[justjim]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

I don't believe my post maligned the police, but I certainly don't believe they are above criticism when they receive a complaint and don't even bother to interview the source of the complaint.

This is not the first thread in which people say their complaints are met by a statement from the police that they can't do anything about an issue.

I have a multi-agency law enforcement career which included experience with a small town police department, one of the largest sheriff's offices in the nation and an elite federal agency. I am as pro-law enforcement as you can get.

Nevertheless, I cannot conceive of a situation where a police officer would not at least talk to the source of a complaint in an attempt to resolve the concerns of the person making the complaint.

In the case under discussion in this thread, the python is regarded as an exotic pet which requires a (cost free) license to own. At the least the police could have spoken to the owner to assure that the proper license existed. In the same conversation the officer could have made the owner aware of the concerns of the complainant and perhaps the owner would have removed the snake from the area in consideration for those who were made uncomfortable by its presence.

In my law enforcement career I never failed to talk to the source of a complaint, even when I knew no violation of law had occurred. Sometimes you meet some very nice people when you do so.

Exactly---I agree.