Can anyone tell me what the local police officers are like? Can you talk with them or are they all about business? I will be there for the first time on March 22nd and not sure what to expect from the local constabulary.
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Can anyone tell me what the local police officers are like? Can you talk with them or are they all about business? I will be there for the first time on March 22nd and not sure what to expect from the local constabulary.
as a rule, dont break the law, smile at them, if they smile back, try chattin them up, you will know if they want to have a conversation, break the law....and you will definitely start a "chat"......as Aretha said...."RESPECT !"
My experience is that they are not too talkative, especially the 'undercover' ones. :)
the tourist police, the ones in white r ok the regular seem to me not very friendly the few times I tried to strike up a conversation
I understand their presence has increased a bit lately, but there aren't a whole lot of cops around and there isn't necessarily any reason you need to interact with them if you don't wish to.
I have talked to the "beach Police" quite a few times. I thank them for being there and chat a bit, they seem to appreciate someone taking the time to talk with them. I have never had any interaction with the reg police.
What is the difference between regular and beach police?
Regular police got guns. big guns.
I walked by a JCF road checkpoint at the north end of the bridge going into Negril around noon today. Saw assault rifles (M16s or M4's) hanging from the shoulders of several serious looking officers.
Yup - the regular police generally have big guns and wear some type of body armor. The beach (tourist) police don't have weapons, but wear uniforms with safari-type hats.
i've sat at that beach for many years . . . never saw the beach police actually "do" anything other than walk at a snail's pace. what are their duties anyway?
Attachment 41095 From Drifters bar with Tourist Police. I like to tell people She's my long, lost daughter. I'm certain you can see the Family Resemblance (I'm so proud).
To hide in the shade shooting the $hit looking all cool with their uniforms. They are actually their to make sure the beach is safe for people to enjoy. Some do their job and tell annoying pestering higglers to bug off. Chat one of them up, they are really friendly and fun to smoke with.Quote:
Originally Posted by JitterBug
The "real" police can be approachable as well at the right times. When they are all suited up for war with the big guns leave them alone. I've chatted with them in Negril turning a traffic stop with 3 locals from them paying some fines or going to jail into me playing with their radar/Lidar gun and us being able to leave with no fines and no "lunch money" being exchanged. Paid enough "lunch money" all over the rest of the island.....
Almost forgot and Rob correct me if I'm wrong, I think the tourist police "police " powers are limited to arresting/detaining locals and not tourist?
They cannot "arrest" but they can detain until the police arrive. That includes anyone committing a crime as visitors have been known to commit crimes. There was a trip report last year that caught a pic of a visitor who tried to steal the bag on the beach from one of our Boardies.
Tourists stealing from tourists. It's been known to happen.
Let me relate a story that I may have told before. I'm not sure; but I like to tell it anyway.
My son is a restaurant manager here in Niagara Falls Canada. We get 13 million visitors in a good year and it takes all kinds.
A table of 4 (two couples) were leaving the restaurant and the server was told the money was on the table. Well, it wasn't.
The guy who left the money on the table with the bill swore up and down he paid the tab and left a generous tip and then began accusing the staff of ripping him off.
My son said hold on a minute and checked the security video. Guess who stole the money! The couple they were travelling with scooped it.
Thanks for all your answers. I will definitely chat up the Beach Police and be careful about the "Real Police" with guns. I just like to get different points of view from the hotel staff, vendors, and local govt. workers. You only learn by conversing.
I was pulled over for passing where the line was solid , in Lucea on the way here. The male wanted to give me a ticket, but I talked my way out of it with a female officer she was much nicer.😎
The beach police are worthless. The security at the hotel seem to be the ones keeping the vagrants out of your hair. Chances are you will not see the real police.
I disagree with all of that except that hotel security generally does a good job keeping unwanted vendors at bay. The tourist police are there for a reason, you would notice if they weren't there. We see actual police all the time, both on and off the beach (mostly off).Quote:
Originally Posted by Mtig
The "beach police" (pith helmets and white uniforms) are a private security firm hired by the government to patrol the beach. They are not actual Police Officers in the traditional sense. That is why they are limited in their enforcement capacity. They are there to assist you, so by all means approach one should you have a need or an issue. As mentioned, they can detain (and apprehend) but cannot arrest. They call in the police to do that.
They are there to help you, not to interfere in what they may perceive as a normal tourist activity, which can encompass some very "strange/odd - wide range" of behaviour at times... (grin)
Do they patrol at night ? I don't Recall seeing them.
Yes they do. You may see them at more at the shows, the busier bars, less walking on foot but more driving in their jeeps to cover more ground as there are less tourists walking at night. Once again - if you need their assistance, they are there to serve. Just ask them!
I heard the beach police are called white caps.
I've seen the beach police take a lot of guff from many different higglers. I'm sure their pay doesn't pay for that crap. I'm glad there around.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mtig