While reading Digby, I found an article written on the use of excessive force by police officers.
So… what is the proper use of force?
Almost every police department I know of uses what is called the “force continuum” — it is a “one-up system”. Basically, for every level the person puts forth, the officer goes to the next level in response. So, why do we have excessive force used? The answer isn’t in the training, it is in the mentality of officers today. Let me elaborate.
To the average officer, a person stopped who has clearly broken a law is in the wrong. The officer, in stopping them, investigating them, even arresting them, is in the right, no matter what. While this is true on many levels and in the majority of cases, the officers today see this situation as an opportunity. To do what you ask? To opine and speak what they feel.
When I was a road officer, then a Field Training Officer, and ultimately, a Road Sergeant, I saw, not only in our own department, but, in other departments, officers who routinely found themselves in situations that I never found myself in — a fight. In fact, in my several years in law enforcement, I only ever had one real fight. The reason for this was obvious; they escalated the situation with their own attitude.
I talked to many county deputies and city patrolman who always said the same thing when I asked how it has been going for them — they were in another fight this past night, weekend, week, pick a time frame. Yet, when I went out with them on a stop, I saw why they ended up in fights — they treated the person, suspect, like total shit. I never did that.
So, a person committed a crime. Once they were in handcuffs, the situation was over. For many officers, it wasn’t over, it was merely the chance to talk shit. I went out with city officers after they had a suspect in handcuffs. There were five officers standing around the patrol vehicle with the suspect in the back, in handcuffs, and all five felt that this was the time to deride the suspect as a piece of shit. Why? The man is captured, he is in handcuffs, he is going to jail — why are you standing around the car grandstanding?
This isn’t to say that force was never something I used myself. I did. This isn’t to say that in the heat of a chase or collar that I didn’t threaten to put a cap in an ass. I surely did given that it was in the dark, I was alone, and in that environment it was him or me and I wanted him to know that it WOULD be him, not me, who lost that battle.
When I was on the road, I was fully aware of the force continuum. I let the people know that we were talking, and, if they wished for it to escalate, exactly what was in store for them. That dissuaded almost every person I ever stopped from wanting it to go forward because it wasn’t a threat, it was fact — if they pushed it past talking, they would regret it. But, I also treated the person with a measure of respect, and, I always left them that “out”.
Today’s officers don’t do that — leave that “out” for the person. They merely push and push until the person crosses that line, and then, they use whatever force they feel is necessary to subdue the person, many times, excessively. You’ll be able to pick out these officers when you meet them.
From the start, they are angry. The more you argue, the angrier they get.
They use profanity. The more profanity they use, the more likely that they are type to use excessive force if it gets “ugly”.
If the Sir/Ma’am is something you hear only once — when they first walk up — watch out. Every officer is trained to use these terms of respect. If the officer only uses it upon initial contact, and never says it again, they don’t care to use it, ie, they don’t respect you.
Every stop will have at least two officers on it. If you get four or five, watch out. They aren’t simply bored. They feel it is something they can “get in on”.
Lastly, know that many departments have car dash camera’s. The camera starts running when they hit their lights. If you are always in front of the car, you know that you are being filmed, and, so is the officer. If they turn off the lights, the camera goes off. If they take away from the front of their vehicle, you, and them, are no longer on camera. If this happens, eh, it’s not good.
I hope this helps.
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