They can do this for the same reason they use their computers while operating their cars or speed without cause or cross a yellow line while talking on the phone or whatever else you see them do daily; they are above the law.

Are we entitled as citizens to know who the RPD officer who parked this car is? I think so. I want to see them at ParkLink in Raleigh paying their fine or in court defending why they parked their car illegally.

I go this way to work Monday thru Friday. The RPD Car is parked somewhere different just about every day. I just assumed that an officer lives in the area around the Joel Lane House and parks the car near their home. The car is clearly not abandoned. Personally I would love to have this car parked in my neighborhood. And I would be thrilled to have the Officer as a neighbor. There is a heavy pedestrian presence in this area and I think local residents would have have no problems with a police presence. Some parts of the street allow parking. I will start paying more attention to the NO Parking Signs. Hopefully the officer would have better judgement than to park in an illegal area. I know there are bad cops, but the majority of officers are hard working and very helpful. Thanks for the opportunity to express my thoughts.

I wouldn't mind a RPD car parked in my neighborhood, but the RPD feels like they can do whatever, whenever. They have authority over us all. RPD used to be friendly. In the past few years, I found them to be arrogant without reason. I live at St Mary's Apts and I would rather see this car parked in front of the Wake County Cornerstone. Nonetheless, the car is illegally parked, and the city should respond to their citizens as why they parked their car illegally.

Why not park this RPD cruiser LEGALLY on West Morgan Street? It's only 1 block away and it would likely slow down some of the drivers (including RPD officer speeders) from driving 40, 50 mph + in this 25mph zone?

Whomever would authorize a RPD cruiser to illegally park and block an intersection like this should be suspended without pay and sent through training again. I went to Boylan Bridge tonight and this car clearly is a safety hazard to those pulling out of the parking lot.

Someone also should investigate why RPD speeds. The RPD has a culture of being above the regular citizen. They should be reminded they are here to protect and serve. There is arrogance with police in this city that I have not seen in other places I have lived in.

I want PARKLINK to ticket this car.

Same reason they "lawfully" go down West Morgan Street's 25pmh zone at 40 or more mph. It's time the citizens start checking the checker. RPD is afoul with corruption and arrogance.

RPD is above the law. Same reason the accused RPD officer who hired an underage prostitute did not have to enter court where the media was stationed.

Give this officer a break. At least he is not out hiring underage hookers like those in the detective department.

I saw this on my dog-walk this morning. The RPD cruiser is clearly blocking the intersection. Chief Dolan should be the one responding this to this online concern. But I doubt that will happen!

When you have a blue uniform and badge in this city you can do what you want. You don't have to follow the rules and you get special treatment. Look at the RPD officer who was caught hiring an underage prostitute this past week. Special treatment. Do you really believe that the citizen's will hear a true response to why they parked illegally here and made this intersection unsafe? No. It will probably just go away on Monday when the City of Raleigh follows up on these issues.

I live in the townhomes at St. Mary's Street and have seen this RPD cruiser parked on the street for extended periods of time. Usually, it's on St. Mary' Street however. I assumed it was an officer who lived in the area. I can't imagine someone with authority in the RPD or an officer with any sense parking this vehicle in the middle of this intersection in a spot that is clearly marked no parking. It absolutely is a safety hazard. The poster is correct that this RPD is cruiser is blocking the line of sight.

I can't imagine another reason this RPD cruiser would be in this area. If it is not a resident officer's car, it would be better served along West Morgan or in front of Cornerstone.

I saw that the police car is now gone from that street. I guess it will be a free for all for the homeless to come and break into the cars in that area. I would rather have a police car parked in that area than to feel unsafe because of the people who like to walk through that area. Most people who commented above don't even live in the immediate area.

I don’t believe that the police car was a hazard to anybody or anything where the officer was parked! People were slowing down and stopping at the stop sign when they would see a police car parked there! I saw less homeless people walking around too. My family and I were extremely pleased that the police car was parked over there! City of Raleigh should think better about their officers who live in the areas with limited parking and put parking signs for police cars only! I can’t believe that some of you are making such harsh comments and making it to be an issue, when our police officers are risking their lives for our safety on the streets of Raleigh day and night! Let us not judge someone that you don’t even know! I feel bad for the officer and want to say thank you to him and his department for keeping our streets safe! I would like to give up MY parking spot at the condo building for this officer to park his police car! I believe that the police department should not rush into pleasing people and punishing an officer for keeping our streets safe! Let's get criminals OFF the streets and cops back ON the streets! And for the city of Raleigh-why don’t you find/sign spots for our officers to park where parking space is limited! God bless our Raleigh policemen for putting their lives on the line every day!

To the poster below who says we shouldn't judge, please re-read your post.
Also, if you don't want to see homeless people, maybe you shouldn't live next door to a homeless shelter and residence. The big brick building on the corner is a Wake County Shelter if you didn't know.

I don't think anyone has a problem with a RPD cruiser being parked in their neighborhood. I think most would appreciate one being parked there. I sure hope you will move forward your offer to give up your spot to the police. I doubt you will. The issue is this RPD cruiser was illegally parked and too many police just feel like they can do what they want to do and not follow the same set of rules the rest of us have to.

Isn't it ironic that this issues was reported by the person who wrote the post below:

"Issue #153662 - Vagrants, Loiterers from Cornerstone Hanging out and DrinkingComment

Jan 30, 2012 - I also live across the street and feel that overall, the area is safe. However, this problem with vagrants drinking, smoking, urinating, even having sex, has been an ongoing problem for years. Chief Jane Perlov used to actually have the area regularly patrolled with a car sitting out there in the evenings before it got dark (and they would catch all the speeders down West Morgan as well). Once the squad car went away the problems came back. The 4 men (and 1 woman) who are out there most evenings do not live at the Cornerstone. A couple of the men get nasty with people when they get drunk and you won't give them money so I am sure as time progresses, it is only a matter of time before someone gets assaulted. The new police chief has turned a blind eye on this location, and the police response for this (and the speeding problem on W Morgan) has been less than adequate. I have written the City Manager, Russell Allen, who does not even reply, unless ordered to by the Mayor. Past Mayor Meeker stayed in communication with residents and worked with Perlov on this problem. It would be nice if Nancy McFarlane could get Chief Dolan on board with addressing this issue, and Donnie Harrison in the loop, because the vagrants do also hang out at Cornerstone. I don't think Cornerstone is the source of the issue, but certainly they contribute with their complacency in allowing people to drink right out on the street in front of their building."

So now that a police car was in the area that he wanted, he requested it to be removed. How does that work? And let's not all jump on the bandwagon expecting Chief Dolan to respond or this officer to be suspended. RPD has way bigger issues than this officer and parking. Let's not use this parking issue to distract from the bigger picture of inadequate leadership that leads to real issues such as prostitution scandals.

"I guess it will be a free for all for the homeless to come and break into the cars in that area" -concernedcitizen

A free for all? Considering this district has the least amount of crime in the city I would like to know where you base your ridiculous comment. I would love to have a RPD car parked regularly in my neighborhood, as long as it is parked legally and in a safe manner. If you think parking a car illegally and in an unsafe manner is acceptable, then it says more about you then the situation. I live in the area and I think you're a little presumptuous about other people who comment on this.

@ concernedcitizen: So you're fine with the police breaking the law? If so, where do you draw the line? The police should have to follow the same laws the rest of us do. This police officer is clearly breaking the law. There is no dispute here.

Sounds like concernedcitizen has a problem with the rest of us who DO live in Boylan. I suppose if you move into a reduced price condo next to a homeless shelter you would be concerned about homeless people breaking in to your car if you know history of the neighborhood. HOWEVER, the statistics here disprove that. This is the safest area of Raleigh. Any car that makes an intersection dangerous for others should be addressed. The fact that this concerns a RPD cruiser being illegally parked is ludicrous!

A free for all for the homeless to rob and steal? And you're telling people not to judge??

Look at a crime map. This area has the least amount of crime in Raleigh.
The only crime here is the one committed by the illegal action of the police.

ConcernedCitizen, you are comparing apples and oranges. Is there an issue with a certain few vagrants loitering in a parking lot close by. Absolutely. Do I think the police should be more involved in that. Absolutely again. However, the police under the current leadership have NOT been involved. I have been told to call 911 for the problem which I have. It took RPD up an hour or more to respond. And they do nothing but tell the vagrants to move on their way. Apparently, a study is underway to fix this problem of a few of the same vagrants from drinking at this location. We will see.

Nonetheless, it is imperative that we as citizens keep the police in check to. As far as this issue. They parked a car illegally at an intersection creating a traffic hazard and an unsafe condition. They should be accountable for their action. They are not parking a cruiser in the area where speaders are plentiful a block away on West Morgan nor are they parking where the same vagrants loiter.

As far as you judging the homeless in this neighborhood as criminals, that's just not the case. You apparently live in a corridor that the homeless frequent on their way to and from the homeless shelter. If you do live here, you should be aware by now that you are in fact, living next door to a homeless shelter. However, there is no history of crime as a result of these homeless people who go to the Cornerstone building. I suggest you look at the Wake County/Raleigh crime map statistics. If you failed to do that before you decided to move into your clearance priced condo, that certainly is your failing. But don't assume because you see a homeless person the community is not safe.

The Boylan neighborhood is not only historic, it is diverse, and it is safe. I cannot speak for all my neoighbors, but my hunch is that not one would have an issue with the RPD parking a car in the neighborhhod. However, there is an expectation that they would do so legally, and in a manner that would ensure safety. I would hope that any good citizen would post this situation just as I have done. If those who are responsible for enforcing the laws and making the city safe fail to do so,
they should be held accountable. Most of the RPD do a wonderful job and are commendable. However, many frequently break the laws - especially traffic laws - and they should be held accountable.

I typed this on my phone and it self-corrects my spelling! lol

Your religious beliefs have no pertinence here.

@ ConcernedCitizen: Who in their right mind would complain about seeing homeless people after buying a home next door to a homeless shelter?

Sounds like ConcernedCitizen has moved to the wrong end of Saint Mary's Street.

@ ncsuwx, AMEN to your comment to Concerned Citizen. Both of your SeeClickFix concerns are valid. The RPD is responsible forr upholding the law but the citizens are responsible for making sure the law doesn't overstep their boundaries. You caught them in the act. Thank you!

I was notified of this complaint by Chief Dolan Friday. There was no justified reason, or exigent conditions, for the illegal parking of this Raleigh patrol car. Raleigh Police supervisors had the vehicle ticketed and removed from the street earlier this evening and appropriate corrective action will be administered.

Captain K.S. Craghead
Raleigh Police Department
Downtown District
Office # 919-996-1181

Thank you Captain Craghead for following up and the communication.

Thanks for fixing this issue!