Thread by @lawprofblawg

I'm a law professor.

A cop hid a tape recorder in the ER while I was getting stitched up.

I was illegally searched as a suspect in a crime that didn't happen (and threatened with jail) on the hood of a cop car.

I could go on.

Never talk to the police.

I bet some of you don't know that for a long time in some jurisdictions, cops would have their guns drawn by their side for traffic stops.

Have I seen a cop perjure himself in court? Yes.

"There was no one on the road..."

Really? At noon? On a highway? At lunchtime? You claimed to be doing traffic enforcement? Why were you on a street with no cars? Last ticket you wrote? Huh.

We could talk about my friend who got arrested for possession of a stolen shotgun that was in his family for *checks notes* 30 years. Charges got dropped, but try getting TSA pre with the arrest on your record.

The only word you should ever say to a cop is "lawyer."

So when people say "if you're innocent you should talk to the police" I scream internally.

Even during a traffic stop. Against policy in many jxns, but "do you know how fast you were going?" shouldn't be answered. Ever.

How about speeding? Dead of night cop driving without headlights on tailgates me until I speed up so I can merge over. Then he lights me up and pulls me over. Cool cool.

"You were speeding."
"You were tailgating dangerously with your lights off."

Who will be believed?

Now ask me how pissed off the judge got when I was asked about interactions with police as a JUROR and why I refused to convict anyone based only on the identification of a police officer. I shouldn't have to bring my toothbrush for jury duty. But I do now. It was close.

I'm I seem angry about these things, let's just say I have changed my route if there is a cop behind me, I have refused to go into restaurants if they are there. And that judge that yelled at me as a JUROR? Dead to me.

Oh, forgot another (I have so many). How about the time I actually REPORTED my license plates stolen (because they were). They were put on another vehicle used in a crime. Guess who still showed up knocking and did not believe I filed a police report and had questions?

Oh, another one another law professor told me (my law prof in law school). Officer asked her how she was doing. She said, "I'm a little tired." He cited her for driving while fatigued.

Apologies if this thread has shook you. I understand that many law professors will not have had as many experiences as I have had (different backgrounds and upbringing).

Denying those experiences suggests even more reasons not to talk to police. No one will believe you.

Thus far, three people have accused me of making this up or deserving it, including one "defense attorney."

To those people: You have led VERY SHELTERED LIVES.

I'm privileged. Others would have been dead or arrested from some of these encounters.