Do state troopers have authority over local police?
No. If a state trooper tells a local cop to go get his dry cleaning, the local cop will likely ignore him.In most cases, they are both commissioned through the same agency (most local cops are commissioned by the state). They work together and have different jurisdictions. For example, in Dallas, State Troopers are tasked with law enforcement on the Dallas North Tollway. So if you call 911 about a crash or dangerous driver, the Troopers will respond. 10 feet away, on the surface streets, DPD would be the responding agency. If a Trooper chases someone off the road, they have full powers on the surface street they wouldn’t be called out to.That said, if the Troopers take over an investigation, the local police would likely let them. There’s little spelling that out formally, but that level of formality isn’t required.
What is the best state to become a police officer in?
Assuming you mean a state police officer. The variables among local departments make it impossible to compare as a whole state. If you mean what state is it easiest to become the police then Arkansas. They have no state certification or requiring training. If a department hires you you are a cop, no waiting to go to an academy or pass a state POST type test. So state cops, definitely Louisiana, not because things are great there, they are the lowest paid and considered the most corrupt in the nation, but because they are about the only ones actually hiring right now. Avoid states like Wisconsin where they do not get to do "real" police work. In fact they Wi Highway Patrol cannot make an arrest far off the highway. Only when assisting a local cop. CHP only does traffic but are the real police in a Pinch. Mass. does all kinds of work, not just traffic. They are often the investigators for major crimes in sparsely populated areas. Illinois is the same, they take an active policing role throughout the state, they do all the major detective work for the state universities (U cops are actually a part of the state police). Still their basic mission, like with all stat police, is traffic. If you are an experienced officer with at least 2 years on Texas DPS is hiring. You go to an 8 week academy (the usual TDPS academy is 8 months) and you then take the state certification test if you are an outside of Tx cop. It really depends on what type of cop work you want to do and who is actually hiring during this financial crisis when no state has money. edit Hawaii does not have a 50 or any state force. Off of Oahu the cops are all county deputies, Each major island is its own county.
Is that true that in the U.S., if the police chase a criminal and he cross the border to another state, they have to let him go and be arrested by the other state police?
In the good old days when there was a real law in Las Vegas, if the local cops caught someone in the act they’d check to see if he had a warrant in California, and if he did, they’d give him a Nevada Extradition. They’d put him in a police car and drive him to the state line, where they’d turn him out and he’d be arrested by a waiting California cop. Presumably one or other of the cops had to step over the state line to do this, but it was never an issue.Getting rid of petty criminals in this way helped keep Las Vegas crime free and safe for tourists.
Should cops be allowed to be out of shape or fat?
Seems like I am seeing more out of shape officers out there. Usually not state, but local. I know there are many tallented and buff cops out there, but there are also some really round ones. Why is this ok? If they are desk cops I would have less of a problem, but these are beat cops - the ones that have to run down the bad guys and fit behind the wheel. Physical ability is critial and I feel we should have no problems letting these folks off the force 'til they are in shape again. I feel less safe seeing round cops and I would think that fellow officers would demand this of their peirs. Should the unions not demand this for the sake of the other officers they represent? Should we as a public accept this? Perhaps we can drop yearly pay by $1000 for each lb. they are over their ideal weight and let them make the decision themselves? Anyone suggets a soln' that prioritizes the function of the police and does not simply protect the job of someone who is no longer fit to work
Do military police have jurisdiction over state police? Can military police tell a state cop to stand down if needed?
A Military Police Officer is a sworn police officer whose jurisdiction is limited to US Military property, and the pursuance of military personnel based upon warrant issued by a federal judge for probable cause, for commission of an offense in violation of articles of the US Military Uniform Code of Military Justice.When pursuing their arrestee off post or other federal property, USMP's will routinely engage the assistance of state and/or local police so as not to violate applicable statute or policy of the United States Government. These USMP's are absolute professionals and are not pressed into service like years ago.Remember that due to the Third Amendment to the US Constitution, which states that: “No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law”, no USMP officer may actually attempt to make an arrest in a civilian controlled area without a warrant, and in all cases MUST obtain the assistance of local PD in the case of an arrest. Please do keep in mind, however that any USMP MAY, MAY take a protective action to prevent or terminate a crime occurring in their presence if there is no choice but to safeguard other civilians or military personnel, even in civilian areas.This means that uniformed military personnel may NOT enter any civilian premises unless by warrant AND ACCOMPANIED BY STATE OR LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS. And it's the locals who must actually execute the warrant and physically arrest the transgressors.THIS is literally written in stone! There is NEVER any jurisdictional nonsense between USMP’s and state/local police unless you're making a movie such as “ Presidio”.I just loved Sean Connery growling at Mark Harmon over his daughter! That Connery, MMmmm!
Can a police officer pull you over in a different city that's out of their jurisdiction?
Depends on State law.Where I worked as a patrol officer (and in most of the neighboring states), once you were certified by the State as a Peace Officer, you had arrest powers throughout the State.However, how those powers were used depended upon departmental policy. Officers from one jurisdiction generally did not encroach upon the jurisdiction of another agency unless there was some critical reason to do so (e.g., something representing an immediate threat to public safety).For example, if I saw an assault or robbery occurring outside my jurisdiction, I was almost obligated as a Peace Officer to intervene. If I did make an arrest, I would get officers from the local agency on scene as soon as possible, and then turn the suspects over to them.Same for traffic crimes. I remember an officer from another city, driving home from a day of court testimony, coming upon an obviously intoxicated driver. He pulled the car over (out of jurisdiction), detained the driver, and then called for the local police agency to respond and take custody of the suspect.In other States, police powers are confined to the jurisdiction in which you are employed, though there usually are mutual aid agreements between neighboring agencies that extend out-of-jurisdiction police authority under exigent circumstances.