Should cops be able to turn on their sirens just to avoid red lights, and then turn the sirens back off?

LCpl Mark Lefler — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 12:58:10 -0400

So I was standing at a stop light, ready to cross the street to go to Rite Aid, when again a cop sees the light is red, turns his rollers and sirens on and goes through the light then turns them off. I guess to me this is a pet peeve, I see it as a an abuse of power and a bad example. Cops should use their lights and sirens when they have police business to do not because they do not feel like sitting at a red light.

Response by SPC Wes Brown made Jul 3 at 2015 1:06 PM

SPC Wes Brown — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 13:06:45 -0400

I say no use only in use for emergencies

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jul 3 at 2015 1:07 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 13:07:33 -0400

It depends. Do you know for sure where the officer was going or responding to? I have done that a few times myself when I was a LEO. There are certain response incidents (domestic in progress, for example) where you don't want to alert the potential suspect you are inbound. Better to come in quiet and nab the offender in the act than to scare him/her off by blazing lights and sirens from five blocks away.

Now, do some officers abuse their position? Of course they do.

Perception is everything and sometimes what we see isn't exactly what is happening.

Response by LTC Paul Heinlein made Jul 3 at 2015 1:28 PM

LTC Paul Heinlein — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 13:28:22 -0400

Police are given different level of responses to different type of call....typically referred to as Code 1, Code 2, Code 3....depending on the emergency or issue they are responding. Depending on the department, they are normally given some latitude to intermix different aspects of the code to get where they need to get. Anytime a Police car is going to violate/ exceed what a normal citizen could do in a car, normally state law requires the Officer at a minimum to activate the emergency lights and sometimes the siren. Ultimately, the officer is always civilly and criminally liable for their actions while driving...e.g. they do something the violates the typical driving laws. A typical call that officer might have been en-route to would be like a verbal domestic or argument. Since no knowledge of active violence going on, they would not be authorized for lights and sirens...but since the likelihood of violence could occur, their department may allow them to put the lights on to clear an intersection when safe to do so, to get to the call in the most expedient manner possible.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2015 1:44 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 13:44:52 -0400

Do as they say, not as they do

Response by SFC Lisa Hirst made Jul 3 at 2015 10:51 PM

SFC Lisa Hirst — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 22:51:22 -0400

I agree with LTC Heinlein. Unless you know what the officer was actually doing you can't assume he was using them to his benifit. I know the are certain calls that require them to respond differently

Response by SSgt Charles Edwards made Jul 4 at 2015 12:48 PM

SSgt Charles Edwards — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 12:48:17 -0400

A few years ago, I was on a ride along with my former stepfather who was a shift lieutenant. On a couple of the calls, he wouldn't use his lights/sirens but when we got to an intersection with a red light or stop sign, he'd turn them on. In some cases, lights and sirens have to turned off as to not alert a suspect of the response. This is especially true for domestic violence calls.

I won't lie, some cops will abuse this piwer. Sometimes, it's unintentional. Every once in awhile, a cop will have an upset stomach or whatnot and need to get to a bathroom ASAP. To that extent, it's pretty comical.

Response by SGT Eric Engelke made Jul 8 at 2015 9:10 PM

SGT Eric Engelke — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 21:10:58 -0400

Being on a department now, I can say that it completely depends on the call. Some types of calls we feel do not warrant running code for the whole trip. But, there are certain times when we cannot guarantee people's safety while we wait at a red light.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2023 12:40 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 12:40:13 -0500

Cops are not obligated to protect you.

Response by SSgt William Bull made Jan 7 at 2023 1:00 PM

SSgt William Bull — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 13:00:05 -0500

Your statement lacks more information and you should do a few (not just one) police ride-along in the community. Not all calls require lights and sirens but getting to the scene of a "no lights and sirene" call does require SAFETY. If you would just think about it the public service officer has a job to do and your safety is his highest concern even before his or hers. I have never been a police officer but know many of my veteran buddies that are. Get to know some of your community officers and you can find out the truth about how it is to serve others.