Two police officers turned up at my daughters house?

Question

my daughter has never had any involvment with the police at all,she dosnt drink and lives a very law abiding lifestyle,she was babysitting at her house for a friend who was at hospital with her other sick child,the police turned up at 8.30 arrogantly saying if they were refused entrance they'd return with warrent,my daughter let them in and they serched of corse findind nothing except some terrified young children and my daughter who has had not one involvment with police in her life,she asked why had they done this she was very upset and confused,they said they'd had a phone call obviously off a malishious person.can they react on a phone call alone? and if yes surely theres thousands of calls being made to the police from vindictive people,if they acted on every call they'd have no time for the guilty.

Answer 1

Depending on the time and day, jurisdiction and numerous other factors - Police are often backed up on calls, tired from long back to back shifts and in general, are people too. They get frustrated and tired of being lied to. Some get bitter and I've even heard some say they hate people in general. Cop burn out is a real problem and a well run police department hires, psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers to try and decompress it officers to never let them get this way. Their behavior here tells me those officers had very little time or patience to play games. The call was serious enough to warrant a welfare check and they just wanted to clear it and get on with their shift. Not stand at the door and argue with a babysitter. I am not condoning their actions, telling it like it probably was. They probably could have handled the situation better in that if they had, you wouldn’t be asking your question in the first place. Just know that there are two sides to this story and you’re naturally going to listen to your daughter’s side first.

So the short answer to your question is yes, they were doing their job and you daughter had the right to refuse their entry. Depending on the call, they might have to get a warrant to investigate and undoubtedly, if that happened, their behavior the first time would seem downright chivalrous.

Rather than mindless complaining like most people do (i.e. rant and rave to the desk or patrol sergeant) about “poor officer behavior” or “misconduct and abuse.” Call or make an appointment with the highest level PD official you can. Explain the situation and state you feel that your city’s officer may be over stressed. You’re concerned that this incident reflects poorly on your city and these officers should be aware of their actions. Offer to contact or work with your City Council members and other elected officials to get the PD some more help, training or resources so this problem doesn’t get worse. At the very least, you just met a very high level Police Official who probably just handed you his/her card. You had a civil, not ranting conversation where you empathized with his/her overworked PD and may have even found you had some friends or other life experiences in common. That may come in handy at some point, yes?

Answer 2

They have got to do what they have got to do!

Answer 3

Sounds like they were strippers. They were looking for the bachelorete to rub up and down. They only found some snotty kids, no party, no drugs or people, then left in a hurry.

Lucky for your daughter they weren't real cops, otherwise all that crack/cocaine she has in her bottom drawer next to her bed would of given her jail time.

Send her to rehab!

Answer 4

It sounds like the officers were unjustifiably rude to your daughter however there may have been probable cause for them to enter the home. Maybe not though…

It’s possible that someone anonymously and maliciously (or genuinely concerned) called social services on your daughter and police were requested to do a welfare check on the children. Maybe a disgruntled neighbor made a false report of a disturbance going on in the home.. who knows. Either way, probable cause would have been established in these instances and police could enter (without a warrant) as these would be exigent circumstances.

The “return with a warrant” statement by police you describe implies that they didn’t have probable cause and would definitely need a warrant to enter the home without your daughters permission. This situation could have been originated from a malicious caller who stated (from a “gazillion” different possibilities) something to police which made it necessary for them to at least contact your daughter.

At any rate, I would definitely consider you or your daughter calling a supervisor at the department and tell them of the situation and how your daughter was treated. There should have been a report completed by the officers that would be available to the supervisor for review and maybe you can get some answers as well. By talking with a supervisor, possibly the officers will be internally investigated for improper actions as to how the situation was handled.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, you aren't very specific on the details of the incident so it would be hard to advise fully.  Obviously you may not have been told the full story by either your daughter or the Police who attended or maybe you weren't there when the search took place (you didn't specify).

Police can have various reasons for entering and searching a property, one of which is to protect life and limb under section 17 of the police and criminal evidence act (PACE).  If this was the case in this scenario then yes, they can act on a phone call alone.

Better to be wrong and search to find nothing then be right and not search to find a body later on.

From my experience, Police don't always act on the first call but depending on the circumstances, we sometimes have to err on the side of caution.

Answer 6

IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME SO OFTEN NOW -- THE MORE MALICIOUS THE NEIGHBOUR THE MORE DAMAGE THEY

CAN DO TO YOU AND YOUR LIFE ---- THERE ARE EVEN

CASES THAT HAVE LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY AND

PROBLEMS FROM THE LIES THAT COMMUNITIES TELL.........

TRY AND FIND OUT WHO HAS IT IN FOR HER -- BEFORE IT

HAPPENS AGAIN AND THEN THREATEN THE h**l OUT OF

EVERYONE -- SO THAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE NOT TRAMPLED

ON OR THREATENED....THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WORLDWIDE -- I KNOW IT HAPPENED TO ME --- AS WELL...

COMMUNITY POLICING IS THE WORST AND THE MOST

SERIOUS CULPRIT WITH REGARD TO THIS KIND OF THING

BOGUS CRIMINALS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE PREPARED TO

DO TERRIBLE THINGS IN SEARCH OF THE FAME FROM

CAUSING TROUBLE TO SOMEONE ELSE -- EVEN IF INNOCENT

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT IN IMPROMPTU HOUSE SEARCHES BY THE POLICE -- USE A LAWYER IF NEED BE...........................

OR PLAY OPEN HOUSE WITH THEM -- IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING -- YOU CAN LET THEM IN -- THEY ARE PEOPLE AS WELL...BUT THE THING IS -- SOMETHING CAN ALWAYS GO WRONG HUMAN ERROR AND JUDGEMENTAL ERRORS BY POLICE OFFICERS IN NEIGHBOURHOODS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WORLDWIDE..................................

YES THE POLICE CAN ON THE STRENGTH OF SOME MALICIOUS IDIOT IN THE COMMUNITY COME YOUR WAY IT HAPPENED TO ME AND THE CAPTAIN HAPPENED TO BE A FOOL AND A MALICIOUS IDIOT HIMSELF.................................... WAS QUITE WILLING TO HARM MY FAMILY.....................................

Answer 7

In fairness to the police, how do they know its not real? If they didnt turn up to something, and it was for real, they would be in trouble.They cant win.Their attitude doesnt need to be offensive though, thats where they let themselves down I think.

Answer 8

The trouble is, you cannot tell if it's malicious until you've checked. Put the boot on the other foot for the moment, say you were the mum at hospital and eventually got home to find your babysitter had been holding a wild party in your house, drinking, smoking dope etc., maybe beating up the children and you then found out someone had told the police but they hadn't bothered to check!  You wouldn't be too impressed, would you?

Answer 9

Get a good attorney.

Answer 10

She had the option of having them return with a warrent.  So what's your beef?

Answer 11

I'm sorry but if your daughter felt there was no reason for them to search her home she should of told them to take a hike.

its no good moaning now and saying was there reason good enough she had let them in

Answer 12

Your daughter has been invovled or known someone that has been involved in something - whether she is aware of it or not.  That is why the police were suspicious.

Answer 13

Just doing their job Madam, phone tip off`s are nearly always answered.The operator would know if it a crank call.

Answer 14

Well it sounds a little fishy to me. If that should ever happen again, let them leave and get the warrant. The police do have a right to enter the house without the warrant if they have reason to believe that someone is in danger. However that is not how they approached her. therefore if it should ever happen again, let them get the warrant.

Answer 15

She should have refused, she has that right as an American.

Answer 16

You haven't stated what they were looking for.

In some cases the police do not need a warrant to enter an address, usually for public safety or apprehension of a criminal etc.

With regard to the phone call, yes the police will act on every phone call unless it is blatantly false. The reason is because if they didn't and it turned out to be genuine, then the c**p would hit the fan. I don't understand why your daughter is upset? Is she very young? She had nothing to fear and did the right thing.

Your last sentence is closer to the truth that you would ever know! In my unit we only respond to priority calls. On a busy day I may attend between 4 to 8 grade one calls. At least 2 of them will be from false callers, or people who have grossly exaggerated to incident to get a fast response. So yes, people complain about where the police are all the time.

Its a sad state of affairs and another reason why this country is going down the toilet, its not the police's fault, its the government for not letting people who work in call centres use there own judgement anymore. Or was it letting inexperienced, non-police personnel take the calls? mmm food for thought!

Answer 17

You have no come back against the police,they answering a tip off, this time information was untrue. but on other hand it could be right and found something say gun or guns that would have save another crime.the anti-police will give you another type of answer to your question

Answer 18

What the h**l.....no the police can't search a house on the basis of one phone call, they would never be allowed that and even if it was true, it would be the most stupid thing on earth.

She should have told them to come back with a warrant, now you have no evidence on what the search was for, the warrant would have stated their reasonable intent to search.  You should have your daughter contact a solicitor and find the reason.

They should also have left their badge number, contact number of refernce for any future need.  That was a blatant case of abusing their authority, the police should never be allowed to anything unless there is reasonable doubt, not one little phone call, if it were 2 or 3 calls regarding the same matter, that would be different.  

I think the police should have to justify everything they do or they would be able to get away with anything, what's the point of Laws if the people who are enforcing them are stupid idiots and which most are corrupt.

Answer 19

The Police responded to a call and your daughter gave them consent to search her residence.  She let them in so that is okay.  We respond to complaints.......if we didn't we would not be doing our job.  Nothing in your question concerning the Officer's actions indicates any wrong doing.  You have no gripe.

Answer 20

yes they can act on a phone call even if it is malicious,

but if you think about it there only doing there job, they gave her the option of returning with a warrant , i understand it was traumatic but you would expect them to act on any suspicion they have

and if it were you who phoned them if you suspected someone wasn't abiding by law you would expect them to act on it

Answer 21

If your daughter had done nothing, then she had nothing to worry about, What she should have done was told them to come back with a warrant before letting them in, OK this would have pissed them off, but the chances are that they may not have got a warrant from a magistrate without good reason.

Answer 22

Why let them in? Tell them to wait in their car until you confirm their actions with head office.