Being Stopped By A Cop – Common Sense Or Senseless

Car stops have become commonplace in communities all over our country. In many recent cases, confrontations with police officers have escalated – resulting in civilian injuries and even death. Even youths getting arrested for being in “the wrong place at the wrong time” is smeared all over newspapers.

When it came to Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, Sandra Bland and New York’s own Eric Garner dying while in police custody, the country went ballistic figuring out how those who are supposed to protect us can abuse their power and cause so much friction between civilians and law enforcement.

What are your rights during a car stop?

Last week, when I saw the video of 23-year-old Alando Brissett being “beaten” by cops in one of our local Target stores, at first I took the side of civilians and shoppers who felt police brutality was clearly committed. Then when I read the fine print (well, not-so-fine print in the Daily News that indicated Brissett was disturbing store employees), I changed my mind and asked, “What if this guy was dangerous and threatened the cops?” All we have is footage of Brissett being subdued in a violent manner – we have no idea what transpired before the video began.

We can take both sides on the debate of how interactions with police can be de-escalated. Yes, in some incidents I do believe that police use excessive force on those who are unarmed. However, they are probably trained to believe that when someone is resisting arrest, it’s reason enough to go to any measures to make sure no one gets hurt…but when someone dies – could it have been avoided?

There are two problems, I believe, that communities aren’t addressing. One is understanding that there are two sides to every story. The second is demonstrating why there are two sides to every story.

Last week I conjured up some costly ways police departments can utilize their National Night Out Against Crime. What I forgot to add to the roster of events they should have is lessons on what to do when you’re apprehended by a police officer.

Let’s get real! Not everyone knows what their rights are when a police officer pulls you over or approaches you. Not everyone knows if the police officer will feel like their life is at danger by what you say and by your seemingly simple body actions. If you’re walking on the street and a police questions you randomly – about anything – and you put your hand into your pocket, potentially looking suspicious – you might question why an officer would overreact and whip out their gun assuming you’re armed. Is a cop going to take a chance that there’s no weapon in your pocket and that your body language was innocent?

In order to better educate the community on how to act, not act – and react – while interacting with police officers, why don’t we have seminars on these engagements? I’ve heard of these types of sessions being “in the works” but shouldn’t local precincts and community councils sponsor lectures on avoiding police brutality incidents?

I propose that precincts sponsor apprehension simulation programs – at least twice a month – and demonstrate how and why situations can escalate between police officers and civilians. What they should do is conduct the simulations in a parking lot – have the civilians sit in the driver’s seat and reenact a car stop. Where should your hands be when you roll down the window to exchange information with the police officer? What are your legal rights? What can you say – and what should you not say? What tone of voice should you use? If a police officer asks you to get out of your vehicle, what are your rights and what should you do? By demonstrating a scene-by-scene breakdown to residents, maybe it will help them better understand their fate.

There should be a separate seminar for teens. If a cop approaches them and asks for ID, they should be taught not to get an attitude or say, “Man, I wasn’t doin’ nuthin!” Teach our youths about saying the right things to cops if they’re pulled aside. Give them a dialogue sheet with an imaginary scenario and demonstrate how their body language – and street language – can land them in cuffs. Does your son or daughter know their legal rights? If they’re not carrying drugs or a weapon on them, all they need to know is that saying, “Yes, officer” will help them avoid being apprehended for resisting arrest.

Sure, you can be dealing with a really bad cop who has a bad day and is ready to take their hatred out on you. However, equipping yourself with the respect, tools and skills that will help you safely escape being handcuffed gets you farther away from becoming a statistic who was a victim of police brutality.

Another angle that local police should help the community understand is how they deal with apprehending someone who is emotionally disturbed. Do they really deal accordingly with mentally unstable people? In my opinion, there are many instances where police do not know if someone is mentally unstable and they do not deal with them accordingly. How is the NYPD improving this discrepancy?

There should be multiple seminars offered to our residents, which showcase all different scenarios in which they can be arrested for having an attitude that’s self-defensive, “harmless and innocent.”

We can beat ourselves senselessly by spending more money on town hall meetings about tax liens, flood zones, insurance fraud and energy bills. What the public really needs is an interactive lesson about staying out of prison and dying at the hands of those who protect us.