PieterCoetzee
Professional
Sorry this is a long one
I'll admit that I used to think it was a good idea; but that was before I stared talking to them. Of the ones I considered, some ONLY reimbursed you after you were found not guilty (that not much help), and all advised you to not say anything until the lawyer was present and THAT is a mistake. OK its a mistake if you cant keep your wits or if youre prone to making up things.
Your title in a report will either be VICTIM, Suspect, or both Victim/Supect, and once youre listed as a suspect, NOTHING will change that. Consider that when the 911 call comes out the responding officer is looking at his watch and wondering how long this is gonna take; because hes just like you and he wants to go home. You not talking doesnt upset him, its one less thing for him to write. So he wont be getting YOUR story and wont see the events from your point of view. He wont know where to look for the gun that got tossed away on the roof or in the sewer. He may glace that way but hes not calling the FD for a ladder to look on the roof unless you tell him. You may have told 911 that there were two guys but if he didnt see the other guy as he was driving light and siren to you, chances are that guy is gone (maybe with the gun). Sure maybe there is video but thats days away from being looked at UNLESS you tell him what happened.
Dont LIE DONT Embellish. Tell him what happened, not every detail to start but what caused you to have to shoot. Details can come later BUT first you have to convince him that you ONLY YOU were the victim. You can toss in that you are older then the suspects and you lost half a lung in the war or have a heart condition. You might even ask for an ambo to check you out because you have high blood pressure BUT dont stop talking to him. The medics will be good witnesses, so dont flirt with the hot one until after its all over and you take pizza to the fire house. (BTW pizza to the police station is probably better than donuts....) but thats for AFTER
Cops have seen enough to "know" that bad guys ask for an attorney. They wont automatically assume you are a bad guy, buuuut? and yes in a police shooting the internal affairs guy wont talk to the office until he has counsel but thats not your concern.
You cant just say "I was afraid" or "I was in fear for my life" those are what every you tube attorney says; but cops have heard the crap too. This is where you have to articulate,. really sell your story....
"I gave them my wallet and my watch; but they wanted my wedding ring. My wife passed away 3 years ago and I just couldnt give them the ring, its all I have left from her. I begged them to let me keep it and they hit me, so I shot them. I didnt want to but they wanted her ring... Officer I thought I hit the other guy but he ran away, is he ok?. Can I sit down, Im kinda wobbly, I think it was from when they hit me"
Dont do the "I play golf with the Chief" crap or do you know judge Sally Rottencrotch. He wont know the Chief, and probably wont like him if he did, cuz Police Chiefs are politicians and cant remember the last time they had to miss dinner with their family to write a report then wait for 3 bosses to approve it before going home and then be back for the next shift which is rapidly getting closer.
Sell your events. Dont be an *** doing it. If you need to sit or want a drink of water say so. If you need to check your insulin, tell him. If you need to call your daughter to come get the dog, say so.
If you screamed profanity or something racial, better to say it early and apologize because that really not you; but you were scared. Thats understandable in the heat of the attack; but less so when its played on some ring door bell video later.
Its really not that hard. The insurance companies are selling fear. If you insist that you want insurance then maybe dont wait for the attorney, you can always inform him later; but chances are you wont need him.. VICTIMS dont need attorneys
I'll admit that I used to think it was a good idea; but that was before I stared talking to them. Of the ones I considered, some ONLY reimbursed you after you were found not guilty (that not much help), and all advised you to not say anything until the lawyer was present and THAT is a mistake. OK its a mistake if you cant keep your wits or if youre prone to making up things.
Your title in a report will either be VICTIM, Suspect, or both Victim/Supect, and once youre listed as a suspect, NOTHING will change that. Consider that when the 911 call comes out the responding officer is looking at his watch and wondering how long this is gonna take; because hes just like you and he wants to go home. You not talking doesnt upset him, its one less thing for him to write. So he wont be getting YOUR story and wont see the events from your point of view. He wont know where to look for the gun that got tossed away on the roof or in the sewer. He may glace that way but hes not calling the FD for a ladder to look on the roof unless you tell him. You may have told 911 that there were two guys but if he didnt see the other guy as he was driving light and siren to you, chances are that guy is gone (maybe with the gun). Sure maybe there is video but thats days away from being looked at UNLESS you tell him what happened.
Dont LIE DONT Embellish. Tell him what happened, not every detail to start but what caused you to have to shoot. Details can come later BUT first you have to convince him that you ONLY YOU were the victim. You can toss in that you are older then the suspects and you lost half a lung in the war or have a heart condition. You might even ask for an ambo to check you out because you have high blood pressure BUT dont stop talking to him. The medics will be good witnesses, so dont flirt with the hot one until after its all over and you take pizza to the fire house. (BTW pizza to the police station is probably better than donuts....) but thats for AFTER
Cops have seen enough to "know" that bad guys ask for an attorney. They wont automatically assume you are a bad guy, buuuut? and yes in a police shooting the internal affairs guy wont talk to the office until he has counsel but thats not your concern.
You cant just say "I was afraid" or "I was in fear for my life" those are what every you tube attorney says; but cops have heard the crap too. This is where you have to articulate,. really sell your story....
"I gave them my wallet and my watch; but they wanted my wedding ring. My wife passed away 3 years ago and I just couldnt give them the ring, its all I have left from her. I begged them to let me keep it and they hit me, so I shot them. I didnt want to but they wanted her ring... Officer I thought I hit the other guy but he ran away, is he ok?. Can I sit down, Im kinda wobbly, I think it was from when they hit me"
Dont do the "I play golf with the Chief" crap or do you know judge Sally Rottencrotch. He wont know the Chief, and probably wont like him if he did, cuz Police Chiefs are politicians and cant remember the last time they had to miss dinner with their family to write a report then wait for 3 bosses to approve it before going home and then be back for the next shift which is rapidly getting closer.
Sell your events. Dont be an *** doing it. If you need to sit or want a drink of water say so. If you need to check your insulin, tell him. If you need to call your daughter to come get the dog, say so.
If you screamed profanity or something racial, better to say it early and apologize because that really not you; but you were scared. Thats understandable in the heat of the attack; but less so when its played on some ring door bell video later.
Its really not that hard. The insurance companies are selling fear. If you insist that you want insurance then maybe dont wait for the attorney, you can always inform him later; but chances are you wont need him.. VICTIMS dont need attorneys
Last edited:
