I only read through Ralphie's first reply, so I apologize if I repeat anything that's already been said. I just wanted to keep my thought fresh!
Anyway, unless the door showed signs of forced entry, I don't feel that the officer had just cause to enter the property with his weapon drawn. What would happen if one of your roommates didn't hear the knock or announcement, but somehow heard the sound of an intruder walking around? Or saw a shadow of a man with a gun? That officer would have shot an "attacker" that was really just a dude defending his home from an unknown intruder.
I feel the officer had no right to enter the house, and "you should have closed your door better" is bullshit. He should be all apologies for entering the property with minimal justification, and holding the rightful occupants at gunpoint. Especially for a call about too many cars. If it was a call reporting violence or drug dealing, perhaps... but the call itself had NOTHING to do with the open door. At the very least, the officer should have radioed the station and explained what he found. There was nothing indicating an emergency (evidence of forced entry would've been), so there was no reason for him to enter without first clearing it with the station.
I understand the officer's perspective, and I do see that he did what he felt was right... but he was wrong.
Anyway, unless the door showed signs of forced entry, I don't feel that the officer had just cause to enter the property with his weapon drawn. What would happen if one of your roommates didn't hear the knock or announcement, but somehow heard the sound of an intruder walking around? Or saw a shadow of a man with a gun? That officer would have shot an "attacker" that was really just a dude defending his home from an unknown intruder.
I feel the officer had no right to enter the house, and "you should have closed your door better" is bullshit. He should be all apologies for entering the property with minimal justification, and holding the rightful occupants at gunpoint. Especially for a call about too many cars. If it was a call reporting violence or drug dealing, perhaps... but the call itself had NOTHING to do with the open door. At the very least, the officer should have radioed the station and explained what he found. There was nothing indicating an emergency (evidence of forced entry would've been), so there was no reason for him to enter without first clearing it with the station.
I understand the officer's perspective, and I do see that he did what he felt was right... but he was wrong.
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