From the Desk of Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz
‘Did You Know’ March 1, 2022
INTERFERING WITH A POLICE INVESTIGATION… OR REFUSING TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF… CAN BE ILLEGAL
Across the country, the past decade has seen an increase in organized “civil disobedience” efforts, designed to disrupt or challenge police officers during lawful performance of their duty. Organizations like “Copblock” and “Police the Police” post regular articles encouraging activity that could be easily construed as damaging to the peace and well being of society. The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office recently responded to a report of domestic violence and the first deputy to arrive was met by a drunken man. When asked to identify himself, the antagonistic man claimed that he had no legal obligation to identify himself. The man was wrong. He was incorrect according to the letter of the law, and perhaps more importantly, he was wrong according to the dictates of common sense, American values and constitutional principles.
Regarding the “letter of the law”, Louisiana Law of Criminal Procedure : CCRP 215.1 – Temporary questioning of persons in public places, states… “A law enforcement officer may stop a person in a public place whom he reasonably suspects is committing, has committed, or is about to commit an offense and may demand of him his name, address, and an explanation of his actions.”
Further, criminal law LA R.S. 14:108 Resisting an Officer states… “Resisting an officer is the intentional interference with, opposition or resistance to, or obstruction of an individual acting in his official capacity and authorized by law to make a lawful arrest, lawful detention, or seizure of property or to serve any lawful process or court order when the offender knows or has reason to know that the person arresting, detaining, seizing property, or serving process is acting in his official capacity. This illegal behavior includes.. “ Refusal by the arrested or detained party to give his name and make his identity known to the arresting or detaining officer or providing false information regarding the identity of such party to the officer.”
The St. Landry Parish deputy that responded to the domestic violence complaint was wearing his Class A uniform and arrived in his marked patrol vehicle. The man who challenged the deputy’s authority to require his identity was completely wrong according to the written law in Louisiana. He was also just wrong, period. The deputy was attempting to investigate a complaint, he had been dispatched to the location, he didn’t just show up on a whim. It just makes no sense that there are organizations in our society that would influence a citizen to interfere with the already dangerous and challenging job of a street cop. This sort of thing didn’t happen 10 years ago.
Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz stated… “Why on earth would anyone want to knowingly make our job more difficult than it is already. The recent phenomena of antagonizing police officers who are just trying to do their job and obstructing our efforts to restore peace or investigate a legitimate complaint is troubling to say the least. Our deputies are very well trained and the standards of conduct that we have established here in St. Landry Parish are strict. Every deputy is Louisiana State P.O.S.T. certified and when we respond to a complaint everyone involved can expect to be treated with professional respect. Interfering with our duties
or our effort to find out who is who and what’s going on is certainly not helpful to anyone and according to the law, might land you in jail.”
The above information is intended for information purposes only and not for legal advice. For legal advice, consult an attorney. Questions can be submitted to bguidroz@slpsheriff.com.
