CH>        However, when you are making a felony stop on John Q. Citizen
 CH> who  doesn't quite know what's going on how do you handle it to
 CH> maintain officer safety and proper handling of the subject?  Any tips?
 CH> What I mean is that the average citizen gets kind of shook up when he
 CH> is the subject of a felony stop.  The career criminal on the other hand
 CH> can get dangerous.
Charles, you know that a book can be written on this subject, but I'll try a
thumbnail sketch:
1) We would need reasonable grounds to believe that the person was a
dangerous felon, and that person would not be treated like an average
citizen. An assumption would be made that the person or persons would be
armed and dangerous until proven otherwise.
2) If possible, an appropriate area for a confrontation would be chosen for
the stop and timed to approximately coincide with the arrival of a backup.
3) The initial officer would make the stop with his vehicle at least three
car lengths behind the suspect vehicle at an approximate 45 degree left angle
to the suspect vehicle. The initial officer would take cover behind his
engine block and door and begin giving voice commands with his/her public
address system until backup units arrived. The first order would probably be
for all occupants to place their hands high on the windows, palms up. The
second command would probably be for the driver to remove the vehicle keys
with his left hand, slowly stick his left hand out the driver window, drop
the keys, and place hands back on the window.
4) The rest of the procedures would depend on the number of backup units.
Basic tactics would be for the officers to maintain cover and setup a field
of fire that would not endanger other officers. The suspects would be ordered
from the vehicle one at a time, starting with the driver, and directed to a
strategic location selected by the officer. The suspect would be placed in
the felony prone position (stomach down, arms out, palms up), searched for
weapons, and handcuffed. All suspects would be secured in a like manner, and
a cursory search of the vehicle would be made for additional suspects and
weapons.
I would simply ask you to remember that we would first need reasonable
grounds to make a felony stop. A felony vehicle stop in my jurisdiction is a
very serious matter, a life and death situation. Here's a thumbnail sketch
from Lawton, Oklahoma. I'd really enjoy hearing from officers in other
jurisdictions.
Tom Rightmer - Victims' Rights Advocate
... All taglines are busy..One will be with you shortly.
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