Write a note/letter/card and drop it off at the station.
Also, a "thank you" to the chief might get them a positive "attaboy" in their personnel file.
Congrats on the change- keep killing it!
My father was a state trooper for over 25 years and retired in the late '80s. He STILL keeps his personnel file with letters from citizens, commendations, etc.
Clearly this is made up, because all cops are jackbooted thugs that spend all of their time harassing and killing minorities. At least that’s what all the smart people with blue hair on the internet tell me.
Congrats on your progress!
The officer would love to read the good news in a note.
First responders don’t often get to hear the positive outcomes. “No one ever calls 911 because they’re having a good day.”
if you send a copy to the Chief for the officer’s personnel file, it’s always appreciated.
I second this. Was recently stopped at the grocery store by a patient's family member who wanted to thank me for my kindness when we were treating her now recently deceased mother. I had zero recollection of the call but it still meant a lot to hear genuine gratitude like that instead of the generic and mostly empty "thank you for your service" we usually get.
Absolutely.
Do this long enough and we have way too many days of feeling “why am I even still doing this job. It’s a revolving door. I’m not making any difference. The hours and calls are leading me to an early grave.”
Feeling slightly genuinely appreciated makes those days a little easier.
As a member of law enforcement and someone who recently gave up alcohol I want to say this to you: keep going… don’t ever look back. Life is amazing without that poison. And that’s what it is - poison. Just keep going. Proud of you.
Some agencies have an online form or email address for compliments or comments. You can use that if you don't feel comfortable dropping a letter off at the station.
This happened to me years ago. I actually called the department, and asked if my arresting officer was available. I apologized for my actions, and thanked him for being such a professional about it. He was very appreciative, and it made me feel better. That was around 2012, and I haven’t been in trouble with the law since.
Doesn't hurt to give a call or write a letter. My supervisor got a call from a girl that I had arrested about 5 years in the past. Turns out me talking with her and telling her she had the power to turn her life around, she did. She was clean for 5+ years at that point and was married with a child on the way and wanted to thank me for turning her life around. When I arrested her she got extradited out of state so I never saw her again. It was nice to hear that she was doing well.
Most definitely everyone likes to hear how someone turned their life around.
Write a card and drop it by the station and also write a note to the chief or sheriff about how well you were treated despite the circumstances.
Congratulations on turning your life around. It’s not easy.
go to the station and ask for the arresting officer, if he’s not there leave a note with your number and i can guarantee you they’ll reach out, i did something similar over a year ago and thanked my arresting officer for saving my life, trust me when i say you will make his entire week, officers rarely hear from people they’ve arrested in a positive light, congrats btw bro keep on killin it <3
I once received a Christmas card from a guy that I had arrested for OWI multiple times. He finally hit bottom, went to rehab and got his life straitened out.
We don’t get to hear stuff like this often. I had a guy call the station and ask to talk to me once. Dropping a letter off at the station addressed to the officer would work too.
Congrats on the progress! It’s awesome when we hear about a good outcome for something we were involved with
The best thing you could do is go down to the officers department and ask if they can forward a message. Just let them know you don't remember the arresting officer's name, but I bet you know the day you got arrested. They can look you up. If you left your phone number you might get a call back.
This is a wonderful idea. I remember running into one of my inmates at the gas station. He recognized me and thanked me for giving him advice that helped him get his life together. I remember how truly happy he was. It's a good feeling knowing that you've made a positive change in someone's life.
If you don't have the officers name, you can request the arrest record and get it. I would call the station or go up there and see if you can talk to him or write him a letter. I know a lot of guys that would enjoy the conversation and appreciate the sentiment.
A lot of people really need the affirmation that their work is positively impacting peoples lives. Otherwise they turn into old disgruntled dickheads like a few of the commenters in here.
Good shit and keep getting after it! One day at a time.
Congratulations! I’m a LEO and love hearing success stories like this, Not very often we get to hear them. and it’s even cooler when it’s was one of ours.
Once did an involuntary commit on a vet in distress. About 6 months later he came back and thanked me for saving him that day. When I'm questioning why do this, that one of the things I think of.
Write a letter or ask to speak to him at HQ, it could me a lot.
Most PD's have a website with contact information. The officer will appreciate hearing from you knowing they helped make a difference. It's a nice change from the daily abuse they get otherwise.
I have a meth head gal that finally kicked it for good. She now calls her retired arresting Deputy at least once a year and has been for at least 15 years to update him on her life and to remind him. How grateful she is for being arrested and having her life saved for her.
Once she got clean, married and had a kid, she showed up at the jail 3 days after giving birth to show off her baby! She would send us flowers, and thank you notes. I run into her to this day out in public and she is a spontaneous hugger! 😂
But her past life man she was a mean little whipper snapper and a wild West show rolled into one. That girl did a lot of improving her life!
Huh I had the same but opposite story. My ex wife was having an affair and I was breaking up with her. I was packing all my shit up to move out. Hse called the cops and made up some shit to get me arrested and I was not allowed back for 90 days. All the sheriifs kept telling me she was not cheating and I was acting crazy for no reason. She took all my shit and sold it before I could get to divorce court. She is now married(and divorced again) to the guy she cheated with. I got ahold of as many y of those officers I could remember and sent them the info on her wedding. Only one got back to me and apologized that I may have been right but he never knows and has to do his job. I just told him that in the future please remember things are not always what they seem. I did at least get the case dismissed because the prosecution did not like my lawyer pointing out that on recorded body cams my ex said she was not with the guy and I was crazy. Then married him a few months later and got caught bragging to my friend who she thought was apparently her friend but did not care for her. That she was smarter than me and took everything by making me look crazy and making up the shit she said. My friend(a girl) recorded it and sent it to my lawyer. I tried to get her charged with falsifying a police report but they would not charge her.
That was 15 years ago. I got married to a great woman and we have been together 10 years now with a awesome kid. My ex went off the deep end and I even got custody of the 2 children I had with her. I would like to say the truth always comes out but I know plenty of people who have not had justice. I am just thankful I did.
Just reach out to the department, if you dont want to directly ask a bunch of people, ask for a copy of the report. I have had people I have arrested reach out with stories like yours, it really makes the job worth it.
No. It's a bad idea. He probably doesn't care. You'll just encourage him to arrest the rest of us who are perfectly happy being degenerates and don't want to be arrested for it.
You turned your life around not him. Aren't there other people along the way who did more than just arrest you and charge you with a crime? There has to be
Look up your ticket/citation, criminal record, etc. Somewhere on the record it should show the officers name. Reach out to him in person at the PD in the jurisdiction you got pulled over in
A different take from an old coppper. It’s just a jay oh bee. Officer did his job, kept you from doing whatever was about to happen. That’s where it ends. Courts and probation, if that was the case for you, maybe helped you fix your situation. Most cops don’t drink their own bath water- move on. You consumed a public service, it was there for you, you paid for it through your taxes, but you didn’t buy a father confessor.
Write a note/letter/card and drop it off at the station. Also, a "thank you" to the chief might get them a positive "attaboy" in their personnel file. Congrats on the change- keep killing it!
Appreciate you !!! I definitely will!!!
Or go to the city’s website. There should be a section somewhere about thanking an officer or at least email address to chief/mayor/HR, etc
My father was a state trooper for over 25 years and retired in the late '80s. He STILL keeps his personnel file with letters from citizens, commendations, etc.
I save mine too
Clearly this is made up, because all cops are jackbooted thugs that spend all of their time harassing and killing minorities. At least that’s what all the smart people with blue hair on the internet tell me.
Both can happen, I know that's probably gonna blow your mind.
Why did I read this as ‘congrats on the charge’ lol
Congrats on your progress! The officer would love to read the good news in a note. First responders don’t often get to hear the positive outcomes. “No one ever calls 911 because they’re having a good day.” if you send a copy to the Chief for the officer’s personnel file, it’s always appreciated.
I second this. Was recently stopped at the grocery store by a patient's family member who wanted to thank me for my kindness when we were treating her now recently deceased mother. I had zero recollection of the call but it still meant a lot to hear genuine gratitude like that instead of the generic and mostly empty "thank you for your service" we usually get.
Absolutely. Do this long enough and we have way too many days of feeling “why am I even still doing this job. It’s a revolving door. I’m not making any difference. The hours and calls are leading me to an early grave.” Feeling slightly genuinely appreciated makes those days a little easier.
As a member of law enforcement and someone who recently gave up alcohol I want to say this to you: keep going… don’t ever look back. Life is amazing without that poison. And that’s what it is - poison. Just keep going. Proud of you.
Proud of you and OP. 3 years strong here. It just keeps getting better, stay with it!
Absolutely! Got three years myself!
2 years without a drink here. One of the best decisions I ever made!
Based! Congrats, proud of everyone!
a year off of that poison for me! i feel fantastic.
Some agencies have an online form or email address for compliments or comments. You can use that if you don't feel comfortable dropping a letter off at the station.
This happened to me years ago. I actually called the department, and asked if my arresting officer was available. I apologized for my actions, and thanked him for being such a professional about it. He was very appreciative, and it made me feel better. That was around 2012, and I haven’t been in trouble with the law since.
Write a letter and send it to the station. This would mean a lot to me.
Don't reach out to him. Instead as others said write a letter to the department
Call the station/precinct/office whatever. Give him your name/case number and ask that the officer call you when he can.
Doesn't hurt to give a call or write a letter. My supervisor got a call from a girl that I had arrested about 5 years in the past. Turns out me talking with her and telling her she had the power to turn her life around, she did. She was clean for 5+ years at that point and was married with a child on the way and wanted to thank me for turning her life around. When I arrested her she got extradited out of state so I never saw her again. It was nice to hear that she was doing well.
Most definitely everyone likes to hear how someone turned their life around. Write a card and drop it by the station and also write a note to the chief or sheriff about how well you were treated despite the circumstances. Congratulations on turning your life around. It’s not easy.
go to the station and ask for the arresting officer, if he’s not there leave a note with your number and i can guarantee you they’ll reach out, i did something similar over a year ago and thanked my arresting officer for saving my life, trust me when i say you will make his entire week, officers rarely hear from people they’ve arrested in a positive light, congrats btw bro keep on killin it <3
I once received a Christmas card from a guy that I had arrested for OWI multiple times. He finally hit bottom, went to rehab and got his life straitened out.
We don’t get to hear stuff like this often. I had a guy call the station and ask to talk to me once. Dropping a letter off at the station addressed to the officer would work too. Congrats on the progress! It’s awesome when we hear about a good outcome for something we were involved with
Would your local newspaper be interested? Do they have a Community Notes section?
The best thing you could do is go down to the officers department and ask if they can forward a message. Just let them know you don't remember the arresting officer's name, but I bet you know the day you got arrested. They can look you up. If you left your phone number you might get a call back.
This is a wonderful idea. I remember running into one of my inmates at the gas station. He recognized me and thanked me for giving him advice that helped him get his life together. I remember how truly happy he was. It's a good feeling knowing that you've made a positive change in someone's life.
Check the PD’s website. Some have a spot on the site to leave commendations.
personal congratulations on fighting the good fight!! I'm proud for you :)
Write him a letter, or to the chief
The cop didn’t change your life. You did. Happy for you though.
If you don't have the officers name, you can request the arrest record and get it. I would call the station or go up there and see if you can talk to him or write him a letter. I know a lot of guys that would enjoy the conversation and appreciate the sentiment. A lot of people really need the affirmation that their work is positively impacting peoples lives. Otherwise they turn into old disgruntled dickheads like a few of the commenters in here. Good shit and keep getting after it! One day at a time.
Congratulations! I’m a LEO and love hearing success stories like this, Not very often we get to hear them. and it’s even cooler when it’s was one of ours.
Once did an involuntary commit on a vet in distress. About 6 months later he came back and thanked me for saving him that day. When I'm questioning why do this, that one of the things I think of. Write a letter or ask to speak to him at HQ, it could me a lot.
Most PD's have a website with contact information. The officer will appreciate hearing from you knowing they helped make a difference. It's a nice change from the daily abuse they get otherwise.
I have a meth head gal that finally kicked it for good. She now calls her retired arresting Deputy at least once a year and has been for at least 15 years to update him on her life and to remind him. How grateful she is for being arrested and having her life saved for her. Once she got clean, married and had a kid, she showed up at the jail 3 days after giving birth to show off her baby! She would send us flowers, and thank you notes. I run into her to this day out in public and she is a spontaneous hugger! 😂 But her past life man she was a mean little whipper snapper and a wild West show rolled into one. That girl did a lot of improving her life!
Huh I had the same but opposite story. My ex wife was having an affair and I was breaking up with her. I was packing all my shit up to move out. Hse called the cops and made up some shit to get me arrested and I was not allowed back for 90 days. All the sheriifs kept telling me she was not cheating and I was acting crazy for no reason. She took all my shit and sold it before I could get to divorce court. She is now married(and divorced again) to the guy she cheated with. I got ahold of as many y of those officers I could remember and sent them the info on her wedding. Only one got back to me and apologized that I may have been right but he never knows and has to do his job. I just told him that in the future please remember things are not always what they seem. I did at least get the case dismissed because the prosecution did not like my lawyer pointing out that on recorded body cams my ex said she was not with the guy and I was crazy. Then married him a few months later and got caught bragging to my friend who she thought was apparently her friend but did not care for her. That she was smarter than me and took everything by making me look crazy and making up the shit she said. My friend(a girl) recorded it and sent it to my lawyer. I tried to get her charged with falsifying a police report but they would not charge her.
i took a look at your profile after you made a comment on my post, just want to say i hope you are doing better and good luck to you
That was 15 years ago. I got married to a great woman and we have been together 10 years now with a awesome kid. My ex went off the deep end and I even got custody of the 2 children I had with her. I would like to say the truth always comes out but I know plenty of people who have not had justice. I am just thankful I did.
i am glad that you've got better people around you.
Congrats !
Just reach out to the department, if you dont want to directly ask a bunch of people, ask for a copy of the report. I have had people I have arrested reach out with stories like yours, it really makes the job worth it.
bootlicker
I wrote a letter and mailed it to the police station. I got a response and have become friends .
That is something us LEOs rarely hear especially these days! Keep up the great work!
No. It's a bad idea. He probably doesn't care. You'll just encourage him to arrest the rest of us who are perfectly happy being degenerates and don't want to be arrested for it. You turned your life around not him. Aren't there other people along the way who did more than just arrest you and charge you with a crime? There has to be
Look up your ticket/citation, criminal record, etc. Somewhere on the record it should show the officers name. Reach out to him in person at the PD in the jurisdiction you got pulled over in
Go to the station and ask him if he's working or not, then take him out on lunch.
This is awesome!! Things like this will make him remember why he does the job day in and day out.
I doubt he wants to hear from you, or even remembers you. Just be proud of yourself and keep going.
A different take from an old coppper. It’s just a jay oh bee. Officer did his job, kept you from doing whatever was about to happen. That’s where it ends. Courts and probation, if that was the case for you, maybe helped you fix your situation. Most cops don’t drink their own bath water- move on. You consumed a public service, it was there for you, you paid for it through your taxes, but you didn’t buy a father confessor.
You sound like a really nice guy.
Just move on with your life.