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by srothstein
Wed Sep 25, 2013 8:23 pm
Forum: LEO Contacts & Bloopers
Topic: Cop gives "NO EXCUSES" for Record # of complaints
Replies: 13
Views: 3384

Re: Cop gives "NO EXCUSES" for Record # of complaints

Texanjoker, I am not sure that I agree about the jail. Even with inmates, my experience showed that treating them as people and with some human dignity got better cooperation. There are ways to be polite but still establish and maintain control. I will stipulate that while my inmates were all convicted felons, they were all military also, since it was Ft. Leavenworth.

I wish i could say I had never been complained on, but I can at least say it was never from a traffic stop. I do agree that it is how you approach the person and handle the stop. I always used the seven step approach and worded the stop in a non-accusatory way. The seven step approach, for the non-LEOs, is a guide line where you identify yourself, you agency and authority for the stop, the reason for the stop, then identify the person, tell them what action you will take, take it and release them with a polite good by. Do not say to have a nice day after giving them a ticket, as it will always seem sarcastic.

Notice that the one thing this means is you also never ask them if they know why you stopped them. It comes across wrong and can be seen as asking for an admission of guilt or some other admission. By non-accusatory, I mean saying things in terms that do not sound like the person was bad or evil. For example, I would never say a person was speeding, but would say I stopped them for exceeding the posted speed limit (which is also the legally correct offense). Saying failing to stop seems to be less accusatory than saying running a red light, etc. Being polite and keeping it professional always seemed to work for me.

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