Officer Richard Neil 11 10 OBSERVATION PERCEPTION DESCRIPTION

Officer Richard Neil 11 -10 OBSERVATION, PERCEPTION, & DESCRIPTION

OBSERVATION DEFINED: TO PERCEIVE TO WATCH ATTENTIVELY TO MAKE A SYSTEMATIC OR SCIENTIFIC EXAMINATION OF AN EVENT

What’s for Sale in Town?

The Room

Suspect Description

Suspect Description?

3 STAGES OF OBSERVATION �ATTENTION �PERCEPTION �REPORTING

What crime is most likely being committed?

Scene of Death

How to Locate?

3 PHASES OF ATTENTION INVOLUNTARY HABITUAL

What’s in the garage?

Seat Type & Value?

Type of Room

Business Identity

Location

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE PHASES OF ATTENTION SIZE CHANGE INTEREST PHYSICAL CONDITIONING SUGGESTION REPETITION

TWO BASIC PROBLEMS WITH MAKING ACCURATE USEFUL OBSERVATION MUCH OF WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE POLICE OFFICER IS OFTEN OBSCURED BY IRRELEVANT OBJECTS, OR EVENTS IT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO TELL, AT THE TIME OF AN OCCURRENCE, WHAT WILL BE IMPORTANT LATER

5 OBSTACLES OF ACCURATE OBSERVATION PREDJUDICE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS EXTERNAL FACTORS PAST EXPERIENCES DISTRACTING INFLUENCES

Robbery Suspect Description

Number of People

Crime Scene or Mess?

Location

Suspect Description?

EXAMPLES OF COMMON PERCEPTION ERRORS SOUNDS ODORS FEELING OR TOUCH PASSAGE OF TIME SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

8 KEY FACTORS THAT AFFECT PERCEPTION PAST EXPERIENCES MATURITY MENTAL CONDITION EMOTIONAL INVOLVEMENT PHYSICAL CONDITIONING TRAINING CULTURAL BACKGROUND ETHNIC BACKGROUND

Suicide or Homicide?

Location & Season?

What’s going on?

POLICE AUTHORITY TO DETAIN Terry v. Ohio, 1968 In Terry, the US Supreme Court upheld the authority of the police to stop or detain (or seize) a person where the officer observes unusual conduct which leads the officer reasonably to conclude, in light of his/her experience (including training), that criminal activity may be afoot. “Terry Stop” vs. “Terry Frisk”

Reasonable Suspicion + Armed & Dangerous = FRISK Terry requires an officer to articulate a reasonable belief that a suspect is armed and poses a threat before the officer is permitted to conduct a limited “Pat Down” of the suspect’s outer clothing. Just because I can “Terry Stop” someone doesn’t automatically give me the right to frisk them for a weapon.

POLICE AUTHORITY TO DETAIN Terry v. Ohio, 1968 While an officer may want to conduct a frisk for “officer safety” purposes, the law requires more than that. Reasonable suspicion that someone’s presently armed and dangerous is just what it sounds like, but most importantly, the officer has to have facts to support that conclusion.

POLICE AUTHORITY TO DETAIN Terry v. Ohio, 1968 Search or “Frisk” is going to be limited to searching for hard objects… That the suspect could use to hurt the officer like guns, pocket knives, mace, clubs, etc… Not limited to just those things we ordinarily think are weapons… It could also be things like car keys or pens because those could hurt an officer as well…

Appearance may = Frisk

Suspect Conduct

Officer Richard Neil (retired) 3: 27 WWW. OFFICERNEIL. COM