The police are such asses! And I say this as a woman who has two uncles who were police officers. It aggravates me to no end to see two men who are supposedly professionally trained behave that way with a private citizen.

Just a minor correction to one of the quotes. It is not necessarily true to say that

'Even if the police have probable cause, they cannot come in your home without a search warrant.'

In some (many) places, and depending on circumstances, the police can enter your home without your consent and without a specific warrant. Basically, these fall under the heading of 'exigent circumstances'. Active pursuit of a felony suspect, for example.

The courts have held that, if you open the door to an officer who has no warrant and no right to enter your home, he can gain that right if he sees, hears or even smells evidence of illegal activity, and he doesn't need to go get a warrant. His warrantless entry is supposed to be limited to what's necessary to protect life and secure evidence, but the 'plain view' exception applies. And searches, with or without warrant, always seem to leave a trail of destruction in their wake.

That's why you shouldn't even open the door. Or open the door only long enough to pass through it and immediately close it behind you. Talk to them on the stoop.

llater,

llamas

I had a visit from my local police, that makes this advice ring true.

Years ago now, neighbor lady thought she heard breaking glass, and thought it came from my house. I was sound asleep, at 0-dark-thirty there's a loud knock at the door. I am sleepy, I get up, I walk to the front door, and look out - police cars in the street, uniformed officers on my porch. So I open the door.

They explain what's going on, and it's clear they want to make sure I'm really OK, and not just saying so. They stick around for maybe 5-10 minutes, making small talk, asking if I heard anything, asking if I know neighbor lady. Eventually I invite them in. Because, that's what you do, right? They politely say no, and leave almost immediately after.

This is how it's supposed to work, right? Public service at its best. I'm grateful to them for that. They were very professional, polite, and thorough.

But it struck me as odd that after all the to-do they didn't want to come in, to verify the all-clear. Now, this explains why. If they had come in, there'd be more paperwork, and they just didn't WANT to know if there was something else to see.

@flbeachmom

My experience as well both decades ago and recently. Both locations were "small" cities and I had the same thoughts. Understand now.

Did not have the same experience long ago in Norfolk, Va possibly due to behavior by young men in Navy and by young black men. Typical response in are I lived in was a united 2 - 3 car w/dog frequently.

I wonder if the police have ever tried to produce a phony warrant to get into someone's home. Just make up some official-looking document, scribble down some fictitious judge's signature, and you've just been given free access to someone's home.

Of course, any evidence seized under a phony warrant could and should be deemed inadmissible. I was wondering more if there was a way that someone who's been served with a warrant could check out the warrant to make sure it's legit.

Outstanding work by this guy. And his closing comment was perfect.

If we don't let the police trash the Constitution, the terrorists win.

I noticed how the police didn't seem to acknowledge his repeated requests for them to show THEIR ID. Bravo to that man for taking a stand!!!! Unless I'm the one who called the cops, I won't even answer the door, after seeing this. Ridiculous.

Those stupid cops should get their asses handed to them for wasting time with that guy when they should have been finding the suspect.