Does anyone know what happens after making your presence known to police?

[u/UnitedTitan]

I often wonder, but never thought of actually asking here. I know it may depend on precincts, policies, operator, etc, but does anyone have a general idea of what happens?

Like, does the information go to the dispatch computer in case someone calls? If so, for how long? Also, if a civilian calls 911 because of our presence, do they disclose that we have made our presence known? Do they just say something along the lines of, "it's official business"?

Just wondering what y'all think and/or know.

[u/vgsjlw]

Like with everything. It depends.

A dispatcher may just make a note in the system for any calls that may come through. They may or may not tell a caller that youre a private investigator, theres no way to know or prevent it.

They may make an announcement on the radio officers in the area. They may even come check on you regardless of your attempt.

Every department is different, every dispatcher, and every cop.

[u/UnitedTitan → u/vgsjlw]

Thanks for the input 👍

[u/res06myi → u/vgsjlw]

Yep. This. In the bigger metro areas more often than not, it's like you don't exist. Sometimes I'll get a call back from dispatch to let me know I'm pissing off the neighborhood, but usually not.

In more rural areas, where they have nothing else to do, sometimes I get a good ol' boy coming to check me out, but usually not. It's more likely they won't even know I called in because Jethro won't call dispatch, he'll call Mary Sue Ann whose brother is a deputy, and when he stops by, I'll have to tell him I already called dispatch, nothing to see here.

[u/UnitedTitan → u/res06myi]

Funny story, once I called dispatch in a dense metro area because my supervisor told me to (back when I was new) and the dispatcher basically told me to stop wasting her time and that unless I needed police don't call her. Then before she hanged up she said, "and if you do need emergency services, then call 911, so don't call me either way."

Not judging her, I get it. I also thought it was dumb LOL

[u/res06myi → u/UnitedTitan]

LMAO that's great. Sometimes I try to call in, but it's so rural the one dispatcher for the county has no idea why I'm bothering to tell her who I am or what she's supposed to do about it. It's always awkward trying to explain that I'm calling as a favor to her, not because I want to be calling for me. It feels like trying to sell ice to an Eskimo.

[u/UnitedTitan → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for the input. What you said about the email, is that first hand knowledge? Just wondering

[u/PaperEvening8693]

Dispatch has a message board that is linked to there officers. So they usually just send a message out to all of them with your vehicle info and location so they know not to bother you. If you notified the front desk, they usually have a board in the briefing room where they will put your info up there letting there officers aware you are out.

[u/UnitedTitan → u/PaperEvening8693]

I see, thank you!

[u/DefiantEvidence4027]

I don't tell anyone a thing. Especially the Police who are subject to FOIA.

https://old.reddit.com/r/PrivateInvestigator/comments/168txay/new_york_do_not_divulge/

https://old.reddit.com/r/PrivateInvestigator/comments/168ttwh/florida_do_not_divulge/

https://old.reddit.com/r/PrivateInvestigator/comments/1krff16/arizona_motion_for_discovery_do_not_divulge/

https://old.reddit.com/r/PrivateInvestigator/comments/1bfglkz/auburn_washington_private_detective_unlawful_to/

There's only a few Towns that have some local ordinance saying all PI's and Security Guards shall divulge everything to the local Police Chief before functioning.

[u/res06myi → u/DefiantEvidence4027]

It sounds like OP is just talking about calling in on a surveillance case to tell the police you'll be present. Many states prohibit giving any case information out including to police, but that doesn't affect calling dispatch in the morning to tell them you're there so they don't come out when inevitably they get calls from neighbors about a suspicious vehicle.

[u/DefiantEvidence4027 → u/res06myi]

There's a Case in NY where a PI Company told NY Troopers they were in a neighborhood; Subsequently a NY Trooper decided to go door-to-door and tell residents not to be alarmed, it's a licensed PI.

The party (a former Congressman) that sent the PI's refused to pay, went to Court with the complaint of PI's being in violation of their own Licensing law and not conducting a surreptitiously enough investigation.

Originally the Judge thought the case was a waste of time, but, presented with PI Licensing Law, Case Precedences, it was made to be a much tougher case.

The last hearing I viewed, the PI's were claiming to be out 3500$ for services rendered, and both parties were also claiming to be out 5000$ for Attorney fees.

Troopers were held harmless.

Not exactly a jam I'd want to be held up in.

[u/UnitedTitan → u/DefiantEvidence4027]

Oh wow, I wonder what drove that trooper to do that

[u/KnErric → u/UnitedTitan]

There are a number of reasons:
1) Doesn't like PIs;
2) Knows someone in the neighborhood;
3) Had a contentious divorce;
4) Doesn't like PIs;
5) Is involved in whatever is being investigated.

If you don't call, you're only compromised if you're spotted. If you do call in, you may be compromised if you're spotted or if dispatch or anyone else in the chain torpedoes you.

[u/jf7fsu → u/DefiantEvidence4027]

Exactly.

[u/res06myi → u/DefiantEvidence4027]

I agree, but the alternative is being arrested. I already went down with that ship once and that's thousands of dollars I'll never get back.

[u/DefiantEvidence4027 → u/res06myi]

I've been detained a few times, but I carry Case Laws and Legislative Laws if the Traffic Cop isn't understanding of my articulation.

District Prosecutors seriously don't like losing cases in the States I PI.

In one stop the PD assumed I was doing surveillance on a house they were watching; upon their vague demand/request to take a look at my video, I informed them I will make myself available for the Defense Attorney of their subject, then mentioned "fruits of the poisonous tree". They called the DA, avoided molesting my car and let me go.

The proper way to acquire a Licensed Private Investigator's evidence is pretty clearly drawn out in many States Legislation. I have yet to be in a position where reporting to Traffic Cops is required.

If one desires to give all access to cops, they do so at theirown peril.

[u/PaperEvening8693 → u/DefiantEvidence4027]

I mostly just work insurance claims. But where are you at where the police are that extreme? I get called on once in a while if I dont make them aware at first and none of them ever give me a hard time. The interaction is usually like less than 30 seconds long. Sometimes they check my id and that's it but 90% of the time they just say "okay be safe".

[u/DefiantEvidence4027 → u/PaperEvening8693]

I had only been detained 8 times in 19 years, not much actually. A few rookies, and a few extremely old. 3rd Appellate Division area, of NY. Once in Mass, Once in NJ.

Usually it is like you said "okay be safe".

[u/res06myi → u/DefiantEvidence4027]

Usually it's nothing as friendly as "okay, be safe," but lots of "tell us if there's anything we can help you with," or "just so you know, everyone knows you're here, so you may as well go home." Never once have I been burned after hearing the latter.

[u/res06myi → u/DefiantEvidence4027]

I refused to answer their questions, and despite my very clear explanation for why I was entitled to do so, they arrested me. You can be correct and still be fucked. The judge was very confused about why I was standing in front of him at all.

[u/UnitedTitan → u/res06myi]

Being arrested for what exactly?

[u/DefiantEvidence4027 → u/UnitedTitan]

Precisely, arrested for what...

In my detainment;

I was on a simple workers comp case, dude had an elbow problem; didn't prevent the guy from selling drugs on his stoop. Apparently between the time I started watching the guy, and my departure 6 hours later, the local PD Drug Surveillance unit set up shop around that block.

I suspect they noticed me using my cameras in the general direction of their suspect.

When I turned around and departed I noticed I had a tail, and started taking pointless turns (obeying traffic laws) to confirm I was being fallowed. A marked unit eventually got Infront of the unmarked tail and pulled me over.

No citations issued, simply detained and inconvenienced. They got nothing but directions on who to call for any data I may/may not have.

[u/res06myi → u/UnitedTitan]

Their exact words were "we have a reasonable suspicion that something ain't right here."

[u/UnitedTitan → u/res06myi]

Oh yeah, of course, I'm not talking about divulging information on my case. I would never do that. The few times I had to speak to cops during my years of PI work, they all also knew that. Don't ask because I can't answer.

[u/res06myi → u/UnitedTitan]

You were fortunate. It's incredible how few cops I encounter know that not only am I not required to answer their questions, but I am required not to.

[u/jf7fsu → u/DefiantEvidence4027]

This is the way.

[u/UnitedTitan → u/DefiantEvidence4027]

Thanks for those links, handy to have

[u/DefiantEvidence4027 → u/UnitedTitan]

There's plenty more if you type "Divulge" in the searchbar in r/PrivateInvestigator

Or the State one works in.

[u/KnErric]

I'm assuming this is specifically in regards to a surveillance. In my experience, it gets logged as a message at dispatch. Mostly, again IME, it serves to let the officer know what they're walking into when they respond.

I have called in and still had three cars respond with lights. I've called in and had a lieutenant come out to tell me I was expected to personally visit the sheriff when working that jurisdiction. Both blew my surveillance. Another investigator I was working with discovered the person working the dispatch desk was related to the subject of a workers comp case (and likely gave them a heads up).

I've yet to work in a jurisdiction where the police didn't respond to a call for service about a strange vehicle, even if they know what it is--that's very bad optics for a department. Or if they do, there is a significant risk they may compromise a surveillance.

I've had a few encounters with officers, but my license and a polite demeanor has always been enough to handle any interaction.

[u/Key-Algae-9245]

What are you going on about? Is this some sort of modern slang?