Season 4, Week 2 of the A&E Hit
Here’s what you missed on Live PD this weekend.
Live PD is the ratings-winning, three-hour law enforcement ride-along show that ordinarily airs fresh episodes on Friday and Saturday evenings (with occasional bonus episodes on other nights) at 9 p.m. Eastern time on the A&E television network. Live PD producers and videographers embed in real time with officers on patrol from eight different U.S. police agencies.
The Missoulian outlines the advantages and disadvantages of Live PD for law enforcement:
“Live PD has proven a mixed bag for cities and counties featured on the hit reality-TV crime show. Some police departments and sheriff’s offices have touted increased recruitment and public support after being filmed and broadcast live to the nation. But others have seen lawsuits, increased officer danger and pushback from citizens who felt the show focused on the worst parts of their hometowns. The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office recently entered into a contract with Live PD…allowing the show unfettered access to its day-to-day operations. In a statement, MCSO said it was honored to be featured on the show beginning Sept. 20.
“But at least three jurisdictions have been sued by people filmed on the show, and others have reported impeded investigations, officers being distracted in dangerous situations, and negative publicity. Those issues are also accompanied by concerns of people being treated and portrayed as guilty, rather than allowing for a judge or jury to decide that, tarnishing the reputations of people falsely accused or acquitted.
“In Streetsboro, Ohio, a suburb of Akron, Police Chief Darin Powers eventually decided to end the contract with the show’s producer, Big Fish Entertainment, in 2018 after it began to cost the department money.
“Because filming crews were crowding the patrol cars, additional officers were needed to transport suspects, leading to manpower and overtime issues, Powers told the Columbus Dispatch at the time.”
Local Politics
As Live PD viewers are likely aware, officials in Williamson County, Tex., voted in August to terminate the contract between the Sheriff’s Office and the show. Sheriff Chody wanted to continue, however, and a grassroots petition is or was circulating in the area in support of keeping the deputies on Live PD.
Democrats now want to end the participation of Salinas PD, according to KION: “The Monterey County Democratic Central Committee unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday formally opposing the city’s continuation of its contract with LivePD. Both groups say the believe the show portrays Salinas to the nation in a negative way. The committee joins the Salinas Union High School District in opposing it.”
And some members of the Tulsa City Council are complaining that the mayor signed the contract with the Live PD production company without holding a hearing, Fox23 reported.
Given its often intense action, unpredictability, danger, plus quirky and humorous, and sometimes mundane, interactions between cops and citizens, Live PD is perhaps the closest thing that even approaches appointment TV anymore in the fragmented entertainment space. (Live PD has also spawned several spin-offs.)
A Live PD recap follows below.
Live Plus Previously Recorded Incidents
With 32 live feeds coming into the studio, most segments are broadcast on a reported five- to 20-minute tape delay. When nothing of interest is happening in real time, pretaped segments air, which Live PD describes as incidents that happened “earlier.”
For viewers, Live PD is addicting, which perhaps is an unfortunate choice of words in this context. While millions of Americans experiment — and more than experiment — with drugs when younger, Live PD reveals a self-destructive cohort hooked on narcotics (and/or booze) well into middle age and beyond.
Many thanks to Twitter user TG LivePD (@TLivepd) who usually compiles and shares video clips from each episode on social media. Also thanks to the @LivePDFans and @LivePDPundit Twitter feeds.
As the Live PD disclaimer indicates, not all outcomes are known or final, and criminal charges, if any, may have been reduced, dismissed, or never filed.
When alleged criminal activities are depicted on Live PD, all persons are presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law.
Controlled Control Room Chaos
Don Cesareo, the founder and president of Live PD producer Big Fish Entertainment, told Deadline Hollywood that “Live PD is one of most enjoyable shows to produce because it’s such a challenge. We do a lot of prep work in terms of the field, but really what happens is that you show up on a Friday night and settle into the control room and all of the camera feeds come up and the show starts and we don’t have a run down and have three hours of TV to create. The easiest way to describe it is like having eight live breaking stories at the exact same time, but you don’t know all of the details. There’s an energy and controlled chaos that works.”
According to Cesareo, “The show originated after he and his team came across police departments that were live tweeting patrols.” Cesareo also mentioned that yet another spinoff, America’s Top Dog, is coming this winter.
And as announced, Live PD:Wanted, focusing on bringing fugitives to justice, premieres on October 17.
Rules or No Rules of the Road?
Many subjects who appear on the show in law enforcement interactions are covered with tattoos (as are the cops more often than not), love cigarettes, and often have warrants.
They often carry contraband on their person and/or in their vehicles, the latter which are often unregistered and/or uninsured.
Transporting contraband such as controlled substances plus no valid license/registration is usually an ill-advised combination as is contraband plus vehicle equipment malfunctions.
Alleged drug traffickers who fail to abide by routine traffic laws or, as noted, lack working vehicle running lights or other related equipment, can also wind up in big trouble following a probable cause search.
Two Beers, Not My Pants, and Other Mantras
“I only had two beers” is a familiar mantra from motorists pulled over upon being asked by cops if they had anything to drink that evening.
Another mantra is “not that I know of” when cops question a subject as to whether there might be illegal drugs in a vehicle or even on their person. In the alternative, subjects also often claim that drugs “belong to a friend.”
From time to time, they also claim that the pants that they are wearing in which cops find drugs belong to a friend.
Separately on the subject of wardrobe, males who appear on Live PD often don’t take the time to put on a shirt even when a cop shows up at their front door.
“Not my jacket” or “not my purse” are also familiar refrains.
In addition to the drug epidemic across across the country as well as alcoholism, the obesity epidemic is also frequently on display.
When a subject begins a sentence with “I’m going to be honest with you, officer,” you can generally expect that things will quickly go sideways.
Some combative subjects argue themselves into an arrest (i.e., talking themselves into handcuffs) even when cops are about to let them go with minor infractions, citations, or warnings.
Some suspects seem more concerned about smoking one last cigarette before jail than they are about going to jail.
Several of the cops, many of whom are impressively observant when they question subjects or investigate crime scenes, have become social media celebrities as a result of their participation in Live PD. Some of them may have a career in media or politics after they retire.
As an aside, officers across the country have a tendency to ungrammatically add the preposition “at” to the end of a sentence. I.e.: “Where do you live at?” or “Where is he/she at?”
Expect the Unexpected
Traffic stops — the primary but not the only enforcement actions seen on Live PD — are often like a flea market. Viewers never know what the officers might find inside a vehicles after either a consensual search or a probable cause search pursuant to a K9 alert or for another legal justification.
Apart from drugs and weapons, among the weird items they often find include bottles of presumably clean urine used to circumvent a drug test. Sex toys also show up from time to time.
Moreover, as suggested above, no license, no registration, and no insurance consists of a trifecta in many of those stops. (A disproportionate number of pick-up trucks seem to have issues when stopped by law enforcement officers).
Mismatched plates, expired (and/or doctored) temporary tags, and the like are also frequent infractions.
You’ll also note that subjects are typically clutching their phones at all times no matter what, even officers are trying to talk with them or or even when getting cuffed.
Excessively tinted windows beyond what is legally allowed increasingly constitute a safety issue for officers in traffic stops.
Driver’s License Optional
Somehow in America, a valid driver’s license became an optional credential for many motorists. Driving with impunity while suspended has become a thing.
Motorists sometimes claim to have a valid driver’s license, but for some inexplicable reason, they aren’t carrying it with them. Or it was stolen. Is it any wonder that the cops often ask the person behind the wheel if he or she has a drivers license on them?
Occasionally drivers will say that they have a picture of their license, registration, or other required documents on their phone rather than in their physical form.
Officers often give break to those who are driving illegally, however. Sometimes cops will allow the motorist to drive directly home or call another licensed driver to the scene to take over behind the wheel.
Judging by these traffic stops, driving while buzzed seems to be a growing, as it were, problem across the country. Weed laws vary significantly from state to state. Some jurisdictions have decriminalized possession of small amounts.
Some, but not all, of the subjects that police make contact with express excitement about being on Live PD (although occasionally they think they’re on Cops).
In switching quickly from sequence to sequence, and as you’ll see below, Live PD does not always provide an update of how cops resolved a particular encounter, if at all.
As alluded to above, K9s well trained in drug detecting and human tracking regularly assist cops in their investigations on Live PD. Note that because of changes in the laws of some states, K9s in certain jurisdictions no longer get trained for weed sniffing.
This Weekend on Live PD
If you’re wondering what happened on Live PD this weekend, a recap/summary of Friday and Saturday night’s Live PD editions follows.
Host Dan Abrams — he of the puns and the double entendres — and regular studio analysts Tom Morris, Jr., and Tulsa, Okla., PD Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin provide studio commentary.
Live PD, Season 4, Episode 3, September 27, 2019
- Tulsa, Okla. — Traffic stop; tag issue. Driver claims to be a “sovereign citizen.” Taken into custody on four outstanding warrants.
- Richland County, S.C. — Deputies spot several men drinking outside a close business that had a prominent no-trespassing sign. One subject searched and arrested for drug possession.
- Salinas, Cal. — Traffic stop; no ID. Officers find weed on driver. Vehicle search; vehicle filled with various items including a sex toy and possible contraband. Driver has suspended license and two outstanding drug-possession warrants. Female officer coming to scene to search (female) driver. Vehicle towed. Abrams: “I would say you an never be too safe.”
- Tulsa, Okla. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “During a pursuit in Tulsa, we learned once again why a bicycle is usually not the most effective getaway vehicle.” Burglary suspected detained by five officers. Meth allegedly found on person. Knife and jewelry found in backpack. Charges: attempted first-degree burglary, violation of protective orders, resisting arrest, and meth possession.
- East Providence, R.I. — Officers respond to possible breaking and entering in progress at residence. Neighbors called police to say that they spotted someone climbing through window. K9 deployed. One man detained who claims to be be a house sitter. Turns out he has warrant. Possible additional charges depending upon whether landlord wants to press charges. Officers indicate that there was human feces on walls. Abrams: “Whoever was there was not doing the walls any favors.”
- Tallahassee, Fla. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “A man proclaimed his innocence, saying ‘I don’t drive,’ which is not the best excuse when you’re caught driving.” Traffic stop; stolen vehicles. Foot bail. Suspect tased after brief foot pursuit. Charges: Resisting arrest and possession of stolen vehicle, plus possible additional charges.
- Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to scene where driver reportedly had a seizure and crashed into a building. Driver apparently abandoned vehicle at scene and was gone by the time cops arrived.
- Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers respond to report of man on bike taunting woman. Officers warn him to just stay away from McDonald’s for a few hours. Subject got a little anxious when officers put on gloves to do a routine pat-down. Abrams: “I think he was fearing there might be a different kind of examination going on there.” Larkin: “Those do start at a certain age, but we’re not the people in law enforcement that do ’em, I promise.”
- Tulsa, Okla. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “A domestic dispute involving a young man, his grandmother, and her boyfriend.” Grandson was apparently trying to protect grandma from boyfriend’s alleged domestic abuse. Turned out that boyfriend had a misdemeanor warrant and was arrested. Officers point out that this will hopefully give grandma time to go to court to obtain a protective order against boyfriend to prevent him from returning to residence. Larkin: “A lot of these little misdemeanor warrants that at times aren’t a big deal for us — they can help solve a problem out there, and this is what they did there that night.”
- Salinas, Ca. — Traffic stop; tinted window issue. Officers spot marijuana in car in plain view. Passenger on probation for gun charge. Car search. No contraband found. Driver (and passenger) released with warning to keep marijuana in sealed contained in trunk (as required by state law) and to remove illegal tint.
- Tulsa, Okla. — Stolen vehicle stop outside dollar store; occupants detained. Apparently the couple had reconciled, and owner forgot to cancel complaint that dated back to the winter. Abrams: “As Tom Morris was just saying here, a reminder that if your car is reported stolen, and you find it, you gotta let them know that you found it, because it’s still gonna be stolen as far as the police are concerned.”
- Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers respond to report of someone pointing laser at sheriff helicopter. One subject questioned who denies involvement. Officers will review helicopter video and investigate further if necessary.
- Missoula County, Mont. — Traffic stop; speeding and swerving. Driver released with warning.
- Crime of the Week — Pasco County, Fla.
- Lafayette, La. — Traffic stop; failure to signal lane change. Officers detect marijuana odor. Probable cause car search. Guns in car found. Driver arrested for firearms violation; passenger arrested on warrant.
- Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to report by resident of loud noise or explosion outside home.
- Missoula County, Mont. –Traffic stop; dim taillight. Suspended license. Passenger has no license. Both driver and passenger arrested on outstanding warrants.
- Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers respond to report of woman who fell and broke her hip. Landlord not home, so cops had to kick in door to allow EMS to enter.
- Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to burglary report at residence. Turns out to be a home invasion at gunpoint. Suspect stole two dogs and fled the scene on foot. Cops search area for suspect who had been arrested before. Officers return to residence on report of resident’s possible heart attack but turns out to be an anxiety attack. EMS also responds, and man is said to be in stable condition.
- Lawrence, Ind. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “Police are often asked to wear a lot of hats, and the case in point was there when Officer Aaron Tate became Truant Officer Tate.” Officer makes contact with two loitering kids who are transported to school after conversation about playing hooky being a bad idea for their future.
- Tulsa, Okla. — Officers respond to possible break-in at abandoned hotel. They enter hotel to investigate and clear it. Abrams: “When I hear of abandoned hotel, I think of a horror movie…squeaky doors…”
- Richland County, S.C. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “At an auto repair shop, deputies responded to a report of some body work being done after hours. Subjects are apparently a homeless couple. Lt. Danny Brown: “A lot of these vehicles are being worked on by this body repair shop…I gotta feeling they were in there engaging in he’in and she’in activity in the back seat.” Male charged with drug possession; female released. Morris, Jr.: “I hope they detail those vehicles before they give them back to the owners.”
- East Providence, R.I. — Officers try to assist disabled vehicle; flat tire. One passenger seems combative with cops. Cops claim there are allegedly two intoxicated males in car. Third occupant is a sober adult who can drive car home safety.
- Wanted segment — Tulsa, Okla.
- Williamson County, Tex. (pretaped) — Abrams: “A man was pulled over with a tire that was bent, and yes, that wasn’t the only thing bent.” Field sobriety test; DUI arrest.
- Lawrence, Ind. — Cops respond to a woman who says she was pushed, hit, and bitten by another woman at bar. EMS summoned. Suspect left establishment and is at large.
- Lafayette, La. — Officers respond to possible burglary at residence.
- Missoula County, Mont. — Deputies pursue wrong-way driver on highway. Female driver detained; uncooperative with deputy trying to conduct field sobriety testing. Driver arrested for DUI. End of episode.
Live PD, Season 4, Episode 4, September 28, 2019
- Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop. Driver pulled into traffic on wrong side of the road. No license. Car search. Drugs found.
- Salinas, Cal. — Officers arrest “dapper” parolee for warrants.
- Tulsa, Okla. — Officers question alleged fraud suspect at motel. Abrams: “How many times have we heard on this program ‘these are not my pants,’ and apparently this may be the second time the police have approached him when he’s wearing trousers that don’t belong to him.” Secondary subject detained in lobby; officers field test baggie that they suspect might be meth.
- Lafayette, La. — Officers in foot search in wooded area with K9 for burglary suspect.
- Salinas, Cal. — Officers detain subject who allegedly was breaking car windows with rocks in parking lot next to soccer field.
- Missoula County, Mont. — Captain Burt responds to deer with wire netting stuck on antlers. Field and game officer called to scene to attempt to tranquilize deer and then remove netting. Unfortunately, the deer disappears. Graphics: “Will the buck stop here”?, “What the buck?,” “Bedtime for Bambi.”
- Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; multiple violations. K9 alert; probable cause car search. Driver released with no charges; warning for traffic violations. K9 Axel is able to close cruiser door by himself.
- Lawrence, Ind. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “Officers were called for backup after a passenger was being particularly uncooperative.” Foot pursuit; subject tased and taken into custody. Charges: Drug possession, resisting law enforcement, and two outstanding warrants.
- Richland County, S.C. — Cpl. Walmsley questions subject about a small bag of weed found on ground. Walmsley released subject (who had been cuffed) to back up deputy involved in a fight at a gas station (Walmsley advises subjects that he will notify apartment management about incident). Situation at gas station is chaotic with multiple teens apparently acting out but fighting apparently ended. Walmsley and other deputies try to calm things down.
- East Providence, R.I. — Insp. Sroka attempts to initiate traffic stop on three 4-wheelers driving recklessly but won’t engage in pursuit per department policy (similar policy re quads in effect throughout the country).
- Tulsa, Okla. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “You’ve probably heard the term trophy wife, and then there was this woman…who described herself as simply a trophy.” Officers respond to domestic in progress between a couple in car. Drugs, rifle, and ammo found. Driver is allegedly a convicted felon and is arrested. Female released.
- Williamson County, Tex. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “There are many ways to find romance…and there was this guy…” Deputies respond to burglary in progress at residence. Suspect arrested. Lt. Kennedy: “He was out here trying to get laid is what he said…it was clear that he was up to no good being out here.” Charges: public intoxication, possibly criminal trespassing. Abrams: “That is not a very effective or safe way to try to meet people.”
- Lafayette, La. — Officers respond to male complaining that a woman bit him in argument. Officers unable to determine who was the aggressor. They will document incident for district attorney for future reference and any possible legal action.
- Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers respond to noise complaint; loud party. Resident asked to turn down music. Graphic: “This is not going to twerk.”
- Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to man who wants ex-girlfriend removed from house. She is a resident there, however, so officers advise that this is a civil matter and he will have to seek an eviction in court.
- Lafayette, La. — Traffic stop on age 17 driver; no headlights in use. Released with warning. Abrams: “Wait, she just appeared to have like disco dances in the back seat?” Larkin. “She was like Ubering John Travolta.”
- Tulsa, Okla. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “Officers tried to ID a suspect who wasn’t carrying a wallet, but he was carrying.” Subject was allegedly in altercation with female. No Id; subject was carrying a gun. Officers arrested him on unlawful carrying of a firearm charge. Possible other charges when they are able to ID him at station.
- Tallahassee, Fla. — Traffic stop; vehicle ran red light. Vehicle search; marijuana and gun found. Driver says he has a permit. He also had a toddler in the car. Officer Smith warned/advised him to make better life choices for his family and tp stop allegedly selling drugs. Citation issued for traffic violation, and drugs confiscated.
- Wanted segment — New York City.
- Tulsa, Okla. — Traffic stop; pickup truck (loaded with items). No tag. Apparently no license. Officer Ross: “Trying to bribe a cop with a pizza is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of…what you did was literally a felony. And it’s goofy. It’s the craziest way to go to jail.”
- Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers respond to woman who was robbed on street by male. Officers with K9 search neighborhood for suspect.
- Richland County, S.C. (pretaped segment) — “During a domestic dispute…we were reminded once again about the dangers of combining alcohol and a firearm.” Male arrested for domestic violence.
- East Providence, R.I. — Offices provide assist for disable vehicle.
- Missing segment — Glendale, Ariz.
- Richland County, S.C. — Officers respond to report of intoxicated male outside Walmart.
- Tulsa, Okla. — Traffic stop, truck. Tag light out. Officer Ross: “[The driver is] acting really strange.”
- Lafayette, La. — Traffic stop; speeding.
- East Providence, R.I. — Traffic stop, speeding. Insp. Sroka: “Probably the worst place you can stop is in the lane of travel.”
- Missoula County, Mont. –Traffic stop for failure to dim lights on highway. Driver initially didn’t stop until he pulled into his own driveway. He told old Capt. Burt that he was scared.
- Tulsa, Okla. — Officers assist other agencies in highway pursuit; failure to yield, mismatched plates. Possibly other violations. Cops deploy sticks, and multiple officers take driver into custody.
- Richland County, S.C. –Traffic stop; no light. Water hose nozzle found on one of the passengers Lt. Brown: “Why would you be carrying this unless you were trying to jack somebody and make them think it’s a gun?” Occupants released with warning.
- Lafayette, La. — Officers spot man laying on grass in commercial area. Officers called man’s wife to pick him up and take him home.
- Tallahassee, Fla. — Traffic stop on scooter for swerving. Operator is a Door Dash delivery person. End of episode.
Note: Next Friday’s Live PD (October 4) airs from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time.
