The Line Officer Function CJUS 104 Part 7

The Line Officer Function CJUS 104 Part 7: Traffic Enforcement and Foot Patrol

1. Introduction A. Traffic enforcement = important part of job (1) Reasons: - to insure compliance with traffic laws - protect the public /property - reduce accidents /injuries - opportunity = uncover criminal acts (2) There is never a “routine traffic stop” - you do not know vehicle occupants

- do not know what is going to happen when you walk up to the vehicle - safe tactics /procedures = part of job (2) Good police work = routine traffic stop - good arrests are made B. Planning the stop - observe a violation = plan /don’t react - do not have to stop every violator (1) Guidelines for traffic stop

- safe location = you and other drivers - consider backup - able to articulate justification for stop (2) Broadcast extraordinary information - prior to stop - people in vehicle /license plate altered - possible DUI C. Making the stop - notify dispatch = vehicle information - location of the exact stop

(1) Dispatch notified before - turning on emergency equipment - overheads = vehicle accelerates before - pursuit = dispatch has information (2) Watch occupants closely - furtive movements /switch positions - tossing objects from vehicle (3) Use simplest methods to stop vehicle - first = overhead lights - flash headlights /use PA system

- honk your horn - last resort = siren /watch other drivers (4) Required = pull over to right /stop - except when otherwise directed - PA system = tell where to turn /park (5) Notify dispatch of final location /backup (6) Illuminate violator vehicle - take-down light for vehicle /interior - spot light = driver side mirror /rearview

2. Positioning vehicle A. Position for officer protection - vehicle occupants /on-coming traffic (1) Distance from stopped vehicle - 10 to 15 feet away - enough distance to react /suspect exits - close enough to contact violator - quickly return = violator drives away (2) Exit vehicle quickly

- never get caught sitting in vehicle - get out quickly /back vehicle up - two officers = passenger first out B. Park at angle - pull in behind /park at 45 degree angle - wheels turned to left - protects officer /other vehicle hits rear end - pushed away from officer /stopped vehicle C. Approach vehicle - not distracted /continue to observe

- handgun empty - make contact /back to vehicle to write (1) Driver /passenger exit the vehicle - demand they stay at vehicle - weapon ready if any concerns - maintain control /approach when ready (2) No more than one person out of car - demand they get back in car - weapon at the ready - don’t lose control

(3) Consider right-side approach - heavy traffic on roadway - out of sight = side view /rear view - allows: move away /drop down (4) Get in habit = pushing down on trunk lid - person may be in unlocked trunk (5) Not walk between vehicle /patrol car - go into reverse /hit you - continually watch backup lights - be ready to jump

(6) Walking up = be observant - look into backseat as you approach - stand just back of driver’s front door - make driver turn back to look at you - watch the hands of driver 3. Contacting driver A. Concerns about approaching vehicle - consider calling driver back to you (1) Tell driver to turn-off engine

- step out with hands in plain view (2) Your out of vehicle = behind car door - have driver walk back to you - approach when satisfied no danger B. Whether contact in vehicle /on street (1) License /registration /insurance card - look at picture = compare to driver - establish control /compliance - do not argue with driver

(a) Ask questions /avoid accusations - know speed limit /how fast going (b) Verify all information - driver’s check /vehicle check (c) Courteous = but firm - attitude /demeanor = difference - do not hesitate /sound confused / contradict yourself C. Returning to your vehicle

(1) Do not turn back on driver - continue = look back at occupants - returning to the patrol car (2) Occupants = remain in their car - driver refuses = wait beside the car - danger sign = out of car /close to you (3) Violator /passenger = nervous /agitated - be very cautious - swearing /kick tire /pound on roof

- get backup ASAP (a) Driver approaches you - draw weapon /have ready - prepare to use pepper spray (b) Demand they wait in /at their car - tell = arrest for obstructing - others = interfering (4) Know justification for using force /arrest - threatened = used defensive technique

- articulate justification to use force - violator refuses to sign citation = make arrest with backup D. Second contact - can be very dangerous (1) Believe you ran warrant check - waiting for confirmation (2) Become more agitated /angry waiting - time to plan attack on you

(3) Consider = they come back to you - contact at rear of their vehicle - stand in front of patrol vehicle - you stand at passenger side (4) Keep license /registration = ticket signed - check signature /compare to license - law allows them to sign any name - still holds them to legal ramifications (5) Explain procedures = take care of ticket - end contact politely /safely

- never say “Have a nice day” - if necessary = assist back into traffic E. Two-officer stops (1) Use ‘contact and cover’ guidelines - passenger officer = first out - driver /one foot out = updates dispatch - driver officer makes contact - lets occupants know = two officers (2) Both officers out every time /even in rain

- cover officer = inspects right side - driver = left side /watches violator(s) (3) Communicate with your partner - especially where weapons are concern - rifle = rack in back of pickup - knife = lying on floor in backseat area (a) People lying down in vehicle /hiding (b) Suspicious movements of occupants - talk = before /during /after stop

(c) Code word ready = certain incidents - suspect holding gun on partner - partner to back away to safety (4) Stagger your approach and return - cover officer = checks vehicle /then returns to position of safety - driver officer = returns from contact - cover officer = moves up /flashing light 3. Problem vehicles - motorcycles /vans /campers /motor homes

A. Motorcycles - easier to assault officer /feet and hands - greater ability to turn /shoot at officer - identity remains hidden /helmet on - greater ability to elude on motorcycle (1) Vans /campers /motor homes - provides greater concealment - side and back doors = surprise attack (2) Trucks = freight /log /delivery /tanker - height = not allow officer to see inside

- sleeping compartment = 2 nd individual B. General guidelines - illuminate mirrors /watch closely /back up - consider a ‘high risk’ stop - carefully watch side and back doors - consider having driver step out 4. Foot patrol A. More readily accessible to the public - impacts police-public relations more

(1) Greater responsibilities = greater threat - walking advertisement for department - sees you as an individual - not faceless person in patrol car (a) Greater resource /gather information - citizen has easier access - establish good reputation on street (b) More vulnerable to attacks - walking in open areas - moving among people

(2) Primary reason for foot patrol - high crime area - business district = high traffic volume - large gathering of people (3) Hours /days may vary - usually = days /swing shifts - 10: 00 AM to 3: 00 AM - prime hours = business /street people B. Officer attitude /appearance - to look good /approachable

(1) Friendly /observant - ability to communicate - enjoy meeting people /helping - observe with five senses - good memory = facts /faces (2) Maintain professional appearance - physically fit /trim = in the public eye - non-smoker /agencies will not hire - uniform in top condition (3) Use to be used for punishment

- now = considered an advancement - competition for position C. Performance (1) Do not establish a pattern - random patrol (2) Actions on day /swing shifts can differ - day shift = primarily public relations - contacting people /businesses - checking = alleys /banks /stores /etc.

- most of shift = visible (3) Swing shift - spend time being visible /invisible - lurking in alleys /doorways /shadows - maintain order /control of crowds (4) Get to know people better - calling by their names - knowing what to expect from them - their needs /expectations - transients /homeless /mentally ill

- easy to by-pass in patrol car - not while on foot patrol 5. Prowler calls A. Become very routine calls (1) People in fear of personal safety - see on television /read in paper - gossip when talking to others (2) Calls occur both day and night

- majority = occur at night - pose greater threat to officers - harder to locate suspect /prowler (3) Resident thinks they see /hear someone - any movement /a shadow /dog barking - any sound = roof /by a window or door - say they saw someone look in window (4) All calls taken very seriously - whether they see someone - or just hear a strange noise

B. At least two patrol cars assigned (1) Great potential for danger - hiding /preparing for assault on officer - easily turn into foot pursuit (2) Respond quickly /safely - do not respond Code 3 (lights /siren) - emergency lights = thru intersections - dispatch = prowler using forced entry - use siren on approach to scare away - avoid injury to victim

C. Know your district (1) Within several blocks = turn off lights - use flashlight to look at house numbers - opposite side = quick on and off (2) Park at least two houses away - make as little noise as possible (3) Stay in shadows - listen for strange noises - dogs barking /glass breaking

(4) Assigned officer is in charge - direct other responding units into area - advise positions to take D. Dispatch responsibility (1) Advise of arrival - tell number of officers at scene - request radio silence (2) Have dispatch notify homeowner

- usually kept on line - advised to keep doors /windows locked E. Preliminary search = residence /grounds (1) Use radio to advise other officers - tell position to take = front /back /side - which officers to start search (2) Secondary search = contact neighbors - search neighborhood area - check all vehicles in area

(5) Contact complainant - advise if suspect found or not - will continue periodic checks if not 6. Help the officer calls - top priority call A. The police subculture - very close relations /intimate friendships - people you depend on /do not assault - officer needs help = all respond

(1) Officer down - usually means injured - shot /knifed /beaten (2) Officer needs help - situation where more officers needed - can be before /during /after a contact - can occur at any time B. Responding officers - drive safely - department procedures = lights /siren

(1) Remember safety of public - other drivers /pedestrians (2) Follow directions of primary officer - do not respond if not assigned (3) Responding officers use caution - be prepared for an attack