One officer arrests another for 120mph on freeway

[jer0177]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/05/2488922/trooper-vs-miami-cop-police-public.html

On-duty FHP officer arrests Miami police officer who was off-duty, driving a marked police car at speeds of up to 120 mph.

I realize that there are many active and retired officers on this board, and I have to ask the question.  Why do I see so many police cars exceeding the speed limit WITHOUT lights/sirens activated?  I realize that you may have somewhere to go, as most of us on the road do, but if it's an emergency situation, the use of lights/sirens is justified.  If it's not an emergency situation, why is it OK for you to speed?  And why do I see cops turning on lights/sirens just long enough to get through the red side of a long light?

I was harassed on the way to the airport one morning by 2 City of Pittsburgh officers who were driving in the left lane in a "paddy-wagon" van.  I had been mirroring their speed, in the right lane, about 2 car lengths behind them - and they were consistently 10-15mph over the speed limit (measured with Garmin, not speedometer).  I wasn't familiar with the route and needed to exit to the left to get to the airport, and there was no break in traffic behind the van, so I passed the van, signalled, changed lanes and exited.  I did not slow down to the "yellow" speed limit sign, but stayed close to the "white" speed limit sign speed, and the cops in the van pulled me over when I got to the end of the ramp and verbally harassed me for speeding, cutting them off and speeding through the exit.

[RoadKill]

Cops come from the same polluted gene pool that your co-workers were chosen from. Some of them are not worth pissing on if they were on fire and others are welcome in my house anytime. Why would you expect a better ratio of good to bad in any field with comparable pay and benefits ?

[olddog1946]

I say GOOD for her...I've seen to many "gendarmes" cruising at well over the speed limit with out sirens or lights lit...in town and on the high way..

[chrise2469]

I don't usually comment on these ones but I can answer part of it.  I've asked the same question to several LEO's and the response is the same.  When the lights and sirens go on people get stupid(er).

I've been on a ride along with lights and sirens and been behind a car where the driver fumbled trying to put on his seat belt instead of moving over.  It's very common for people to do just stupid stuff.

Should the lights and sirens be on yes, but if it takes longer what's the use.  

[ptgb]

I don't usually comment on these ones but I can answer part of it.  I've asked the same question to several LEO's and the response is the same.  When the lights and sirens go on people get stupid(er).

I've been on a ride along with lights and sirens and been behind a car where the driver fumbled trying to put on his seat belt instead of moving over.  It's very common for people to do just stupid stuff.

Should the lights and sirens be on yes, but if it takes longer what's the use.  

As an LEO I could be qualified to opine on this. My response is this:

NAH.... there is rarely a situation in which the police are speeding to call without lights and sirens as to not cause confusion to the motoring public. 9.9 times out of 10 they are simply speeding.

Can't defend the indefensible...