The following scenarios were developed by police officers for police officers.

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Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (logo)


Mutual Respect in Policing

Part I:

TRAINING OFFICER:  Okay guys, before we use this video in our in-service training program at our role calls, the chief wants us to take a look at it and give him our comments.  Now I have to tell you that it involves officers and citizens interacting.  Actually, there could be some profiling going on in some of the scenes were going to see on this tape.  But the chief just wants our opinion on what our officers might learn from this, okay?  Lets roll.

INSERTS TAPE 

VIGNETTE ONE

OFFICER STAN GOLDEN:  Sir, Im Officer Stan Golden with the Metro Police Department.  Im stopping you for speeding.  Please put your hands on the steering wheel where I can see them.  May I see your drivers license, registration, and proof of insurance, please?

DRIVER:  Yeah, sure.

OFFICER GOLDEN:  I said keep your hands on the steering wheel!

DRIVER:  What do you want me to do officer?  Get you my license and registration or sit here with my hands on the steering wheel?  I cant do both!

OFFICER GOLDEN: Where are your papers, sir?

DRIVER: My registration and insurance are in the visor and my drivers license is in my wallet in my back pocket.

OFFICER GOLDEN: Alright, keep your right hand on the wheel and get the papers from behind the visor please.

OFFICER GOLDEN: Hand them to me.

DRIVER: Man!

OFFICER GOLDEN: Now put your left hand back on the wheel and slowly get your wallet out with your right hand.

DRIVER: You know, you ought to lighten up.  Im not some kind of criminal, you know.  So whats the big deal with my hands and everything?

OFFICER GOLDEN: Just do what I say, sir, and we wont have any trouble.

DRIVER: Yeah, right.

OFFICER GOLDEN: Keep your hands where I can see them!

OFFICER GOLDEN: Take your license from the wallet and hand it to me.

OFFICER GOLDEN: Is all this information still correct?

DRIVER: Last I checked.

OFFICER GOLDEN: Alright sir, please wait here and Ill be right back.

DRIVER: Yeah. Jerk.

END OF VIGNETTE ONE

TRAINING OFFICER:  Okay, what do you think?

WHITE OFFICER:  Thats a little intense.  Most cops dont respond like that unless they think somebodys actually dangerous.

TRAINING OFFICER:  But we dont know what was going through his head, do we?  Did something make him suspicious?

FEMALE OFFICER: Well, being cautious is important but once you see that theres no threat, why not relax the approach?

BLACK OFFICER:  I think both sides are at fault.  The kids attitude was not great, and the officer didnt back off, so everything started to go downhill.  Maybe they both have had bad experiences but we need to do something to turn that around.

WHITE OFFICER:  You mean grin and wave?

TRAINING OFFICER:  No, but I hear a lot of people say they understand being stopped but they dont always like how theyre treated when stopped. And it looks like that may have been the case here.  Turning it around is just communicating with people.

FEMALE OFFICER:  Well this guy did just what weve been taught to do.  He identified himself, his department, and he told him why he was being stopped.

BLACK OFFICER: Yeah but it was the way he did it. Its not always what you say but how you say it.  And coupled with his Put this hand here and that hand there  he starts to sound like Robocop.  You could be safe and still be courteous to people.

WHITE OFFICER: I think most cops would recognize this is poor communication but it probably doesnt hurt to remind us. We sometimes forget that traffic stops are routine for us but theyre big deals for everybody else.  We need to help diffuse it.

TRAINING OFFICER:  Ah, yes.

NARRATOR:  To change the outcome of this scenario, we need to be aware of the following:

	Officers and citizens are influenced by past experiences.

	Once officers assess the threat level, then they can act to diffuse situations like this.

	Good communications skills can diffuse a situation.

	Communication is more than words.  Tone of voice, stance, and demeanor all convey a message.

	Treating people with dignity and respect is the foundation of good communication.