Indianapolis police shootings highlight balance between safety, cost

you must be talking about the 10-86 queen.

I really don't post much on here, but I'll weigh in on this one:

Are you guys actually bitc*ing about the dispatchers status checking you?? It really doesn't matter "why" they do it (it's built into the CAD timer system, BTW), just that it gets done. Is it really THAT difficult to respond "10-86"?

If they weren't to status check you, and God forbid something went bad-wrong on your stop (or run, or whatever) and you couldn't get to the radio as a result, would you just rather lay there possibly bleeding to death hoping for another car (or decent citizen) to happen across your location than to take .5 seconds and say "10-86"?? (Or not be able to respond vocally, and initiate a rapid response from backup.) To use your logic, they might as well disable those pesky 10-30 buttons also, huh??

I did 21 years on LPD/LMPD and am retired, and I now work for a nearby S.O. (not JCSO), where there may be 4 of us covering the entire county on a given day. I can tell you that I am glad our dispatchers status check us regularly, because if the s*it does hit the fan, MY backup may be 20 minutes away (or more). If I'm unable to respond appropriately, I want those cars started as soon as possible.

At least you guys (LMPD) typically have backup pretty close, but backup will only be able to help if they (or dispatch) know you need help!

It certainly never bothered me when the dispatchers were checking on me while at LMPD either. Many of you weren't around for the event that actually made the 10-86 thing a little more prevalent (Peter Grignon murder), but let me tell you something: I made that scene that day, and it wasn't pretty. Those circumstances may very well have played out exactly the same whether a dispatcher did a status check right at the crucial moment or not, but when you experience firsthand how bad it can really go wrong, you realize that ANY little thing that may help prevent that in the future is a worthwhile endeavor.

I realize that it's the vocal minority on here posting typically, but really guys, get your head out of your a**es. Being able to "assess your own situation" isn't the only variable at play in day-to-day police work (it does help), but are (some of) you honestly so vain to think that your talents as police officers alone will make you bullet-proof??

Back in the day that was called "Big Badge Syndrome", and I saw many an officer who was afflicted with that get their as*es handed to them, but at least they lived to learn from their mistakes.