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Police visit in the park today

M

MrGee

New member
I was detecting in a small park which adjoins the city swimming pool today when a policeman approached me and told me that the folks who run the pool didn't want me "messing up" their lawn. I pointed out a nearby pile of dog crap and suggested that I was not the one messing up the park. He was very friendly and seemed to regret having to ask me to leave. Think I'll go inside tomorrow and give them back all the trash that I've dug in that lawn. It is a city park, but evidently their wishes trump "public property". No sense being confrontational about it. I jut packed up and moved to the ball diamond.

MrGee
 
I think that I would have accompanied the cop over to the folks that had the "issue" and asked them in his presence (respectfully) what they found objectionable and asked them to point it out. I'm assuming you were leaving it nice. If you've checked and its permissible to metal detect in your city parks, I would first try to educate the complainers as to what you're doing and how you leave it after a dig and tell them, "Hey, I understand your concern, I wouldnt want MY lawn full of holes either, but if you take a look you'll see that I'm not doing that". I would not surrender my rights under the city's ordinances UNLESS it was the only way to keep peace. I would also inform them (respectfully) if this truly is the case, that you have the city's approval to be there, again, if its not going to start a war. I know that retreat IS sometimes the better part of valor, but you have as much right to enjoy the city parks and what they offer as they do, be it swimming, BBQing or "tectin". I just this week went to my city, county and state people to see where I can and cannot use my detector. The city said "Sure, have at it, just please fill your holes". Very nice folks. The county, same deal, and I had to apply for permits to hunt in state parks, to which I already got a reply saying it would be issued within 3 working days. I intend to make good use of the "approvals". Lol.
Good luck with that.
Ken.:thumbup:
 
[size=large]if you won't stand for your rights then you have no rights. those folks may run the pool but it don't sound like they run the park. these folks NEED to be stood up to. you don't lose the right for yourself. you lose them for everyone. hooorah!! :usmc:

HH[/size]
 
I was out testing a new coil today and had some very hatefull treatment. I'd been detecting all day and decided to hit one last park, which my research showed some old buildings. Well I hunted for about 2 hrs. and then went back to the truck. I had some fairly old coins as well as my digger that I clean a little before I leave as I need a little break and was standing at my truck when a family came home who had a house next to the park parking lot. Anyway they accused me of being a stalker and other things that shouden;t be repeated. They threatend to call the police on me which really upset me, Sooo I deciced I would detect the parking lot until the police came which they never did. This is next to a very nice neighbored where people should have bettter sense but they don;t They even told their boy to go inside!! Well I guess I will never understanding people. Maybe I;m better off for it. What is it about a single male in a park being some kind of a deviate? Are people really this scared and if they are what of ? I really think they should worry about themselves if they have sings of paranoia and not other people. JMOP.
 
You did the right thing.
 
MrGee said:
I was detecting in a small park which adjoins the city swimming pool today when a policeman approached me and told me that the folks who run the pool didn't want me "messing up" their lawn. I pointed out a nearby pile of dog crap and suggested that I was not the one messing up the park. He was very friendly and seemed to regret having to ask me to leave. Think I'll go inside tomorrow and give them back all the trash that I've dug in that lawn. It is a city park, but evidently their wishes trump "public property". No sense being confrontational about it. I jut packed up and moved to the ball diamond.

MrGee
Click to expand...

I had something similar happen to me but it was a city park ranger. He told me he had gotten a complaint about me digging and had to talk to me about it. I had noticed his truck and him watching me for a while before he approached. He was impressed with my recovery methods and realized I was not doing any damage. He wound up saying that he was leaving and it was up to me if I quit. He said he would not be back unless he got another call. I told him that if I saw him come back, I would assume he got another call and I would quit rather than make it hard on him. I checked into it and found there was no rule against detecting the parks, but that information was not passed on to the grounds keepers. They were the ones complaining. I talked to a ranger at a later date about it and he said he would bring it up with his boss, since he is over both the park rangers and the grounds keepers so maybe it won't happen again.
 
The key to that situation is not to get angry. Talk quietly and stress that if the park was "posted" then you wouldn't be metal detecting. Last week my buddy and I were detecting a city park and some tree pruners who worked for the city stopped us and asked if we had a permit to detect. I said we didn't and then they said we had to stop and go get a permit. I then pointed out a nearby sign that had the rules for the park and said that if we weren't allowed to metal detect it would be on that list. Since it wasn't on the list we assumed we could detect. They looked at the sign, looked at us, then looked at each other, then left. We continued to metal detect.
 
ALWAYS carry a bag of junk you have dug up to show people when they complain about you being in the park. Usually that does the trick and they let you stay.

Salida
 
i am glad i don't have to deal with that kinda stuff, my local police approached me just to see what i was finding, left me a card and put me on some kinda community crime watch committee. Heck the park closed at 10 pm, the police said i could stay as late as i wanted and to give them a call if i saw something suspicious going on.
 
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