Training Tips
When you say, 'Let me see your hands!' are you ready for what might appear?
By Officer Pete AssenmacherConsider this scenario: While on routine patrol, an officer observed a car circling a clothing store around closing time. In preceding weeks, there had been two robberies of similar stores in the area. The officer stopped the suspicious car for an equipment violation and found two males in the front seat. The officer, who has approached from the passenger side, takes note of the fact that the driver keeps trying to put his hands between his legs during the initial contact. He has to repeatedly order him to stop doing so. A back-up officer arrives to assist and approaches the stopped driver who he …Read more […..]
Patrol psychology 101
Practical Police Psychologywith Dr. Laurence Miller When most citizens think of police officers, they think of the beat cop, and indeed, the police patrol function continues to be the backbone of community law enforcement. This seemingly simple police activity is really composed of a variety of complex daily decisions and activities which include the discretionary use of authority and prevention of criminal activity by an assertive police presence.It also involves maintaining good relations with citizens in the community, because, like it or not, cops may at times have to depend on those citizens to help them do their jobs …Read more […..]
Shot doesn't always equal dead
By Dick Fairburn Well, it happened. Hopefully, you prepared yourself for this eventuality and realized it could happen someday. The dude turned around with a gun in his hand and you were just in your first gunfight … you’ve seen the elephant. Even worse, since Murphy’s Law is a frequent companion in law enforcement, you got shot. Ok, we’ll get through this, stick with me … access the “Oh shit! I just got shot!” checklist you pre-programmed on your hard drive and we’ll run this by the numbers. Help will come. AP Photo/ Devin Bruce 1. Finish the fight! Getting hit was always a possibility, so don’t quit yet. Make sure the …Read more […..]
Man who wounded Va. cop caught in Texas
The Virginian-PilotNEW BOSTON, Texas — A Southwest Virginia man wanted on charges that he shot and wounded a Virginia State Police trooper was arrested Sunday in Texas.Stephen Branscome was arrested after a massive,10-day manhunt. His apprehension ends a massive, 10-day manhunt that began March 28 .Corinne Geller, a State Police spokeswoman, said Steven Dale Branscome, 32, was captured early Sunday at a hotel in New Boston, a community in northeast Texas near the city of Texarkana.Warrants have been issued for his arrest in several states, including West Virginia, where he is wanted for malicious wounding and wanton …Read more […..]
Are controversial recommendations about officers in shootings really valid?
Provided by The Force Science Research Center How do you think an officer should be treated after he has shot and killed an offender: A. Like a suspect or a civilian witness–required to give a statement ASAP…isolated for fear he’ll collude with others to concoct a self-serving fairy tale of what happened…interrogated rather than interviewed, with every discrepancy and hole in his version of events regarded suspiciously as probable evidence of deceit? B. Like a survivor of a critical incident–given time to de-escalate and mentally process the high-stress encounter before being extensively questioned…allowed …Read more […..]
Conn. officer fatally shot checking suspicious activity
NORWALK, Conn. — Police blocked off city streets and searched with dogs for a suspect after an officer was gunned down early Friday while responding to a report of suspicious activity in a secluded parking lot.Officers responded within one minute of Officer Matthew Morelli’s last transmission to headquarters, but found the 11-year veteran of the police department and former Marine intelligence analyst dead, said Chief Harry Rilling.Police said Morelli was shot just before 12:30 a.m. in a parking lot on Lubrano Place in south Norwalk, about 50 miles northeast of New York City.Rilling said it was premature to release any …Read more […..]
Interview and Interrogation Tips and Case Studies
Interview and Interrogation Tips and Case Studieswith John E. Reid & Associates, Inc. Investigators: Are you a good listener? An investigator’s ability to solve cases relies extensively on his or her ability to develop rapport, ask the right questions, identify deceptive responses and analyze elicited information relative to evidence and other factual information. What is often overlooked, however, is the investigator’s ability to listen. Just as there is a distinction between seeing and observing, there is also a clear distinction between hearing and listening.The importance of listening skills is readily …Read more […..]