Season 4, Week 18, of the A&E Unscripted Hit LEO Series

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 starting at 9 p.m. Eastern time on the A&E television network (unless an additional, “bonus” episode airs). 

With about 40-plus cameras, Live PD producers and videographers embed in real time with officers and deputies on patrol from eight or nine different U.S. police departments and sheriff’s offices.

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 with some of the pithiest quotes from the participants follows below. 

But first, the good idea/bad idea of the week: Is it a good idea or a bad idea to operate a motor vehicle without a driver’s license plus an open container of alcohol when you are transporting a bag of meth?

Live Plus Previously Recorded Incidents

With usually about 40 live feeds coming into the studio, most segments 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 users @TLivepd, @LivePDFans, and @LivePDMusings along with several other Twitter feeds, for the embedded clips and images.

Note: Embedded tweets do not in any way equal or imply endorsement of their content.

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 suspects 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 the following:

“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.” 

Variety has more background from Cesareo:

“You could say Live PD was born out of necessity. Executives at Big Fish Entertainment, the production company behind it, realized that at a time when more TV viewers were moving to streaming services, a program that had to be watched live would be more compelling. The team noticed police departments across the U.S. ‘were providing these timely updates over the course of an evening’ to local residents via Twitter, says Dan Cesareo, who formed Big Fish. ‘We found it fascinating.’

“Getting things right took time — even after Live PD launched. Producers had to get access to police departments. Once they got on air, they had to learn to steel themselves against the temptation to jump from one feed to the next whenever a conflict or action appeared to be in the offing. ‘When you do something new that hasn’t been done before, there’s not a road map,’ says Cesareo. ‘It took us four to six months, probably, just to get comfortable with our own setup.’”

As this blog has previously reported, local politicians and activist groups have complained that the show puts their community in a exploitative, false light. This political pressure has in the past led to some departments terminating their contract with Live PD. Currently, several city councilors in Tulsa aren’t fans, although others say it improves community relations and recruitment.

According to the Tulsa World, “A Tulsa police officer at the police station monitors the live video footage as it is being filmed and can disallow footage in real time if deemed appropriate. TPD can disallow footage for several reasons, including safety concerns and to ensure that undercover officers and confidential investigative tactics are not made public.” The Tulsa World itself has separately editorialized against Live PD.

Rules or No Rules of the Road?

Many subjects appearing 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. That’s why cops often begin an interaction by asking if there is anything illegal in the car.

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.

The first thing that officers usually say to a suspect in an adversarial encounter is “let me see your hands.”

Two Beers, Not My Pants, and Other Mantras

“I only had two beers” is a familiar motorist mantra when pulled over and asked about having anything to drink that evening, particularly if the driver appears tipsy.

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” or it’s “not my car.”

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 (with a camera crew) shows up at their front door.

“Not my jacket” or “not my purse” are also familiar refrains.

Sometimes “not my car” also is part of the cop-citizen dialogue.

Parenthetically, males and female drug users often tend to conceal their stash in their private parts, making for some awkward if not disgusting pat-downs.

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,” or the equivalent, you can generally expect that things will quickly go sideways.

Suspects in custody can sometimes go from combative and brazen to remorseful to tearful in a matter of minutes.

Some mouthy 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 just a warning.

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 television media or politics after they retire from full-time law enforcement.

The Lingo

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?”

Cops often address subjects as “bro,” “dude,” “bud,” “man,” “partner,” or “boss.” Subjects often address cops as “bro” or “dude.” And instead asking subjects where they live, officers ask them where they “stay.”

They also try to reassure detainees that handcuffs “come off as fast as they go on” if or when a subject gets cleared.

In a pat-down, because of the prevalence of needles used by drug abusers, for their own safety, cops always ask if the subject has “anything in your pockets that’s going to cut, stab, or poke me?”

When asking a subject about drugs or other contraband, an officer often advises that “honesty goes along way” in the context of possible reduced (or no) charges.

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.

High-speed chases are common, as are slow-roller who initially don’t pull over in a traffic stop. In the latter scenario, drivers often try to make it to their driveway or apartment complex to avoid getting their car towed. This is in addition to whatever other traffic infractions, warrants, or misdemeanors or felonies that might be in play.

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. Based on how often cops find these devices, the digital scale business must be very lucrative.

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).

For law-abiding motorists sharing the road, the recurrence of non-insurance scenarios has to be disturbing.

Mismatched plates, expired (and/or doctored) temporary tags, and the like are also frequent infractions.

In addition to a cigarette fixation, subjects typically clutch and/or use their phones at all times no matter what, even when officers attempt to talk to them or or even when they’re 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. Or it’s in the car rather than in their wallet.

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. This is called officer’s discretion.

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 weed-sniffing training.

This Weekend on Live PD

If you’re wondering what happened on Live PD this past week, a recap/summary of Friday and Saturday night’s Live PD editions follows, along with some of the best quotes.

Host Dan “Let’s get in a break” Abrams — he of the puns and the double entendres — and regular studio analysts Tom Morris, Jr. and Tulsa PD Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin provide studio commentary.

Again, please understand that what is depicted on the show, and summarized below, including but not limited to any arrests, constitute mere allegations. Initial assessments or observations made by cops or Live PD, or anyone on Twitter for that matter, may be incorrect, and no endorsement here is meant or implied.

Live PD, Season 4, Episode 44, February 14, 2020

  • Pomona, Cal. — Officers respond to vehicle fire after two-car accident. While assisting FD, a fight breaks out on street between two men involved in the incident. One man is arrested at the scene.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officer Darrrel Ross spots a car in a ditch. Neither occupant has a license. Ross to subject: “You don’t have a license, and your teaching her how to drive. Clearly you are the worst teacher in America…okay, you’re the worst teacher in Tulsa.”
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers assist sheriff’s deputies after driver at traffic stop locks herself out of car. Car door opened; marijuana allegedly found in plain view. Car search. Graphic: “Baked goods found.” Edibles presumptively test positive for THC. Driver detained pending whether state’s attorney wants to proceed. One of the officers notes that marijuana laws in Florida are not clear cut.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officers respond to domestic incident. They make contact with occupants of car but determine they aren’t involved. Abrams: “I love that grandma is bringing him on a date, and I’m hoping that he gets to cook chicken carbornara, and not ‘catfish,’ so to speak.”
  • Nye County, Nev. — Multiple deputies serve search warrant at residence for child endangerment. Two females and baby exit location on command of deputies. Officers enter home to clear it of other occupations. According to Lt. Eric Murphy, the baby is transported to hospital for evaluation. If healthcare workers find any drugs in the baby’s system, deputies can return and take the mom into custody.
  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Traffic stop.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officers respond to report of an assault at car audio shop. Officer Ross mediates between two men; no one is arrested. Abrams: “A true Valentine’s Day dispute where these two guys seem like they couldn’t be nicer considering the dispute that just occurred. How amicable.”
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Officer Justin Hill respond to report of someone brandishing a gun at Popeyes parking lot. After investigating, Hill determines it’s probably a bogus report.
  • Nye County, Nev. — Deputy Brooke Gentry responds to report of theft from a residential garage. She takes a report from the elderly couple (married 50 years) who called and will follow up with the possible suspects the following day. Graphic: “Everlasting love.”
  • Nye County, Nev. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “What started as a traffic stop involving an ATV turned into a wild pursuit.”
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officers respond to report of an assault with a weapon at residence. Suspect had already left when cops arrives. The woman at the residence declines to file a police report, however. Morris, Jr.: “And because they didn’t see him at the scene with the weapon, unless she presses charges and files that report, there’s nothing they can really do about it.” Larkin: “A lot of times we’ll gather the information from the victim, and who the suspect is. If its a domestic violence-related thing, we just do like a field interview report, and basically say ‘hey, these people got into it.’ That way, if something else down the road does build bigger and bigger, we got a history.” Abrams: “Obviously hate to see something like that happen on Valentine’s Day.”
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officers respond to domestic incident outside store that allegedly involves a custody dispute over a baby. They advise subjects that this is a civil matter that needs to be resolved in family court. Abrams: “Grandma not making the situation and easier there, and again, you heard the officer there saying he watched much of what happened on a video.”
  • Pomona, Cal. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Speaking of bad situations with relationships, we saw something earlier in Pomona actually where police were called about two women apparently involved in a bad breakup.”
  • Pomona, Cal. — Officers respond to trespassing report, but residence appears clear.
  • Pomona, Cal. — Officers respond to report of man with no pants on touching himself. Graphic: “Report of indecent exposure.” Officer Megan Gonzalez makes contact with man who walks away. She spots him entering a utility closet or garage. Abrams: “Sort of a solo Valentine’s call there…Officer Gonzalez is continuing to search for that one-handed bandit.” After backup officers arrive and they bang on door, the man who is allegedly intoxicated exits garage and is arrested for (update) trespassing rather than burglary. Abrams: “On this Valentine’s Day, it is always different strokes for different folks.”
  • Berkeley County, S.C. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “It was all hands on deck, as well as paws, to track down a driver who took off after a traffic stop.”
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; officers detect marijuana odor. Small amount of weed found. Officers ask one of the subjects to stomp it out. Occupants released with no charges after warning.
  • Crime of the Week — Richmond, Va.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Lt. Danny Brown checks on man outside convenience store and gives him directions to his destination. Turns out he’s a retired cop.
  • Pomona, Cal. — Cops search for alleged gang member who foot bailed. Subject is separately detained. Officers look for any tossed drugs or gun. A loaded gun is found in front yard of residence. Officer Alex Nguyen: “Gang members always want to be gang members until they go to jail — turn into mama’s boy.”
  • Richland County, S.C. — Foot chase for subject who foot bailed from car. Subjects detained. A gun and drug paraphernalia allegedly found in vehicle. The teen subject is released with no charges.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officers respond to report of mother allegedly threatening to shoot son. Mom to cops: “Whoever called you is drunk.” Everything is okay at residence; false alarm.
  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Traffic stop. Car search; gun and ammo found. Subject detained.
  • Nye County, Nev. — Deputies respond to burglary call, but report appears to be unfounded.
  • Bradford County, Fla. — Deputies respond to neighbor dispute.
  • Wanted segment — St. Valentine’s Day mannequin massacre, Clifton, N.J.
  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Deputies respond to report of fight outside bar. One man detained. End of episode.

Live PD, Season 4, Episode 45, February 15, 2020

  • Nye County, Nev. — Deputies respond to report of alleged domestic incident. Subject already left. Home cleared. Graphic: “Possible animal abuse.” Animal control suspects subject may have abused dog. Subject later allegedly broke in to house; deputies return and take subject into custody.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officers respond to incident at drug store. Graphic: “Report of public intoxication.” Uncooperative subject to officers: “I’m 66-years old; I will not sit down.” Subject cuffed; EMS summoned to the scene. Officer Cassie Moore describes subject as “super drunk.”
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; speeding, non-use of turn signal. Released with warning only.
  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Cpl. Steve Zubkoff spotted possible suspicious vehicle outside motel. Couple says they are staying in motel but came outside to smoke. They also indicated that they are drinking but not driving. Abrams: “So not surprisingly, he did not accept the invitation either [to] join them in the ruck or the hotel.”
  • Bradford County, Fla. — Deputies attempt to serve felony warrant at residence. Deputies enter home and find female subject who is arrested. They also arrest man outside (who questioned jurisdiction) for obstruction.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officers and K9 Ajax set up perimeter outside home for burglary suspects. Two subjects exit house at gunpoint upon officer p.a. announcement. Officers continue to search for another suspect; after deploying pepper spray (Officer Moore: “It’s spicy in there.”), they enter garage, but no one there.

Larkin provides summary of police tactics:

  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; erratic driving. Abrams: “As long as ‘Santa’ wasn’t drinking too much eggnog, he’ll be fine. Just wanna double-check that.” Driver released with warning only. Officer Charlie Kingery: “You gotta remember me this Christmas. Put me on the good list.” Abrams: “So Santa can take his sleigh and keep going, moving on with no ticket there.”
  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Traffic stop, moped; no tail light. Pat-down; meth pipe allegedly found.
  • Pomona, Cal. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “A man who had been arrested earlier in the day got a chance to ‘catch up’ with officers.”
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies assist another officer in traffic stop for vehicle that didn’t initially stop. Two occupants detained. Lt. Danny Brown: “Smells green in year.” Car search. Lt. Brown finds alleged baggie of marijuana on ground nearby. Abrams: “If you’re gonna be ditching weed, you don’t want Lt. Danny Brown on your heels.”
  • Berkeley County, S.C. –Traffic stop; voluntary car search. Cpl. Zubkoff spots fake ring in trunk. Abrams: “Why does anyone get a fake ring. ‘Cause it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than the real stuff.”
  • Pomona, Cal. — Traffic stop; lighting violation. No license. Officers allegedly find meth in bag. Driver arrested on felony narcotics charges for sales and distribution. The three passengers released with no charges.
  • Nye County, Nev. — Deputies respond to residential alarm.. Home cleared. Abrams (with reference to homeowner): “If Live PD had a frequent flyer program, she would be flying around the world for free.” Morris, Jr.: “I think this is a three-peat for her on the show.”
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Traffic stop on truck. Expired tags; no insurance. Truck towed. Driver’s dog bit the driver when he tried to prevent the pet from lunging at an officer. EMS summoned to scene.
  • Richland County, S.C. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A woman and her now-ex’s new girlfriend got into a war of words, most of them of the four-letter variety.”
  • Pomona, Cal. — Officers make contact with homeless man who is setting up “encampment” on sidewalk.
  • Tulsa, Okla. — Officers track possible stolen car to driveway. Four subjects detained at gunpoint in driveway. Driver charged with possession of stolen vehicle; other occupants released with no charges.
  • Wanted segment — Fenton, Mo.
  • Nye County, Nev. — Deputies respond to residential burglary. Open door; broken window. Burglars apparently attempted to steal gun safe and ammo. Home cleared; suspects had already fled. Abrams: “So this guy’s lucky, (a) that he didn’t get hurt because it seems like he arrived in the middle of this happening, and (b) they didn’t get away with a lot of his items.”
  • Richland County, S.C. — Lt. Brown makes contact with man possibly taking his clothes off outside. Subject says he is just getting ready to go for a run on track. No issue.
  • Tallahassee, Fla. — Officers respond to report of dispute allegedly involving weapon at residence. Husband and wife detained after they come out of home. Officers then make safety sweep to clear residence.
  • Berkeley County, S.C. –– Cpl. Zubkoff makes contact with homeowner about disturbance involving a lawnmower. Homeowner appears uncooperative. He then makes with the other party to try to find out what’s going on.
  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Lt. Neal Johnson makes contact with subject in parked car. Subject detained on warrants. Heroin allegedly found. Abrams: “That is not the birthday present you want.”
  • Missing segment — West Palm Beach, Fla.
  • Bradford County, Fla. — Deputies respond to report of fight and make contact with witness. End of episode.