, and a headache, but if you don't do it, they'll keep their sh*t up. Good luck, I hope you decide to raise hell.

The vast majority of Law Enforcement Officers are great people. That said they are human and there will be bad ones. Take it to their supervisors and if you don't get a satisfactory result take it up the chain. It all depends upon how important it is to you. Sometimes it turns into literally thousands of dollars to get satisfaction. The young officer that put his hand on your shoulder probably did you a favor. If you would have followed it could have gone south very quickly. I hope it works out to your satisfaction. When we quit trusting our police we have a problem, when we start fearing our police then we have a huge problem. This may end up before a Judge by the time it is all through. Good luck and give us a post later to let us know how it turned out.

As has been said, there are good cops and bad cops and there are more good than bad, but they all tend to present a unified front to us civilians which lets the bad ones get away with a lot of stuff they shouldn't. In your case, if you try to take action, the story from the cop shop will not in any way resemble what you experienced. There will be a lot of mumbo-jumbo about correct procedure and "We have no record of any such----blah, blah, blah." It will be your word against a whole bunch of cops. Cops have a bad job, but it is their chosen profession and there is no reason for them to do a bad job of a bad job.

Edward J. Palumbo has a valid point here and I give him a +1!!!

You have some homework to do my Friend!

Start with you State Department of Transportation commonly known as DOT.

This is what you’re seeking and what your defense is!

Federal Law "DOT" for the operation of Commercial Vehicles, the speedometer accuracy must be within plus or minus 5 mph at 50 mph. In other words, must have the accuracy of plus or minus ten percent

Take a picture of the location of the alleged offense. Keep in mind of any potential hazards or events a vehicle going over 5 mph would cause.

The next two the Judge doesn’t care about and you don’t want to bring up!

1: Accuracy/tolerance of Radar Units moving and stationary.

2: Accuracy of the Speedometer of the Law Enforcement unit.

Bottom Line
All the Officers I know and have worked with only ticket those who are over 10 mph. In other words, the violation would be obvious. 5 mph over such as 30 in a 25 if anything the offender would receive a warning only. Driving in a careless manner would result not in a speeding ticket, but a careless driving citation instead!

What information you have said, makes me believe the Officers were overzealous in their actions!

BUT MOST OF ALL, YOUR SON IS NOW TARGETED AND YOU MUST TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT HIM!

Jerry A. is right!

When pulled over, only lower your window about a third of the way down. If the Officer ask you to get out, do so. But before you do, roll up the window and lock the vehicle and place the keys in your pocket. If they ask to search your car, the answer is NO! The bad COPS are going to do what they do best and defending yourself under your rights of a private citizen is now paramount. Even if your not guilty, what you say can and will be twisted around in the court, I guarantee it.

Food for thought!
If you went out of town and during that time something happened. During your trip, you used cash instead of your card showing your location. All the prosecuting Attorney needs is for your schoolfriend or somebody else say, they witness seeing someone who looked like you in the same type of vehicle. Telling the truth cuts both ways! Do not give information without the presence of a Lawyer!

I purchased a rental home in town a few years back and quickly learned there was a guy dealing drugs off his front porch a few houses down. I as well as several of the neighbors called the police several times.

At the same time my daughter who was in high school was at a party with other high school kids that was busted by a gang (yes, I'll call them gangs) of police officers who responded to a complaint over loud music.

Three years later the guy is still dealing drugs.

Don't Talk to Cops, Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik&NR=1

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Don't Talk to Cops, Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08fZQWjDVKE&feature=related

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4th Amendment Ignored By Indiana Sheriff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTQAJgxMIuM&NR=1

Contact the D.A. and the Mayor how they want their butt handed to them.They will settle it.Been there done that with my daughter.Slimy horndog cop after a lot of the young girls in our area.I think he picks up trash at the beach in the mornings.
The best of luck with your son .

the continuing paramilitarization of local police and their "zero tolerance" policies do nothing for the cause of justice and everything for all departments of governments to justify their existence. more arrests,warranted or not, mean more dollars poured into the system and more statistics to show cause for increasing government payrolls. anyone can be caught up in these nightmares. if we all scream bloody murder about the injustice of it all,maybe sonething will change. see you in jail.

You could also contact the local radio and television stations and let them go to town with the story.

The cops have enough going on, so don't come down too hard on all of them. They are doing a thankless job for a lot of folks who could care less if they live or die. The officer who investigated my truck burglary a week ago in the pouring rain was efficient, understanding, and very courteous to me.

No doubt the are a few bad apples with poor leadership out there that need a little accountability.

Well here a positive cop story.

Last week my wife and I went to town and the weather was not bad. While we were away the snow started and worse yet, the wind. Unfortunately, our county roads dont get plowed from 6pm to 6am due to budget problems. We hit a patch up ice under a drift that eventually put the vehicle on its side in the ditch. I called 911 asking for assistance and in 5 minutes we had cops, fire, EMTs and a wrecker. By the way no one was hurt. Everyone was extremely courteous and helpful. We had the back of the SUV full of grociers and they were everywhere. The crews helped us gather up all our things even though it was extremely cold and windy. The deputies gave us a ride home as our vehicle wasnt driveable. I was quite impressed, even sent and email to the sheriff recognizing how thankful we were.

Buckhunter, I'm in full agreement with your posts and sentiments. Especially the bit about the drug dealer going free while the cops bust teenagers. That is a typical and universal theme in seemingly every town.

I think yours should be a fair comparison, but unfortunately it's not. I don't think many cops will live up to military standards at all. Not in physical fitness, in mental fitness, in strength of character, in discipline, bravery, or in the handling of weapons/fire situations. Sure some could and even have, but I think if that was the test, we would have at least 65% of cops fired.

I guess this post could use a little levity.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Junior Brown and Highway Patrol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_wLVCLPx0M

There are cops who are out there doing their job for the right reason, and then there are cops who do their job because after they graduated high school they needed somebody else to bully, being a cop was the only way to do it without getting their asses handed to them. I've been stopped by both types of cops over the past few years. The only time I actually broke the law was when I was speeding, and the cop was an honest, good natured cop who let me off with a warning. Other times I've been stopped was were from hot headed young cops, who pulled me over the first time for having a light out on one side of my license plate, and the other time for apparently driving over the center line. I don't know how that officer could tell because he was driving so close he probably couldn't see over my tailgate. That being said I have respect for the cop who's out there to protect the community, not so much for the imbecile who thinks he owns the world because he has a badge and a gun!

Here in Mississippi I have encountered many police officers over the years and all of them have been polite and well behaved..even when I got a ticket for seatbelt or speeding...the biggest reason they are so well behaved is because any law abiding citizen can legally be carring a loaded handgun in their vehicle or on their person at any given time,and most of us do!!!
Down here a resident can apply for and get a conceal and carry permit as easily as getting your drivers license and most of us older people always carry a gun anywhere we go...otherwise you risk getting killed or robbed by the bad eliment that premiates this state so badly....

Man - that is a crazy story. Makes me want to thank the cops in my town for being easy to work with.