Escalating a situation too fast?

B

BerettaCougar

New member
"Has anyone here ever been pulled over and been asked to get out of the car, and when you do, you get out, hands in view of the cop, open fisted.

You're calm, pose no threat, yet the cop unclips his guns holster, gun in hand (still holstered or cleared)

They don't even bother talking to you, just give you commands.

Asking them how they are and they tell you to keep facing foward, or away from them...

This aggressive action IMO leaves a sour taste in my mouth, I was in no way a threat, nor was I acting aggressive, yet I get a man, with a gun in his hand giving me commands? Come on, I had an out tail light, I didnt even notice this before leaving, I'm SORRY, it's bound to happen, Electronics are not a perfect science."

This is something my brother emailed me, wanted me to post it here, he says he was pulled over by a younger cop, that treated him this way, I told my brother to become a member and he said he will soon.

I told my brother that yes maybe the cop escalated the issue with his actions and attitude.

But keep in mind my brother is 6'2'' 250 lbs, and the cop according the description was about 5'9'' 150lbs. Maybe my brothers size scared him? I dunno.
 
BC-
Sometimes we don't know what they know. They may have just picked you up as a REAL match to a violent felon with an APB.

I, personally, have no problem with the opening interaction, so long as no one points a gun at me. I give 'em the benefit of the doubt and respond politely. Inevitably, I've received a fair explanation by the time the interaction is over.

If you (or your bro) have had a different experience, you just ran into one of the few....the bad actors. Sit by the river long enough and you will surely see the bodies of your enemies come floating by.....life's pretty short, but always seems to be just long enough. ;)
Rich
 
best advice to keep the donut eaters happy...


stay in the car. Keep your hands on the wheel visible. Do not move. Do not go for your wallet or make any sudden movements without asking for permission first. No matter how rude the cop is, be polite always. Do not do anything that might give him a sudden suprise. You can always get his badge number and gripe later...

better than.."driver with your left hand throw the ignition keys out the window..do not move.."
 
You never argue with cops, you deal with them as politely as posible, later
you (or your lawyer) present your case before a judge or a jury if it gets that
far, they are the ones who decide.
 
A police officer is trained very specifically and repeatedly in how to conduct a high-risk(felony) traffic stop. While this information is 2nd hand is sounds like thats what he may have been doing. If so you cannot blame him for performing as he was trained, and there is a very good reason for that training. As to why he considered the stop high-risk, unless the officer stated the reason its anyone's guess. A few months I was stopped in the same manner (in fact weapons WERE unholster and pointed at me) I was ordered on the ground, cuffed searched and the revolver in my ankle holster was taken from me. The entire time I did exactly waht I was told and said nothing. Once I was "secured" I identified myself and told them to check my back left pocket for my creds. They did and there was some silence for a moment, then " did you know there is a felony warrent on your vehicle for XXXXXX person?(not me or anyone I have even heard of!) Needless to say it was an unpleasent experience however I cannot blame the officers involved, they were just doing thier JOB. I was quickly released and as I did not give them any attitude, they were very polite. We had a good laugh about the whole thing. Life goes on, I'm over it. Be glad those cops are around to protect those you care about and stop nitpicking thier actions.
 
Good responses so far. Blackwater Ops, you have a very enlightened view on what happened in your situation, I'm glad you see things that way, that's very cool of you.
Most officers I know, me included, unsnap our holster on the approach on every traffic stop. I try not to let the person I'm dealing with see me unsnap.
Aside from domestic disputes, traffic stops are the most dangerous things we do. It could have been BerettaCougars brothers size in relation to the officer, or an innocent movement on his brothers part that sent up a red flag for the officer. And yes, the officer could have been an over zealous rookie, or regular dumb@$$ too.
 
In the modern age of technology stuff happens.

I have never been stopped in that manner.....

However, If I was I would comply with all orders. Time enough to sort things out later.
 
Years ago, I was parked on an exit ramp off of I-70 in rural Kansas, trying to figure out where in the hell I was, when a KSP unit pulled in behind me. I'm thinking good; now I'll get good directions to a decent motel and meal. There were two KSP officers, one very young guy and one obvious veteran (no hat, mustard stain on his tie :D ). The older guy approached, calm but cautious, but the younger one? He walked up in a combat crouch with his hand VERY obviously on his gun. Reminded me of Barney Fife so much I was tempted to ask him if his bullet was still in his pocket. I gave the old schooler my ID and we exchanged pleasantries. Junior is still inspecting every stitch and thread in my car seat. Finally, I looked at him; then looked over at the older guy, nodded my head towards junior and asked "Rookie?". He smiled and said "yup". Junior's face could've been mistaken for a stop light. By the way, the older guy steered me to a small, obscure diner in the middle of nowhere (well, I admit that covers a good bit of Kansas), where I had one of the best meals I've ever had.

Often times, we only get a partial description of a vehicle or person wanted in connection with a felony. Sometimes it might be something as vague as "an older blue car and the last number on the plate was "9". Now you're only only a quarter mile from the crime scene and it's 20 minutes after the crime, and you're driving a 1990 blue whatever, with the plate AAA-xxx9. We are going to do a high risk Terry stop on you. We won't engage in friendly conversation, including our reasons for the stop, until after we've determined that you're not the one we're looking for. I've seen some officers dismiss a driver with as little as "OK, you're free to go", and that I don't like. I feel that if I've just scared the beegeebees out of someone, they're entitled to an explanation and an apology, but if the area's still "hot", I don't have time to get too chummy and both the explanation and apology will be somewhat clipped. I understand that anger usually follows fear in people, and no one likes being ordered out of their car, at gunpoint or not, but I can assure you that we don't do high risk stops randomly or for the fun of it, which it isn't, for either of us.
 
.."driver with your left hand throw the ignition keys out the window..do not move.."
Click to expand...

I always thought it was fun to throw my HOUSE keys out, and then when they come up to the car, I say, "GOTCHA! hahaha THESE are my car keys!"

They always love that. A real knee slapper
 
459 said:
best advice to keep the donut eaters happy...


stay in the car. Keep your hands on the wheel visible. Do not move. Do not go for your wallet or make any sudden movements without asking for permission first. No matter how rude the cop is, be polite always. Do not do anything that might give him a sudden suprise. You can always get his badge number and gripe later...
Click to expand...

At some point in the past, I had heard and internalized this advice.

A week or so ago, I was pulled over for rolling through the stop sign at the end of Walmart's driveway to the street. Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy.

I sat pretty still after pulling into a 7-11 lot, and never took my hands off the wheel. When the deputy arrived at my window and knocked on it with a flashlight, I looked over, he gestured for the window to be rolled down, and I lifted my left hand, pointed down, and then lowered the electric window.

When he asked for my driver's license, I told him it was in "this little bag over here" on the passenger seat. (Yes, the same bag in which my GLOCK 27 is carried, but different pocket.) I presented the license to him, and then he asked for registration, which I told him was in the glove compartment, and I produced it, too.

I did not even get a chance to ask him for a break (which, done politely, has gotten me off several times before). He went back to his car, and about 10 minutes later came back and handed back my stuff and said, "This one's on me."

He proceeded to tell me that the ticket would have cost me $118, but he appreciated me having my hands on the steering wheel when he approached!

I was flabbergasted. I asked him for a moment to comment, and told him that I understood the climate in which he has to work, wondering about anyone he has to approach in the course of duty, and that I do my part to keep him at ease for his and my safety. I told him I had always wondered if cops had an appreciation (and a soft spot) for traffic stops who behave predictably and politely. I guess I have my answer, since he let me off without a ticket.

(oh, by the way, he was the car that I pulled in front of after rolling through the stop at 3 a.m.)


better than.."driver with your left hand throw the ignition keys out the window..do not move.."
Click to expand...


How can you throw without moving? :p


-blackmind
 
I was riding to work with a friend once, driving down to Charleston, WV, when he passed a vehicle in front of us. Well, obscured from plain sight by a slight bend in the road is a state trooper pulling onto the pavement from the MEDIAN. He didn't see us, but we saw him and we had to swerve evasively to miss him. Needless to say, we got pulled over for "running him back off the road and speeding"...he said he was doing 60mph IN THE MEDIAN. He was a state trooper, so we politely said, "Yes sir."

My friend opens his glove box to retrieve his registration and there was a very real looking plastic toy gun in there that looked just like a Kel-tec. The officer didn't even flinch, but said, "I suppose that's not real." TO MY UTTER HORROR, MY FRIEND UNWITTINGLY PICKS THE GUN UP AND WAVES IT IT AROUND and says, "Uh, yeah." I literally crapped my pants, but the trooper didn't even blink. My friend got a ticket from the officer and a "what the H#!! are you doing!?!" from me. Later we discussed it and shuddered at the fact that we could've easily been on the recieving end of the officer's weapon.
 
My friend opens his glove box to retrieve his registration and there was a very real looking plastic toy gun in there that looked just like a Kel-tec. The officer didn't even flinch, but said, "I suppose that's not real." TO MY UTTER HORROR, MY FRIEND UNWITTINGLY PICKS THE GUN UP AND WAVES IT IT AROUND and says, "Uh, yeah." ...
Click to expand...
Um, well, I suppose there's calm and collected, and then there's just plain asleep at the switch, which will sooner or later convert to a deeper state of sleep called death. :rolleyes:
 
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