Usually I give cops a lot of leeway when parking downtown or near intersections, but I have to agree that this is a bit over the top!

Too funny. Surprised they didn't park under the British Art Museum entryway.

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jeffery- i read some of the other posts you have on this site and was pleasantly surprised to see you annoy lots of other people.

Cops should be able to park where they want. I'm sure the original poster was mistaken about them blocking the road. They wouldn't do that.

Buhbi - They pulled up and blocked half the intersection right in front of me. Look at the picture. Cops aren't above the law.

Although not the photographer who took this photo, I am the driver of the car that got blocked in at this red light by the 2 cops driving this car. I'm unsure what I found more offensive, the blond female cop who blocked me in or the fact that she was on her cell phone (NOT handsfree) while driving up to the spot. And please, do NOT make excuses of why a cop doesn't need to follow the rules about handsfree. She & her partner were driving to Starbucks to get a cup of coffee for christsake, she should have been on handsfree while driving. Nice example NHPD!!!!

They're just waiting to collect their $100,000 pensions...

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I don't think its out of proportion to expect the people who enforce the law, to obey the law

Just on Friday I had a cop driving directly in front of me and then suddenly STOP in the road to talk to the cop that was driving in the opposite direction. This happened on College Street at the top of the Green - which is a one lane traffic both directions. So the rest of us had to wait a few minutes while they finished their conversations. Note there were several parking spaces open that they could have just pulled over to talk, but that would have been the smart thing to do. (Rolls eyes)

Wow there were "several parking spaces open" in that busy area. That is amazing in itself. Do you have any idea, E, what those cops were talking about? Are you so sure they were just BSing about nothing in particular?

Hmmmmmmmmmm...you would think if cops were talking about anything important, it would come thru over their radio so they could handle the situation immediately instead of lollygagging in the streets holding up normal traffic.

"Whatev" - There are always several spaces available now - ya know school is out, right? Knock knock knock. I never have a hard time finding a place to park on that street after school is out. Also, there is always a big area in front of Yale that is a no parking zone anyway. So YES, there were "several parking spaces open" on both sides of the streets.

Regardless WHAT they were talking about, it shouldnt have held up traffic. It obviously wasn't important enough to require sirens, lights or a rush-off to a call. And for the record, I was directly behind them, it was obviously a light-hearted conversation because they where quite relaxed and laughing.

Common sense here!

Agreed: common sense needed here. There was no urgency, and it is both unprofessional and discourteous to park like this, in addition to illegal.

This is not a personal matter of giving a tired cop a break, it's a professional matter of providing the service and respectability that we city residents are paying for.

I have heard that they don't get proper breaks but that is a separate issue to be taken up with their administrators. Giving them exemptions from the law does not fix either problem.

I believe this issue remains a matter of concern for our community, and it is definitely worthy of some more (hopefully constructive) debate.

Cops Big Sister - the cop car blocked the INTERSECTION - not a car parked. Reread before you post. If you look at the picture, its a one lane one way traffic next to Starbucks across the street from British Art Center....the cop is parked BLOCKING the driving traffic AT the intersection...... therefore the car had to drive around the back end of the cop car, going AGAINST traffic at the cross street to go AROUND the cop car.... COMMON SENSE HERE LADY!

And Im NOT a "Yalie" - in fact, we moved here from another state in 2007.... but that has NOTHING to do with the fact that this all started on an ILLEGAL and DANGEROUS situation.

If a cop wants a few minutes to themselves...FINE! No problem! Just do it legally and where it isnt causing other problems. COMMON SENSE!

Cops big sister.

Firstly, I am not, and never have been a Yalie.

Secondly, we were waiting at the red light, NOT parked, when the cop pulled up and blocked half the intersection in front of us. I'm pretty sure waiting at a red light is still legal in this city.

Thirdly, I don't understand why the city should give cops bluetooth. My employer didn't give me bluetooth, I bought it myself. If they want to talk on their phones and drive, they should use it, and if they don't want to buy it, then they shouldn't use their phones. The law is very clear, and cops are not above the law.

Don't worry though, I won't expect anything to change while cops and their relatives seem unable to understand why cops should obey the law.

I think it is worth keeping this issue open, as blocking the intersection like this eliminates sight lines, reduces the visibility of pedestrians, may cause hardship to disabled individuals and can be very dangerous.

Let's propose some resolutions. Has the new police chief acknowledged that this is an issue? Would anyone like to meet with him to discuss it?

In the long term, curb extensions would eliminate this kind of dangerous parking behavior, and also provide more space to pedestrians. There's no reason why High Street has to be more than 10 feet wide at the point where it intersects with Chapel - vehicles can pass through, and pedestrians would be more comfortable only having to cross 10 feet of road (ideally as a raised surface, as is done throughout many other cities).

P.S. The attached photo shows a typical curb extension and protected, raised intersection area. If the city is serious about creating a walkable environment and preventing dangerous blocking of sight lines, it should consider measures like these.

Re Jim

No, no, no. If a person doesn't have the driving ability to navigate around the back of that car they shouldn't have a license. I know that intersection quite well and the creative parking jobs people do for a Starbucks run. Myself included. I've never had the rear of my car out in the intersection, but I'm not a cop either. Whether you(s) like it or not cops have a little leway especially in terms of parking their vehicles. If they need to leave quickly they can. I certainly wouldn't call what she did dangerous.

Mark - no, the city is not serious about that.

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detour01

I had no problem with driving around the police car to avoid smacking into the back of it. I, of course understand that accident would have been my fault even though a police cruiser had blocked an intersection.

Police officers used to be someone you looked up too, someone a child might inspire to be like. Now, they come across as the worst lawbreakers around because they are lazy, careless and feel a sense of entitlement.

Why in the world couldn't that police woman find a true parking spot like you (well not detour 01 because they too, think they are above the law) and me, when we want to run into Starbucks?

When cops are in uniform, they need to be doing their jobs. That includes obeying the laws. I would be happy for my taxes to provide better working conditions for the police but it all begins with cutting the corruption. Cutting yourself an exemption from law and professional courtesy is not acceptable when you're wearing that uniform. Having visited other countries where the police are held to high standards, I feel that police in uniform should not be allowed to buy a coffee either. That's something for break time, in private, back at HQ. We have to change the way police time is managed to give them proper breaks so they don't have to cross this line between on-duty and off-duty, and so they aren't pressured into breaking the law because it's the only way to get even a short break.

Police have special road rights when responding to calls, not otherwise. The police work for the taxpayer, and if need be we must hold them accountable to the law. They enjoy special privileges to respond to calls for our protection; they do not have carte blanche to violate traffic rules at their discretion. Some people seem to be unclear on this.

Remember the kids who were killed in Milford last year when a cop thought it would be cool to drive 90mph on a city street? Did he get a free pass? No.

To the poster above "Yale Law"

Ok, now I think you are getting a bit extreme and overboard here. They should be able to have the right to go out and get a few moments to themselves since they are on call during their shift hours. They dont get "scheduled" breaks like an office person. Lets not be militant about this. They are people too. The point we were making is that they should be held to the same law that the rest of us are held to. Certainly if this was a response to a call and not just to get some coffee, we wouldnt put a stink about it. But when you are not acting in an emergency situation, then they need to abide by all laws.

Detour01 - its people like you who get "creative" about their parking jobs that makes driving on the streets frustrating. If you followed the law like the rest of us, it would surely make driving safer and less stressful.

When you don't follow the law - this is what it says about you:

1) Disrespectful
2) Thinks they are above the law
3) Selfcentered
4) Believes they are more important than everyone else

So next time, be creative and find a legal parking spot like the rest of us - even if its for a "quick starbucks run".

@ E:

"The point we were making is that they should be held to the same law that the rest of us are held to. "

Exactly what I said. See above.

My post wasnt to you YaleLaw - it was to the person ABOVE you. Hense my note: "To the poster above Yale Law"

Should stay open until acknowledged by Police Chief, at least.

How about making a formal complaint. You have a picture. I'm sure you have a time and date this occurred. This is a blatant violation of the law and violation of department policy I'm sure, IF THEY WENT TO BUY COFFEE. The PD can find out if they were investigating something or just buying coffee, which you assume and have us assume they were doing because you don't have a picture of the officers leaving Starbuck's with their coffee.

Me? I think the cop saw the person exiting what I think is an older Mercedes parked directly in front as shown in the photo. If the person went into Starbucks I'm sure the cop followed in order to say 'move the car or it's getting towed'. That spot on Chapel is often used by Starbucks & other "just gotta run in for a sec" patrons but it's not legitamate parking.

I think you need your eyes checked BB! The car is CLEARLY in the center of the road. That road is only allowed parking on the right side of the road. And youre right, the spot at the front is often used when its not legally allowed. However, if you note the curb to the left of the photo at the wiperblade and the pole - you can clearly tell there is only a small amount of space between the vehicle and the left side of the street - meaning the car is in the middle waiting at the light. Otherwise, it would mean that the photographer is parked in the middle of the street or near the left side, and thus theoretically, reflecting back to your scenario, you would then see the cop in the picture somewhere - because I doubt a cop would allow the driver to stop and take a picture in the cops presence nor would they walk off after telling you to move...they would wait until you have done so - again meaning the cop would have to be in the picture which again they wouldnt allow.

In other words, youre wrong.

E, I guess the cop already walked out of the photo. My comment wasn't very clear though - I'm talking about the car in front of the cop car, not the one taking the picture. Make sense now?

Got it. Thx for the clarification.

If Jeffery is the one who closed this issue, I'd like to know why. Did he personally speak with the police? I'd like to know if there is a way he can be blocked from closing issues. I would love to block him from posting, period, but that would make me as intolerant and ignorant as he is. No one should be allowed to closean issue on this board unless you are a moderator and it is your job to do so.

His posts were reported. Jeff isnt even apart of this discussion and he is seen all over SCF as a troublemaker. The only people that should be allowed to close an issue is the creator and mods.

Looks like people still have more to say on this issue - reopening.

I thought "Jeffrey100york" was administrator on the site. Guess not? Whatever he's a control freak AH I guess. Yeah, so back to the cop car... ah, well it's ah... parked abnormally... Actually I don't care anymore either.

this cop should done what we have to do: drive around the block 3 or 4 times until he found a parking spot, if he still couldn't find one he should gone to the top floor of the parking garage. better to do that then leave the police car handy in case of a call

I have experienced countless examples of not only parking above the law, but also driving. This is really disappointing. I was walking north on State and Pearl on Saturday, 7/3 when a NH police cruiser (without lights on) came flying down State - I turned to see what the rush was, and the speed radar trailer clocked the cruiser at 53 mph! Wish I had a camera at the ready... but I wasn't surprised really, I've gotten used to that sort of thing living here.

Sometimes police go to calls without lights & sirens - big deal. They have training and drive better than most of us.

Right on Billy Bob! Agreed. Too many folks just complaining about nothing.

how about the police and traffic and parking get together and pick maybe 5 parking spots around the city where police would need quick access to throughout their shifts?

paint & a signpost saying "police parking only". some like these exist, but they are just in front of the court house on church street.

that way, they don't have to do haphazard parking jobs whenever they are in a rush, which often limits visibility of drivers at intersections and limits pedestrian access to sidewalks.

Stop whining and make a formal complaint. Cops are not above the law....Officers have to follow the law just as they enforce it. Additionally there are department policies to be followed as well. If an Officer is found to have broken a policy they will be dealt with administratively. Blocking an intersection unnecessarily can get an officer a written reprimand in their file, no one wants a blemish in their file.

i am reopening this issue because this it is persistent enough to keep open, if not just for the sake of a place to track a trail of it happening.

I'm a police officer and yes the officer operating that vehicle was wrong. Remember people we are held at a higher standard because of the fact that we wear a uniform and have to be trusted by the people to protect their life and property as is almost every person wearing a uniform. I browse seeclickfix very often to read the posting and apply some of them to my patrols at night when I see something that is in my area. I cannot make an arrest based on the posting but can keep an eye on certain areas that are to be considered "hotspots" for crime. Believe me; New Haven is a busy town for crime, I earn every penny that the city gives me. Posting issues like this one makes everyone that reads them think that every officer is not follow the very same laws we enforce. Next time you see a police officer; thank them for the wonderful job they are doing considering that every crime cannot be stopped.

To the above: I agree that citizens should be respectful and grateful to police officers, but I disagree that posts like these make everyone think officers are not following the law.

First of all, this behavior is clearly an exception, not the rule - if it were the latter, it wouldn't be an item worth posting.

Second, posting issues like this can help save lives. Blocking intersections and sightlines is extremely dangerous.

I hope this helps you understand that people here are just trying to save lives. Since they share the same goal as our police department, let's work together to keep this from happening again.

As intersection safety and visibility is improved through measures like curb extensions, we may need to consider additional loading zones or police parking zones, as Juli suggests.

Thank you again for your work on behalf of the city and please join us in raising these types of issues to your supervisors and elected officials.

For the most part cops suck.They are abusive,disrespectful and I want to say racist but I really cant remember one being out in out racist to me in NH.EH hell yeah But I will say the vast majority are crooks and liars,thank you for being a cop but considering all the money you steal from drug dealer and 40 plus hours of traffic duty @60 per hour. Getting paid to kill our kids and saddle children with a felony record what good r u You did not find they guy who shot my son.I have lived here my whole life so I just like others we know the NH police department and I have no love for those that don't love me. I spent almost1 year in jail and 10K for a crime I had nothing to do with.It ruined my life and left me with a record that hurts . If you have to lie in your police report then you are the criminal NHPD is a JOKE

See above.

Very odd the level of controversy on this.

the routine violation of basic laws by some members of the NHPD serves as a discredit to those individuals. We are talking about people who have a job which is to enforce laws. How can they expect respect and credit if they fail to follow the same laws, which they expect the rest of us to follow?

It perplexes me that some officers can routinely break minor laws and think it's OK. Meanwhile, we have other officers ticketing every 16 year old on a bike on a sidewalk.

In East Rock, one of the NHPD officers routinely parks illegally by P&M in the evening, despite there being a multitude of legal parking spots. Is it so hard to park legally? This officer always parks on Cottage street where there is no legal parking, and then backs onto Orange street (illegally) from the one-way.

Frequent Reader:
I routinely thank officers when I interact with them on an issue! I understand your concern, and sympathize with you, and even agree that MOST officers do not break the law.

However, those that do are persistent, constant, and very public about their violations. Neighborhood groups do complain: directly to the chief, supervisors, Lts, and District Managers. I have yet to see a single instance of discipline being reported back to these community groups.

We have a right to request that the NHPD operate legally and safely on our streets.

Not resolved, but it has been a long time now, so its probably time to let this one die.