I’ve only really interacted with police once, but it’s good to know what to do if you’re being questioned by police or if you need help from police.
Remember that anything you say can and will be held against you. What you say cannot be used to help you (see this talk). Remeber your 5th amendment. That being said, don’t be rude or antagonize police.
Questioning
When being questioned by police, you are in one of three situations: 1) consensual contact 2) detainment or 3) arrest. (Actually there’s a fourth situation of general “seizure” if you’re a passenger in a car.) In the first situation, you can ignore cops completely. You should always ask, “Am I being detained, or am I free to go?”
If a cop is knocking on your door (in what’s called a “knock and talk”), you don’t have to open your door. Ask if they have a warrant. They probably do not, otherwise they would have mentioned it. If you open your door, you may end up giving them probable cause to search your house.
Unsorted factoids
- What gives you the right to sue cops is the Ku Klux Klan Act or 42 USC 1983. This only holds if your civil rights are deprived. It was originally upheld for suing cops in Monroe v. Pape.