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Trouble with Police!

The only time I was ever accosted by school personnel was a maintenance man who was showing off for a couple of his buddies I suppose. He made a point to ask in a jeering manner , If I knew this was school property?" Without even much looking up to acknowledge him I responded, "Of course I do, I'm paying for it"! He mumbled and stumbled around a little having been made to look foolish and went on off. He must have checked with someone because he came back later alone and asked me if I might help him find some sprinkler heads or some covered up water shut off lids. I told him of course I would help and give him my phone number. Since then I have seen him several times and he always stops to visit. Another time I got the feeling I was being watched as I was wearing headphones and was intent on working an area where tickets were purchased for ball games. I looked around and saw a fat guy "jigger" who had stopped and watched me for I don't know how long. He finally asked if I was ashamed at taking those kids lunch money, again in a smirking manner. I responded,"Yeah, I feel a little guilty about that, but I'd feel real good to find your wife's thousand dollar wedding ring!" Away he went in a huff but never bothered me again. I can't abide disrespectful attitudes or condescending smart asses, so I can't just remain quiet. It just isn't in my nature. I was a cop for 30 years and pretty well know how to handle it if someone called the police on me. I would tell him basically that if it really bothered someone that much I would leave, provided he went and told them it was perfectly legal for me to be there and that I was leaving. Also that I might be back at a later date and not to call in because they couldn't respond. Nine times out of ten the only reason they approach you is to see who you are and what you are doing if it's not your neighborhood. Anyway, just my personal experience. Jim
 
Great post and its always nice to know that others have experienced the same type of crap i have had to take from people when i have been detecting over the years, from bystanders , dog walkers , parks'y and anyone else and his granny who wants me off the site!.
 
"It is my hobby. I help keep these kids that use this park(or school grounds), safe by locating and picking up the sharp shredded metal and other objects that may hurt them if they were to fall on it or step on it if barefooted. I use this metal detector to help me locate sharp metal that is located just below the surface or that may be dirty and hard to see or just covered with grass clipings." Then I show them a hand full of the can slaw, that I have actually picked up from this and other parks. If they mention finding coins, then tell them that "oh yeah, it helps a little to pay for batteries for the detector, but that is about all." How could someone get mad at this reply!!!! ALWAYS carry some can slaw with you at all times! I had already been told "no' but it got me into a school the other day when I showed some can slaw to the head janitor. He said "go ahead and go, the school nurse told me that we need to get rid of some of the sharp metal on the playground anyway."
 
He has been a park ranger for 5 years. About 3 years ago, he ran me off. The park is not posted but he pulled out his little book of rules and showed me that detecting is not allowed. He did not show it to me this time. We chatted for a while, asked him how many people he has caught metal detecting in his 5 years, he said "three including you". It is really a big problem it seems at this park? I usually do the volley ball courts and some of the overflow parking areas which are not very well groomed, lots of dead areas with no grass at all. I use a thin bladed screw driver and my vibra-probe which you all know goes down maybe 1 inch. So if my probe can detect it, I pop it out of the ground. Hell squirrel's make more of a mess than I do and everytime a socker player does a skid, he rips up 10 times more grass than I do in many hours of detecting. It looks like I need to go to the head of Parks and Recreation, show him how and what I do and get permission. Maybe even make them Post it if they are going to enforce it. What do you think?
 
With permission you have a no worries situation. Best time would be when school is out. Anyone of authority would do, doesn't have to be the principal. I would explain your going to remove as much trash and dangerous articles (wire, sharp metal etc) as you can. Any keys or other identifiable items would be turned in. Maybe a note to the teachers that you find lost things (for parents) would get you into a lot of yards and private property. Good hunting, David@Dixie
 
I had a similar runin with a neighborhood troll. My subdivision is on top of a major battlefield. 800 forested acres, that keeps getting dug up. She threatened to call the police. I told her to go away. She called the land developer, who in turn called the builders instructing them to call the police right away if they see anyone. He ordered the builders to file willful tresspass charges. A few days later, the builder did approach me, and was really nice about it. He was a relic hunter as well. There really is no law against it, and trespass does not really apply since it is my own neighborhood, and inside our common areas.

My answer has been to get a new job working for a federal agency that issues its own badges and guns. I suspect I'll have no further problems.
 
!I looked around and saw a fat guy "jigger" who had stopped and watched me for I don't know how long. "


So tell me:whats a "jigger"? just wondering...
 
Technically digging holes in public places is against the law. Every city has an ordinance against defacing public property. Where I live in the Dallas-Fort worth,Tx area that ordinance usually is not inforced. If someone complains and calls the police.and I am asked to leave I do. Usually the only time the police will do that is if they have a complaint. I go and find somewhere else to hunt. Probably no one in authority will give you permission because if you get hurt on that property they could be liable to be sued. Best if asked by the police to leave is to politly leave and find somewhere else to hunt.
 
a jigger is a type "o" as in look at the keyboard i & o are next to each other --sub o for i and tah da its jogger!!!
 
to protect kids --schools now have laws (megan's law) now that esp if schools in you can not just roam around them -- so it might be best to chat (after hours) with the local head guy / gal explain that you want to help get rid of any "sharp" metal object that might harm the kids,explian that you will not "total" the grass or dig huge holes and if need be offer to assist the groundsman find lost water spinkler heads ect this freindly additude often will help esp if you do it after hours!!! if buzy bodies ask / bother you-- just tell them "I'm trying to find a lost ring"---you are aren't you?. if they think the ring loss just happened well thats not your fault is it?---cuz you didn't say that it was lost just now did ya? makes ya seem like a "white knight" so the "jerks" will leave, nothing they hate worse that a do gooder because theres no fight for them to start -because if they complain about you "attempting" to help find someones ring THEY look like a total jerk.and if they do call the cops and the cops come you can say yah i said i was looking for rings because i am --you never know if one was lost around here.
 
I am a Law Enforcement Officer not a street officer anymore as the feds get paid better:thumbup: but I can tell you that they asked him to leave so the first moron would not call 500 times telling them he pays their salaries. Tell your friend to get permission and maybe a point of contact for the police, take them the number and explain to them (police) he has permission and give them the contact number, then in the future when the guy that pays all of them calls they can tell him that while they are happy to talk to him to help him pass his time, he will have to find something else to complain about maybe he has a neighbor that has to many cars parked at his house or something else they can waste time on. Also remember the next time you need a cop and ones not around they are at schools chasing off evildoers looking for coins, rings and the like:detecting:
 
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