|
|
Routine Traffic Stops Aren't
By Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith
Street Survival Seminar Instructor
|
In the first hour of the Street Survival seminar, we put this word up on the big screen, in huge block letters, all by itself:
ROUTINE
Every cop out there, from the rookies in the academy to the chief or sheriff who hasn’t made an arrest in 15 years all know, and will quickly tell you when asked, that there is no such thing as a “routine traffic stop.”
We’ve seen this recently in both Aurora, Colorado and in San Marcos, Texas, where two “routine” traffic stops made national news for two very different reasons.
Just after midnight on August 5th, San Marcos, TX police officer Paul Stephens pulled over Texas State University student Michael Gonzales and his girlfriend for going 95 mph on the highway. The couple said their dog was choking and they were heading for an emergency vet but Officer Stevens determined that neither student was emotionally capable of driving and that the little dog was already deceased at the time of the stop, so he detained the couple according to normal policy and procedure. Unfortunately, Steven’s traffic stop was recorded by in-car video, and his statement, “It’s just a dog, you can buy another one,” as he stood talking to the pair beside Interstate 35 brought outrage by animal lovers and verbal counseling by his chief.
On Sunday, August 24th, a potential assassination investigation was initiated after police officers from a Denver suburb stopped a truck around 1:30 a.m. that was swerving erratically. The driver, 28-year-old Tharin Gartrell, had a suspended driver's license and during the stop police saw two scoped rifles, two wigs, camouflage clothing, a bulletproof vest and two walkie-talkies in Gartrell’s truck. Additional searching revealed 4.4 grams of probable methamphetamine and three IDs in other people's names. As the investigation continued, two other people involved were arrested at a nearby hotel, one after a short foot chase. The men had criminal histories and possible white supremacy ties, although it is unclear whether they had the means or the ability to carry out an assassination attempt, presumably targeting the Democratic National Convention where Barack Obama was accepting his party’s nomination as the first African American presidential candidate.
 |
|
|
The Portable Armored Seat™ provides a threat level protection of IIIA, shielding the upper back, sides of they body and feet. The completely portable Armored Seat™ sets up easily in minutes. It is compatible with bucket and bench seats for any vehicle and aircraft.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Two very different traffic stops, two very different outcomes, and both made national news for two very different reasons. It bears repeating: there is no such thing as “routine” when it comes to a traffic stop.
The greatest moment of risk to you is the moment of discovery. You find the drugs or weapon or your driver has a valid warrant, and the suspect discovers they are going to jail. This is where things can go very wrong. As we teach in the Street Survival Seminar, call for back up early. Stop by another officer’s traffic stop even if they haven’t called for back up. We need to always remember to not only be prepared for the unexpected but to DO THE UNEXPECTED.
Conduct a good investigation. Use your knowledge of body language, proxemics, and communications to look for suspicious activity. Ask yourself, does the driver fit the car? Does the documentation match? Do the occupants all tell the same story? Look for suspicious mannerisms, such as an immediate exit from the vehicle, nervous hand gestures, an absence of vocalization to name just a few. Trust your instincts; if it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. (For more on trusting your instincts, check out Intuition on the street by Lt. Jim Glennon or Suspect acting strange? Trust your instincts by Dave Smith.)
|
|
|
Norwich's Master of Justice Administration offers something more than a course of study in criminal justice. It offers the justice professional a course in public administration, oriented to management and leadership of a justice organization. In effect, graduates will be prepared to move into the elite ranks of leaders for organizations that provide criminal justice services, whether it is law enforcement, correctional services or the operation of the nation's courts.
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Be aware of your positioning at all times. During a traffic stop, we have so much to control; the situation, the individuals, the environment…but to control all of them, we have to first control us. Be aware not only of your driver and occupants, but of the traffic and pedestrians around you. Other drivers tend to get mesmerized by the overhead lights on our squad cars or become so focused on seeing police activity that they cease paying attention to their own driving. And don’t be afraid to change things up. If you always approach on the driver’s side, try a passenger side approach. Angle your car in a different manner when you make the stop.
Call in every stop, every time. On October 1st, 1972, twenty five year old Hillside, IL patrolman Anthony Raymond made a traffic stop on two subjects who, unbeknownst to Officer Raymond, had just committed an armed robbery. He was abducted and later murdered by the suspects, his bodied buried in rural Wisconsin. This incident occurred near the police academy I attended in Maywood, Il, and many of my instructors had either known Anthony Raymond, worked on the investigation or attended his funeral and they spoke of him frequently. To this day I remember the lesson we all learned from Officer Raymond and those who cared about him and us: Call in every traffic stop with the license plate, vehicle description and accurate location. No excuses, no exceptions.
Whether you’re being recorded or not, act as if you are. As I teach in my police/community relations classes, before you say or do something, ask yourself this: “Would I want my kids, my spouse, my chief, my mom to see this?” With the proliferation of personal tape recorders, video cell phones, and people seemingly everywhere with cameras, just assume you’re being recorded and that you may end up on YouTube, then act accordingly.
Routine can train you, or de-train you. It’s invisible by its nature, and if you repeat bad habits they will become your norm… repetition is repetition, and your brain doesn’t know the difference unless you make a conscious effort to eliminate those bad habits and replace them with solid tactics. Remember, half of the officers killed each year are killed making arrests or conducting traffic stops, and even if your stop doesn’t turn dangerous, it could still break bad and cause you a whole lot of aggravation. Stay safe!
About the author
Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith has nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience, and she currently serves as a patrol supervisor in a Chicago suburb. A graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety's School of Staff and Command, Betsy is a police trainer, author and instructor for the Calibre Press Street Survival Seminar. She can be reached at betsybrantner@aol.com.
|
