Dangers In Traffic Stops

[RWC130 594]

DANGERS IN TRAFFIC STOPS!

The recent NYPD Shootings of PO Timoshenko and PO Yan while on

a Traffic Stop got me to thinking.

As you know Traffic Stops are VERY DANGEROUS! You don't know who you have stopped

and if they may have a weapon or just robbed a bank. Why are they speeding?

You see one person but.. maybe 2 or 3 are in the car?

Night time with window tints even with your Takedowns, Spot Light, Maglite ALL on

you are lucky if you can even see in the car. Is it safe to approach?

Police Officers usually approach a motorists on the Driver Side. I've seen at times on a

Highway the Police Officer does approach on the Passenger Side.

In some states approaching on the Passenger Side is very common.

Is approaching on the Passenger Side a good idea?

If someone has a gun and plans to blast you they would be expecting you to approach on the Driver

Side and when you approach on the Passenger Side it would surprise the Driver and maybe

save your life, Right?

Anyone ever do this if you felt uneasy or the subject looked shady?

When more than one person is in the vehicle do you wait for back up to approach? or at least

Wait for the DMV data to come back? Do you approach with your weapon in the ready position?

I hope all Police Officers call in EVERY Traffic Stop if nothing less YOUR OWN SAFETY!

In most Police Departments calling in a Traffic Stop is SOP/SOG.

Do you call it in BEFORE you approach the vehicle?

Last, and I think this one really is a DANGER to all Police Officers how do you feel about

Window Tints? I have window tints, factory to the rear, and I had the two front window tinted

which prob illegal but I have enough respect and courtesy when I am stopped my window are

down and hands on the wheel. If at night the dome light on.

Do you feel as a Police Officer if states didn't allow windows to be tinted factory tints or tint shops

it would improve Police Officer safety on Traffic Stops?

I think VISIBILITY as you approach the car would be much better, the Takedown and

Spot Lights would be more effective. Right?

Your thoughts?

BE SAFE!!!

[firemoose827 324]

Thats a question of mine too. I saw this "Police Videos" show last weekend, and I saw them actually telling the occupants to exit the vehicle with their PA system, and put their hands on the roof and spread their legs, than they approached them. Shouldnt every police force use this technique? Or is it not allowed in some places?

The village PD always calls out their location here in cobleskill, I hear it all the time and think its a good idea, youll hear; "945 schoharie, traffic stop East Main and washington, plate # %^$%$#$, Ill be out of the car."

And the dispatch will call a status check if they dont camoe back on air within like 5 minutes.

I also roll my window down and put the dome light on and place my hands on the wheel. This actually scared a trooper one night, I was coming back from an EMS call at 2am and he stopped me, so I did all of what I mentioned, and he actually creeped up beside my truck with his hand on his gun. When he got there he asked why and I explained and he just chuckled and said " Damn, not used to that!!" He thought it was so I can see him easier to shoot him!!! He pulled me over to tell me I had a headlight out!!

Stay safe out their all my PD Brothers/sisters.

Moose

[Goose 188]

I'll support whatever will keep them safe. I can remember one occasion i was held over at work and was pulled over on 684 for speeding. Make a long story short the Trooper had his gun un-holstered and ready to roll. A bit scary, but just keep your hands on the wheel and let them know of every move prior to making it. An ounce of respect and understanding can go a long way, in my case a warning.

[ONEEYEDMIC 68]

If you watch any video's of COPS from the South or Midwest it seems they don't have tactics. They go right up the drivers side door and stand in front of it. They let people out of the car then back into the car. Most of the time they don't have backup but if you get that feeling, place them in the back of your car. At least it is secure.

At night I usually only do Passanger side approach. I walk behind my car so I don't silhouette myself. usually scares the crap out of anyone in the car. Calling out your location is a good idea as well. With computers in the car now we forget. I know that unless I think I have something I don't bother the dispatcher with running the plate or the license since I have the info already. I use my gut and when that tells me that something might be wrong I call for backup.

[Oswegowind 17]

Being a person on the "receiving end" of calling in traffic stops, I am more than happy to be kept busy no matter what time of day! I believe that anytime an officer leaves his auto for anything he should call in the location...especially flag downs and traffic stops. I feel better having an idea where my boys are rather than hearing a call for assistance go out and being speechless!!!! Unfortunately there are a number on my job that still feel invincible and I really hope it doesn't turn out bad ever! There are persons that I work with that get annoyed at radio traffic...my theory is that they should go find another job forthwith!!!!!!!! Dispatchers are your lifeline (civilian or p.o.) use them...they are getting paid either way...but let them have a chance to save your arse! If something does go down, your location can be relayed to additional cars IMMEDIATELY...the plate you ran can be rebroadcast with vehicle description to units responding in...all of this may not only save your life, but resolve the situation much more quickly than waiting til you are found and it is too late! Especially on the parkways and in locations where backup may not be 30 seconds away...

Also, quick rant, contrary to popular belief---you probably don't have to say, "Foot Pursuit" cause it ain't really hard to tell that someone is running while talking on the radio...there is a thing called huffing and puffing that makes it quite obvious! Please "SHOUT", since you are gonna anyways, your LOCATION, once again, LOCATION! Cause then everyone will be able to find you in a timely fashion and help you out! If you followed my first rule, you got out of the car to investigate a person or situation and you advised your dispatcher, then foot pursuit will be okay, cause we already know where you are...in this case words better spent would be a quick description....sex/race/shirt color/direction of travel!~

MFY...foot pursuit magnate!

[ONEEYEDMIC 68]

I don't think that I am invincible, I just don't always call things out. If I need too I may call another car via computer or Nextel and have them slowly roll over to my position. If of course I think it is necessary. We all become complacent during traffic stops. I have seen some bad tactics while on patrol with other DEPT's. I guess we think that "it will never happen to me". I think that it will happen to me that is why I do the certain things that I do. I think the time of day has lots to do with stops. During an 8-4 shift there lots of people around and the radio is usually busy. 4-12 can be crazy but then it starts to get dark which makes where to stop somebody different. Middies which I happen to do LOTS of there are not as many cars on the road and I use my judgement. If a car is swerving and I suspect ETOH involvement then I call for back up. If there are more than 2 people in the car I call for backup. I have to my advantage the NYSPIN response. I know where the car is registered. If it comes back to my town I could check to see if we have had any problems with that person. That will be my discretion for calling for backup or calling in the plate.

I know that many things can happen. Maybe that Local person just got into a fight with his wife and he suspects that she called the police. Most criminals think that we know that they are criminals. That is why they run when we go to pull them over. Sometimes it is good POLICE WORK but sometimes it is DUMB LUCK.

[Guest partyrock]

I've talked to several officers since the shooting, and nearly everyone of them has admitted they had become excessively lax in their traffic stop procedures. Sadly it took an officers death to remind everyone of the dangers. Hopefully the message sticks around for a while.

[OnTheWheel 43]

I think it is paramount to call out each and every stop. Your last transmission/breath maybe 10-13, then where are you? No one knows where you are or what youre doing. As far as a busy radio, there's always time for officers safety, relying on your car computer to run the plate is fine, dispatchers dont always run it. I run it, stop it, call it out, wait for NYSPIN response on my computer then approach. I dont want to be "that guy" youre all watching on tv or talking about in a forum because I didnt call something out and bled out while they looked for me. One, two, three, old or young people in the car shouldn't matter. We should be treating each traffic stop as "high risk", theyre no longer "routine". Im tired of escorting cop funerals, the ones where it could have been avoided are even worse! You never know what the person just did or is intending to do, the broken taillamp is the least of their worries when theyre going to or already did kill someone or have a suicide by cop mentalitly. Thats my two cents.

[helicopper 1,050]

Having been on both sides of the radio during requests for assistance, I've come to appreciate that the dispatcher really needs to know where you are. Whether it's a traffic stop, checking an unusual or suspicious condition, or a detective investigation, things can go from blah to OH $H/T in a heartbeat. One of my favorite's was a sudden and unidentified "10-13" (common term used - not my signal code) that I received in communications followed by "shots fired". We started polling cars and everyone was accounted for. Turned out a detective unit was executing a warrant and didn't tell anyone at all - nice, huh?

As far as traffic stops, call in the location and plate if nothing else. That way you know where to go or send help if it goes sour.

ONEEYE is definitely right - it's really easy to get complaceent when you make a lot of car stops.

[OnTheWheel 43]

ONEEYE is definitely right - it's really easy to get complaceent when you make a lot of car stops.

I disagree. All I do is traffic stops and I don't allow myself to get complacent. Police, Fire, EMS etc need to do everything they can to NOT get complacent, if we all put an effort into that we'd be fine.

[DOC22 1]

QUOTE(Chris192 @ Jul 19 2007, 05:23 AM) *

ONEEYE is definitely right - it's really easy to get complaceent when you make a lot of car stops.

I disagree. All I do is traffic stops and I don't allow myself to get complacent. Police, Fire, EMS etc need to do everything they can to NOT get complacent, if we all put an effort into that we'd be fine.

While I'm glad to see at least one remains sharp, but, unfortunately, I'm concerned that you MAY be more the exception, rather than the rule.

[helicopper 1,050]

The problem in our business is that we often become numb by the repetitive nature of our work and over time complacency sets in. It takes a conscious effort to avoid complacency and not everyone does that. I don't disagree with ONTHEWHEEL that you can avoid complacency if you try but as ONEEYE and DOC22 point out - complacency is out there - EVERYWHERE!

Edited July 19, 2007 by Chris192

[OnTheWheel 43]

The problem in our business is that we often become numb by the repetitive nature of our work and over time complacency sets in. It takes a conscious effort to avoid complacency and not everyone does that. I don't disagree with ONTHEWHEEL that you can avoid complacency if you try but as ONEEYE and DOC22 point out - complacency is out there - EVERYWHERE!

I agree that its there, and yes, I do become complacent at times (not on traffic stops lol) so I dont want to make it out like im mr perfect. But, if you put an effort into it it may save your life for that day!