Found 5 wheaties before the cops came.

[connman06]

I am a little irritated. Went to a local school yard. I have been there numerous times with good results. I was actually there Friday night. Two Dearborn police officers saw me, stopped and waved. They took off with nothing to say. Today, I was at the same exact spot. I found 5 Wheaties and now I am thinking silver is not too far. Look up and Dearborn's finest is pulling up onto the grass field. I am swinging my detector and she asked what I was doing...really? I told her and she said I cannot be there digging holes, she got an anonymous complaint. What? I was the only one on the field.ok. I am a professional, so I knew not to get lippy with this woman cop. I did my research and checked local ordinances, I was allowed to be there. I told her that and explained that school property is public, and since I am a tax payer I was allowed to be there...also cleared it with the district. She did not want to hear it, she then said I cannot go dig in front of WalMart, it's the same thing in this case. What? WalMart is private property, public schools are not. I tried to tell her that and she was wrong.I hate police officers who think they know the the laws and ordinances the are supposed to enforce when especially in this case, she did not. She just wanted to appease the caller. I chalked it up as a weekend warrior officer flexing muscle, and as an educator, I cannot afford to get arrested for stupidity. Just a little irritated. I told my wife that I am heading back up there with no digging tools, just going to swing and mentally mark any deep signals. Then if the cop returns, I am simply taking a stroll. Wife said not a chance. Again, just a little upset

[daddydigger]

Why didn't you pepper spray her? (the cop not your wife). Probably wasn't even a complaint. Just flexing some weekend warrior muscle.

[Metal DT]

She is wrong and this is coming from a former Police Detective.Sometimes you have to hold your ground and chance an arrest.Most people won't and it's probably better that you packed up.It up to the individual how far they want to take it.I would get her name and go to her supervisor if you want to hit this spot again.But keep in mind do everything else legally ieark,not being there after dark etc...because some take it personally.It's not proffessional but it happens.good luck

[Adirondack AL]

Well if you can't detect there I'm sure there's a nice curb strip in
her neighborhood you could detect, like right in front of her house

[acrow]

I have to agree. I would pick up the phone and call the local police department. Find out a supervisors name, speak with them and tell them you are allowed to be there and should not be harassed. Put the name in your pocket and go back to doing your thing. When she pulls up again, acting rowdy, I would take out that piece of paper and tell her to call her boss.

Case closed. Happy hunting!

[Dark Chameleon]

Never good to upset a cop round there, i was there in 99 and they didnt look a too happy bunch then...looked like theyd shoot you for littering.

Cops around here are a friendly bunch, ive had chats with the police chief and talked to a few cops but those deerborn cops...not people id like to challange for a 4" deep penny

[MetalMiner]

Yeah some cops let a little power go to their heads. They're not all like that. I had a cop approach me last weekend & I thought the same thing was gonna happen. Turns out he just wanted to BS & was interested in getting into MDing & was asking me a bunch of questions about it.
Would be good if you could get permission in writing. I carry an email with me I got from the Parks Director saying its ok to MD on the county parks

[sonoman06]

Uh...I got nothin good to say about them. Bye. I'm pretty sure I'd have ended up in jail. I would have said " Ok thanks for stoppin bye, you can tell the concerned citizen that everything is fine and they're not In danger anymore." Then I would tell her that Im not braking any laws. Then kept On swingin! What if you lost a ring..uhhh, forget it. Thats why I go to deep woods. To avoid those lame power trippers. Go catch some criminals for Christs sake!7 Morons!

[melodyandoscar]

I would have been arrested and then would have had my day in court, the rapper Ice T sums up how I feel about the police.

[allank]

Take your proof to the police station, talk to the big guy, explain and make sure to say teacher, and that you dig but do not leave holes or evidence of you being there. give them the officers name. you handled it well and at least you know there wont be anyone there while she is on duty lol

[Silver_Sn1per]

Woman on a power trip.

[Dark Chameleon]

I been on the bad side of the cops (got punched by one oncein the station and the video mysteriously disappeared) and my bro in law is ex cop and another cop helped me out with a case i started for also getting punched when i was a kid and having my jaw broke (i think i must have that kind of face that always screams PUNCH ME! )

Yet another whose surname was the same as my family became good friends and we bought his old car off him and had him around a few times for dinner before he was transferred away (probably for not punching me in the face)

[Thatsit]

Originally Posted by melodyandoscar

I would have been arrested and then would have had my day in court, the rapper Ice T sums up how I feel about the police.

Or maybe you are talking about NWA?

[Gold Nuggets]

You have every right to be there..if it is not during school hours or after dark. I hope you go back there and if you get asked to leave again, get the officers name, badge number, note the time, the location and the date. Then, at the earliest time possible, go see their supervisor and ask the shift supervisor to "enlighten" the officer as to what public school means. Some people should not be in the position of law enforcement or public safety. (even though police officers are required to investigate complaints) Gold Nuggets

[Metal DT]

Originally Posted by melodyandoscar

I would have been arrested and then would have had my day in court, the rapper Ice T sums up how I feel about the police.

Someone who quotes and thinks like Ice tea has probably had a few days in court.

[HarveyH48]

It's a public school, a place for the kids to get some sort of an education. It's not intended to be a public park, or open to the general public, to do as they please. If your hobby were photography, and you were on school grounds snapping pictures, do you think the police would respond similarly, would hope so... Our tax money (a good portion of my property tax) goes toward public schools, to provide and maintain, safe learning environment. Adults wondering around on school grounds, raises concerns about safety, as does digging holes. You might do a real nice, neat job replacing your plug, but it doesn't take much to kick it loose, animals to dig it back up, lawnmower...

Your tax dollars also pay for the police cars, so does that entitle you to free use of those as well? Just because there is no city wide ordinance banning metal detecting, it doesn't override rules set for individual sites. Personally, I'd never get confrontational with anyone carrying a gun, that person is always right, least for that particular time. I don't always agree with the police, but not going to argue with them. I don't know how much of a goldmine a public school is going turn out, but don't think it worth getting on the bad side of the law. Get the paper documentation, to prove it's okay, and that you have permission to use the site, for your hobby. The police have the option of just offering a verbal warning, a ticket, a beat down and ride in a cop car. You might win the battle over the school yard, but it could cost you more over the years. Ever get a ticket for 'Faulty Equipment', like a taillight or brake light? You have to get you vehicle inspected (cop shop), then you get to go pay the $9.00 fine, lot of waiting inline...

[sgtwilks]

Originally Posted by Gold Nuggets

You have every right to be there..if it is not during school hours or after dark. I hope you go back there and if you get asked to leave again, get the officers name, badge number, note the time, the location and the date. Then, at the earliest time possible, go see their supervisor and ask the shift supervisor to "enlighten" the officer as to what public school means. Some people should not be in the position of law enforcement or public safety. (even though police officers are required to investigate complaints) Gold Nuggets

Ill try to make this short.

I was at a school yard after school hours and before dark like the rules state.

The sign on the fence had rules but nothing about MDing,just no dogs,golf or alcohol.

I saw a female watching me then open the chain fence next to the gate to allow a police car on the field.

The first thing out of the female cops mouth was what the f@@@ you doing Einstein?You don't stop what you doing when a cop is in the area?

She took my MD and digging tool.She said that woman at the gate told me several times to not dig there.

I told the cop.It never happened.(Because it did not)I told the cop I wanted a supervisor there.She said "you will see a supervisor at the police department"

I showed her my badge and said "let's go".I again told her no one told me anything.

She handed me back my equipment and said meet me where the woman was.She drove I walked.

By the time I got to the fence the woman said it was not me she spoke to.(I am the only one searching this field)

I do not know where this was going,maybe a possible set up,I don't know.

The female cop stayed and talked to me for a while about police stuff.She asked if I was OK and not going anywhere with this?

This is what I told her and this is exactly what I did.I wrote everything down that happened with times/date/people involved.I went to the police station and filed an incident report about the manner I was treated by the police and about the woman grounds keeper credibility and the exact rules of the site I searched.I had this form filed.I have a copy.

I went back to the school.Showed the principle the report.I also showed him the nails,shanks,drug baggies I found on his school grounds.He made a phone call.He asked me to show the vice principle where the weapons and drug baggies were found.I showed them.There was several more baggies there when I showed the VP.LOL

Long story short.I now have a visitor pass with my name on it. I pick it up Friday and return it Monday.I'm allowed to search anywhere on the site and the grounds keeper was told to back off.

Sounds like alot of work but there are alot of fields and good areas to search and to me it was a good fight.

[sgtwilks]

I also contacted the attorney general's office about this matter and just got off the phone with the Camden County Prosecutor.

The officer involved is going to accept a 3 day suspension if I drop this matter I could push for more but I'm not. I also made the police officer file charges on the head grounds keeper for "providing a false police report".

I have a copy of the letter see pic.I allowed the matter to be handled by the prosecutor and my terms are for her to be demoted.

I worked in law enforcement for many years and never tried to enforced a law I was not sure about.When this officer stated "you could see a supervisor back at the station"I was under arrest.The reason for arrest was an unlawful one.She never put cuffs on me but it was implied.She investigated the incident without reading me my rights.

[fred sanford]

So far all the cops I have dealt with were cool and never gave me any grief. However , there is a few female cops in the area and they have a negative reputation. It seems like they are out to prove something, and they want you to know they are a cop. I am not bashing, just stating. I hope my luck with law stays on a positive note. I hope your situation changes so that you can hunt again.

[Dubay420]

Oh jeez, Call the school talk to the superintendent and see what he has to say, if he see's no problems, ask him if he would mind sending you an e-mail stating that you are allowed to be there. Some of the Dearborn police officers aren't the brightest either, Back in 2007 a Dearborn Police officer Confiscated some marijuana, decided to bake it into brownies, and then Called 911 after he ate them thinking he was overdosing...Now... I'm pretty sure enough of us have been around the block enough to know that is impossible. Here's the Video From Fox news actually.. its quite Comical. ( Includes the actual 911 call )

From One Michigander to Another, Good Luck.



http://youtu.be/QJynLFgXUN4