This is important.Read this!

[Doggy Daddy]

Sgtwilks, all detectorists say thank you for this post. Well done. I think she used to work in my little town.

[BetterThanFishin]

""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.""

The above quote was the EXACT reason why he was justified. He took action instead of just shrugging off and in a way giving up his legal freedom to hunt that ground. The badge may have had no part in this at all. KNOWLEDGE more or less is what protected his rights.

Learn the laws/regulations and you'll actually see we have a little more freedom than what we believe we don't.

I am aware of my legal rights from random studying and there were plenty of times I have contested (non-argumentation) an officers allegations on the spot proving them to be mis-informed of false regulations/laws.

Congratulations! For your standing of your rights! That's like bad ass old school Patriotism there.

[Dirtfishin]

Nicely done, That's priceless.....

[sgtwilks]

Originally Posted by MetalMiner

I hate to say it but you know it would have turned out a whole lot different if you didn't have that badge. They knew you had experience in the law & they couldn't BS you. If it was one of us without the badge we probably would have been sitting in the station handcuffed to a chair bolted to the floor & we would be fighting to get our MD equip back.

That is the main reason I pursued this issue so hard. Pick your fights carefully and do the paperwork . A paper trail is paramount when you present an issue to the authorities.

[MetalMiner]

Originally Posted by sgtwilks

That is the main reason I pursued this issue so hard. Pick your fights carefully and do the paperwork . A paper trail is paramount when you present an issue to the authorities.

Its a shame that they feel the need to hassle soemone who's not doing anyone any harm. with all the crime out there you would think they would have better things to do. I had a cop drive up on the grass in the park I was at & I thought great here it goes someone called them. turns out the cop just wanted to BS about MDing. He said he was interested in getting into MDing & was asking me all kinds of questions about the hobby. I didn't think about it till I got home but I should have invited him to Go MDing with me & let him use my other MD. He probably could have gotten us access to some good property. Maybe I'll see him again in the park.

[dogpound]

Originally Posted by BetterThanFishin

KNOWLEDGE more or less is what protected his rights.

Learn the laws/regulations and you'll actually see we have a little more freedom than what we believe we don't.

this is very true, knowledge is key and knowing the laws and when your civil rights are being violated like being detained for no reason(unlawful restraint). most of the time you'll find out scare tactics are used just ta get what they want

[sonoman06]

Hmmm, I just figured all cops were like that. It sounded like a pretty normal story to me. They do often make up thier own laws. It's best to know your rights completely and stand firm On them. They often use " Bully" tactics to try and make the citenzens stand down. If you're sure of your rights and you stand on them,the bullies will most times give up and find another way out of the situation.
Unfortunately for us, they can and do make up thier own Law ( lie ) and haul you In!
Keep fighting the good fight and standing fast against those slowly chipping away at not only our civil rights, but our maker's given right!!!!
Never

[WildDigger]

That was a good way to handle it. Job well done.

[stewart73]

Heheh...I get that warm fuzzy feeling when I read stories like this. Well done sir.

[gismapper]

This should be in the "mind blowing" section! Very well done...now, if only I can think on my feet as well if it ever happens to me. Thanks for the heads-up!

We used that same idea (writing down the details, dates, times, people, places) to document some bullying that was going on against my oldest son in school. There was no way the school could have ignored it. Problem was solved less than a week later. Works on bullies of all ages!

[Diggin Funatic]

Way to go sgtwilks! Thank you from us all.

[boneykid]

I agree with betterthanfishing. It's about knowledge. In this case, your knowledge elevated you out of the helpless victim status to John Q. Citizen who knows their rights. No doubt the badge bolstered your case. You were well aware of your circumstances. Knowledge is power. It can be used either way though. You quite possibly helped clean up some local government and in the same fell swoop gave the detectorist community a shot in the arm. The procedure you used could be invaluable to the detectorist's community. Might is power under control. Thanks for using your / our might in an effective way.

[SeabeeRon]

I think you are my new Hero!

Originally Posted by Przytula

The thing is, what would have happened if you didn't have a badge?

I wondered this as well, for just us Joe Citizens.

[sweendog]

Great story Sgt. Way to go above and beyond to protect your rep as well as the hobby's rep. I applaud you sir. Hope they get what they deserve

[Briman05]

You should write the female officer a email saying thanks for getting my the vistor pass at the school

[Ace350]

Originally Posted by sgtwilks

That is the main reason I pursued this issue so hard. Pick your fights carefully and do the paperwork . A paper trail is paramount when you present an issue to the authorities.

Sarge,
You have done an excellent job and set a fine example in correcting an injustice and standing up for your rights and opening up the closed mindedness some people have about metal detectorists.

The key, is not to just research the history of a site you are going to metal detect but to also research and know the local laws and the rules if it is public land. If it is private land and you don't have written permission in your hand from the landowner, you could wind up in jail for tresspassing.

[arkansasboy]

Originally Posted by Ace350

Sarge,
You have done an excellent job and set a fine example in correcting an injustice and standing up for your rights and opening up the closed mindedness some people have about metal detectorists.

The key, is not to just research the history of a site you are going to metal detect but to also research and know the local laws and the rules if it is public land. If it is private land and you don't have written permission in your hand from the landowner, you could wind up in jail for tresspassing.

That is so true.

[ramer]

Any idea why that cop was dripping with attitude? If she is this way every day then she is a very poor reprsentative of authority in general. She should be assigned a desk job far away from the public.

[EdNargel]

WTG!!!!!

[connman06]

Sgtwilks, I could understand you initially getting upset with anti-police posts. You shared this story on a tread I started a couple days ago. I just want to let you and everyone know, I am not anti-police in any way. I respect the law and have family and friends in law enforcement. I was just upset at this particular police woman who thought it was necessary to insult me, then try to justify what she was doing with a bunch of BS. Then when she left, told me to "get your things and get out of here!" in a pissed off tone as if I personally did something to her.
Thinking about it know, I wish I were a cop (like in your story), pulled out my badge and said, no I will not leave. Let's go see that supervisor