Whether you have summoned them or they have found you, encounters with law enforcement personnel can be frightening and even humiliating.There are steps you can take to minimize the chances of a negative outcome.Prepare yourself for these types of encounters by learning how to exercise your rights, be a good complainer and file a complaint.
Step 1: Before police arrive, collect your thoughts.
There is a chance that you are in the middle of an emergency.Take your time before the officer arrives.Think about what caused you to summon them and organize the events into a coherent story.Police are human, even though they are trained professionals.It's difficult for them to make a logical narrative out of a disorganized mess of impressions than it is for you.Get the details straight.It is important to have locations, times of day, and makes and models of cars.Think about the outcome you want.If you ask yourself what you want to get out of the encounter, it will help you collect your thoughts.Do you want someone to be punished for a wrong done to you, or do you just want your property back?To fit your goal, Tailor your narrative.
Step 2: Be courteous.
The officer who responded to the scene probably didn't steal your car, vandalize your bird fountain, or make harassing phone calls to your home.There is no need to take out your frustration on them.If you wanted to help them, treat them like you would any other person.Doing otherwise will make your encounter worse.
Step 3: Start from the beginning.
To make progress on the case, you want to give the officers enough information.Let them know if a weird guy took pictures of all the houses in the neighborhood last week and your house was robbed this week.It's important to be thorough.From the very beginning of your suspicions, you have organized your thoughts.Make sure you follow through with your story.If you notice anything else after your initial encounter with the police, call them up and let them know.Any detail can be helpful.Inform the officers working on your case if you find a tool that may have been used in a break-in or a point of entry that you couldn't locate before.
Step 4: Don't make sudden movements.
Before you speak to the officer who stopped you, make sure to put him or her at ease.Start with no sudden movements.Keep your hands visible and remain calm after you've gotten your license and registration.
Step 5: Say as little as possible.
Everyone should understand that if a policeman stops you, they think you're a criminal.Every question they ask is designed to get you to confess to a crime.The two positive outcomes you should aim for are not being arrested or ticketed.If a policeman asks if you know how fast you were driving, don't say "yes" or "no", it's a trick.If you don't know how fast you are going, you might be in violation of the law.If you say yes, he will measure your speed in excess of the limit.Say you were going that fast.
Step 6: What is asked, answer exactly.
Pay close attention to the officer's requests and listen carefully to what they have to say.This will allow you to answer any questions they have, but only give a small amount of information.The idea isn't to give a lot of information.The less information you give the less chance you will be caught lying.
Step 7: Be courteous.
Even though you shouldn't volunteer information, you should still be friendly.You should be as polite as you would be in church.Everyone likes to be treated with respect, but police can be more aware of the formality than an average person.Police forces have strict chains-of-command and are very conscious of rank, respect, and honorifics.
Step 8: Obey the officer's requests.
Don't argue if you comply with everything the officer tells you to do.To satisfy the command, only ask the questions you need to ask.If the officer asks you to put your hands on the steering wheel, don't keep your hand in your lap and say "no weapons here"
Step 9: You should keep your hands to yourself.
Don't touch the officer in any way during the encounter, which could be perceived as threatening.Don't shake their hands when they pull you over, jab your finger into their chest, and try to push them off of you.Pretend you are a germophobe if it is difficult.
Step 10: They need to justify the stop.
Sometimes the officer will say why they stopped you.They can ask for you to hand over your license if they don't.Ask why they are stopping you.Give your license to the officer if he approaches you out of the blue.If he says, "You seem suspicious," or something similar, ask how.An officer has a reasonable suspicion to make a stop.
Step 11: Know who you're dealing with.
The officer should write down his name and number.It's a good idea to get the license plate number and car number as well.You need to record the time and date of the stop.
Step 12: Do not allow a search.
You should not consent to a search.They will find something if you let them search for it.They can get a warrant to find out if you have anything to hide.If they search you after you refuse consent."I do not consent to this search, officer, but I am not resisting."They will tell you that you can be searched when they get a warrant.It is fine.They should be allowed to get the warrant.They will not get the warrant if they are bluffing.The search will be illegal if the officer lacks probable cause.Even if they aren't bluffing, they might not be able to get a judge to issue a warrant.Resist a breathalyzer.If you are suspected of driving under the influence, the officer will most likely ask you to take a breathalyzer.The penalties for refusing, often the forfeiture of your drivers' license, are not as severe as those for driving under the influence.Some states have harsher penalties.The officer will need a warrant if you refuse.You will have to take the breathalyzer, but you might have sobered up by then.If you end up in this position, you should research your state's laws.
Step 13: Ask if you can go.
You should ask these magic words often, because officers will often try to ignore them.They are obligated to let you go if they don't have probable cause to hold you.Ask this whenever the situation changes, even if they have refused before.If they ask you if they can conduct a search, ask them if you can go.
Step 14: Say nothing if you were arrested.
After an arrest, you should say less than before.They will use everything you say against you in court, because you have a right to remain silent.This applies to everyone.Don't talk to the officer who booked you or the one who is standing around the station twiddling their thumbs after you've been booked.Don't fall for tricks that are vague.They don't want you to say anything incriminating if you are asked to clear something up or tell your side of the story.
Step 15: Speak to an attorney as soon as possible.
Ask to speak with an attorney when they question you.They will leave the threat of having to stay in jail longer hanging over your head, but that won't amount to more than a day or two extra at the most.If you are convicted of a crime, you will be in jail or prison for a long time.Don't submit to questioning without an attorney.Even if they say that it would look better for you if you did, don't let the police interview you or question you without an attorney present.
Step 16: You can complain to the police department.
You can complain to the police if you haven't been arrested.The police should have enough information to follow up on your complaint since you have the name of the offer, their badge number, the license plate number and the car number.Every police department has its own procedures for doing this.A lot of big city departments have a section for handling citizen complaints.In some small towns and rural counties, you can speak with a high ranking officer about your experience.Don't expect much more than an apology from the police department if your complaint is acknowledged.The officer might be reprimanded if you are lucky.
Step 17: Take your complaint to the board.
Most larger cities have a citizens review board that handles police complaints.Although these organizations don't have a lot of power, they usually have the authority to direct the police to do another investigation, and their findings can be very helpful in a lawsuit.
Step 18: Bring suit against the police.
You can bring a suit against the police department for injuries you may have suffered.If you want to file a lawsuit against police officers, you should look for an attorney who has successfully pursued these types of claims.Look for attorneys that have brought suit against the police.The US Code allows citizens to take legal action against government employees.
Step 19: Police officers should be invited to community events.
If your church is holding a fish fry or your street is having a block party, it will give police officers an opportunity to get to know the citizens in the community in a non-confrontational, positive atmosphere.It's more difficult to see a stranger as a threat than it is an acquaintance.Inviting police to stop by these types of events can give everyone an opportunity to get to know each other better.The relationship between officers and communities can be damaged by these types of relationships.
Step 20: Discuss tensions in your community.
If the police know about the grievances in your community and how they affect the residents, it could help reduce tension between the parties.It can make the police approach your community differently.A meeting like this is not something you want.Don't let the police talk about community members.There should be time limits on speaking.Make everyone aware of the rules and make sure they agree to them.Police, elected officials, church and community leaders, and young people should be invited.Concrete actions the police and citizens can take to resolve the problems can be connected to the findings of the community meeting.It's important to try and come to a resolution.
Step 21: You should get to know the police.
It is possible to reach out to police in your community on a personal level.The police are often near you.The police are real people with real concerns, fears, hopes, and dreams, even though the Badge can act as a barrier between the police and the communities they live in.You can get to know the people that wear it with a little effort.