Listening to colleagues swear before a judge about arrest or search warrants is a really good learning tool for me. I’m a rookie cop & i try to absorb every bit I can from experiences. I like to read judicial decisions, too. Plus lots of reports. I can never know enough of this

And while my other careers help me in this, my last career, I’m still a rookie. Always a rookie. That’s the best way to learn. I’ve got some great colleagues who’ve done a ton of stuff that I pester with endless questions. It’s a cool job.

And I love when the judge goes ‘nope’. The probable cause ain’t enough or the report is a mess, so nope. Just like I have a crush on skilled public defenders. Judges that say nope are my heroes. Cuz that means the ‘yep’ actually matters. Our neighbors deserve the best, nope & yep

I’ve been embarrassed a few times in initial hearings or probable cause hearings. My fault for sure each time. It’s not a good feeling. But that’s as it should be.

I shouldn’t get the benefit of the doubt. My neighbors should.

And the best way to address judges saying ‘nope’ is colleagues who say ‘nope’ and an ethos of ‘nope’ to weak but legal arrests. Best way to not be embarrassed at court is solid cases. I love my job cuz the ‘technicalities’ are actually the point