Is it against the law to hang up on a police officer?

Question

I work as a collections agent and sometimes we call the wrong number. I called a cop who said that the guy i was calling was found dead and that the last person who called from the number i was calling from hung up on him. He said it was against the law to hang up on a cop. so i didnt. is it against the law. or was he pretending to be a cop on the phone because he is annoyed of my calls

Answer 1

yes, a warrant has been issued

Answer 2

hehe...It's not against the law. If they want to formally question you, they have to take you to the police station. Even then, you're free to walk out at any time, unless they have a warrant to hold you. But, I was laughing because that was a prank. I've heard about that. I'm not sure if this really happened to you, or if you're just wanting to get the prank attention.:P

Answer 3

No.  It's not against the law, it is pretty rude and would probably get you a visit from that police officer if he really is one.  It is against the law to portray one self as a police officer if you are not one.

Answer 4

Sounds like a reverse-prank phone call I heard one time...watch this video.

haha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5z4Vs26-...

Answer 5

A while back, on a radio show, this trick was played on a telemarketer who called the show, on the air. Since then it has become common for someone receiving a call from a telemarketer to say they are investigating a homicide at the place being called. Why are you calling this person, you are the last one to call the deceased, etc.

It's a joke. If you want to e-mail me, I can send a copy of the radio show in a reply.

Answer 6

Did he identify himself as a police officer or law enforcement BEFORE you hung up the phone?  Even then, you had no way to verify his identity or badge or uniform.  That's why it's such a crime to impersonate a police officer because when someone DOES announce they are police, you're supposed to immediately comply with their commands.

Hypothetical:   If he said, "This is officer so-and-so, who are you, don't hang up, and THEN you hung up on him, you willfully disobeyed an order from an officer, and I think that could be an obstruction of justice charge.  I'd love to meet the cop that traces your call, researches it, and follows through with a charge (are you even in the same town or county or state as the number you dialed?).

Abstract:  There is a popular viral audio clip of a radio station DJ that did this very prank call, to a telemarketer, identified himself as a homocide detective, and then screwed with the telemarketer by saying the person he's calling was found dead, and now the telemarketer is now a 'person of interest' and proceeds to ask the telemarketer if he was the deceased's g*y lover, etc etc.  

Personal:  You're a collections agent.  Aren't you supposed to  utilize any information given to collect on a debt?  I'd call back twice as much, and if it's REALLY REALLY legitmately a death, a police officer would be more helpful in at least providing you a name, badge or department information.

Legal:  If this person is NOT a cop, I would file a complaint that the non-payer is identifying himself as a police officer (felony I believe).

Answer 7

No...

Answer 8

he was annoyed by ur calls

Answer 9

No it is not - but I highly doubt a LEO would identify this type of information to any one calling a death investigation case.

He was lying to you.