Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Illinois

For the past three days there has been a police officer putting his ear to my door to listen before he knocks. He only knocked last night cause i was washing dishes and he herd. I opened the door and he tried to step in and said okay i smell it (insisting we smoked weed). I told him i don't smell anything and stood in front of him. He kinda stepped back because he knew i was right. He ended with if your going to smoke spray some air freshener because it smells out here. Out side of my door is outside not a hallway so it could of came from anywhere. The other two nights i was already in bed and there was no noise in the room so I herd his radio go off. I looked through my peep hole and he was just putting his ear to my door trying to listen if I was up. I find it a little weird or invasion of privacy that this guy is going around listening to peoples doors. Is there anything i can do to get this Police officer in trouble?


Asked on 10/18/13, 8:46 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Stephen Messutta

You say police officer but could this be a private security guard for the place you live in? There are stories of guards taking bribes or extortion from residents to not turn them in for things. You may want to start with your lease - see what it says about the landlord's inspection rights -- and talk to your neighbors and see if they are being bothered. You and they may then want to talk to the landlord. Because there may be backlash, you may want an attorney involved.

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Answered on 10/18/13, 1:34 pm


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