Over the last forty years I have had the honor as a political adviser
to ride along with various organizations that protect and serve our
nation and communities. Being an observer has given me a perspective
seldom seen by my most people except on television. The rides have
been on boats patrolling rivers, war ships such as United States Navy
frigates, and squad cars. So today, forty years after my first
adventure in a police squad car and a few days after my most recent
ride I have some amazing things to share.
Before
I ever rode in a squad car I had taken a criminal justice course in
college. It was taught by the past Sheriff of a major California
county. While he was teaching, he also consulted for police
departments throughout the world. He was a true believer in community
policing before it became popular. Community policing helps people
interact in a positive manner with police departments. It encourages
police and citizens to work together.
I
am going to talk about one statement my instructor made that has held
true throughout the years. I have heard it numerous times. Due to
this statement I never drink and drive. When a police officer stops
someone that he or she suspects of driving while intoxicated he
almost always gets the same answer to the same question. So what is
this question? It is "how many drinks have you had?" The
response initially is almost always two or a couple. After
interviewing numerous officers that are experts in identifying
intoxicated drivers they concur ardently.
I
have found throughout the years that the police officers I have rode
with are more professional than they were forty years ago. They treat
anyone they stop with more respect than the officers of years past.
Community policing has become more and more important. However,
negative changes have taken place.
The
negative things that have worsened with time are not the actions of
police officers but the aggressiveness of the public. More and more
people exhibit a lack of respect for the police and the law. Sitting
in the seat next to an officer gives one a perspective that is very
unique. You are able to watch as an outsider. You are there, however,
your presence is ignored by all involved. I have watched police
officers drive behind someone for a mile speeding. They were doing
forty-five in a twenty-five. When the stop takes place the person
will say they were not speeding. The officer states the speed was
posted. The speeder insists it wasn't. I personally remember passing
at least four in that situation. Offenders accuse the police officer
of singling them out. Few admit they did break any laws. I was able
to spot the infraction without the aid of the police officer saying
anything. The threats and attempts at intimidation by the offender
usually follow. People threaten that they are going to report the
officer to their supervisor for stopping them. This new breed of well
educated officers listen and are courteous. I am not saying there are
not bad police officers. I have seen some whose activities I would
question. However, as rule I would say police officers of today are
ninety nine percent better than their predecessors.
When
it comes to hard core criminals I have seen them lie and attempt to
manipulate situations. Some of these have been on probation and or
parole. Just looking at them one would never suspect who or what they
did. So, if a police officer asks you if you are on probation or
parole it is not about you, it is about his or her safety. Officer
safety is another place the police have improved. Modern well trained
officers do not turn their backs on subjects. You will often see them
walking backwards. They show respect even when not receiving it. An
example of this professionalism would be when police officers give a
ticket, they explain that the signing of the ticket is not an
admission of guilt. If still verbally attacked they let the person
know that they can fight the ticket in court. When people refuse to
sign the ticket ,which I have also seen, the officer explains very
calmly that the alternative is going to jail and appearing before the
judge. It seems people change their attitude with that and thank the
officer for not arresting them.
I
have seen and heard people call police officers words that truly
shouldn't be used by anyone when around children. Those words often
come out of a car full of children learning to disrespect the
officers just as their parents have. This does not mean that I don't
know people just like the ones I am mentioning. One acquaintance told
me he was caught speeding by a police officer on the freeway. He
admitted he was in fact speeding. His son who was in the car told me
that his dad had called the police officer some very unkind words
after getting the ticket he deserved for driving over 85 in a 65
miles per hour speeding zone. This is a familiar situation that I
have experienced numerous times sitting as an observer in police
cars. The attitude displayed is, what I did wrong is not as wrong as
the police officer that caught me and gave me a ticket. When will
people accept responsibility for their actions? We have laws to keep
people safe. We hire police officers to enforce those laws. What
would you do if a police officer allowed someone to excessively speed
and they hit your car and you ended up in the hospital?
I
have seen officers that carry puppets and toys so that they are able
to better interact with children. I have seen them in the community
participating on their own time in events for children and adults.
Some of them have been Santa Claus at schools and charities. Again,
this is not all officers. However, more and more officers are
becoming involved in the communities they live in and also the
communities they police.
Not
long ago I saw a young man I would guess to be around fifteen. He was
riding his bicycle at night. He had no lights or
reflectors. He rode right past the police officer. The officer said
to the young man, "please get off your bike and walk it, you
have no lights." The young man said "why?" The officer
said again, "it is against the law and if you don't I will have
to give you a ticket." The young man got off the bike and gave
the officer a dirty look. He should have had the manners to thank the
officer for not picking up the bicycle and giving him a ticket.
Parents need to take some of the responsibility for this type of
action as I mentioned earlier. It is often a learned behavior passed
down from parent to child.
I
know that all officers do not have the training or skills of the
officers I have mentioned. I know that all citizens are not like the
ones I have mentioned. However, as the years go on I see less and
less respect for the man, the badge and the position. I see more and
more people failing to accept responsibility for their actions. This
is somewhat of a mirror of our society. People walking out on debts.
People suing over hot coffee spilling on them when they themselves
spilled it. People looking to sue for the easy dollar. Insurance
companies paying even when their client is right because fighting the
issue is more expensive than settling. I could go on. However, a
majority of the people are good citizens. However, this "me"
generation is out of control. It isn't the current phenomena that
many discuss. I think it has been with us longer than one generation.
I
truly don't know what is wrong with people. However, I see these
events as a microcosm of what is occurring in the world. People do
not want to take responsibility for their actions. They are mad at
the police officer not because he is doing his job but because he
caught them. This lack of respect for the law needs to stop. What
would these people be like if a time warp took us back to the old
days when police carried black jacks and knew nothing about
psychology. What if our modern departments didn't give psychological
tests to weed out those that would over react to situations? The
officers I have rode with have all been very professional. I know
from the news this isn't always the case.
On
my first ride along with the police forty years ago, I was observing
things in order to help expand and educate a city about community
policing as a political adviser. We caught a drunk driver in front of
the police, driving directly in front of the police station as we
were on our way to patrol. Back then drunk driving did not carry the
stigma nor penalties it does today. The driver we stopped was truly
drunk and could not pass any FSTs. That stands for field sobriety
tests. Watching him attempt to walk a straight line, close his eyes
and touch his nose and balance on one foot was like watching a clown
in the circus. When the officers asked him how many drinks he had,
his answer was a couple. After being read his Miranda Rights and
stating he understood them and had no questions, he continued to talk
while the police officers continued to remind him that he had the
right to remain silent. He insisted on a blood test until he saw the
needle, then wanted a breath test. Then again he wanted a blood test.
His final decision after trying to stall the test for as long as
possible was a blood test. During this time he had now told us how he
had been drinking long enough to consume at least eight beers and a
couple of hard drinks. Needless to say he was very drunk.
After
the test he became more and more belligerent. When we got back to the
department, the police began to ask him contact information. They
wanted to release him quickly to a family member. However, he cussed
at the officers and refused to answer. His stubbornness gave him free
room and board in the drunk tank for the night. When they asked him
who they should contact in case of an emergency he answered, "My
mother." What is her name the officer asked. "Mom," he
replied. They then asked what is her telephone number and with
various unprintable words before his statement, he answered "none
of your business." They explained they would like to release
him, but he didn't help.
On
another ride along many years later with another department, we
stopped another person who claims to have had only two drinks. This
one shared information and told the officers that he was afraid of
his mother's response to him being arrested. He lived with her and he
was 46. It wasn't his first time in this situation. He also turned
belligerent. This one tried swinging on the two officers as they
worked together, as in a fine ballet, cuffing him before anyone was
hurt. These two officers had been working together for some time. Not
a word passed between them as the cuffing ballet so gracefully played
out.
Have
I seen people say I am sorry and treat police officers with respect?
Yes, I have. However, as time passes it seems that the officers
become more professional and respectful of the citizenry. It also
seems the inverse has been occurring with the citizens. As time
passes the populous seems to show less and less respect for
any
type of authority. The victims of this lack of respect includes
parents, teachers, and police. More and more we hear about physical
fights at children's athletic events. Why is this occurring? What
will happen in the future if we don't start taking responsibility for
our actions? The implications reach far beyond anything discussed in
this article.
