Is it a good idea to carry cigarettes in case someone being detained asks for one?
Is it a good idea to carry cigarettes in case someone being detained asks for one?
r/AskLE
Is it a good idea to carry cigarettes in case someone being detained asks for one?
Comments
This has to be sarcasm
Edit – I guess it isn’t as far fetched as I thought.
I don’t but I’ve let people smoke even in cuffs and it can help mellow them out tremendously.
Had a guy who was a complete fucking asshole, I wanted to fight, acting a fool the whole thing. I asked him what the deal was and he said he wanted a smoke. Let him smoke, he was then the most calm and compliant arrestee you could ask for.
It depends on how the interaction prior to the detention went or if rapport is something you are looking to build with this person. We usually call them “barter darts” as they are being given usually for information in return.
You wouldn’t believe the information I have gathered over a cigarette and honestly just over a McDonald’s cheeseburger
I’m not carrying cigarettes for them. If they are acting human I may allow them to smoke one of their own.
It was a little easier for me as I am a smoker but you’d be surprised how easy it is to separate ppl or calm someone down simply by saying “Hey man, come have smoke with me, tell me what happened”
I’ve gotten a ton of info from dudes that wanted a smoke before they went to county
I carry a cigarette lighter, usually they can find cigarettes. Lighters are cheaper and don’t go bad.
If you want to get information, it works well.
Not at $10 a pack.
We have a “shift ciggs” pack that we take turns buying. During roll call the senior guy will take them and show up to whatever call requires them. It has called people down plenty of times actually
I keep a carton of newports handy in my locker. A happy perp makes a happy cop.
Imagine dipping some truth serum on the butt of the cigs and giving them to your detainees while taking breaks during investigations.
I let a lady going thru a mental crisis to finish her cigarette and it helped a bit
I kept a pack of Newports in the glove box.
I’ve watched a young man confess to a armed robbery for a can of Pepsi and an 88 cent microwaveable Banquet entree.
I’ve never done this or really seen it done. It would violate my dept’s general orders to allow someone to smoke who was in our custody.
Nope.
I haven’t, but I’ve bought someone a black and mild while taking them to rehab (I work p&p).
I wouldn’t give someone a smoke just for asking.. but if they’re being compliant i’ll light their cig to keep everyone calm and get info easier
We had a narcotics detective get promoted to sergeant. His first roll call as sergeant was the first time he had a shaved face and pressed uniform in years. He told all the patrolman to go and buy a pack of Marlboro Red and keep them in our duty bag.
Yes. In rural appalachia it’s basically a requirement.
I did and it was beneficial. Suspects relaxed and often times I got them talking about things I needed to know. Who was dealing, who was stealing, who were the neighborhood assholes.
We have cigs at my station. They’re probably stale and old. But the arrested person doesn’t care. It helps calm them down and they usually give info just from the cig.
But if they’re being an asshole they get nothing.
I’m not gonna give a detained person a cig unless I’m trying to get info from them. However, they are useful when trying to develop a rapport with a person in mental crisis.