OK...I'll comment on each point...and some of you may find some of this surprising.

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An excellent point. Here's the long and short of it...you're there, the guy isn't going anywhere. He's simply saying "No". For the purpose of this contact, he is now guilty of Contempt of Cop. This is not punishable by law, nor is it reasonable grounds for use of force. Moreover, it does not meet the standard for POPO--which is short for Pissed Off Police Officer.



This is most assuredly NOT BS. It is standard procedure. I don't care if it's someone I KNOW personally, I'm going to radio in my location and the person's information. If I get a warrant hit, THEN I act. Moreover, MANY warrants are non-extraditable out of county. So...you check for warrants ASAP. Then, after you effect lawful arrest, you call in and confirm the warrant--it's called doing a "locate" (heck, I don't know why.....), which lets NCIC and the State systems know that you have the person in custody.



How long would you negotiate? AS LONG AS IT TAKES.

There is something that some officers forget...and that is the fact that we are officers of the Court. We are not judges, nor are we juries. Moreover--and this is the important part--you ALWAYS address the person in front of you with the same respect that you would like yourself. Do we--I--get mad on the job? Sure. But I'm not there to punish; it is nothing personal. In the case of a valid warrant, I have explained more than once: "Look, fella (or, ma'am)...it doesn't matter to me why you have the warrant. The fact is, that a warrant is simply a Judge's way of saying that he or she wants to see you so that you can have your day in Court to explain your actions to the Court--who is the trier of fact. As an Officer of the Court, my job is to arrange the meeting. The warrant is the Court's way of ensuring that you show up.

"Now, you have to understand this: You ARE going into custody right now. yes, I know that it is an inconvenience--but you ARE going. So...let's make this as painless as possible. Turn around, because I have to put you in restraints. A quick ride, and you get booked. You'll go before a Judge shortly, and you might make bail. That's up to the Court--but you ARE going to jail, one way or another. How do you want this to go?"

Talking someone down is much better than fighting them down. That being said, the person being arrested sets the tone for the contact.



Another poster mentioned this...in a LOT of Departments--mine included--choke holds of ANY type are forbidden--because it is WAY too easy to cause brain damage or to kill someone with one.

This is why assault by strangulation or choking--even the act of grabbing by the throat--can be automatically charged as a B Felony. If done with intent to cause bodily harm, it's an A Felony in Washington State.

I really don't like Monday-morning quarterbacking...but I have to ask how far would the officers have gotten if they had continued talking to the man in a calm manner, and made a serious attempt to address his concerns:

"Hey, how are you? Yes, I know you. Hey...listen, did you know that you have a warrant? Yes, you do--it's for (fill in the blank). Did you get that taken care of? Well, it's still showing up in the system. Have you contacted the court yet, to see about getting it quashed?"

(Note: from what I heard, it was a misdemeanor warrant anyway. Why not just INFORM the guy that he has a warrant, but don't do the locate? Give the guy a chance to deal with it, for heaven's sake...you don't need the stat that bad, do you?)

Anyway...like I said, I don't like Monday morning quarterbacking...but you'd be surprised at what a little respect, some conversation and some consideration for the other guy can do.

^^ Seriously. Should be a slush fund in the budget. "Hey man, I'll give you $100 cash if you will just come with us without a fight."

Imagine the overall savings...

^^ Seriously. Should be a slush fund in the budget. "Hey man, I'll give you $100 cash if you will just come with us without a fight."

Imagine the overall savings...

I am laughing my butt off, because my immediate reaction was that that won't work, and people will learn to 'play the system' that way, just to get money...


Then I realized what genius it could actually BE!



Especially if it ended up getting charged back to the individual as part of their day in court.

Kinda sad to realize how many people might be alive today if that one simple tool had been used.

I'd be honored to buy you the beverage of your choice, if we ever meet.

Thankee kindly.

If you're down in this area, give me a shout. We can head over to Evergreen and do some powder therapy.

As for drinks, I like those Sobe lifewaters. Maybe a good Diet Cherry Coke or Diet Cherry Pepsi would work...