Here’s what you missed or may have missed on Live PD this past 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 in a given week).
With typically 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 the need to adapt the show to social distancing protocols and other limiting factors, this weekend’s episodes continue to be two hours long.
Live PD has indicated that it is operating on a “substantial delay” with officers and production crews “taking extra precautions,” and, it seems, with more reliance on pre-taped segments.
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.)
In an article published on March 19, the New York Times described the show as follows:
“Live PD cuts between footage of police officers around the country as they make traffic stops (suspected D.U.I.s, busted taillights), respond to calls (domestic disputes, gunshots) and go on high speed chases (on foot, by car).
“It’s all brought to the viewer live-ish. There’s a delay, in case something unusually gruesome happens.
“The mission of the Live PD is to provide ‘transparency of policing in America,’ said Elaine Frontain Bryant, the executive vice president and head of programming for A&E. “It feels like entertainment with purpose,” she said…
“The show gets by with showing some of the worst moments of people’s lives without their consent because it’s live, according to an A&E spokeswoman. ‘Live PD follows news gathering standards like any news organization — your local nightly news show or newspaper — would in covering a story,’ she wrote in an email…
“According to Nielsen data, Live PD averaged nearly 2.4 million viewers last season, which was its third…”
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 bad idea for a motorist to drive around with a passenger who is carrying illegal drugs after just getting out of jail?
Live Plus Previously Recorded Incidents
Again, 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,” or earlier this week, last week, or a few or several weeks ago.
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 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.
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 proven guilty 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 an exploitative, false light. This political pressure has in the past led to some departments terminating their contract with Live PD.
Rules or No Rules of the Road?
Many subjects (i.e., individuals with whom cops make contact) 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. They sometimes yell over over that “I didn’t do anything” or words to that effect.
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.
Many 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.
Parenthetically, many agencies seem to have a relaxed dress code, and officers’ facial hair seems to fluctuate from week to week.
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-rollers 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 say that they have a picture of their license, registration, or other required documents on their phone rather than in its 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.
Officer’s discretion also can play a role in more serious charges or potential charges.
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 analysts Tom Morris, Jr. and Tulsa PD Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin provide commentary remotely from their homes rather than from the studio at the A&E network Hq. in New York City.
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 about the incidents 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 58, April 24, 2020
The six departments featured in real time are located in West Baton Rouge, La. (new to the show), Berkeley County, S.C., Richland County, S.C. , Williamson County, Texas, Pomoma, Cal., and Lawrence, Ind.
- West Baton Rouge, La. — Deputies pursue and pull over vehicle that almost hit police cruiser. Officers claim car allegedly smells of weed. Probable cause car search. Det. Glenn Henagan: “Multiple things going on here, West Baton Rouge. Fun, fun.” Passenger gets ticket for marijuana. Driver issued ticket for suspended license and charged with reckless driving. Passengers released.
- Berkeley County, S.C. — Deputies respond to report of person brandishing gun in street. Vehicle containing suspects had already left area. Cpl. Corinthian Green interviews witnesses who supposedly have video of incident. Separately, Cpl. Steve Zubkoff makes traffic stop at gunpoint on vehicle that might possibly be involved. Driver says it’s not him and he and his passenger are actually witnesses. Deputies determine they were indeed witnesses, and they are released.
- Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop on dirt bike. Subject, who is cuffed by Deputy Donnyray Campbell after being somewhat uncooperative, admits to small bag of weed. He describes it as “a little party sh*t for the weekend” paid for by the stimulus check. Abrams: “So that check apparently going to good use.”
- Clay County, Fla. (pre-taped segment): Abrams: “It was a game of hide and seek between deputies and a man named Ricky.” Abrams: “That is an amazing way to avoid your landlord–is to have a hole somewhere, maybe covered by a carpet…” Morris, Jr.: “Sounds like Ricky’s got 99 problems, and the warrant is just one.”
- Lawrence, Ind. — Officers and EMS respond to convenience store where man passed out. Officer Stuart Bishop makes sure the man gets his Lotto winnings.
- Clay County, Fla. (pre-taped segment) — Abrams: “A simple traffic stop quite possibly saved a passenger’s life.”
- Berkeley County, S.C. — Deputies respond to domestic incident. Apparently a dispute between man and his girlfriend with his ex-girlfriend, who are seemingly all living in the same house. Cpl. Green advised parties to stay on different sides of the house and advises ex to consider filing eviction papers in court. Deputies will document incident. Abrams: “Police officers around the country dealing with more domestic incidents; we’ve heard that from police chiefs we’ve been talking to, week in and week out.”
- Richland County, S.C. — Deputies push stalled vehicle into gas station/convenience store parking lot.
- West Baton Rouge, La. — Traffic stop. Deputy to driver: “Is this your phone? Why you got meth on your phone?” Deputies also allegedly spot meth on driver’s seat. In car search, they also find “flesh” light that they suspect might contain contraband. Deputies seize evidence; due to coronavirus, warrant will be issued for possible later arrest.
- Williamson County, Tex. — Deputies respond to possible home burglary. K9 deployed. Home cleared.
- Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to report of car accident; stop sign knocked down. Vehicle allegedly left. Officers search immediate area, approach home where slightly damage car is parked in the driveway, and make contact with woman and teen. The latter was apparently the driver. Officer to teen: “Stop sign means stop, not go. You know that right?” Officer Bishop and teen raise stop sign pending repair by highway department.
- Crime of the Week — Kilgore, Tex.
- Berkeley County, S.C. — Deputies respond to report of fight in street and interview male at scene. Dispute allegedly involves dispute between stepfather and stepdaughter.
- Wanted segment — Fresno, Cal.
- Pomona, Cal. — Traffic stop; tint to dark. Officer Frank Wilson asks driver why he is so nervous. Wilson to driver: “Is there anything illegal in the car other than the weed that I smell?”
- Williamson County, Tex. — Lt. Grayson Kennedy interacts with motorist drivng some kind of “solar-powered Jetson vehicle.” Kennedy to driver: “This is impressive, Man. I’ve never seen anything like this so I figured I’d stop and say hi.”
- New York City — NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea gives COVID update.
- Richland County, S.C. — Dep. Campbell responds to report of shots fired but is subsequently called off.
- Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to multiple reports of shots fired at apartment complex. Suspects apparently had already fled on foot before cops arrived. Officers find shell casings on ground. Investigation ongoing.
- Williamson County, Tex. — K9 deployed to sniff vehicle at traffic stop. Deputies allegedly find a big bag of weed in backpack. Lt. Kennedy: “That’s good stuff, too; look at the hair on it.”
- Pomona, Cal. — Abrams: “We go from flashing lights in Williams to a report of a flasher in Pomona, Cal.” Officer Manny Rodriguez gives friendly warning to woman who was allegedly flashing people on the street.
End of episode.
Live PD, Season 4, Episode 59, April 25, 2020
The six departments featured in real time are located in West Baton Rouge, La. , Berkeley County, S.C., Richland County, S.C. , Williamson County, Tex., Pomona, Cal., and Lawrence, Ind.
- West Baton Rouge, La. — Deputies respond to domestic abuse apparently involving cousins. They question all parties and/or victims. Female party apparently declines to press charges. Det. Henagan to male party: “You are hardcore…with that quarantine tattoo. That’s good sh*t, Bro, that’s good shit.”
- Richland County, S.C. — Deputies search Lowe’s for alleged shoplifter.
- Lawrence, Ind. (pre-taped segment) — Abrams: “We want to show you something that is particularly relevant to what’s been happening these days–you know, stay-at-home orders, right? They’re creating a lot of stress for people stuck together 24/7, which certainly appeared to be the case for one couple…”
- Pomona, Cal. — Offices make probation check on subject at motel. Subject detained. Officer Eric Omahony to subject: “Are you high right now? Is that why you’re paranoid.” Sgt. Mark Medellin to subject: You gotta be on your toes; we’re always around.” After a search, officers allegedly find ammo in motel room and gun in car.
- Berkeley, Cal. — Cpl. Green responds to noise complaint. He also says he smells marijuana and asks subject about it. Subject: “I honestly do; I was just chillin’.” Subject receives ticket for marijuana.
- Richland County, S.C. (pre-taped segment) — Abrams: “Lt. Danny Brown pulled over a pair of teens with weed in their car, but Lt. Brown ended up being the least of their problems.”
- Lawrence, Ind. — Sgt. Matt Hickey checks on driver with flat tire. Hickey to driver; “You gotta better-looking mask that I have. What is that–Snoopy?” Abrams: “A reminder why service centers are considered essential right now. You can’t drive with that wheel.”
- Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop on truck. Driver says he has a gun in the car. Lt. Brown says he smells marijuana. Vehicle search; marijuana allegedly found. Brown to driver: “You can’t have that and the gun together, Man. Luckily you had ’em separated.” Abrams: “If you’re a suspect, probably rather have a K9 sniffing than Lt. Danny Brown whose nose always seems to know.”
- West Baton Rouge, La. — Deputies make contact with several persons at farm (for some reason). Henagan: “Like Joe Exotic out here.” Graphic: “What’s good for the goose…” Henagan: “Any gang affiliations or anything like that with those geese?…That thing’s a thug…so these are tactical geese? Abrams: “Don;t underestimate an angry goose–not exactly rare exotic cats, but still…” Hengagn: “I feel like an apocalypse has happened here. Why all the fire and all of this stuff?” Graphic: “This is real fowl language.”
- Williamson County, Tex. — Dep. Charles Duvall spots a man asleep in car with engine running. Abrams: “The guy did admit that he had a lot to drink.” Field sobriety testing administered. Driver placed under arrest. K9 alert on vehicle; car search. Abrams: “Not exactly a nail-biter in a field sobriety test.”
- Pomona, Cal. — Officers respond to report of drunk man in store. They make contact with subject outdie who says he had “three beers.” Officer Shreef Erfan to subject: “I’m wearing a mask, and I can smell the alcohol from here.”
- Richland County, S.C. (pre-taped segment) — Abrams: “Cpl. Chris Blanding was involved in a wild chase involving a stolen car.”
- Pomona, Cal. — Traffic stop; window tint violation and expired registraiton.
- Pomona, Cal. — Officer Erfan gives warning to homeowner hosting a party about double-parked cars and social distancing guidelines.
- West Baton Rouge, La. — Deputies respond to alleged domestic disturbance at residence between father and son. Son detained at gunpoint. Henagan to subject: “You got dog sh*t on your floor, but you got your vitamin in a frickin’ container.” Dad consents to search of son’s room. Dad declines to press charges; son released.
- Williamson County, Tex. — Deputies serve warrant on man for assault with a deadline weapon. Subject detained pending confirmation of warrant. Subject: “I’m on Live PD, and I’m not getting arrested.” Lt. Kennedy: “Well, actually you are.”
- Missing update (Omaha, Neb.) and new Missing segment (Milwaukee, Wisc.)
- Williamson County, Tex. — Dep. Duvall responds to cows on the “moo-ve.” Graphic: “Bovine break-out.” He guides cows through open fence and makes quick repairs on fence so the cows don’t get out again.
- West Baton Rouge, La. — Foot pursuit of man running from motel. K9 deployed. Subject detained. Henagan to subject: “I thought we were better than this.” Abrams: “He ran fast, but he couldn’t outrun K9 Cora.”
- Trenton, N.J. — Larking interviews Col. Patrick Callahan, the superintendent of the N.J. State Police, about dealing with crime during COVID-19.
End of episode.
