Dealing With the Police and Other Public Officials

Dealing with local authorities, be it police, sheriff, city counsel or anyone else, is a tricky proposition. They have a job to do, they have to remain unbias until given a blatant, obvious reason to do otherwise. It is the only way they can honestly, legally and accurately do their jobs.

That being said, they are also human beings and are subject to the feelings, emotions and judgement of character that we all are. The difference is they have to keep it under wraps.

When dealing with them the best thing you can do is be calm and honest. Do not lie or exaggerate the story. If you start down this path you will continue to do so and wind up having a lot of untruths or exaggerations to remember, or worse, get caught on them and completely discredited.

At the end of the day the truth is always easier to remember, and, if it is as serious as going to this degree, will still get you want you want...protection under the law. If the truth is not enough to get you that protection, I'd suggest 9 times out of 10, you don't need it, or you haven't done your homework well enough.

One final thought to consider when talking to authorities, filing reports and the like. Honesty is more than just easier to remember. Filing dishonest documentation as legal evidence is a crime called perjury. Though not easy or cheap to prosecute, and sadly common in our system, the possibility of additional trouble exists by committing the crime.

You Must Remember

Some authority figures are very constrained on what they can and cannot say to your face. Some people must do what they are told by superiors even though they may not agree with it. Don't take the fact that some person appears to not be helping as a sign they don't believe you, you may have to travel up the food chain to find out why something is or is not being done to help.

Sometimes it's a matter of persistence, sometimes it's just the luck of stumbling across that one rogue person that will say what they shouldn't or will speak more candidly. If you stick to your beliefs, and do not back down, you will eventually find the support you deserve, if you deserve it. Patience and persistence usually triumph when deserved.

The Court Of Public Opinion

Sometimes a possible course of action is the media. News investigators love dirty laundry. I was ready to go that route, and worked at a media outlet at the time, but again, my wife wanted to take the high road and not get that way about it. In hindsite I am glad we did, she was right.